How did you change?

[openyourmind]

Just a question for all nurses out there:

When you started nursing school did you see yourself working on a specific floor/unit? Did that change as soon as you finished nursing school and started to work?

Please describe your experience.

[Barnstormin' PMHNP]

I planned on becoming a nurse to pursue Pediatric NP and then FNP down the road. Fast forward through ICU, Psych, skilled and rehab and I am starting my psych NP this summer. I think I would not be very kind to many parents, and I found along the way I am skilled at psych and love it too!

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

I worked as a transporter while I was in school. I had the luxury of seeing all the different floors in the hospital. I was lucky enough to be offered a job in my favorite area, cardiac telemetry. I am still a new nurse, but I love what I am doing and have no plans on moving.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

All throughout nursing school, I knew I wanted to do Peds, by the time I was a senior and took critical care nursing, I wanted to be a PICU RN. I started off in the PICU and worked for 6 years, then I wanted to do education and instructing which is what I do now

[openyourmind]

Inspiring replies! Thanks to all who have contributed thus far.

[Nurse-84]

I always thought of myself as a MED/SURG nurse but once I was hired right into a stepdown/tele floor I realized this was my calling. I love love the heart, RHYTHMS, POST CATHS! I never saw myself working in cardiac but everyone has a place... its interesting to see new nurses come in and can't make it through orientation and tell me :"how in heck do you do this!!" to me it just came soooo natural.......

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I wanted to be med/surg and work with older adults. I knew I did NOT want to do peds. I did not want to see sick kids. After several unsuccessful job interviews I was hired into peds ICU/stepdown. I have grown to like it (mostly). I especially love the special needs total care kids and the NICU graduates/transfers. If someone had told me in nursing school I would be peds ICU I probably would have quit nursing school! It's been good for my personal growth to realize I cannot be so close-minded in life. It's a honor to try to help these kids. Someone's gotta do it, right?

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

At the start of nursing school, I wanted to work in Pediatrics or OB. After doing clinicals in both areas, I quickly changed my mind. They definitely were not for me. Next I thought I'd love Psych, then I found out that I really don't have a knack for that. I'm now in Oncology and very happy.

[rumwynnieRN]

I had no idea what I wanted. My first job out of nursing school was geri-psych (I should mention I hate psych). It lasted about 4 months before I finally got into my current job on a MedSurg floor. I've also worked on a step-down unit which I think I like slightly more. Not feeling the itch right now to move to the ICU or ER (put in an application to the ER though -- I'll see if they bite), but maybe in 4-5 years, that'll change.

[idrinkpop]

I honestly had no idea what I WANTED to do after graduation, but I knew what I DIDN'T want to do - Peds, pysch, or OB. My first job was on a med/surg tele unit. I did that for a few years before transferring to PCU, because I thought I wanted to go into ICU. Well, I learned that I actually hated vents and very sick patients -- way too stressful for me. I took a job as a case manager/discharge planner and have found my niche.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I am doing exactly what I saw myself doing when I first applied to nursing school - working in an ICU. I think I am in the minority.

[openyourmind]

I'm leaning towards something and hoping it's not a far-fetched goal. But I also am keeping an open mind in case there's other options for me. These posts are definitely interesting. ?

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I was dead set on ICU. Thought I had the job and everything. Nope off to medical and didnt like it. Now in the ER, I would never go anywhere else.