How Do You Choose a Specialty?

[Smwill2901]

Hi everyone! I an a second-semester nursing student, and as I get closer to graduation, I have been thinking a lot about what specialty I want to go into. The problem is—I like so many different areas, and it is hard to know what the right fit will be after graduation. For those who have chosen their specialty, how did you decide? Did you always know, or did you explore different options first? Any advice on figuring out the best path? I would love to hear your experiences!

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Fresh perspective is good. People have told me all my life that they don't always agree with me but I always get them to think about things differently, so I guess that's what I was put on earth to do. 

[Patricia Ordnung]

I think a lot of times, your specialty chooses you.  I had planned on chemotherapy, but somehow stumbled into wound care, where I happily stayed for many years. 

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

For your first nursing job, choose a manager, not a specialty.  Take the job where the manager is is interested in and supportive of new grads, where the orientation program is structured with a consistent preceptor or pair of preceptors, where there are plenty of learning opportunities, and where you will learn good habits and be socialized into the job.  After your first year or two, you will learn how much structure you like in your day, what patient population you most enjoy working with or what organ system fascinates you and you can choose a specialty from there.  

My advice — MedSurg is a great place to learn, and a flexible foundation that you can take anywhere.