Did You Go Into Nursing For One Specialty?

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Dec 7, 2014

decades ago, i new I was going to begin my career in cardiovascular medicine, and did.

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 7, 2014

I did. I originally went to nursing school so I could become IBCLC certified (nursing school wasn't a requirement, but it made the process a LOT easier) and help women with breastfeeding. My interest evolved into all areas of women's health, including L&D, antepartum, perinatal research, gyn, family planning, etc. But I've only worked in women's health, and I really don't have any interest in working in any other area of nursing.

AspiringNurseMW · Dec 7, 2014

I am going to school mainly because I want to be a midwife. Just finished applying to a nursing program, starting in the summer. only time will tell. My main interest as a result is L&D although I fully understand its unlikely I'll work there upon graduation

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2014

I am a NICU nurse and I think that the majority of people who want to be NICU nurses and nothing else are unaware of what the realities of NICU nursing are like. I also think that anyone who goes to nursing school thinking "I only want to be a an XYZ nurse" is either going to be muserable or unemployed. This is not the kind of job market where you can be picky.

Satori77, ADN · Dec 7, 2014

And that's exactly what I am worried about. Thanks for your perspective. That's why I'm trying to learn more about nursing, other specialties, and NICU nursing. I first became interested when my daughter was in the NICU a decade ago. Since then I joined this site, have talked with other nurses (in many fields) and shadowed a few NICU nurses in 2 hospitals. Is there anything else you would recommend to learn about NICU nursing?

Guests · Dec 7, 2014

I went to nursing school in order to get a good job. I actually wanted to go NICU but that didn't work out. I'm content enough with my ED gig but I could see moving in someday... Perhaps dialysis.

TheNGTKingRN · Dec 7, 2014

Unfortunately nothing will be able to give you the real feel of ANY nursing field until you're the full fledged RN with your own set of patients.

Nursing is incredibly stressful, it's filled with people at their darkest moment. Most of the time nursing is NOT Florence-Nightingalesque. Most of the time you're stretchrd in 10 different directions. You're expected to deal with death or severely acute patients in one room with a needy family in the next that wants "fresh coffee". You'll encounter problems in NICU too. Parents watching your every move. With their fingers on the pulse of a lawsuit. Nursing has its moments, but I can assure you it is not all it's cut out to be. It's taxing physically, mentally, and EMOTIONALLY. You have to consider all the possibilities, in this economy you just may end up in a nursing home or LTAC. There you'll encounter demented patients that are abusive to your mental and physical health. You'll be responsible for 20+ patients and the ungrateful children that visit their old ones once in a blue moon and therefore compensate by treating you like dirt. As nurses we deal with everyone's sh*t, both literal and figurative. We're madr of titanium. We're tough cookies. We're durable. We can make pain disappear, we can make a normal sinus rhythm reappear, we can make all that fear go away. Nursing is a roller coaster. Some may say all jobs have up and downs but FEW jobs deal with people at their lowest. Nursing has it's moments. Some days you will regret going into this career, some days you'll rejoice at the comfort you can bring. That's nursing in summary.

Satori77, ADN · Dec 7, 2014

And just to be clear, I never said I would only take a job in the NICU. There are three other specialties that I am interested in and think I would enjoy. It's just that NICU is what drew me into nursing, made me consider it as a career, and what my first choice would be. As of now, at least.

Satori77, ADN · Dec 7, 2014

Oh, I definitely understand that, TheNGTKingRN. I have been around enough nurses and worked as a CNA. Thank you for your response.

dee789 · Dec 7, 2014

I'm still in nursing school but I'll give you my perspective. I started nursing school after volunteering in an ER for over a year and I want to go into the ER (I realize this is very hard to do straight out of school and I may have to wait a few years and gain experience, which I am willing to do, and it sounds like you are too). I always felt like the floors were kind of boring when I transferred people up there.

I've gone through almost all my clinical rotations and while I haven't found anything that feels as much like "home" as the ER does, I have liked almost all of my clinicals with the exception of one or two. I came to nursing school with a specific goal in mind based on a real experience but I also came for lots of abstract reasons (I like working with people, I like being able to change jobs, I like variety, I like being busy).

So, I am very happy with my decision so far and I actually feel I have an advantage over some of my classmates who have no idea what area they want to work in. I just feel more focused and like I have a clear direction of where I want to go. So, while ER is my goal I think I would be happy in a wide variety of areas after going through clinicals. I don't think you should let wanting one specific area deter you at all. And, I will add that if you don't have any real experience in a NICU, you may very well change you mind during school, as the rotations I thought I would hate I generally loved and I disliked the rotations I expected to love.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2014

I haven't read through the replies yet...but no I don't think it's a good idea to have your heart dead set on one specialty.

I say that not because you could change your mind, but because the job market stinks in most areas. Odds of getting that dream position straight out of school are not in your--or anyone's--favor.

Job prospects aren't great for experienced nurses for that matter. Now I did go to school w/ one gal whose dream was to be a geriatric nurse. I don't think she had any trouble. But for every student who dreams of being a geriatric nurse, there are hundreds who want to work in the NICU, or adult ICU or ED, or L&D.

Goals are a good thing. Try to get your internship in the NICU; that would put you ahead of other new grads. But have a backup plan and try not to set yourself up for disappointment if it doesn't happen.