First Clinical choice

[OnTheRoad]

I will be starting nursing school in the fall (been in pre nursing getting all prereq's done for past year and a half). Of the new entering students I got an early appt with advisor for first choice of where to do my first clinical. We have 2 hospitals and one geriatric center/hospice to choose between. The geriatric/hospice is closer to where I live and I like that fact, but I have been told "you don't want to go to geriatrics right off the bat", I just don't know what to choose... so opinions? What would you do?

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I think it's up to what you want to do! If you want to do geri, don't let other people's opinions stop you. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that everybody is different, and everyone thinks they know the "right" way to go to nursing school/push a stretcher/be a nurse and no two people agree. Now, me, I'd rather cut off my own foot than do a geriatric rotation (and thank god I don't have to) but some people think I'm insane for wanting to work in the NICU. The idea of primary care gives me the wiggins, but some people love the idea. Do what feels right, and don't listen to the "don't do geri right away, you have to do a year of med-surg, push the stretcher headfirst, no push it feet first BLAH BLAH FISHCAKES"

[Stdy2BaNurse]

I think the question is - Wow - you get a choice? Our school doesn't give you the choice. We start off right away with geriatrics. This is one of those things where you gotta go with the gut. Don't forget to count your blessings that you get to choose

[OnTheRoad]

Do what feels right, and don't listen to the "don't do geri right away, you have to do a year of med-surg, push the stretcher headfirst, no push it feet first BLAH BLAH FISHCAKES"

LMAO! I like the Blah Blah Fishcakes:roll I don't know if I really care what I do while in school. I figure the more places I experience the better. I know what I currently think I would like to do when I am through with school, but I may just find something totally different that just synchs with me. Thanks for replying.

[OnTheRoad]

I think the question is - Wow - you get a choice? Our school doesn't give you the choice. We start off right away with geriatrics. This is one of those things where you gotta go with the gut. Don't forget to count your blessings that you get to choose

I won't forget to count my blessings. I don't know where in the hospitals everyone will be placed, so maybe they will all be doing the same basic thing in different locations. It sure is nice to have a choice of locations though, you are right.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

We also have NO CHOICE in just about anything at my school. But we started w/ geriatric and I think that is the way to go. You more or less see the same pts every week, and you get a slower induction into nursing than on a med-surg floor. Even the pace in the nursing home is slower than that of a hospital. I'd choose geriatrics in your shoes. Plus you get the honor of hospice. I would love to try that.