How did you decide your specialty?

RunBabyRN · Nov 9, 2014

Being unsure isn't a bad thing. With the market the way it is, the more you're open to, the better.

I went to nursing school because it's a stepping stone to my goal of being a CNM. I have wanted to be a "baby nurse" since I was 5 and my brother was born. I thought the nurses had the coolest job ever! I went through some other career options through the years and eventually came back around to this. Even from there, it took me almost 10 years to complete my BSN once I got it figured out.

People change specialties all the time. Just because you take an ortho job when you get out of school, it doesn't mean you have to be an ortho nurse FOREVER. There's more than one area that appeals to plenty of people. I never realized how much I'd be drawn to hospice or psych.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

I like routine, slow-paced work and predictable tasks. I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I prefer to have an idea of what I'm walking into. Most importantly, I dislike high acuity because it keeps me in a reactive mode.

I ended up in long term care (a.k.a. the nursing home industry) for six years because it had all that I was seeking: predictability, routinization, and low acuity.

I am now in acute physical rehabilitation, which is a bridge of sorts because it has a higher acuity level than LTC, but is not quite as acute as hospital med/surg.

nlitened · Nov 9, 2014

I am not a nursing student yet, but I am going into it interested in L&D. I shared this with my soon-to-be first semester instructor and she told me it's great that I have an idea of what I want to do, but things always change (especially when you start to do clinicals). I think it's fine that you aren't sure where you want to end up right now. My advice...stop looking for it and let it find you;) Plus, through out your career you will probably change specialties quite a few times.

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2014

I chose Vascular Access because I've always been able to access my patient's veins with no problems, and because I hate Sputum (RT is not for me) I do not like to do wound dressings ( Wound care is not for me) and I seriously dislike working with sick babies. LOL... But give me 30 patients who need IV Therapy and I'm a happy camper!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Nov 10, 2014

Thankfully, nursing is not like medicine in that students are not expected to choose a specialty; having a preference is nice, sometimes helpful (sometimes not), but overall.....unnecessary.

Once you graduate, you will see what jobs are available. After all, if you have your head set on something but there's no one hiring (and isn't for months), it won't much matter. You'll want to get your foot in SOMEWHERE!

Sometimes where you start out is exactly where you want to be. Sometimes it starts OUT as being exactly right, but after time passes you might think "this isn't as great as it used to be" or "I think I'd like to try XXX now". And that's fine! The thing about nursing in the US is that you DO have the ability to move around. Now, whether a specialty will wish to hire you at any point will depend on the kind of experience you have, whether they will train or expect you to come to them with certain coursework done....that varies A LOT. I wouldn't give that any concern right now, honestly. It will be whatever it will be, no prediction would be accurate at this stage of your game!

The only people "stuck" somewhere are unwilling, IMHO, to do what's needed to go somewhere else. The ones who insist there are no jobs might not be willing to do off-shifts, or take less money than they think they should have. The ones who have considerable experience in one area but find they will need training before going somewhere else sometimes think that's unreasonable, and think they "cannot" change....but of course they can, it just comes with conditions.

I have worked in a variety of settings now, and I liked (and disliked!!) each and every one. I'm talking great variety, and yet there I went, going where it seemed I should go next.

I like doing what I do now, and I expect I'll continue to feel this way for a long time. I expect to stay put for a long time. If something changes, though, and the spirit moves me.....there I go! :)

frequentFLyER · Nov 24, 2014

Thankfully, nursing is not like medicine in that students are not expected to choose a specialty; having a preference is nice, sometimes helpful (sometimes not), but overall.....unnecessary.
Once you graduate, you will see what jobs are available. After all, if you have your head set on something but there's no one hiring (and isn't for months), it won't much matter. You'll want to get your foot in SOMEWHERE!
Sometimes where you start out is exactly where you want to be. Sometimes it starts OUT as being exactly right, but after time passes you might think "this isn't as great as it used to be" or "I think I'd like to try XXX now". And that's fine! The thing about nursing in the US is that you DO have the ability to move around. Now, whether a specialty will wish to hire you at any point will depend on the kind of experience you have, whether they will train or expect you to come to them with certain coursework done....that varies A LOT. I wouldn't give that any concern right now, honestly. It will be whatever it will be, no prediction would be accurate at this stage of your game!
The only people "stuck" somewhere are unwilling, IMHO, to do what's needed to go somewhere else. The ones who insist there are no jobs might not be willing to do off-shifts, or take less money than they think they should have. The ones who have considerable experience in one area but find they will need training before going somewhere else sometimes think that's unreasonable, and think they "cannot" change....but of course they can, it just comes with conditions.
I have worked in a variety of settings now, and I liked (and disliked!!) each and every one. I'm talking great variety, and yet there I went, going where it seemed I should go next.
I like doing what I do now, and I expect I'll continue to feel this way for a long time. I expect to stay put for a long time. If something changes, though, and the spirit moves me.....there I go! :)

I agree with you. It IS such a nice thing that in nursing you aren't forced to pick a specialty and stay. Like you mentioned, I was concerned as far as getting too deep into a niche and not being able to move around to other fields. But also like you said, if you're willing to put the work in to train for it or work crazy shifts or whatever is needed, you'll have a much better chance. Although...I'm having a very hard time getting nurse tech positions to even start getting my foot in the door so it's going to be a long journey lol, it is welcomed though! :) Glad to hear you're happy to be where you are.

frequentFLyER · Nov 24, 2014

I chose Vascular Access because I've always been able to access my patient's veins with no problems, and because I hate Sputum (RT is not for me) I do not like to do wound dressings ( Wound care is not for me) and I seriously dislike working with sick babies. LOL... But give me 30 patients who need IV Therapy and I'm a happy camper!

That is SO cool! I had heard of this before but didn't have a good idea what this specialty did. I started with phlebotomy and vein access really is almost like a sixth sense if you're good. Happy you're loving it!

ready2baRN · Nov 25, 2014

I don't start nursing school until next month, but I would LOVE to get into the CVICU when I graduate. My background is in Clinical Exercise Physiology and I'm fascinated with the cardiovascular system. However that's not set in stone. I think I would be comfortable just about anywhere, although I would put psych and hospice care somewhere towards the bottom of my list. I worked in an outpatient mental health clinic for 4 years right out of high school and although I found it to be an interesting and eye opening experience I don't think I would like to travel down that road again.