Nursing specialities

[Oxygenforeverybody]

Now I'm a pre nursing student, So if I'm asking in the wrong section please put this topic where it belongs, But I figured posting under General nursing discussion would be best due to the question is in regards to those already in the field.

So my question is as a Nurse what made you go into the speciality you went into? How does going in specialities work exactly?

As well what Specialities from your experience seem to be the ones that lack staff?

[Erythropoiesis]

I'm a student too, but I feel like the people I've asked regarding their specialties have all given me sort of the same answer. Seems like it's trial and error at first but eventually you find your niche. They gravitate there for whatever reason. Some people do great when they're thrown in the middle of absolute chaos. They do well in the ER. Others are tough enough to keep a cool composure despite being surrounded by death. They do well in hospice. Some people worked in nursing homes prior to graduating as a nurse and so they gravitate towards the elderly. I myself have worked with children for 12 years and can't NOT see myself working with children. I'll probably end up in peds, and all the challenges that it presents, because of my love of those little people.

[Oxygenforeverybody]

I'm a student too, but I feel like the people I've asked regarding their specialties have all given me sort of the same answer. Seems like it's trial and error at first but eventually you find your niche. They gravitate there for whatever reason. Some people do great when they're thrown in the middle of absolute chaos. They do well in the ER. Others are tough enough to keep a cool composure despite being surrounded by death. They do well in hospice. Some people worked in nursing homes prior to graduating as a nurse and so they gravitate towards the elderly. I myself have worked with children for 12 years and can't NOT see myself working with children. I'll probably end up in peds, and all the challenges that it presents, because of my love of those little people.

Thank you for the reply. I'm a pre nurse student, So I'm still researching where I want to go (Or think of what speciality that mite interest me)

I did do clinicals as a EMT-B student and worked as a ER-Tech in a hospital and loved it more than I enjoyed doing the ambulance work. But since having children I've had a keen interest in working in PEDs, (Even though I probably need to toughen up as seeing children sick and hurting makes me wanna ball as a male LOL)

[brownbook]

Nothing wrong with dreaming/wondering what your nursing career will be. But you will be exposed to several different areas of nursing as a nursing student.

Keep yourself open to learning from and loving all areas of nursing. Or even really disliking an area as a nursing student, but for whatever reason finding yourself working in that area, (you may have to take whatever job you can get as a new grad), and finding you love it.

I thought I'd hate ICU and ended up working there. I thought L&D was kind of lame, (for lack of a better word), became exposed to it as a float and found it exciting, more heart thumping adrenaline action than ICU, fun, fascinating!

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I mean...you just kinda try stuff and see what you like. Sometimes you don't get a ton of choices as a new grad, but you take a job, see what you like about it, and the next one is hopefully one that capitalizes on those things. Like, my first job was in hospice. I found I really loved the patients who had addictions and mental health issues and generally worked well with them; I also liked educating families about why their loved ones may act differently at end of life. So now I'm working in med-psych and getting my certification in Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner nursing. I also really enjoy diabetic patients and the education in that area, so that may be another certification I get down the line. As you go through school and work, you'll notice what holds your interest and start looking for opportunities to use it. It's fun to think about, but I wouldn't try to decide anything too soon.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Nothing wrong with dreaming/wondering what your nursing career will be. But you will be exposed to all areas of nursing as a nursing student.

Keep yourself open to learning from and loving all areas of nursing. Or even really disliking an area as a nursing student, but for whatever reason finding yourself working in that area, (you may have to take whatever job you can get as a new grad), and finding you love it.

I thought I'd hate ICU and ended up working there. I thought L&D was kind of lame, (for lack of a better word), became exposed to it as a float and found it exciting, more heart thumping adrenaline action than ICU, fun, fascinating!

I disagree with the bolded part. There is just no way that a school can expose a student to every single nursing specialty.

OP, there is some trial and error involved. Some people get lucky and find their niche right away- I started in the OR as a new grad and I have no desire to leave it.

I also strongly advise going into school with an open mind. I though I wanted to do peds or L&D. Those turned out to be my least favorite clinical experiences. Try to avoid the preconceived notions of where you think you want to work and just soak up the experiences you can as a student.