What kind of nurse should I be?

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Specializes in PCU, Tele, Med/Surg.

I'm pursuing a BSN within the next year and I'm sure I'll figure out what area I like while in nursing school or during a year of experience hopefully afterward, but I'd like to ask anyways.

Some of my likes...I really like using needles (not on myself haha) but I just feel at ease around them and I feel like I'd prefer doing that as a 'task' the most. I don't know if there's a nursing position that focuses on the use of them or not.

I like working with teens and I like working with the elderly. I will admit, since I've been volunteering at hospitals and I get pretty grossed out by deep wounds that I watch nurses clean. I hope I get used to that but as of now it's really hard to look at. I don't get nauseous I just get the "willies" and don't really want to keep watching them clean the wounds. Anything surgical pretty much makes me feel that way, unless it's something minor like removing a wart, lol.

Any ideas would be great and I appreciate it.

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They have some nurses who are part of a PICC team/IV team, you'd probably enjoy that if you like needles :)

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Honestly? Given the currently horrible job market for new grad RNs, I would focus more on networking to be sure you get a first job than looking at a particular specialty. Be prepared to entertain any offer you might get and to apply to pretty much everything.

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Specializes in Emergency and Critical Care.

What type nurse you should be? A caring, compassionate, open minded, flexible, tough skinned, fun, "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound", build a strong med/surg foundation. Many new grads think they want one thing and end up falling in love with something entirely different. There are vascular access nurses, these nurses generally require some years of experience. I too love needles, I started a nurse Picc team at one hospital and Loved inserting them. I have worked on an IV team, worked critical care of all types, emergency, trauma, pediatrics, cancer center, burns, transplant, and on and on. Be open for new experiences, always. Gain certifications in the areas you work in. My strongest suggestion is to build your foundation first, while exploring other options. Shadow on other units, don't be afraid to float to other areas when you start working. And most of all have fun.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Hmm - am I the only one who is a bit disturbed about OP's "I really like using needles" statement? I find it unsettling since it appears that OP is not yet involved in clinical training.

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Specializes in Nasty sammiches and Dilaudid.
Hmm - am I the only one who is a bit disturbed about OP's "I really like using needles" statement? I find it unsettling since it appears that OP is not yet involved in clinical training.

You're not--the OP seems almost creepily enthusiastic about using needles, even beyond the expected bright-eyed/bushy-tailed eagerness one might expect from a pre-NS student...

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