picking your specialty

kcalohagirl · Aug 5, 2007

Hi! Glad to see you are so excited!

We actually didn't pick a specialty in Nursing School. For our "capstone" program (other places might call it an internship) we were asked our preferences, but that was no guarantee that they would be honored. I can't remember what I asked for, probably kidney or bone marrow transplant, but I ended up doing my internship in floatpool. It was a fabulous experience. It may not have been what i THOUGHT i wanted, but I gained so much experience in so many different areas, and there are veteran nurses I work with now who give me a pat on the back for doing a float-pool internship.

Nursing school gives you the basics.

No hospital expects you to come out of nursing school being a perfectly trained, expert nurse.

If you have the chance in nursing school to choose to do a rotation in an area the especially interests you, go for it! However, realize that there are awesome experiences in all areas.

As a new grad, you have a great opportunity. Most hospitals realize that you have a good grounding in the basics. The basics never change. They will train you for the specialty.

When I got hired into telemetry, they sent me to a tele class, the sent me to a progressive care class, they sent me to ACLS.

They want you to succeed.

What interests you?

Is there an area you are passionate about? Go for it!

Is there an area you despise? Avoid it, but realize you might learn something from it.

Don't be afraid to pursue your "dream job".

But if for some reason you don't get the ideal, make the most of what you decide to do, make it a stepping stone to your passion.

Keep learning.

Best of luck

mel421 · Aug 5, 2007

Thank you for your reply. I have been wondering the same thing. If I could have things my way I would really like to go into L&D. My long term goal is to be a certified nurse midwife. But the L&D positions are hard to come by. I have had many dreams that I get put on a floor that I can't handle or don't enjoy. For me that is terrifying. I think if I couldn't be in L&D I would like the ER.

AliRae · Aug 5, 2007

At my school, we used to have something called "J-Term" Basically, you would cram a semester's worth of class into 3 weeks in January and get 3 credits for it (5 days a week, 4 hours a day of the SAME CLASS). Our senior year, we did a 90-hour preceptorship in hospitals in an area of our choice. That's the closest we got to picking a specialty whilst still in school. I did mine in NICU, loved it, and was totally convinced I was a NICU nurse. Applied all over, and didn't get any NICU offers. Ended up in PICU, on the unit where I used to be a tech, and haven't looked back. I now hate getting pulled to NICU ... I'm scared of them, they're so small!

If you school offers an opportunity like that, try out a specialty area you think might interest you after school.

iHeartNICU · Aug 6, 2007

We don't get to pick a specialty for school....just the standard clinicals that our whole class does.

However, this summer I knew I wanted to get some experience before I graduate in December so I applied for an extern position. They may call it other things other places but mainly it's a lot of observation and learning how to prioritize and organize. I got an extern position in the NICU and I coulnd't be any happier.

I knew I wanted some sort of ICU because I prefer focusing my attention on 1 to 3 patients rather than 5, 6, 7,8 , or more, Also, I'm very petite, only 4"7' so I didn't think I could really care for the adult ICU patient very well. That left me w/ PICU or NICU and in high school I did an observation thing in the NICU for one of my classes so I choose to apply to the NICU. I have been working there since may and I LOVE it.

So take what you like, are interested in, your personality, etc, etc, and hopefully you will end up enjoying what you're doing. Best of luck!

phillies · Aug 7, 2007

You gals are really great!!!! thank you so much for all of your quick replies. I have been on other boards before and no one wants to answer anyone's questions.

The more I read the more I can't wait to start the nursing classes. I am VERY, VERY afraid (am i strong enough, etc.)but I am willing to give it a try. I would love NICU, however, I would always be thinking of my 3 children if I saw a sick baby and probably break down in tears.

I think though my passion would be in anything that had to do with children:balloons:.

I look forward to hearing more from everyone hear and around this board!!

StudentNurseAbby · Aug 8, 2007

I went into nursing school thinking I wanted to OB but I hated my rotation, is was nice to see the happy families and all but it was pretty boring for me, everyone else in my group loved it. I loved the telemetry unit and everyone else hated it. lol I'm still unsure at this time but I'm pretty sure that OB isn't for me now.