Did You Know the Specialty You Wanted to Work In Before Clinicals?

[Shookclays, ASN, BSN, CNA, RN]

The main reason I decided to change my major and become a RN is because of my passion of caring for babies. The NICU is the place I want to work in for the rest of my career.

I have volunteered in the following units[multiple times]:

• PICU
  
• NICU
  
• Med-Surg
  
• L&D/Nursery
  
• Cardio/Neuro
  
• Adult ICU
  

(I'm very active in a medical volunteering organization)

The only specialty I am BEYOND interested in is Neonatal, specifically acute care. There's no interest in me to work with adults nor older kids(general peds). Computer engineering was my previous major and I had a FULL scholarship but gave it all up for the babies after extensive research in the field as well as many others.

I start clinicals next semester (Jan-2017).

Did any of you guys know the specialty you wanted to go into before starting clinicals?

[Cat365]

Nope. Except that I did not want babies in any way shape or form. Little people are strange.

They are like a species all of their own. They hide sickness and can turn bad quickly. Then they die on you. Nope no babies for me.

Should have seen seen me in my childbearing clinical. :)

[Shookclays, ASN, BSN, CNA, RN]

Nope. Except that I did not want babies in any way shape or form. Little people are strange.

They are like a species all of their own. They hide sickness and can turn bad quickly. Then they die on you. Nope no babies for me.

Should have seen seen me in my childbearing clinical. :)

Who you calling strange???

[Shookclays, ASN, BSN, CNA, RN]

Nope. Except that I did not want babies in any way shape or form. Little people are strange.

They are like a species all of their own. They hide sickness and can turn bad quickly. Then they die on you. Nope no babies for me.

Should have seen seen me in my childbearing clinical. :)

Woah. Who are you calling strange??

Lol.

What specialty are you in?

[Cat365]

:) Currently adult Med surg. I threw a coworker under the bus recently when they said someone was going to be floated to Peds.

I didnt hesitate or feel a seconds guilt.

[Shookclays, ASN, BSN, CNA, RN]

:) Currently adult Med surg. I threw a coworker under the bus recently when they said someone was going to be floated to Peds.

I didnt hesitate or feel a seconds guilt.

Oh. Wow.

[loriangel14, RN]

Most people think they know. Most of my class changed their minds. One gal said she couldn't stand old folks. Now she loves geriatrics. Be open to other ideas.

[cleback]

Most people think they know. Most of my class changed their minds. One gal said she couldn't stand old folks. Now she loves geriatrics. Be open to other ideas.

This. I thought I wanted to do psych... and while I do find the subject fascinating, the actual work I found disheartening. Seen many aggressive people under treated, and many others admitted inappropriately (having difficulty setting up a vcr stand or avoiding jail time). I got burnt out so fast.

[Shookclays, ASN, BSN, CNA, RN]

This. I thought I wanted to do psych... and while I do find the subject fascinating, the actual work I found disheartening. Seen many aggressive people under treated, and many others admitted inappropriately (having difficulty setting up a vcr stand or avoiding jail time). I got burnt out so fast.

i love pysch as well but after seeing a child family member in a mental institution, my heart was broken.

I could not handle it.

[brownbook]

I knew more where I didn't want to he work.

ICU, tooooo scary. L&D, I kind of didn't get the point of an L & D nurse...after all the doctor delivered the baby! What did the nurse do?

Ended up in ICU 5 years out of school. Learned about L & D nursing when I was the 11 pm to 7 am supervisor, OMG I think that is the scariest and hardest place to work, (duh....why is their malpractice so high!). I kind of wished I had become a L & D nurse.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I think you have tunnel vision on n this and should be open to other specialties. NICU is very hard to get into initially for a new grad.

I thought I wanted pediatric oncology. I still would if I wouldn't have to deal with their families. Once I thought about that, no way.

I like me some trauma.

[Kabuto_]

It was public health, then I wanted to travel. Now I just want NICU. I realized it when I bathed a baby in Post Partum, an I doing L&D, I don't like it very much. I'm a male nurse and I often have to switch patients. I missed a vag delivery and it's rare for a female patient who is willing to let me observe, especially considering the cultural demographics of the hospital. Babies don't care if I'm a male nurse.

NICU has their area just next to L&D, very quiet and peaceful. There were only 3 nurses in the area from what I saw. NICU is for me.