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?
Many of my former classmates who were interested in a specific area at the beginning of nursing school were working in their chosen specialty within a year of graduation. I didn't know which specialty I wanted to work in and though I'm in a solid, desirable specialty with a lot of job security, I'm still thinking about trying a few others out. If you want to do NICU, go for it. If you get there and don't like it, all is not lost.
I did, but I also kept an open mind during school. I had to keep applying for 2 years after school to get into the specialty I wanted. Keep your options open! (:
Ironically I thought I could *NEVER* work in NICU. I assumed I would do oncology, ped oncology, or something similar since my previous career was hem/onc research. I started teching in a peds ER - thoroughly enjoyed it. Asked for a transfer to one of the ICUs (PI/CI/NI) after third semester. Just so happened NI had an opening. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and accept it ... and I fell in love. Just accepted an RN position there for post graduation:)
I thought I wanted ED. I did my senior practicum in the ED of level 1 trauma center. Had some pretty awesome experiences.
After graduation and a year on a post op unit I fell into a different field for a completely ridiculous immature reason and turned out to be perfectly suited for it. Have had a fulfilling and most of the time an enjoyable career. Something good happens everyday still.
I would have scoffed at it while I was still in school though.
At the start of school, I wanted to do L&D or newborn nursery (the healthy ones). But that was when hospitals were starting mother/baby care (centuries ago), and I didn't have any desire to take care of postpartum moms... they cried more than their babies did! Still figured I could do L&D. Fast-forward to graduation, looking in the paper for jobs (told you it was centuries ago). The hospital I did my OR clinical in was starting up a periop internship. Husband told me to go for it. I stated I wanted L&D, he said "Every day you came home after being in surgery you were so excited, I think you should go for it." Soooo glad I listened to him. Been in the OR since graduation, never want to do anything else.
Moral of this long story? Keep your mind open. You may be surprised. If you find that nothing else grabs you, then by all means go for NICU. Just don't rule something else out before you even start.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I thought I knew- I was convinced I wanted to work in peds or L&D. They ended up being my least favorite clinicals. Instead, I found my niche in the OR in my very last semester when I did my practicum in PACU and followed a patient from admission through discharge. I highly recommend going into your clinical experiences with an open mind. You might be surprised by what you like and don't like.
Still have the paper I wrote in my ADN nursing class about being a Certified Nurse Midwife. Was hire immediately post graduation into newborn nursery but before orientation was over I had to go to midnights. Cut a deal to go to L/D- woohoo! Did that for 6 years and lo and behold, moved to SICU to go to anesthesia school. Been a CRNA since 1991. Have been a CRNA clinical coordinator, assistant Program Director and then Program Director. Just goes to show you that life can unfold in ways you never imagined and keep your options open, you just never know!!!
I always thought I would like anything besides med surg and now that I'm a med surg nurse, I love it! I went into nursing school thinking I would love pediatrics, as I wanted to be an elementary education teacher prior. I ended up not liking peds at all!
Nope i did not know. I THOUGHT i knew but turns out I didnt. I thought I wanted to go into intensive/critical care but once I was in it for about a year I learned I HATED it. And it was a field that before and during nursing school I thought was my passion, and it was, until I actually went into the field and started working as a nurse. some things, no matter how much you research, you will just never learn if its for you or not until you try it.
lavenderskies, BSN
349 Posts
I knew I didn't want peds, psych, emergency. I thought I wanted L&D and that's what I do.