Feeling Lost

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Hi everyone!

I am graduating with a BScN in April. I have no idea where I'd like to start working after I graduate, and I am looking for advice from others who have been in my position. I've had clinicals in med-surg, palliative care, cardiac rehab, psych, and a doctor's office. The only placement I enjoyed was palliative care, but in my province it is rare to find a job specifically in PC; you also work med-surg. To say I disliked med-surg would be an understatement, and I found myself to be bored in the community placements I had.

I am definitely an anxious person, and while I love and value ED and ICU nurses, I think I would be too intimidated by the strong personalities in these fields. Does anyone have any suggestions? Unfortunately I have no placements left so I'm feeling worried about starting a job somewhere I might not like. Any and all advice is welcome. Thank you!

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Specializes in Occupational Health Nursing.

If you are generally an anxious person, you are correct, you can't be in ED or ICU. How about outpatient ambulatory?

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

You're in a challenging position, but the good thing is that you're looking for your *first* job, not locking yourself into a forever job. You're likely to have numerous positions throughout your career and each will have pros and cons. 

What was it that you disliked about med-surg? And anxiety may add some challenges in any work environment, but I wouldn't necessarily discount whole fields of nursing because of it. The ED and ICU are very different environments, but each have some appealing aspects. And yes, some strong personalities, but that doesn't mean they're all bad places to work, or bad people to work with.

I've worked in long-term care, med-surg, ICU, inpatient case management, and there were enjoyable aspects to all of them. (although case management really wasn't for me) Your introduction doesn't give a lot of specifics about what you do or don't like about nursing as a whole, it might help to give more feedback if you're looking for specific recommendations. Good luck!

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I graduate in May with my ASN and I'm having the same problem, including the anxiety LOL. I'm a LTC LPN and just want to get out of LTC. I've done it 8 years and just need out so I know that for sure.

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