How'd you choose? Because I don't know how!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2012

First, how on earth did you decide what you wanted to specialize in? Did you have it planned before you started school, or did you make your decision as you went along in clinical?

When I was doing my clinical rotations in the local hospitals, the floor nurses appeared stressed and unhappy, so I made my decision to start in LTC.

Also, did you get "stuck" in what you did your preceptorship in? Or were you able to do something else?

Not every student gets the chance to complete a preceptorship. I completed an LPN program in 2005 and an RN program in 2010 and nobody in my classes received a preceptorship.

However, I don't know if I should limit myself to peds? I have nursing instructors telling me to stay with adults as it makes me more "marketable"(whatever?)

I see the reasoning of your instructors. Adults outnumber children by a long shot, so there's naturally going to be more adult-oriented units and very few pediatric-oriented units. There's always going to be more adult patients than pediatric patients. Therefore, your career opportunities will be greater if you know how to provide care to adult patients.

Also I am nervous because I currently work at a Medsurg/Stepdown unit as a PCT/UC and feel kind of obligated to work there as the DON has been so awesome to me(such as helping me work around my schedule, respecting my religious practices etc). So I would feel ungrateful if I decided to work on a peds unit instead of adults.

I see no reason to be loyal to anyone but yourself. Do whatever it is that you feel will make you happy.

That brings another(I'm so long winded) question. Is it possible to work two part-time jobs as a new grad? Let's say on my Medsurg adult floor, and a Peds floor? Is that too crazy for a new grad to handle?

In this horrid economy, many hospitals do not want to spend the money to train a new grad for a part-time or PRN position. At many facilities, the new grad gets full-time or nothing at all.

carrie_c · Jul 5, 2012

I work OB. I wasn't exactly sure that was what I wanted to do, but after 3 months of med surg, I knew that wasn't for me. So when I was offered a job on an OB floor, I jumped on it. I like it so much better than med surg. If you aren't sure what you want to do, I would suggest just starting out in med surg. It may be the only thing you can get as a new grad, and it will help you get better offers later if you have some nursing experience. However, if you really want to do peds, and they offer you a job as a new grad, I would go for that. I don't think it's right for instructors to tell students to only do med surg, especially if you get an offer on a floor you really want to work on. It takes a certain type of nurse to do med surg, and not all of us are cut out for it. As far as feeling obligated to work for someone, don't feel that way. You will learn quickly in nursing that you have to look out for yourself. I would also highly advise against working 2 jobs as a new grad. Learning one job fresh out of school is hard enough.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 5, 2012

I didn't really choose. Several of us new grads kind of met with a recruiter. The recruiter had a list of jobs, I thought I would not mind evenings or nights and my favorite nursing instructor had worked on the step-down unit where there was a part-time evening position available. I just took what there was. Fortunately for me, the part-time evening position turned into a full-time night position before I even started. I would never recommend a new graduate take a part-time position, you need the time to get experience. Splitting up your training between two floors would probably be too much confusion.

A few years ago I would have told a new graduate to reach for whatever job they wanted, but now, I would take what I can get. It's hard for new grads to get jobs. If your current floor will hire you, take it. If you have another preference, go ahead and apply, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Come back and ask again if you get several interviews that sound promising!

sauconyrunner · Jul 5, 2012

I went into the Nursing program thinking I wanted to be a Peds nurse. This lasted, oh, until about day 5 of my peds rotation...when I discovered I like kids, but not parents. I then went into ICU nursing, in the particular ICU because I had a crush on a particular Physician. YES, thats what *I* did. He is still pretty great...if you ask me! Of course back then jobs were very plentiful and falling from the sky. Now, you will take what's offerred it seems.

I wanted to do my preceptorship in an Emergency Department, but because I already worked in one, the school made me do something else, so I ended up in an ICU for 3 months preceptoring, which actually was great and I learned much more than I would have in an ED (given my previous experience). I still ended up as an Emergency Nurse eventually.

I would not worry too much about feeling guilty about not working on the unit where you are now after you graduate. You are there now, providing good service and so you are already giving the manager what she needs...She may not really expect you to stay, but having that in your back pocket will be nice when the time comes.

And yes, it is too insane for a new grad to have 2 part time jobs. Firstly, you will want one job for stuff like benefits. After a year or two you could probably take on some part time shifts, but give yourself that year or so to get comfortable with all the basics.

SwansonRN · Jul 5, 2012

I'm fresh out of nursing school myself. Just passed my boards and I'm starting a new job in a medical ICU.

In nursing school whenever I had the opportunity to do my clinical in an ICU I was over the moon. I loved the way ICU nurses think and work, I loved the attention to detail...everything. By luck, I managed to get an internship in a medical ICU and I was convinced that this was what I wanted. Long story short I'm starting there as a graduate nurse in a few weeks.

I suppose my advice to you would be to keep an open mind and make the best out of whatever preceptorship opportunity you get. Of course I had my heart set on being in an ICU or an ED, but my professors placed me on a gen. med/infectious disease floor. While it wasn't my first choice it wound up being one of the most wonderful experiences in my life! You don't have to want to stay with your preceptorship forever, but a lot of my peers can thank their placement for their current job! Try not to stress about getting into your preferred specialty right away. Maybe your first job will be with adults and you decide that after a year or two you want to work with kids...or maybe you fall in love with working with adults! You have plenty of time to decide and every job you have will ultimately make you a better nurse :) Good luck!

Swellz · Jul 5, 2012

Thanks so much for asking this. Everyone is asking me what I want to do, and all I know is a couple things I don't want to do. Too many options!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2012

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find more than a handful of nurses who knew exactly where they wanted to be right out of school or five years out of school while still IN school. AND did just that. I think the specialty area of nursing you find yourself in is what is destined to be, but it's oftentimes rarely where you thought you'd be. And that's not a bad thing, believe me.

I wish I had a buck for every one of my fellow students or students I precepted who declared "I'm going to be an L&D nurse" or "I'm going into critical care (ED, ICU) only". Because I'd be RICH, lol, as so many of them found themselves either starting elsewhere or ending elsewhere.

I planned to start in med-surg and go wherever it took me. So I did!:) I really DID like med-surg (the fast pace, the fast-changing technology/surgeries, etc), but I had some health issues that necessitated a change. So now I'm in ambulatory/endoscopy, and love it here, too--actually, it's much better. But in no way did I ever see myself as a "GI Girl" when I started out...and I could never have landed this position fresh out of school, not a chance. Just be open to whatever comes your way, and you'll be ready to step in when something feels right.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2012

First, how on earth did you decide what you wanted to specialize in? Did you have it planned before you started school, or did you make your decision as you went along in clinical?

I hate adults so I always knew I wanted peds.

Also, did you get "stuck" in what you did your preceptorship in? Or were you able to do something else?

My first job was where my preceptorship was but I didn't get "stuck" there. It was the only job I applied for not because I was stuck but because it was where I wanted to work (or so I thought). I have since left that job and do something new now.

I have to decide where I am precepting but have no idea what to do. I think I like ICU but have never rotated to one. I am at my peds clinical now on a hemodialysis/medsurg unit and *love* it. However, I don't know if I should limit myself to peds? I have nursing instructors telling me to stay with adults as it makes me more "marketable"(whatever?)

Your preceptorship is a time to explore areas you otherwise might not have exposure to. If you think you're interested in ICU, I say go for it. ICU experience can't hurt you and will most definitely help you.

I don't consider myself less marketable as a peds nurse... I work with people who have made the transition from peds to adults without any problems and many people that I went to school with did a preceptorship in peds and have worked with adults ever since.

Also I am nervous because I currently work at a Medsurg/Stepdown unit as a PCT/UC and feel kind of obligated to work there as the DON has been so awesome to me(such as helping me work around my schedule, respecting my religious practices etc). So I would feel ungrateful if I decided to work on a peds unit instead of adults.

Why does any of this oblige you to work for them? Employers are required to respect religious practices and to make reasonable accommodations because of them.

That brings another(I'm so long winded) question. Is it possible to work two part-time jobs as a new grad? Let's say on my Medsurg adult floor, and a Peds floor? Is that too crazy for a new grad to handle?

It's not practical to work 2 jobs as a new grad. It costs just as much money to train a part-time new grad as it does to train a full-time one and they get less of a return on their investment. Both places would likely be thinking you're going to leave them as soon as you can get full-time at the other one. New grads on my old floor were only hired at 40 hrs. In this economy, most new grads can't find ONE job; I certainly wouldn't expect to be able to find two.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2012

In this horrid economy, many hospitals do not want to spend the money to train a new grad for a part-time or PRN position. At many facilities, the new grad gets full-time or nothing at all.

just the opposite at my hospital! New grads are ONLY hired as part time evening or nights to start off.. but they have to give you at least 24 hrs a week, and your orientation is full time.

as for working 2 part time jobs as a new grad, i wouldnt do it. sounds like a lot to handle at first.

I also kind of have my eye on peds, but am trying to start off in med surg because i work in med surg as an aide right now and i feel med surg experience is useful wherever you go. After I secure a med surg job I plan on applying as a substitute school nurse at some of the local schools (many of them in my area dont require certification for subs, just an RN). I figure that will give me a little taste of peds and maybe help me if i do decide to go into acute peds somewhere down the line...

good luck whatever you choose to do!

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 6, 2012

admittedly, i never chose my specialty. from the beginning i knew that i wanted to experience as many units as i could therefore, i volunteered most of the time and never stayed more than 2yrs. in one specialty. however, i knew that i couldn't deal with peds. or ob. needless to say, i never volunteered to neither one of these and this is the reason why i have the up most respect for ped. and ob nurses. unquestionably, i never felt stuck in any given unit, on the contrary by experiencing a multitude of specialties this catapulted me to my actual position in upper management.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2012

Everybody!!!! :) Thank you, gracias, shukran, merci(you get the picture lol) for all the excellent replies and comments. I appreciate all the time and thought put into giving me your advice! I still have a few months til I precept. I'm looking forward to going to the PICU one of these days for peds. I think that will also be a good experience.

Anywho, keep the comments coming. :) Glad to see there are other students coming on here with the same questions!