Most satisfying Nursing Specialties?

[ZDriver96]

I would like your opinions on what nursing specialties appears to be the most satisfying. I am a firefighter paramedic looking to work part time as a nurse. I want to be able to go to work as a nurse and be happy and satisfied with what I am doing as well as the benefits that come with the specialty.

I would also like to stay away from ER and ICU since they more closely relate to what I do in the EMS field. I don't want to get burned out. I may work the ER for a short while since I would be most qualified for that specialty.

And I also really really don't want to insert foleys. Anything else I'm fine with.

As far as work ethics. I like to be somewhat busy, I don't like sitting idle. I enjoy academics and research as well has higher stress/action. I like to be fully involved and not limited to only 1 aspect of a project or duty.

Currently I'm leading towards cardiology since I have a high interest in the cardiovascular system.

I am also considering be a school nurse at a University since I like school/academics.

Salary or hourly pay is a factor in me choosing but its not everything

Curious about general benefits, work hours, and other perks of different specialties.

Any thoughts?

[llg, PhD, RN]

Foleys are rare in neonatal care. They are also rare in any outpatient work. But I agree with the others about foleys. Insertion is a technical skill that you can perfect with practice.

The most satisfying area for any individual can only be found by actually spending a little time in that area. As you go through nurisng school and experience the different areas, some will appeal to you more than others -- and you might be surprised which ones appeal to you. It's common for pre-nursing students to think they want one thing -- but to find they prefer something else once they actually experience both of them.

[ZDriver96]

Zookeeper thats a good idea. Thanks for the heads up on that. I often call the hospital with questions about the pt's I transport to see what illness they had. I see all these problems pt's have in the field but sometimes do not get a chance to know what illness is actually causing the problems signs/symptoms.

I wouldn't mind doing a foley on the average person but I really don't want to on someone who is grossly obese and or have not kept up on their hygiene.

I didn't realize cardiac nurses did foleys often. I thought they came in already with the cath.

Jobs in Florida are fairly plentiful from what I've seen since florida nurses are paid less then some other states. Also I have a couple degrees, prior military, and field experience in EMS so I'm fairly confident I will have a few different nursing options when i get done with school.

Just trying to get an idea of the duties of different specialties before school starts. Understand that I want to work as a nurse because I want to enjoy what I do. Not just for a pay check. I want to enjoy getting up and going to work... just as I enjoy getting up and going to the firehouse.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

I'VE GOT IT !!!!!! PACU... you have acute patients, sometimes very stable ones, a nice mix... you have them for an hour or two which is what you are used to... you have the skills to monitor the airway... the main priority here with circulation... then transfer them out... minimal documentation...

PACU jobs are very difficult to get, but your experience will not prevent this... you simply do what you've already know and done... but the difference is you know what your getting, anesthesia gives you report, you have standing orders that you are used to and you stabilize and treat and ship.

You'll see every single diagnosis post op and have and incredible new learning area that can take you anywhere.... but I doubt you'll ever leave it. Just look it up. I wish you well in your search.

PACU jobs are hard to get because it is a specialty. It is not a place for new grads--not in my hospital anyway. The training is based on experienced people already, preferably ICU. Our training requires 3 months of intense one on one, regardless of previous experience because we get super sick people. We get ANYTHING from neonates with ventriculostomies, to 100 year old with everything...we also need to understand EVERYTHING about every surgery we do, the implications of anesthesia on the surgeries, the co-morbids, all this within several minutes--report is 5 minutes and it is FAST, FAST, FAST. Airway is number one and I've had to hold airway for several minutes to an hour (I prefer them quiet, anyway)...You can't hold the OR, but you have to remain safe, sometimes the patients are so confused they are ripping off IVs and trying to bite--I had a 250 pound veteran the other day--had to call security for help...families who faint, patients who brady, patients in SVT...all can happen at once and things blow up and code or it's really nice with a choley and an appy and all is quiet. LOVE THIS SPECIALTY.

You have to be on your game, and very quick--mentally that is--the background is the MOST important thing...and we do INSERT a lot of foleys.....as needed....

The best part--they leave to another floor, or home...

[MinnieMomRN]

I didn't realize cardiac nurses did foleys often. I thought they came in already with the cath.

Perhaps if you are working in the cardiac cath lab, but on a tele floor this would not be the case. Unless the patient is A&Ox3 and a walkie-talkie, chances are high that they will need a foley. You have to know EXACTLY the I & O when the Cardiologist rounds. You need to monitor the heart failure patients very closely.

[Olive_RN]

I think that once you go through nursing school and your clinicals, you will know what you love best. Each clinical takes you through a semester of L&D, medsurg, icu, pedi, psych, and all the most important areas. I didn't know what area to go into until I went through clinicals. Try to keep an open mind as you go through them. And as far as your interest in keeping busy, I can't think of any area where you would have much down time!

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

It truly is having an open mind with all experiences through nursing school. I *thought* I wanted to do ICU /ER. I worked as a tech for a year in ICU and a year in ICU as RN I knew I didn't want to continue and now I'm in psych and I enjoy it.

You really just wont know if u like something or not until you experience it for yourself. Some things are a lot worse than they seem imo. A lot of it depends on your coworkers, management, etc and you enjoying your job.

For me having a job I enjoy means good coworkers and NOT having that dread before work. My job now, I don't even mind waking up and going to work. My life and happiness is what I value most.

[CrazierThanYou]

Both were on two little old ladies which I swear to god the meatus was non-existant.

Funny. When I was taking CNA and the instructor talked about catheters, we discovered that more than one female in the class wasn't aware they HAD a meatus. They thought they were urinating through their lady partss. One girl called me later and insisted that she really does not think she has a meatus.

[Caffeine_IV]

All the specialties have their high and low points. Maybe you would like the OR?