How long to find your "niche"?

diane227, LPN, RN · Sep 29, 2009

I always knew that I wanted to work in the county ED, Level I trauma center. So I did a year of med surg, two years of critical care and then walked my butt over then I told them to hire me and why. They did and I finally worked my way up to director. It was just instinct. I always knew what I would end up doing.

dseem13 · Sep 29, 2009

I've always known I wanted to do something in women's health. Although I am a new grad, I am very confident this area is for me. I start on the mother/baby floor (my dream job) soon!!!! I feel very blessed to not only find my niche, but to get a job in it as well.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 30, 2009

I really never knew what I wanted to do. I thought I wanted to be an L&D nurse when I started nursing school. 5 weeks of OB rotation and I knew I would never darken that kind of floor again. I pretty much picked my first position without any really good reason (step-down telemetry) and continued a total of 9 years in that or other telemetry floors. I wasn't unhappy, and I was really pretty knowledgeable about cardiac. Then I discovered you could be an NICU nurse without "doing time" on the OB floors. Sounded good, I changed over and I have found my niche, but it took 9 years to get there. Don't be afraid to make friends on other floors and visit them, see what they do, it's essentially how I discovered NICU. First time I actually stepped into a unit, I was hooked.

jessi1106, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2009

well, I guess that is one of the benefits of nursing...you can keep looking until you actually find your niche. anything you are passionate about in your current postition?

I have only been a RN 2 1/2 years...certainly still seeking my niche...but grateful for all of the varied opportunities to actually find it.

I wish you the very best of luck. ..and am confident that in time you will find the best position to fit your personal needs.

cardiacmadeline, RN · Sep 30, 2009

Started out in cardiac, still working in cardiac and don't plan on leaving it anytime soon! It is definitely my niche!

franciscangypsy · Sep 30, 2009

Picked an area at random -- stepdown telemetry -- and based on the vibe of the floor. How good the work environment seemed. I didn't really know what I wanted to do and still am figuring it out.

I start the job as an RN on Friday!!! :dancgrp:

I guess finding your niche only comes with time. Once I know how, I'll let y'all know.

Jahna · Sep 30, 2009

For me, the choices were either ER or ICU. My career began in the ER. I love my job!!! Plus, I volunteer at hospice for a change of pace and the tremendous emotional rewards that I get from that environment. My only advice is to "never say never", i.e - never say you will never work in one area because you may find yourself there one day. Keep your options open. Think of the things that spark your interest and go from there.

allnurses Guide · Sep 30, 2009

I'm still kinda looking for it. =) I love working with children and I think I eventually want to work as a school nurse; however my current financial situation won't allow for that, as school nurses in many cases don't make nearly what a hospital nurse does. So, after six years as an RN... I'm working on a children's psychiatric unit. It's an area that I thought I would love, but so far... not so much. =)

So, like others have said, it sometimes takes a while, but I think everyone eventually either finds an area that they love, an area that they at least LIKE a little, or they move on to a whole other career that suits them better.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Sep 30, 2009

Thanks guys!

I should have known critical care wasn't a fit for me.

I don't agree with the whole dynamics with many critical care patients. Putting a 96 year old through hip surgery and never being able to get her off a vent doesn't seem like my idea of good care. I think many elderly patients who end up in these long-term low quality of life situations is just terrible. I feel so bad for them because you can see the pain they're in (Yes I always give them their pain meds and if they dont have them I bug the doctor until they get some). One old lady told me in a more lucid moment that she thought everything (procedures/surgeries) they were doing was stupid, but because of her inability to make decisions consistently the children get to decide her care.

Seems like the adult children often prolong patient suffering needlessly more for their own needs.

I did like NICU and ED in my student rotations. I used to work as an LVN in a college health clinic and loved it. The economy really put a downer on my options, but at least I have some. I'll just keep chugging away.

chicookie, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2009

I ended up in med surg and I actually love it but know that I don't want to stay here. I want to be in L&D. I think the only way to know is after working there for a while.

Katie5 · Oct 1, 2009

I really never knew what I wanted to do. I thought I wanted to be an L&D nurse when I started nursing school. 5 weeks of OB rotation and I knew I would never darken that kind of floor again. I pretty much picked my first position without any really good reason (step-down telemetry) and continued a total of 9 years in that or other telemetry floors. I wasn't unhappy, and I was really pretty knowledgeable about cardiac. Then I discovered you could be an NICU nurse without "doing time" on the OB floors. Sounded good, I changed over and I have found my niche, but it took 9 years to get there. Don't be afraid to make friends on other floors and visit them, see what they do, it's essentially how I discovered NICU. First time I actually stepped into a unit, I was hooked.

This made me smile."never to darken that kind of floor again" lol.