Need advice about switching specialty

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice in regards to a change in specialty. Let me explain my situation:

I started out as a new grad on a busy medsurg unit in AZ and spent one year (plus a year previously as an extern on the same unit) there. After a year, I decided medsurg wasn't my forte and felt drawn to critical care. I took a position at a large CA children's hospital in a CTICU. I've been here for 11 months (I know this is an extremely short amount of time) and have gained so much experience in both pediatrics and critical care setting. However, AZ is my home and I desperately miss it. I am relocating back to AZ in a couple months and have begun a Job Search.

Here's is where my dilemma comes into play. I like by current job, but I cannot say that I LOVE it. I have applied for positions in various other specialties in nursing, including adult icu, L&D, PACU, etc., as well as peds ICU. So far, I have interviews at a PICU inside a children's hospital and at a very busy L&D unit in a hospital known for its women and infant services.

I'd like some advice from people who have been in my shoes, or from people who work in the units I have interviews at. Do you think I just haven't given PICU enough time to become something I enjoy? Or did you know right away that PICU was or wasn't for you? Also, I have seriously thought about nurse anesthesia in the distant future (I'm only 23 and would want to gain years of experience first). I know L&D is not the place for me if I intend to pursue CRNA in the future... But no adult ICU has contacted me for interviews.

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm on a time crunch as I'd like to move in a couple months, but don't want to make a rushed or rash decision that may turn my career down a path I will later on find out I don't like!

Thank you so much!

If you are not sure then go agency. Why didn't you like med surg? It sounds like you are looking for a low patient ratio. Why don't you try ER it's a mixture.

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