specialties

[RHill9919]

How does it work when picking a specialty? Is this something that you can choose while in nursing school and then attempt to find a job within that specialty? That seems difficult considering how hard it is for nurses, esp new grads, to find jobs now. How about for CRNA? As a new grad with a BSN, what would be the best department to specialize in until I go to further schooling to be a CRNA?

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

You don't choose a specialty in the way that doctors do. You may have an interest in something and, upon licensure, apply for jobs in that area. If you are interested in CRNA then you need AT LEAST 2 yrs ICU and a BSN.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Most nurses figure out where they want to go next--specialize next--after working for awhile. I'm not going to enter into the HUGE debate over whether one needs a year or two of med-surg experience in order to go into some more specialized areas, but I WILL say that in many cases, it is required. Some cases, not.

In any event, NO ONE expect you to have figured out exactly where you want to be for the rest of your life by the time you graduate nursing school. And honestly, I've found many who originally insisted that XX Unit was where they wanted desperately to be, only to find out that it was NOT for them after all....and another area of nursing was a much better fit.

Sometimes you choose a job because of the duties involved, and are willing to give up other things (preferred hours, schedule, opportunities for continuing ed or advancement, etc). And sometimes you choose a job exactly because of those "other" things and do something entirely different than you had planned on.

Ain't it exciting? :)

And Slinky is entirely right in that CRNA programs want you to have more than a clue about how critical care works before admitting you: ED, ICU time is mandatory.

[RHill9919]

Very helpful, thanks so much!

[RunBabyRN]

Right now, new grads are kind of taking what they can get, especially in more competitive markets. Some of us have gone into school knowing what we want to pursue, and graduate still feeling the same way. Others go in with no idea what they want to do and have a better sense when they graduate. Some graduate still unclear in which direction they want to go. Those are all okay! I am graduating with the same goal I had when I went in, though I have found other areas that would make me happy (and ruled out some that I thought I'd be happy in).

You're definitely smart to work as a BSN for a few years before CRNA school (if you still opt to go that route). Any APRN would benefit from a few years of RN experience prior to school, and it will make you more marketable at that point.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

You're definitely smart to work as a BSN for a few years before CRNA school (if you still opt to go that route). Any APRN would benefit from a few years of RN experience prior to school, and it will make you more marketable at that point.

It's actually a requirement nowadays, for most any CRNA program. Competition for seats is too great to allow someone in without the necessary experience.