help me!

[nurseofalltrades]

I was just wondering how everyone decided what type of nurse they wanted to be. I am a student nurse who will be graduating in just a few short months. As you all know, in school you have rotations in many different areas.( ER, OR,Peds,etc.) How do you choose. Only two interested me....ER and peds.I cant decide which one to persue.......Any advice?

[AfloydRN, BSN, RN]

If you are equally interested in both call the nurse recruiter or nurse manager and ask to shadow an RN for the day. Really get your hands dirty and get a feel for each place. Ask questions of the staff about likes and dislikes of the units. This is what I did when I graduated and chose ER. I worked there for 8 years and then trans to CCU.

[TazziRN, RN]

I say ER, but I'm biased!!!

I kind of fell into it, actually. I worked in the ER as a CNA my last three months of school. All my life I wanted peds or nursery, so at the end of school that's what I applied for. The house supe stopped me in the hall one day and said the ER manager was hurt because she was holding one of the two new grad positions for me and I hadn't even applied. The job was mine, no interview, no nothing. I would have been out of my mind to turn it down. Been there ever since and I love it.

[will7678]

One hospital in my area has a pediatric emergency department. If you can find a similar situation near where you live that might be the best of both worlds.

[nursebrandie28, BSN, RN]

I would say ER, like Tazzi, but again I am biased!!

My advice would be try ER, because you get will OB/PEDs and a little of everything else!! When I first started in ER, I started with 5 new grads!! After a year, 4 of them branched off and found what they trully loved. And, most did go to OB/PEDS. Plus, I think it would be easier to get a job in ER!!