Finding my specialty

[RNBSN116]

I am a current student nurse graduating in May of 2018, and I am having a hard time deciding on a specialty. I know a lot of hospitals you have to apply for specific units, so I'm trying to figure out what to do. I am going to be living in the southern nj/philly area. I am super interested in trauma, ICU, ED, and OR/peri-op. I know a lot of people suggest to start on med surg but I did an externship and multiple clinicals there and I definitely thrive in the more acute, critical care type setting. I am mainly conflicted between ICU and OR because I know for both ED and trauma it would be best to have more experience first. They are such different specialties....any feedback will be much appreciated and thank you in advance!!

[Sour Lemon]

I am a current student nurse graduating in May of 2018, and I am having a hard time deciding on a specialty. I know a lot of hospitals you have to apply for specific units, so I'm trying to figure out what to do. I am going to be living in the southern nj/philly area. I am super interested in trauma, ICU, ED, and OR/peri-op. I know a lot of people suggest to start on med surg but I did an externship and multiple clinicals there and I definitely thrive in the more acute, critical care type setting. I am mainly conflicted between ICU and OR because I know for both ED and trauma it would be best to have more experience first. They are such different specialties....any feedback will be much appreciated and thank you in advance!!

Apply for everything, see who calls back, and then make a decision.

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Apply for everything, see who calls back, and then make a decision.

Amen!

In nursing, you don't decide your specialty as a new grad, the specialty chooses you. I had two job offers from my top choice hospital; cardiac and neurosurgery. I went with neurosurgery and I'm still a neuro nurse today. I would have never chosen this specialty as a student, but I'm very happy in my job.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Some specialties are popular and will have lots of other people applying too.

If you really want to bypass med-surg (often willing to hire new grads) for one of the specialties, are you willing to apply to many places and move to another city or state to get that job?

[RNBSN116]

I would be willing to move to another state or city to get a job, but I would obviously much rather stay close to home to be near my family. Where I live I, there are so many hospitals around me that its almost overwhelming that I don't even know where to start

[brownbook]

I hope the nursing glut is over and you can apply and get accepted for many different positions.

However if it is still hard to get a job as a new grad, as Sour Lemon said, see who calls back and take that job. After you get a year or two under your belt you can apply for different nursing positions.

Also if any hospital offers a float pool position, that is a good way to be exposed to different units.

Keep your mind open. You could end up deciding that psych or L & D, etc., etc., is a fascinating area to work.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

If you had an option between ICU and OR as a new grad and your goal is ED, take the ICU job. Much easier to go from ICU to the ED than from other specialties.