How did you change?

I thought I would work on a med surg unit, and I work in a LTC facility. It's a harsh reality that I've had to accept.

I wanted to work in a hospital, but I was prepared to work anywhere I had to in order to pay the mortgage. I was fortunate to get a hospital med surg gig that I really like.

I had to try many different specialties and acuity levels (all acute care in hospitals though). After about a year in one unit, I would start to get restless and itch for something "new." I did in-hospital transfers, travel nursing, and moved to different facilities (when I relocated). Then I discovered float pool nursing. A great way to get my fix and a little extra pay too!

I think I'm somewhat of a rare ICU/CCRN nurse who actually enjoys med surg and stepdown too.

Thought I wanted peds until I witnessed a child in acute respiratory distress during my capstone. Knew that as a parent I would not be able to handle that kind of stress everyday. Got my first job in a rehab unit and fell in love with ortho. Now am an ortho nurse and love it. Didn't think I would because of an extensive ortho history, but it actually helped.

I was open to variety...I ended up doing acute rehab, Peds private duty and home health visits, chart reviews for CMS, and LTC. Some Stepdown during Agency nursing.

I've always had two jobs, sometimes in two different specialties...I'm not sure I'll ever stop wanting flexibility in my career; I'm one of those nurses who loves a "float position"...If I reenter acute care, that's where I'm aiming...or maybe not...

I was aware that as a new grad in a time of high unemployment and a slow economy, I would work where I could I find a job. It was med-surg. I knew it wasn't my long term plan, but I learned a lot in that year.

I sort of ended up in ICU. I wanted OR, but the nurse recruiter said those jobs were for internal candidates, but maybe she could offer me my pick of units and transfer later. Fifteen years later, I just haven't gotten around for any transfers.

I always knew through school I wanted a fast-paced environment with more critical patients. I planned to work in ER or ICU. I started in ICU and have been there ever since! I have thought about cross-training to ER as I don't want to completely leave the ICU.

I thought I wanted to be a peds nurse. Just shoot me!

While in nursing school I always said I would never do postpartum, nursery, L&D..I had done enough of the patient side of that in my real life. So silly me, fresh out of school I went into Med-Surg and quickly found out it wasn't the place for me. Next stop was, yep, you guessed it, postpartum. Found my true calling in mother-baby and couldn't be happier!