How did you decide what kind of nursing you wanted to do?

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I ask this because I will be graduating soon and have had just about every kind of clinical experience you could imagine and I hear these stories from classmates and nurses about how they knew exactly what kind of nursing they wanted to do almost instantly?!? I am so confused!

My problem is I am so in-love with nursing and just can't wait to do it that I'll take anything aslong as I am a nurse!

I have had the opportunity to work with an oncology floor and even talked with the manager and had a shadow day, it was very promising for a first nursing job and I do love oncology. This floor is an inpatient oncology. From my understanding....I could use the hours on that floor after starting as an RN to become oncology certified plus use that same time to be med-surg certified b/c technically they are considered med-surg patients they just all have a common dx.

BUT...I am worried that I will become bored..I feel terrible for saying that but I do love excitement, I like the idea of the emergency dept and love the idea of the trauma center that I have not 10 mins from my house!

I wish there was an aptitude test to show what kind of nursing your geared for!

How did you guys know or figure it out?

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Specializes in Home Health & Hospice.

Yes, I know your struggle and I can tell you it takes time to find your nitch....I was convinced I wanted to pursue trauma/crit care for a long time, I worked on a cardiac stepdown unit for 6 months and I'm now doing homecare/hospice and LOVE it!! Never in a million years would I have thought I would be where I am. Just take a job that feels right and you'll start to find out where you want to be, good luck :)

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Specializes in Quality Nurse Specialist, Health Coach.

I agree with the above poster. It is trial and error. You don't know for sure if you will like it until you try it! I started out on an intermediate neuro floor, moved to corrections, and now I'm currently very happy in home health! Don't limit yourself you may be surprised at what you enjoy! That's why nursing is such a great opportunity, you have so many choices....if you get bored there is so many areas you can switch to. Good luck finding your niche!

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Determined by the employers that provided me with employment.

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Determined by the employers that provided me with employment.

Hahaha!

I seriously think I want to be certified in everything, cardiac...sure, neuro....sure, med/surg...why not, trauma....might as well, psych...can't leave that out.

I have too many options, I feel like one of those brides who has to try on like a million dresses and shops every store just to make sure she hasn't missed anything better!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I can't totally relate to your situation, as I almost always knew that I wanted to work with children. So even though my heart is for peds, I do enjoy other areas of nursing. While it's common that some nurses have a specialty they love right away, many others don't. They usually work in a variety of settings throught their career. The beauty of nursing is that there are a variety of places and specialties to choose from. You don't have to stay in one forever and as long as you love nursing, you should be happy wherever you go. You have the freedom of changing specialties and jobs and still enjoying what you do. That's a great thing.

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Haha... you should go read what I just posted... the basis of what I said though is that unless as of right now you have a passion for something, go out there and try everything!! Thats the great thing about nursing! When I first started out 7yrs ago.....:( lol haha... I wanted to do ER. did that then did GI(yes.. colonoscopies and endoscopies) did med/surg.. ect and now that I have moved and with the crappy economy the only thing I could get was in OB, which I hated in nursing school.. but I took it and I LOOOVE IT. This is what I was ment to do. And it took me 7 years and 4 different areas to find out.

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Believe me, you haven't had just about every clinical experience. I've been a nurse for 36 years and I sill have new experiences. I've worked in Med-Surg, Critical Care, Hospice, Town Nurse, Trauma, Open Hearts and for the last 8 yrs or so, in PACU. You'll never get bored unless you let yourself become complacent. There is always something else you can try. Don't think you have to stay with one specialty, just because you start with one. You'll know what's right for you when you are doing it. Your life changes also, so what you are doing can change with what your needs are. Believe me, and I still love nursing. One of the greatest things about nursing is that you can adapt it to your life. Enjoy the journey!

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

If someone could fill me in too that would be great. I still don't know after 12 years. I have tried many things and know what I do like and what I do not. There are some areas I believe I would LOVE but either I can not get hired or it would mean a big change for my family right now. Go with your heart. Or.. go with where they hire you and then figure it out along the way.

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Like caliotter implied you are limited by employers, what positions are available.

No one mentioned the dreaded word FLOAT. I always said "Yes, I will float...or...I haven't done that but I'm willing to try." If not for those words I think I would still be working 11 pm - 7 am med/surg.!!!!!!

Be open to new experiences, sure it is scary to do something you are not familiar or comfortable with but it is an easy way to get exposure to the area of nursing that is right for you.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

My very first job in the hospital I was a CCU tech and EKG tech. I loved learning about arrythmias. I soaked as much as I could working in CCU. So I stuck with it. I tried ither things like psych and stepdown But I always gravitated back to CCU. I did a little research nursing and kind of liked it. But CCU and ICU just pulled me back in.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I still haven't decided what kind of nursing I want to do. I think it's a lifelong learning process deciding what your niche is to be honest.

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