what route to go down?

[russianbear]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I'm new. I'm a year away from finishing RN school. I know that I want to be a nurse practitioner in the long run. The problem is, I'm not sure which specialty. I am an aide in icu and like the fast paced, constatnly being challenged aspect. However, I also have an interest in psych. The type of jobs I look for when I finish the program is important as experience for me to enter a practitioner program. Any advice to help me decide would be appreciated.

[KyFNP13]

I think that you should work both areas of interest. I know in my area you can usually get into a PRN psych position.

When I graduated RN school I wanted to be a CRNA, so I went to ICU right out of school (for two year critical care experience). While in the unit, I found that I did love the Operating Room setting but my passion was the procedure . Fast forward six years, I am a new NP and I am training to become a first assistant after my 4 years as an RN in the OR. I think you find your passion after you get in practice so I say try both. You may be surprised what you actually love.

[russianbear]

that exact thought has crossed my mind, though i don't know of any facility that would allow me to split my time like that. The closest thing I can come up with is E.R. as they handle a variety of different cases, some critical, and, at least at my hospital, we medically clear psych patients. I occasionally work in our E.R., so I've seen a bit of this.

[KyFNP13]

In theory you would work three 12s in ICU and a shift or two a month in a psych unit (or however much you wanted). Not sure where you are from but free standing psych facilities would be an option. Maybe even the state facility of you we close enough to work it occasionally.