New grad...specialize or work on the floors for a while?

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I have one semester left before I graduate from the ADN program. I was wondering if I should specialize or if working on the floor for a year or two before would be best. I am interested in the ER, but just in general which is better? any thoughts?

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When I graduated in the 90's it was required to work the floors first. After 6 mths I transferred to a specialty. Then i left the hospital for 20 yrs and returned and got hired into a specialty I'd never tried. I'm now back on the floors for a while. I think it's truly in your best experience to work the floors first for a while. You gain regular experience with all types of things and learn how different diseases affect the whole body. You also learn how to prioritize, multi-task, all the charting and computers in a less critical area. I think it makes you a more rounded nurse and it helps you be less stressed when beginning a specialty. Good luck with whatever you do!

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Specializes in ICU.

Wherever the heck you can find a job.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

There are tons of threads regarding this. Search for that. Jobs are scarce in many places so you may not have an abundance of choices. Good luck in whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Wherever the heck you can find a job.

Agreed. You will not have the luxury that the graduates of 10 or even 5 years ago did, where hospitals were fighting over new grads and you could cherry-pick from the offers. Nowadays, a lot of new grads aren't getting their desired speciality...hell, some aren't getting any offers period.

Take whatever job you can find wherever you can find it, and go from there. Your first job isn't forever, nor does it define what your entire nursing career will be.

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haha Thanks! That is sad but true!

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Thanks! I would really like to work in the E.D. but I agree that if I work on the floor that i will get a better idea of the disease processes and will be able to experience a regular flow. It probably is better to gain the experience on the floor before I'm let loose in the ER where it is a complete separate world. :)

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