What is the BEST and WORST nursing fields?

TopazLover, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2009

Sometimes the answers are not clear cut. My best nursing job had many of your negatives in it but was overshadowed by my love for specific pieces of the job. In my case it was a small CCU. My worst job had all the benefits you list as good but I hated it. It was working with insurance stuff.

My likes changed over the years. I hated dealing with elders when I was younger but ended my career working with elders with dementia and loving it.

Short answer for me is if you love what you do, it is the best fit. If you hate going to work it might be the worst.

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2009

I agree! I worked in ICU and absolutely hated it, but many folks enjoy the ICU setting. Currently, I work on a short stay unit and see just about everything. Our two major patient populations are oncology/hematology/BMT and diagnostic procedures. I do everything from stem cell transplants to taking care of PTCA patients. I love the diversity! Also, I am trained in apheresis. I enjoy being multiskilled!

However, you could not pay me enough to be a maternity or psych nurse!

elkpark · Dec 1, 2009

This reminds me of all the threads about "Which brand of shoes is most comfortable?" There is no specific answer to the question -- different people like and dislike different areas/specialties. The best answer is "whichever area is the best FOR YOU."

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 1, 2009

It's all relative because one nurse's utopia is another nurse's nightmare. I love psych nursing, but a few of my classmates likened it to hell. I think L&D is the worst field to go into, but for several of my classmates it was their #1 choice.

Who's right? We all are.

babyNP., APRN · Dec 1, 2009

Agreed to what was said above...

Because adults suck!

And babies are awesome :) Smaller poop.

Katie5 · Dec 1, 2009

Agreed to what was said above...
Because adults suck!
And babies are awesome :) Smaller poop.

You got me smiling on that one. Smaller poop, yes!But stinks like you wouldn't believe:D

tewdles, RN · Dec 1, 2009

My worst job was in hospice. My best job was in hospice. For me, it was all about the employer.

babyNP., APRN · Dec 1, 2009

^^ that's true.

To the OP, a lot of the variables you refer to are related to individual floors in the hospital and not necessarily the specialty themselves. For example, a trauma floor may have a lot of aids in one hospital, but not necessarily the other. Those kinds of things are dictated by the management and the happiness of the folks depends a lot in addition to the mood of the floor. I've worked on some floors as a tech where the nurses didn't get along with each other and it was always a nightmare, whereas others the feeling of the floor was great and we had food parties and people helped each other out when things were busy.

I'm happy to report that my floor is awesome in this respect in that my management is wonderful (very fair) and there is a good sense of camaraderie on the unit. It's hard to find this out before you start working at a job, but you can spend a day on the unit to get a feel for it.

scrubcircrn · Dec 1, 2009

For me Surgery is the best. One to one ratio, best hours in the hospital and great co workers.

elkpark · Dec 1, 2009

My worst job was in hospice. My best job was in hospice. For me, it was all about the employer.

So true -- different employers and facilities can make the same specialty area either a great experience or a nightmare!

Music in My Heart · Dec 1, 2009

Agreed... the employer and the coworkers are what make it or break it far more than anything else.