Do you usually stay in the specialty you start out in?

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Mar 19, 2010

I think it depends on the specialty..in mine, most nurses stay. I myself plan to be there for awhile. Not sure for the rest of my career because I may want to pursue an NP degree.

Cindy-san · Mar 19, 2010

I am definitely moving on. Almost half-way through grad school, at the moment.

I do however feel like my best friend has become trapped in med-surg even though she says she "doesn't like it." I think she'd rather not give up her current every 3rd weekend schedule for an every-other weekend schedule on a floor she might be happier on.

(She also has become a major drama-queen, so that might be part of the problem too. :uhoh3: )

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Mar 19, 2010

I did. Wasn't my intention, per say. I work on a med-surg floor, and this year will be my 9th anniversary here.

I work with a great team of people, that's one reason I've stayed. I also, for most of those years, had an exceptional boss, that was another. If I were to move on, it'd be to a job with better hours (like a clinic job). Unfortunately, those come with a big pay cut around here, so that's another reason. Now, there just aren't any jobs to be HAD. If I were married, and not having to pay rent and all the household bills alone, it would be easier to make such a change.

I've always said that I would leave and pursue another position if I found the one that was perfect for me. Honestly, I just haven't found it yet.

bungee · Mar 19, 2010

I started out working in the PICU for 8 years and just recently last year got a job on our neonatal/pediatric transport team. So far it has been lots of fun going out to different hospitals by ground or air. The best part is knowing when you have a "difficult" patient/parent and you can drop them off at the unit and see the fear in the receiving nurses eyes! :rolleyes:

tewdles, RN · Mar 19, 2010

Not my experience...stayed many years, developed skill sets and expertise and then moved on to learn something new...rinse and repeat....

nursynurseRN · Mar 19, 2010

I have been in MEd surg trauma for like nine years. I am VERY scared to move on. I love the people I work with and know everything about the hospital. I got a job at a LTAC DOU, tried it and hated it for one day! I quit.... I am looking to specialize but don't know where and I am scared of what the wind will bring....

Morning-glory · Mar 19, 2010

Started on Ortho and then followed the long twisted road to psych. Interesting journey. Working different places gives you a better understanding of the overall picture of health care in your area.

RunningRNBSN · Mar 19, 2010

I don't think there is anything wrong with sticking with one specialty, but I think many nurses stick to one specialty because it is what they know and are probably a bit fearful of trying something outside of their comfort zone. I work with many nurses who have worked in PICU for 20+ years (many of the them have been in our unit that entire time).

I also work with a few nurses who don't like the PICU but don't want to move on because they have seniority and can schedule themselves however they like.

The only reason I am staying in PICU is because I have a contract with my hospital. After my contract is up, I plan to move on and try something different.

schack · Mar 19, 2010

i spent my first year+ in med/surg, tele. I am now 3 mo. into L&D and I love it! I always planned to work OB, but needed some experience first. I did enjoy a pay raise with my move, but much worse hours. I gave up day shift, every third weekend for nights and every other weekend. But it is worth it to LOVE my job. I will eventually make it back to days and every third weekend. Till then I will just hang in there. I don't regret it for a single second!

tigerlily345 · Mar 19, 2010

Very interesting stories. Thanks for replying everyone.

mustlovepoodles, RN · Mar 19, 2010

I did not. I have always loved OB and i started in L& D. After 2 years I moved away and went to a small hospital where I did pretty much everything except surgery. With that experience I learned that I hate med/surg and ER. I moved again and found a job in Mother/Baby, then moved to NICU where I stayed for over 10 years. From that I moved to telephonic nursing, peds only, and now I 'm a school nurse. I have spent a total of 25 years in some form of peds. I took my about 7 years to get there.

I am not sorry I worked in other areas. There is great value in knowing what you DONT want to do. And it wasn't horrible. I don't know a lot about adult care, but just enough to know basic cardiac, respiratory, ortho, and renal. As a school nurse I'm sometimes called on to eval & treat adults, but mostly I see elementary age peds.