An extremely confused new grad

[paul3489]

Hi All,

I recently graduated and passed nclex but after 4 years of school I dont know where I want direction to head towards

how did you pick you specialty?/ would you do it the same looking back?

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE SO GREATLY APPRECIATED

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I knew the minute I first walked into the NICU during clinicals that that was what I wanted to do. I would do it again in a minute. Good luck to you.

[ErinS, BSN, RN]

Do something that gives you a strong medical base so you have options in the future- this would be med/surg, intermediate care, ICU, float pool, or even SNF work. Doing this will give you broad experience and may lead you to a specialty in the future.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

I knew in school that I either wanted to work in geriatrics or psych. I spent a couple of years in LTC, a year in alcohol/drug rehab, then back in LTC for a short while. During my second time in LTC, I became interested in hospice. I got a PRN job w/ a local company and stayed at the LTC until a full time position came up in hospice. I've been there the past 12 years.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I knew I have always wanted to work in critical care/step down or in telemetry. And I will be honest, I was scared s***less the very first day of critical care clinical! We went around and toured the different units and our instructor brought us into a room. The room was occupied by a patient who was on a ventilator, had a foley, 2 chest tubes and about 8 IV's going all together...I almost had a panic attack! My primary focus is progressive care/step down but I occasionally float to ICU. I still have "fears" but all in all I still love it. What did you have an interest in while you were in school?

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

L&D. I wish I would have preceptored right after school, but I didn't. If I had to do it over again, I would have gone for a preceptorship instead of back into Med/Surg.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

With the job market like it is right now, I just wanted a job. I did not care what area it was in. I'm going into psych, at least for the next year or so :) I liked psych though.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

I think at this point ....you go where the jobs are

[42pines]

I'd suggest doing at least a year in Med/Surg, it's a jumping off ground to everything with the possible exception of Psych Nursing. It's even useful for Public Health Nursing, Occupational Health Nursing and even Psych Nursing.... There you will see a lot and become comfortable with a lot and eventually you'll gravitate to where you should be.

[brownbook]

If you can get ANY job take it. Generally basic med/surg is good. Tell your supervisor right from the start that you want to get a lot of experience and want to float to other areas, units, when help is needed. Always volunteer to float. Or get a job in a float pool if one is available

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Whatever job is hiring then work from there.

[RN58186]

I fell in love with renal as a senior nursing student. I have worked it my entire career. Because our pts came to our unit no matter what they were admitted for I got a wide variety of experience. I remember the instructor I had for renal in Nsg School, she said if you can work renal you can work anywhere. She was right!