How do you know where you belong?

Well I plan to start with what interests me then from there go with what opportunities open up. There's the question of "what suits" and if you have to work (i.e. you need the income) then there's the question of what's available. I think that's what it comes down to for most people. What's very attractive about nursing is that the field is broad enough that people can look through what's available and find a job that's a good fit.

i am starting in january also!!

guys are you getting a head start on the reading?

i am getting my fundamental book next week so then i have 2 months to read it over, and kinda of become familiar with the stuff... i love reading things before so then i go like... hum i remember that!!!

fyi - i got the drug book 2008 version since we are going to have parmachology with fundamentals for the first 4 months, and i am getting a head start on that! because pharm. is not easy!

Depending on your school, you will get the chance to find out.. my second year we all did rotations that were 5 weeks in many fields; Peds, ICU, Psych, Med/surg, Onc, CCU, OB... as you go through them and learn more you might take a shine to one, or go "NO, Never" to others.. you will find your nitch.. and it isn't like you can not change later..

Also.. once you start doing things, you will see where your comfort is.. some people like a relatively stable environment (not pt wise, but in what they deal with) others like a more unstable/ever changing environment.. and that can lead some to ER/ICU or something like Med/Surg..

good luck!!!

Hi there,

I start my program in two months, yay!!!! I've been on the waitlist for a year and had plenty of time to think of what field I actually want to work in once I graduate but I still have so many ????????. How does anyone really know what they are best suited for. I have ideas of what interests me and what I think I would be good at but they are just that...ideas. I think I'm some what of an adrenaline junky but not sure. I seem to excel in the time of crisis...when someone needs me or when there's a problem to be solved, I seem to jump into action. I absolutely adore babies and am completely intrigued with the miracle of birth so does that mean I should pursue ob/nicu???? I'm sure the learning experinces during clinicals will clarify some of my questions...I was just curious if there was a defining moment that made your mind up or if you just took whatever you were offered upon graduation?

I'm like you--I think that the place I belong is in ob--actually I would love to continue my education and become a midwife, but at my age I'm not sure if that's going to happen. I start my program in January and I have decided that I am going to be open to all areas and learn as much as I can everywhere, because who knows, I may actually belong somewhere else.

Good luck in your program.

Hey everyone! I'm also starting the RN program in January...I am excited and nervous at the same time! And as far as what I would like to end up doing, I see myself getting experience on a Med-Surg floor for 2 years and then applying for the ER! Who knows though, I am open to any new experiences to see where I best fit!

i am starting in january also!!

guys are you getting a head start on the reading?

i am getting my fundamental book next week so then i have 2 months to read it over, and kinda of become familiar with the stuff... i love reading things before so then i go like... hum i remember that!!!

fyi - i got the drug book 2008 version since we are going to have parmachology with fundamentals for the first 4 months, and i am getting a head start on that! because pharm. is not easy!

Already took pharm as we were permitted to get all our co-reqs out of the way while on the waitlist...

"...some people like a relatively stable environment (not pt wise, but in what they deal with) others like a more unstable/ever changing environment.. and that can lead some to ER/ICU or something like Med/Surg..

good luck!!!

Being a little older, I feel like I know myself well enough that I can say with reasonable certainty that I like what you called a "stable" work environment. Do you know what fields those might be?

Thanks!!

I think that you'll get a better idea during your clinicals. I figured out that there was NO WAY that I could do child/adolescent psych; thank God that there are some people who love it b/c I sure as heck couldn't do it.

It's not unusual to go through a few jobs before you find the place where you go "a ha, THIS is where I belong!" And sometimes it's the people you work with, not the setting, that makes you say that. I personally would love to work peds, but the people I work with now (and have for several years) are phenomenal, and are what keep me where I'm at. You don't come across coworkers like mine very often, so I'm sticking with them...I'd rather be working some place where I know everyone's got my back even if it's not the population I dream of working with, instead of working with a bunch of backstabbing snotty b's and a patient demographic I enjoy more.

I feel knowing where you belong has to do with simply experiencing the field, rotations, volunteer. Thats how I am about to seek new ideas of what particular nursing posision I want look towards.

WantAccel.. basically there are tons of options for you, just for now avoid the acute/rapid settings.. like ICU, ER, PCU.. look at Medical, Surgical, general floor, Step down..

And after some time there when you feel you have a solid base you might change your mind.. or not...

either way good luck!