most fascinating nursing job

NurseDiva04 · Jul 8, 2006

Your clinicals will help to determine which area you will enjoy! I have 8 weeks left and I still am not sure. However, I am looking in Telemetry since I am working as a CNA on a telemetry unit and I am looking in Informatics since I have 25 yrs in IT w/ my masters.

8 weeks left!!!

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 8, 2006

Why don't you try to work as a CNA in a hospital. That way you can experience different units and see what you like. I will be working in a NICU because I loved every time they send me to the unit. Good luck.

linds12288 · Jul 8, 2006

"Your clinicals will help to determine which area you will enjoy! I have 8 weeks left and I still am not sure. However, I am looking in Telemetry since I am working as a CNA on a telemetry unit and I am looking in Informatics since I have 25 yrs in IT w/ my masters."

what is telemetry and informatics?

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 8, 2006

what is telemetry and informatics?

Telemetry is the unit where patients go when they're not quite sick enough for the ICU (or the ICU is full ) but they still require things like cardiac monitoring. The nurses can keep an eye on each patient's rhythm from displays at the nursing station.

Nursing informatics combines computer science and nursing. Nurses working in informatics can use computer programming and technology to enhance patient care, billing and documentation processes.

Like kiyatylese, I think the NICU is the most fascinating place to be, which is fortunate since I work in one. At some hospitals, NICU's and other critical care units will require previous nursing experience, but many (like mine) have extensive orientation programs designed for new graduates.

As for education, most places will hire nurses who were educated by any method - diploma, associate degree (ADN), or baccalaureate degree (BSN). Some hospitals around here show a slight preference for the BSN, but there are jobs out there to be had by all.

The salary for beginning nurses within a given hospital is generally the same, with a few hospitals paying their critical care nurses (ICU, NICU, ER, etc) an extra dollar or two per hour.

I think you definitely have the right idea about finding a job you'll enjoy 'almost' every day. I absolutely love where I'm at overall, but there are days (like yesterday) that can be pretty bad.

Best of luck to you in school!

LilRedRN1973 · Jul 9, 2006

After my first semester of an ADN program, I applied for and was hired to work as an Apprentice Nurse in the ICU. I continued working there the remainder of nursing school so when I was offered a job several months before graduating, I knew that's where I wanted to be. I was fortunate to be able and have clinical experiences in med/surg, medical nephrology, labor and delivery/post partum, pediatrics, cardiac intensive care, oncology, long term care, psych, and neurosciences. This gave me the confirmation that I had chosen the right area for me...ICU.

I love the structured environment and I love caring for those too sick to even breathe on their own. Although losing a patient is devastating, I feel honored to share those moments with the family and feel as though I make a difference when holding their hands at those last minutes. I love collaborating with the MD's and having my voice heard. I love doing primary care because truth be told, I stink at delegating tasks and it would very hard for me to give any part of my job up to someone else (i.e. CNA or LPN). Not because I don't trust others, but because I HATE telling people what to do....LOL! I also enjoy the excitement of traumas being brought up and the flurry of activity that goes with them.

All in all, I really enjoy my job and couldn't imagine working elsewhere at this point in my career. I've been on my own as an RN since August of 2005 and am glad I chose the ICU as a place to begin my career. I have an AASN from a community college and make around $55,000-60,000/year. The only experience I had prior to becoming an RN was working in the ICU for 16 months while in school. I was paired up with an experience nurse and by the time my last semester of nursing had rolled around, was responsible for all care, including assessments and charting for 2 critically ill patients. The only thing I could not do was administer meds. I'm very happy I was given the chance to do this prior to graduating because it would have scared the hell out of me to start in the ICU as a new grad. But because I was already comfortable with the ICU environment, charting, and had my organizational skills down pat, I was able to concentrate on learning how to be a professional nurse. I did not have that transition period from being a student nurse to being on my own, really.

Melanie = )