Can Nursing be a dynamic job?

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2012

Hello strangers, the Monkey comes with a question. I'm still in school and trying to pick the right career choice, and at the moment nursing is occupying my mind. But can nursing be dynamic, as in the possibility of doing something different on a day to day basis? I mention this because I love doing different things, rather than be confined to static and repetitive tasks. In other words, I like to be on my feet and being active. Like, can a nurse be bedside one day, then assisting in surgery the next? Something like that.
And please, if you feel the need to critique what I just wrote, you're completely welcomed. I'm still new to this nursing thing, so the more information I get the better.

Nursing is dynamic in the sense that there are many different fields you can go into (for example, oncology, psych, school nursing, community health, critical care, and on and on).

However, this dynamic nature tends to be misrepresented a tad (particularly on TV!) It always cracks me up to watch a show where a nurse (or even MD, for that matter) is in the ER one day, assisting with a surgery the next, then in a psych hospital, etc. The fact is, you can specialize in all of these areas...just probably not in the same week.

Now, if two fields tend to be similar - ER and ICU, say - then you might float between the two (I know several nurses that do this). But you can't typically hop around between unrelated specialties frequently, because each area has a learning curve (different procedures, charting, and clients).

So there is a lot of flexibility in nursing, but typically if you want to change specialties, it is a commitment that requires education and training time.

Hope that helps a little. :specs:

Edited to add: There is a good deal of variation within whatever job you have as a nurse. For instance, one shift I might have a GI bleed and be hanging blood; the next I might have a ventilator patient, the next I might have a psych/overdose patient. So I think any nurse, regardless of where they work, would tell you it is rarely repetitive or dull. :)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2012

if you like to be on your feet then you have come to the right place. nursing is a physically demanding, mentally challenging, ever changing profession. there are areas that will more varied than others like the emergency room with it's constant ebbs and flows versus being a geriatric nurse in a long term care facility or a trauma flight nurse the is action packed...unless waiting for a call to come in. there are all kinds of specialty areas like taking care of premature babies no bigger than the palm of your hand to assisting in open heart surgery....but they don't cross over easily. you stay in your specialty area until you find where else you'd like to specialize. most nurses specialize early in and stick with that area. there are positions like "rapid response" nurses that cover the entire hospital going from crisis to crisis (preventing the patient from becoming critical...at least trying to) or float positions that send you from area to area according to need on a daily basis.

nursing is not hawthorne or scrubs. it's a challenging, fast thinking, sometimes thankless job that will not bore you. search here and you will get an education about nursing. good luck in your endeavours[color=#c5b77d].

being a nurse means...

you will never be bored.

you will always be frustrated.

you will be surrounded by challenges.

so much to do and so little time.

you will carry immense responsibility and very little authority.

you will step into people's lives and you will make a difference.

some will bless you. some will curse you.

you will see people at their worst... and at their best.

you will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity for love, courage, and endurance.

you will see life begin...and end.

you will experience resounding triumphs and devastating failures.

you will cry a lot. you will laugh a lot.

you will know what it is to be human and to be humane.

Saija · Jan 5, 2012

I agree with what others have said. Not even physicians do that, even though they do on TV. The difference between a nurse and a physician when it comes to that, though, is that if a physician wants a new specialty they have to train for years. If a nurse wants a new one, s/he can apply and get a job with an orientation period. So if you do something for 5 years and then feel you want a change, you can switch and try something else.

I would say that if you want a job that changes everyday, the ER or ICU or something like that is definitely your best bet. You never know what will come through the door - might be a broken limb, an allergic reaction, a gunshot wound. Though I do think that aside from maybe assisted-living homes and similar places, most nursing jobs are pretty good about not doing the same thing every day. Plus you're constantly interacting with your patients and their families, so that adds to your day even if you are doing routine tasks.