How did you/should I find my niche in nursing?

[flygirls2, BSN]

I've been an RN for one year now, having spent my first year on an inpatient oncology/hematology unit. I also have a small amount of surgical experience from a nursing school externship.

I'm getting ready to move several states away, and am in the middle of a job hunt-- finding that I don't have a clue where I wish to work!

I've liked both places I've worked previously, but I don't feel that "yearning, burning, this is where I am meant to be" feeling about either.

There are many many specialties/areas of nursing I'd like to try out, that I think I might be interested in-- but obviously I can't start and stop jobs constantly just to try them out.

So what is the best way to get a taste of different specialties/find my niche? Any tips from your own experience? Should I go float/agency route? Thank you!

[UnionRN2]

I floated for 1 year through all the med-surg, peds, rehab units. Then I floated 1 year through all the critical care areas including PACU and ER. I found where I wouldn't work. But more importantly, I found my niche!

[flygirls2, BSN]

When you go on float-- do you typically go all over the hospital or stay within 2-3 units?

[diane227, LPN, RN]

You might want to work in your hospitals float pool if they have one. Get your ACLS and other certifications required for the ICU so you can work in that area as well.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I wouldn't feel comfortable being in float pool after only a year.

I'm not sure how I found my niche. Since deciding on nursing, I've just always wanted to be a NICU nurse and that's what I am..and I love it.

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

I'm a new nurse and still unemployed, so this is my 1cent worth. But first I have to say you have my dream 1st job, as hematology/oncology is one area I'd like to get some experience in.

I think the advice to work in a float pool is excellent; the person doing the assignment should know where to place their individual nurses, though I hope I am not being too idealistic and "perfect world" in my thinking that this is actually the case! Knowing where you don't want to work is also valuable. I think if you work somewhere for a year or two is long enough before moving to the next job without getting a "bad rep." At least that's how it always was when I was working before. As long as you leave your unit in good standing, I can't imagine a problem. Having worked for a big company once in my lifetime, it was not considered bad behavior to move w/in the company, so if you can get a job in a big hospital, perhaps you can stay at that hospital but work in different units. That would be the easiest way to "change jobs," since a lot would stay the same.

My areas of interest spring from my experiences: lung cancer because my sister had it, hospice because I've taken care of people who are dying, and pain management because I've experienced pain. I like visiting nursing because I like having one patient at a time to concentrate on.

Good luck!

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Networking and getting the real inside scoop about what it is like for friends on different units helps. I rely on that a lot.

After that, you'll get opportunities to see other units in action as you are pulled and other things happen. Take advantage and be observant. Also, even when not in a direct clinical setting, watch the other nurses from other units. Do they seem stressed and barely talk to one another, do they take their lunch breaks? Finally, pay attention to little details like what units always have people being pulled to them (a bad sign), what units seem to retain people.

The problem too though is.........the ICU experience in hospital A can be completely different than at hospital B. Plus, working a unit under this manager may be a different experience that under that manager. Heck, a hospital I was a travel nurse at had multiple M/S units........and those units, all within the same hospital........were very different from one another.

[tencat]

What is interesting to you? You mentioned that you have a few areas of interest. Are they all hospital specialties? If so, maybe you could start in one area, then in 6 months to a year you could move to another specialty. Floating might not be a good idea with only one year of experience. I felt drawn to hospice after watching some truly icky deaths on the med/surge floor and during ICU rotation, and thinking 'there has got to be a better way to die'. Hospice turned out to be my area.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I guess we all felt this way at some time, but here is my 2 cents: Work 1-2 years in just about any nursing unit to learn how to be a nurse. Then the decision will come to you. Do not be afraid of making changes. I was paralyzed by fear that first year, and could not imagine learning another unit after finally getting comfortable in the first unit. But I had a goal and it did not involve staying where I was. Believe me, I feel so much more enriched in having learned other units, with other nurses to guide me. But too much too soon can cause burn out. I recommend chilling out for now.