Did You Go Into Nursing For One Specialty?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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 graduate from RN school this May and my ideas of where I want to work have changed drastically! I went into it wanting to be a psych nurse, and that happened to be the rotation I hated the most.

As far as getting more experience in NICU to see if you like it; you will have plenty of time to see what you like and dislike as you go through the program. There isn't a single person in my class that hasn't changed their minds multiple times! I spent a long 8 hours In the NICU for two days and I think that is enough to know if you will like it or not. You will have rotations in ever area and something will stick out for you!

That is the great thing about nursing. You don't have to choose right away! Enjoy the ride.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I went to nursing school as a stepping stone to becoming a certified nurse midwife. I just graduated in May with my BSN. I am waiting a bit before going back for my CNM.

I am still looking for a hospital L&D job, but I work part time at a freestanding birth center (just started). I've been doing health fairs and home infusions since July. Managers LOVE my infusion experience. I don't have any regrets about any of it. I definitely look forward to getting into a hospital. I've interviewed for ICU and ED positions (waiting to hear back about a couple of these right now). I've also applied to med/surg, NICU, postpartum, and other positions. I spent a couple of months at a SNF, but it REALLY REALLY wasn't for me.

The more open to different units you can be, the better.

Specializes in ED.

I went to nursing school with no idea where I wanted to go, I just wanted a well paying job. As I went through nursing school I decided ER nursing was the only home for me. Got an ER gig right out of school, it was the right choice for me. Good luck !

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

When I started nursing school with my psych degree, I was obviously interested in heading that way. But I was also not naive to the job market. I applied to my current employer but did not get a call or interview. So I looked elsewhere. I worked med/surg while I was waiting for something else to open up. You can know what you want to do but you just might not get it right away.

I had a specialty in mind before I started nursing school but soon learned that I would not meet the necessary requirements. Years later, after all that has transpired, I have learned that one specializes in the job that they were able to get. Not all of us have the opportunity to pursue areas that necessarily interest us, when jobs in those areas are not available. Then once you start working in certain venues, you get "pegged", and it is easy to get stuck in a rut.

Specializes in Pedi.

Kind of. I knew I wanted to work in pediatrics. My "dream job" was the job I obtained directly out of school. 4 years later it became a nightmare and I left. I still work in pediatrics just in a different environment. I never want a non-pedi job though. I seriously think I would turn down a job that paid $20/hr more if it was with adults because I would just be miserable.

Specializes in Perinatal.

I did. The entire reason I went to nursing school was to be a labor and delivery nurse. I started in mother/baby and moved to L&D. I am now finding I may enjoy mother/baby more although I don't regret the experience I have gained in L&D. It is just a little more stressful than I anticipated and I don't feel it's the right fit for where I am at this point in my life. I think I enjoyed the more scheduled pace of MB and the teaching aspect. Either way, I can't imagine not being directly in some type of OB position. I was lucky enough to get right into what I wanted.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I volunteered in an ER during nursing school. I loved the ER. I planned to do Med-Surg, then transfer to the ER. Unfortunately, I graduated just before the economy collapsed. It took 10 months to find a job in LTC. Since then I've worked in home health. With an ADN and no hospital experience, I'm no closer to working Med-Surg. Home health doesn't pay much, and I never, ever want to work LTC again. I've considered getting paramedic training, though I'm not sure how my state handles RN-EMTs (I saw plenty in my ER days).

Specializes in Rehab, pediatrics.

I had my heart set on becoming a CRNA before I started nursing school. Now I don't know why I ever wanted to do that, maybe it was for the money. Haha. But nursing is great because you have so many options. I don't think that just because you are interested in a specialty now that you should let it hold you back. But I also think it depends on why you want to work in NICU. Do you want to work in NICU to take care of critical babies that could have amazing outcomes along with other babies with devastating ones? Or do you want to work in NICU just to work with babies? Overall I think going into nursing you have to have compassion for others along with reality that not everything will be sunshine and roses. (That sounds horrible but I do think reality plays a big role) You will experience rude families, horrible coworkers, and awful doctors, that make you wonder why nursing; but with that you will also experience amazing families, wonderful coworkers, and awesome doctors and experiences and patients that will make you fall in love with nursing all over again. I originally went to school wanting to be a CRNA but once school started I realized I liked all of my rotations. OR was about the only one I didn't care for (why I am no longer leaning towards CRNA). I also started as a CNA while in school in which I worked in peds and I fell in love. When I had my peds rotation I fell even more in love, I felt like I belonged. Now I work in Rehab due to the job market and I honestly enjoy it! Like I said, I opened my options greatly when I started school. I also still work in peds on the side and plan to further my education in peds once I gain more experience. Overall I think that just because you have a specialty chosen now, don't let it discourage you from going to school. As long as you understand nursing in general I think you will be successful and find a job in the field you love, but just think of why you want to go into nursing in general or you may end up very unhappy.

I thought I wanted to be a lactation consultant. After I graduated I started working in pediatrics during the interview process I was told I would need to float occasionally to Newborn Nursery - I thought that would be great - I could get my foot in the door that way. I ended up hating it in the nursery, I really didn't enjoy helping/teaching new moms about breastfeeding.

I learned in nursing school that when I graduated I would not be taking care of adults and was going to stick with pediatrics.

Specializes in ICU.

I knew I wanted to go into ICU, and that is the only part of nursing I would accept. I narrowed it down to Medical ICU after my preceptorship in one. I got Medical ICU right out of school, but I had to work for it. I relocated 400+ miles for that job. I firmly believe that any new grad can get a job in just about any specialty imaginable if he/she is really willing to look. The US is a really big place. That job is waiting for you somewhere. Obviously, if you can't relocate, you may have more trouble, but if you can, there is no reason to believe you won't land NICU right out of school.

I went to school wanting to be a psych nurse. Then I graduated and landed an ED job. Then I decided that it wasn't for me and landed a psych ED job. Couldn't be happier now.

The only constant about nursing is change.

+ Add a Comment