Help in deciding which specialty

[MystyqueOne, BSN, RN]

Hello all,

I've been in nursing school for over a year now and have one year left (Bachelor's program). When I went into the program, I knew I've always had an interest in Obstetrics, so I thought I'd want to be a L&D nurse. Well, I'm now in my OB/PEDS rotation and I will tell you that L&D is the most boring rotation I've been in so far! The deliveries are absolutely wonderful and I love being there to assist a laboring women, but I just can't take the waiting game! I floated to the ER department and actually really loved that. I also discovered that I really like the Cardiovascular system....

A little history about me.... I am a research queen! I love research, writing, and just being there for people. I love the feeling I get when someone needs me for something, whether it's for advice or just to help them with something. I absolutely love the miracle of life! The whole idea of conception, birth, and life in general (don't need to elaborate too much here)! I am an extremely quick learner, with tons of skills.... including computers and etc. My ultimate goal is to continue my education to become a Nurse Practitioner. I've even thought about continuing my education in Clinical Nurse Specialist, but I would like to be part of patient care also.

So, last night, I was doing a bit of research. I was looking into NP programs and saw that they have a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program. I originally wanted to just go for my FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) and then specialize in whatever area I choose to do thereafter. Now that I found the WHNP program, I'm wondering if maybe I should head that direction. But.... My question is, will I be narrowing my education too much? What if I don't want to do Women's Health later?

How did you all decide what specialty you would like to do once you graduate nursing school? How did you decide which type of Nurse Practitioner you wanted to aim towards?

Thanks for any input you can give me!

[purple08]

Hi,

If you want to do women's health, then you should go for it. I wouldn't worry about narrowing your education too much. If you love it, do it!

If you're also interested in FNP, there are some schools that offer a dual FNP/midwifery degree where you can take care of families and deliver babies.

You also seemed to be interested in the ER...You could do acute care NP and you'd get plenty of cardiac experience.

You just need to decide what population of people and the type of setting you'd like to work with.

Good luck!

[MystyqueOne, BSN, RN]

Hi,

If you want to do women's health, then you should go for it. I wouldn't worry about narrowing your education too much. If you love it, do it!

If you're also interested in FNP, there are some schools that offer a dual FNP/midwifery degree where you can take care of families and deliver babies.

You also seemed to be interested in the ER...You could do acute care NP and you'd get plenty of cardiac experience.

You just need to decide what population of people and the type of setting you'd like to work with.

Good luck!

Hi!

THank you for your advice. The ER actually recently became an interest when I did a few clinicals there. Really, OB has always been a strong interest of mine, ever since I knew 'I' could have babies! I have read and done research on so much that has to do with obstetrics. I personally like postpartum better, though. I like the art of teaching, assisting with breastfeeding (I'd like to become a lactation consultant, also), and just being of support to the family (and of course playing with the babies :)). So, I think I'll probably stick with that. I am very good with the elderly, naturally, as I have been working in hospice care as a CNA for a year (not currently, though, due to school). That's why I was thinking of the FNP route.

Can you give me more information about the FNP/Midwifery schools that you know of? That sounds perfect!

Thanks again!