Before beginning school, did you have an idea of what type of nursing you wanted to work in? Did this change or were your interests confirmed as you progressed through your program? Did you get to precept in your chosen area? How did your interests evolve?
Now that I am scheduled to start my ABSN program soon, people have begun to ask me what area I would like to work in. The truth is that I have no clue! I have volunteered in the NICU, which has been a great experience to see what that world is like. The scope of practice is somewhat limited in the NICU, so I don't know if I will head that way. I work in LTC therapy right now and I am pretty certain that this is not where my passion lies (I always do my best wherever I am, but it's not going to be my preference). I have volunteered with kiddos in many capacities and am super interested in Peds... but don't know which areas. I am open to everything and intend on doing everything I can personally do to make the most of all of my rotations. I am going to be truly honest with myself and not try and pigeonhole myself into an area that sounds great on paper, but may not be my best fit.
And I want to start off in an area that will allow me really great experience that can be used in other areas so I can really get a feel for the whole enchilada!
Just interested in hearing others thoughts as you've evolved the the nursing school process and how you felt coming out the other end.
I'm interested in anything from conception (antepartal) to peds. Pediatric cardiology and NICU are some areas in which I've had experience (albeit that pediatric cardiology has been from a patient's perspective) that I like.
I have a license as a non-nurse midwife and was going into school set pretty firm on being a certified nurse-midwife in the other side. Now I have zero interest in doing that. As my kids (and I!) get older, and I am exposed to more areas of nursing, my burning passion in all things mother and baby dwindles. I enjoy it, but I no longer live and breathe it. I still want to be a NP or CNS but where exactly I see myself isn't yet clear.
I thought I would be defined by being a mama too. I remember when my first was coming along and I was researching bfing, going through classes, then had my first and my nurse was AMAZING (she did all the work and got all of the glory from me)... so I thought I may be drawn to everything peds, ob, maybe one day be a CNM. But I am so eager to see more of nursing (I work in LTC, so I have spent a lot of time with that end of the spectrum) to see what sparks my interests, and if it goes as I thought it would. New beginnings for me and I am so excited!
PinkNBlue, BSN, RN
419 Posts
OB :) It's my passion and my whole reason for becoming a nurse.