Has anyone picked a specialty before nursing school and actually done it after?

EarthChild1130 · Oct 16, 2009

I knew I wanted to do psych before I started school...did my practicum in psych and worked as a mental health tech during school, and once I graduated I worked psych ever since (did my obligatory year of med/surg too LOL)...want to focus specifically on forensic psych but I do love mental health!

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

I knew I was going to the OR after school-even though I had two instructors say that I shouldn't, because I was going to be a good nurse, and I'd be "wasted" in the OR.After all, OR nurses aren't "real" nurses, right? :cool: :angryfireI was a surgical technologist before, so I knew the good, the bad, and the ugly about the OR. It wasn't a big shock.

Still there 3 years later.

nohika · Oct 16, 2009

Thank all of you guys so much for your responses! :redpinkhe It's really nice to know that it does happen. I get so many people telling me that I'm wrong and whatnot...that's why this forum is absolutely awesome. :heartbeat You guys understand and know a bunch of stuff that the "regular" non-nursing people don't. We're doing the circulatory system/heart in Human Bio (pre-req for A&P) right now and I absolutely love it. Who knows where I'll end up, but it's so nice to speculate! Good luck to all of you, and God Bless! Have a good week! :yeah::heartbeat

allnurses Guide · Oct 16, 2009

No, I always wanted ED/trauma. I ended up choosing cardiothoracic critical care. I did get to work in a combined CTICU/trauma ICU but I hated nursing the trauma patients!

dscrn · Oct 16, 2009

I knew I was going to the OR after school-even though I had two instructors say that I shouldn't, because I was going to be a good nurse, and I'd be "wasted" in the OR.After all, OR nurses aren't "real" nurses, right? :angryfireI was a surgical technologist before, so I knew the good, the bad, and the ugly about the OR. It wasn't a big shock.
My med surg instructor said that OB was all "boobs, bellies, and butts"... also inferred that it wasn't "real" nursing..but that area always was my favorite...that's the great thing about nursing, different strokes for different folks"

Music in My Heart · Oct 16, 2009

So I'm currently a pre-nursing student and since I'm working on my pre-reqs, I like to think about where I'd like to end up after nursing school. Not like it matters, but I'm looking at Peds CVICU, NICU, or Peds Oncology. My mother keeps chiding me not to worry about where to work until I'm done with school. I kind of like to, because...well, it's inspiration to keep going when things get tough.
Anyways, what I wanted to know...are there nurses out there who picked a desired specialty before school and are in it and love it? Thanks very much! :heartbeat I'm aware I may find my niche in school, also.

My response to your mom would be that it's wise to consider this while you're in school. Many programs have 4th/5th semester practica and your best chance of being hired out of school is into the unit in which you did your practicum. You'd be wise to pick a specialty in which you'd like to work.

I knew what I wanted going in and I am still hoping to get hired in that area.

Music in My Heart · Oct 16, 2009

My med surg instructor said that OB was all "boobs, bellies, and butts"...

Wow, that's pretty crass. I don't think instructors should push their views like that.

nicurn2be · Oct 17, 2009

i knew i wanted to do nicu before i started nursing school, and now i am in my first yr as a rn, and working in the nicu. i totally love it too!

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2009

Your mom is right.

I am a skimmer because I LOVE so many specialties.

Just have an open mind is basically what she is telling you.

RNMeg · Oct 17, 2009

When I started NS, I wanted OR, because my aunt, the nurse I most looked up to, was an OR nurse. I had a few opportunities to observe in the OR during my rotations, and found it super boring. Now I've set my sights on ICU..I loved that rotation. Your mom is right to tell you to keep an open mind, but if you find inspiration and the drive to go on from your future plans, definitely keep them..we need all the boosts we can get!

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2009

yes and no. i entered nursing school knowing i wanted to work pediatrics, and i wouldn't settle for anything else. i have since graduation and boards worked at a pediatric hospital and love every minute of it.

however, i also swore i would never ever work critical care, i hated it in school, those patients scared the crap out of me and caused me serious anxiety issues. i was forced to cross train in peds icu when i first began working at my peds hospital, and i do mean forced, because i fought it quite loudly and quite often. guess what?

i loved it! transferred to that picu a few months later.

so my advice is, stick to your guns, but always be open to change. you never know what your niche in life my be.

gibson0726 · Oct 19, 2009

I had wanted to be a NICU nurse before I had even decided to go to nursing school. When I told my mom what I wanted to do she told me, "you know you are going to see so many babies die. You are too sensitive for that." I thought yeah, she is right, and set my sights on be coming an OR nurse.

Then in my second semester of school I observed in the OR for 5 hours, and I realized it just wasn't for me.The surg techs were so horribly mean that it soured me on the entire experience. I decided to focus on NICU again, which deep down I knew was my passion.

Long story short, I just accepted a NICU internship position yesterday!! :yeah:I still can't believe it. I am so excited! It's ok to allow your clinical experiences to guide your career. That's the beauty of nursing, we have so many choices.