About to graduate and don't know what type of nurse I want to be!

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Feb 4, 2009

I totally understand how you feel. Every unit I got exposed to, I liked. Making it difficult.... but there are so few jobs around my area because of the economy...I'm going to take what I can get.

I did take my personality into consideration, and considered some things I like... For example, I like getting a variety of different patients. babies to elderly. I like fast-paced. The most likely place I'm going to get to do this would be ER.

If you can't figure it out, I'd recommend Med-surg til you figure it out. Plus the skills you learn there are a great base.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

Did anyone else feel this way? There are so many choices and I keep hoping as I go through clinicals that something is going to strike me. So many of my classmates know exactly which unit they want to be on which makes me feel even worse. Any advice??

So many of your classmates probably think they know exactly what they

want until they get there and find they don't like it as much as

they thought. So far, there are two of my friends this has happened to.

What is it that makes you feel "even worse?" You don't have to feel

this way. Just be grateful you've made it through nursing school.

I didn't know exactly what I wanted either so I just chose a job in

medsurg, so far I like it. It's not what I want to do long term but

it's giving me excellent experience for when the time comes I do find

my niche. Don't worry.....not everyone finds their niche so soon in

their career. Apply for some jobs and who knows, you may find what

you like. :yeah:

MB37 · Feb 4, 2009

Do any hospitals in your area offer a new grad rotation program? Mine does in both critical and acute care, and it's a great way to get exposed to a few different areas without having to make a decision fresh out of school. If not, think about what you did and didn't like about various clinical experiences - was the problem that you loved all your rotations, that you hated them all, or that they were all just OK? What were the pros and cons of each? What skills do it for you, and what would you rather deal with less often? Are there any specialties you can rule out, at least for now, based on clinical (psych, L&D/mom & baby, etc.)? Do you prefer to work with kids? the elderly? young trauma patients? Do any of the above really bother you? Was there a unit in med-surg didactic that you liked? Or that you didn't? All these might help you to narrow your options down. Do you like having only 2 very ill patients, and providing total care for them every day? Would you rather have 4-8, delegate more, and be on your feet between rooms? How does LTC strike you, where you have even more patients but you may be able to build a relationship with them over time?

In nursing you can always change jobs - completely - after about a year at your first with no hard feelings, so it might make sense to get that experience in something where most of the skills will translate to other areas. That's why I wouldn't try to start in area like L&D or Psych unless you think it might be where you'd like to work long-term. Med-surg or tele skills will translate to just about anywhere, as will critical care/stepdown and ER. You'll learn different skills in each area, and of course your experience will vary based on the specialty of your unit/floor. Provide a little more information and maybe we can be of more help!

Nurseismade RN · Feb 9, 2009

I didn't really know either.....I worked as a nursing tech in large hospital for a year as a float....so I knew where i did not want to be a nurse..labor and delivery and peds were off my list. Love kids and take my hat off to the nurses but it was not for me. labor and delivery was not for me either, screaming women 32+ hours a week ummm no thanks. I do however love old people but did not like LTC.When I became an RN, I tried clinic nursing again not for me....to much phone work. I ended up in a long-term acute hospital..not to be confused with sub-acute, but a real hospital where i did get various age groups but mostly geriatrics....and I love love it!!! I get the most 5 patients per shift and get the same patients at least a week or more. My patients are medically acute, so very sick but then we see most of them improve over the course and that is soooo gratifying. I am thinking down the road that I would like to specialize in diabectic teaching.

All the best to you and your decision:D

southernbelle08 · Feb 9, 2009

My advice is try Med-Surg. You can't go wrong there and maybe something will come to you while you are gaining experience! I don't know how your hospital is set up or how big of an area you come from, but at my small town hospital, you can get a range of patient ages on the Med-Surg floor from babies to older people. Something like that would definitely be a good place to start out!

GL!!