Best area to start nursing carreer?

[Bicycleboy]

I am still along way off from becoming an RN so this question is just to satisfy a present curiosity. I a wondering where do you people consider the best area in nursing to start in? I am asking this from a standpoint as to where to gain lots of knowledge, and to broaden persepective. Maybe an area that is very diverse and that may give one a feel of where they may like to try and specialize, or just enlighten one to things that they may or may not like. Although I believe working anywhere in nursing will increase my knowledge.

I thought of the military, because I am told that there is a chance for you to expirience a wide variety of nursing expiriences, in many situations where you may not have all the equipment available that one may have in a hospital.

[Jayla]

I agree with pricklypear!

Me too! I think the concept that everyone has to do a year med surg is old school. Nursing is a diverse field--one of the reasons many of us picked it. If there's something you gravitate towards more (psychiatric, pediatrics, L&D, public health) I say go for it as a new grad and ignore the "one year of med surg" rule of thumb.

Besides, many would argue that med surg is a speciatly in itself, not just a stepping stone.

[control]

Me too! I think the concept that everyone has to do a year med surg is old school. Nursing is a diverse field--one of the reasons many of us picked it. If there's something you gravitate towards more (psychiatric, pediatrics, L&D, public health) I say go for it as a new grad and ignore the "one year of med surg" rule of thumb.

Besides, many would argue that med surg is a speciatly in itself, not just a stepping stone.

ITA! I think people should definitely gravitate towards what they enjoy. It will make the first year that much better for you.

[Mona Mona, BSN, RN]

I started volunteering to even SEE if I wanted to go into nursing. I requested the geriatric floor, because I love older people. So, sometimes it will just "come" to you, which area you would like to work in.

However, I think I may want a broader range. I'll have to see what's what once I finish the program (long ways off still.....) and if anything "jumps out" at me.

Best of luck to you!

[patwil73]

Hello,

I'm going to disagree on the med/surg as the best place to start. It is a great place to meet lots of different pt's but the owrkload tends to make it very busy which I believe doesn't allow for you to develop your skills as well as you could.

I have two suggestions - first, if it is breadth of knowledge you want to acquire I would choose a residency in the ICU (general, not specialized). You learn an incredible amount about multiple different types of disease processes and treatments. Also you get to know what kinds of pt's you have an affinity or understanding for (are you better with dialysis pts, does cardiac give you a rush, infectious disease your style, etc) you meet a lot of different pts and their families and learn how to deal with very stressful situations. also the ratio gives you the time to really develop your skills and not being rushed from pt to pt. From ICU I truly believe you can workin just about every department with minimal orientation (others might chime in here but one I do think you would have difficulty moving to would be L&D)

My 2nd suggestion is if you are an action junkie go to an ER residency. The workload brings the same problems the med/surg does, but if excitement is what you really like working eleswhere may be (I hate the word boring but there it is) boring too you. You learn great skills on quick assessments.

Hope this helps, but just keep an open mind and see what perks your interest in school. Hope that helps.

Pat

[muffie, RN]

med surg

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

I'm not sure where I want to work either, but the hospital I am starting at after graduation has this really cool (IMO) 6 month orientation programs where you can try out different floors and then choose one that you like that has a position open. I am really excited!