I've heard lots of nurses say (on here and ones I know in real life), to not pick a specialty before going to nursing school. That you will likely change your mind what you want to do. But I'm curious, how many of you that are current nurses, decided to go to nursing school because you were interested in only one or two specialties? Did you end up changing your mind at all? Do you think it is a bad idea to only want to do one thing? If you didn't change your mind, did you end up with your dream job? How long did it take?
I am finishing my prereqs now, and applying to nursing school in the fall. But I'm having doubts. The reason I want to go to nursing school is to work in the NICU. I never considered it before I learned what it was. There are a few other areas I can maybe see myself working in, but there are many more areas I don't see myself wanting to be in. I don't want to limit myself of course, but I am afraid of going to school, taking a spot from someone else, and not getting that dream job. Being miserable as a nurse. I have no problem working in Med Surg, a nursing home, or any other area for a few years (I did work in a nursing home as a CNA), as long as I know I will eventually end up with a job I love. I'm just wondering how realistic that dream is.
So I just want to hear from other nurses that were once in my shoes. Was it worth it going to nursing school, learning and working in other areas that maybe you didn't enjoy as much? Because you eventually got that job that you love and couldn't imagine doing anything else. Or do you regret going to nursing school?
I started out wanting to work in women's health and ended up in oncology. I love where I'm at, and wouldn't change it.
Just keep an open mind during your clinical rotations and maybe you'll find something that appeals to you. You can also start in med-surg if you're unsure, which is a good foundation for most everything.
I went into nursing school knowing that I want to help people and make money in the process. In my time in school I have determined that my ultimate goal is trauma/critical care nursing. I will be graduating in 5 days and although I will work my butt off to get into that field, I will not turn down jobs elsewhere. I'm sticking to my original goal of wanting to help people.
When jobs were plentiful, nurses could choose their specialties with ease. This has not been the case for years. Now, new grads need to be flexible or face unemployment, depending where you live.
I knew I had no interest working with kids, babies, or trauma on a daily basis. That's still the case. I work with seniors and have specialty certification in geriatrics (GNCC).
The great thing about nursing is the diversity in roles. There's something for everyone.
When I started in nursing school, of course I daydreamed about what kind of nursing specialty I might go into after graduation, talked with dh, family, and got their input on what THEY thought I might be best at.
All throughout nursing school, I had NO idea where I'd want to be "later on down the road"! None. Each rotation had something I liked, something I didn't. Nothing 'spoke' to me, if you want to think of it that way.
Graduation comes and goes, focused on passing the NCLEX, did that, and then began to apply for hospital positions. Occurred to me that starting in Med-Surg (as so many recommended, and now as *I* recommend) would be a very good idea, so did that, and started there. LOVED Med-Surg!! Oh, I hated the understaffing, late-shift admission dumps, crud that got passed onto those of us working nights "because we had so much downtime" (yeah, right), but overall, really loved the variety and intensity.
Time moved on, job change was in order (NOT because of specialty, but because of...Life). Worked in a totally different setting, doing a totally different kind of thing (but definitely incorporating what I knew, what I had learned, and where I had some expertise).
Time moved on again, changed into a whole NEW area of nursing, really enjoyed that, but it was something that wasn't going to sustain me, so.....moved on again, and I am once more doing something ENTIRELY different, and loving it!!
So did I have a specialty in mind when I started and/or finished school? Nope. Just found my way through opportunities into various settings, various specialty areas, and I can't tell you how rewarding it's been....and who knows, maybe I'm not done skipping around yet!
Thing is, even if you find an area you like, you yourself may change over the years.
I spent all my time in nursing school planning on rural, 3rd world country clinics; did my nutrition paper on combining proteins from basic staples, took the rural community health rotation, even a med surg rural rotation. Ended up in an inner city hospital for my grad year anyway (my planned on clinic closed after the mayor of the village was decapitated and the clinic held up at gunpoint by rebels). Then Scout camp nursing, LTC, different 3rd world area in children's homes (had never though of peds!). Quite a few years of medsurg/oncology/step down. Finally ended up in ER, for 16 years. Picked up a masters and teach as well.
So finding just one area for your whole life isn't usually the way life turns out! Study everything, be open and discover all the possibilities.
OP, I am in a similar situation. I graduate in two weeks and want nothing more than to work at the NICU. But times are tough and if I must, I will find a job elsewhere, perhaps post-part., Med-Surg or cardiac and learn as much as possible before trying to transfer into the nicu.
I was almost in the same situation as you are, OP. The only difference is, I knew I wanted to go back to school and become a nurse first and then subsequently fell in love with NICU. Before I even started nursing school, I knew that I wanted to end up in the NICU. I also gained A LOT of information about what NICU nursing was like from this site. I tailored my nursing school experience towards my goal of working in the NICU. When I did my L&D rotation, I asked to be in the SCN for a day and was allowed to. My OB instructor felt my passion for NICU and allowed me to have more experiences with neonates. I was able to get my senior capstone experience in a NICU (even though that wasn't an option given to us) and that is probably what led me to get a NICU RN interview before I even took my NCLEX.
NICU is obviously a sought-after specialty, but that does not mean that you won't get a NICU job. I was a new grad in a large city that had many nursing schools and a saturated job-market, and I was offered the job before I even got my license. And all along the way people were saying that it would be an almost-impossible feat. I believe I achieved this goal by being aware of how lucrative NICU was, tailoring my nursing school experience to my end goal, doing well in school, getting a great recommendation from my OB instructor, researching the hospitals in my area, FOLLOWING UP on my job applications, and making sure people could tell from my cover letter and resume that I was passionate about this field.
I think you have the right mentality - you know you want NICU but are willing to work in other specialties first. Give nursing school your all and learn all you can in the different areas you do clinical rotations in. Even though I wanted NICU, I made the most of every rotation and had a well-rounded education. If NICU still remains your passion, go for it!
I used to love to watch Trauma: life in the ER, and still do occasionally, and so I thought I wanted to be an ER nurse. Since I've had more exposure to healthcare and been to and graduated from nursing school, I have decided that cardiac/critical care is where I want to be. I probably will work in ER at some point in my career but I sure do love working in CCU!
I went to nursing school thinking I would work l&d and then become a nurse midwife (CNM). I ended up not having such a great rotation on l&d and my interest faded. I got my first job on tele, and now I work medsurg, and I'm switching to ED. I want to eventually go back to school for FNP or ACNP.
I went into nursing school with an open mind in relation to a certain specialty; I already worked as a nurse assistant in the ER and on Tele.
I did want to specialize in two specialties; and have been able to do so: Rehab and Pediatrics; I have also worked in home health, LTC, and even in critical care.
Working in Rehab made we want to work on the Acute side of TBIs and SCIs, and other Traumas, so I hope to eventually work in Trauma, whether it be in the ER setting or Critical Care setting; I have continue to accrue experience that have given me the opportunity to get into that setting someday; whatever happens in life, I can honestly say I enjoy being a nurse first and foremost, and definitely have never had a dull moment.
I went into nursing school wanting to be a oncology nurse. However, when I took my oncology clinical, I HATED it so much that it was my least favorite clinical. Then I did surgical, PACU and OR and loved it. I graduated and tried to get a job in the OR but didn't. I'm working med/surg. some ppl go into school knowing what they want to do and do it and some ppl don't. My advice is you can go into nursing with what u want but be opened minded and do as much as you can
When I went to nursing school my goal was also NICU. I started nursing school in the Houston area where there are numerous hospitals with Level 4 NICUs. However, after my junior year my husband's job required us to move. I was able to transfer within the same university system to the campus in Dallas, which also has multiple Level 4 NICUs. However, we live 120 miles from Dallas. (Requiring a long, difficult commute my last year of school.) When I graduated I was no longer willing to make that commute so I applied for a position at the one major hospital where we live. They only have a basic nursery and transfer any infants requiring higher care to Dallas. There were not any openings in the nursery when I applied so I took a position on a medical oncology unit and figured I would gain some experience there and transfer to the nursery when a position became available. I feel in love with oncology and never looked back. I even went on to become nationally certified in oncology (OCN).
i don't think there is anything wrong with having a specific goal in mind. Just remain open to other possibilities (which it sounds like you are). One of the great things about nursing is the tremendous variety it affords.
grandpaj
206 Posts
I started out wanting to work in women's health and ended up in oncology. I love where I'm at, and wouldn't change it.
Just keep an open mind during your clinical rotations and maybe you'll find something that appeals to you. You can also start in med-surg if you're unsure, which is a good foundation for most everything.