How long did it take you to find out your dream specialty?

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Hey guys! I am a relatively new nurse, I graduated in May of '17 and passed NCLEX in June. I got hired on in mother baby and was just ecstatic! I thought I found my dream job right off the bat... until it wasn't anymore. It was so exciting and new, and I loved the patients and their babies, and the other nurses were so extroverted and talkative. But it has only been a little over a year and I'm already bored. It's such a niche department and every day is more of the same. Some days there is not much to do so we just hang out at the nurses station and a lot of the other nurses just talk... constantly. I used to keep up with the conversations in order to not appear rude or disinterested but honestly the conversations are the same every day. It seems like nothing I'm interested in talking about really interests the other nurses, they would just rather talk about their kids and the tv shows they're currently watching. I want to find a career path with a little more excitement; I thrive on the days when all seems to go wrong at once, it's like in the chaos I can think clearer. Has anyone been through something like what I'm going through? How did you find "the one" in terms of your career?

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Still haven't after 6 years. Stuck in psych with nothing else that will take me including new grad programs. No longer working as a nurse full time or seeing nursing as my career. I want out ASAP.

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I'm sorry to hear that. What is it about psych you don't like?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I think we all go through something similar, I started off in critical care four years ago, now I am burned out. I'm actually thinking of making a switch to OR nursing.

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My dream career is l and d. But its so so hard to get into where I live and I can't relocate because of my spouse's job. so just bidding my time. Maybe you need to changes fields or look for a busier unit?

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Based on personal experience and the number of posts similar to yours, I feel like it's unproductive to ask, "When will I find 'the one?'" You tried it and liked it for a period of time; now you're itching to try something new. Just do it! Stay at a job for as long as it fits your interests and lifestyle, and try something else when it's time. Nursing is a wonderfully vast field, so there's no reason to limit yourself to one dream specialty (unless you find one that holds your interest).

If you think you'd like something new every day and enjoy a fast pace, med-surg might be a good place to go to get acquainted with a variety of skills; then maybe ER. I personally do find psych to be pretty interesting, but the day to day tasks can feel repetitive, in addition to the burnout potential.

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I'm sorry to hear that. What is it about psych you don't like?

Nothing in particular. Really tired of micromanagement and difficult coworkers but that can happen anywhere within and outside of nursing. Just really dislike how working in psych keeps me from doing anything else.

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Finding "the one" involves putting yourself out there. It's not going to come to you.

If you enjoy chaos, it's everywhere in nursing. Have you applied to any openings at your facility?

If you REALLY like chaos, do agency and travel nursing.

Best wishes.

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