I noticed there are many many nurses in this forum. This can be fun or not but I wanted to know how many jobs/units did you endure before you found your "niche" and what unit. Looking back are you glad you went through it, did it make you a more versatile nurse? I know of a few managers who would tell me their stories of what they went through to get to where they are. I hope this post would be inspiring and give hope to those that feel like they just can't find theirs.
Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.
I floated the first three years as a new graduate in the hospital I trained in: to ICU, Pulm ICU, Stepdown (DOU), Ortho, Onc, PostPartum, Newborn Nursery, NICU, Med-Surg.....
and gained a great amount of experience.
Even filled in for Charge Nurse sometimes.
When an opening appeared in a nearby hospital for a Cath Lab position, I applied and won it.
Worked there a year then moved across state, to work in Med-Surg, ICU and then in Cath Lab again.
Moved again to take a position in Radiology (and we also helped in the Cath Lab).
Stayed there 21 years.
11 years ago I changed to my present job in Cardiology (Cath Lab, Stress Lab, some Case Management).
Long story for my point: I floated the first years, which these days is akin to PRN position (as others have suggested). I could set my own hours (how many I wanted to work each week). It was always a surprise where I would end up working that day. But I made it through. :)
I believe it was 4. Started in Peds which I hated but wanted a job. Transferred to Ortho and loved it but the unit got closed so I was 'floated' 3 of the 5 nights. Got lots of experience in many different areas and soon knew what I did not want to stay in. Landed in Med-Surg Telemetry for 9 months. Worked with great people and a couple of stinkers. Was called and transferred to Oncology and stayed 3.5 years. Signed up for a PACU day job. Thought I had made big mistake but grew to love it. Became certified and then was Charge Nurse for 17 years. PACU will always be my niche. Took me 7 years to get there but what a journey!
So when I was in nursing school every semester i thought i found my niche... I loved cardiac step down... Until i found med/surg and oncology, then i found l&d and the babies (who isnt a sucker for the squishy cheeks and big eyes...) and knew that i was ultimately gonna be a neonatal NP... And then I graduated and got an opportunity to shadow in the ED... I spent 4 hours there and spent the next 4 months shadowing 2-3 days a week until they finally decided to start paying me since I was always there anyway! I have been there 18 months and I honestly can not imagine being anywhere else. I get all the different specialties, (i also have the attention span of a chinchilla) so as soon as i start to get bored with one pt i'm rolling them out and the next on comes rolling in... And oh how the words Trauma or FA gets my blood going and my adrenaline up. I love going into work everyday, and get excited constantly because amidst the montony of the "oh my tummy hurts for the last 20 minutes so clearly I must be dying"s is a treasure trove of educational opportunities... I mean where else can i get a metabolic acidosis, acute respiratory acidosis, acute uti, benzo od, acute renal failure, hyperkalemia, acute stemi, leukocytosis, rhabdo, septic shock and shock liver (all in one pt!!! I think i used just about every nursing skill on them...) followed by a trauma, fa, stroke and just because everyone needs a breather-- a good ole psych pt... So point is... I am was very blessed to find a unit that feeds my chichilla sized attention span, my need to constantly move and my insatiable desire to learn, right out of the gate. The thought of going to that previously coveted med/surg job now makes my blood run cold! I am now working on my CEN and looking into various programs that would facilitate becoming an ER NP. And I cant wait!
I've worked 2 jobs in my 8 years as an RN, both at large medical centers bedside on Onc/med surg units. I'm trying to go to home care, private duty, informatics, insurance company. Something entirely different. Onc clicked with me in school but bedside sucks.
I have been a nurse for 2 years. The first year I worked as an LPN at a LTC facility. I had worked there as a CNA 3 years prior to that. I enjoyed geriatrics, but felt that when I became an RN I wasn't using my skills to their fullest potential (and the pay kinda sucked, too).
I moved to a new town and was hoping to find a job at one of the big hospitals here, but no one would hire a new grad RN without a BSN, so I applied other places. I took a job at the county jail not really knowing what correctional nursing was. I have worked there 9 months now and I love it! I take care of a vulnerable population. For many, the only time they get medical care is when they are in jail. We have people with severe medical problems. one of our current inmates is in stage 4 liver disease and has esophageal varices. We recently had s man who did dialysis nightly in his cell. We have seizures, chest pains, suicide and self harm attempts, anaphylaxis. It's crazy and unpredictable snd I love it.
I noticed there are many many nurses in this forum. This can be fun or not but I wanted to know how many jobs/units did you endure before you found your "niche" and what unit. Looking back are you glad you went through it, did it make you a more versatile nurse? I know of a few managers who would tell me their stories of what they went through to get to where they are. I hope this post would be inspiring and give hope to those that feel like they just can't find theirs.
Thanks in advance,
=0)
I found my niche during my nursing school internship. Fell in love with the floor I was on, set my sights on it, and totally aimed for the stars. I was very, very fortunate to land a job on the unit I wanted and have had no regrets. I might be in the minority in my own experience, but I feel like the generalist education in the U.S. gives us the perfect opportunity to start to decide where we'd like to see our careers go.
In close to nine years, I've worked in LTC, SNF, post-acute home care, private duty, and now ICU. It's the closest thing to a niche I've found so far, but I am not done searching.
I have been a nurse for 2 years. The first year I worked as an LPN at a LTC facility. I had worked there as a CNA 3 years prior to that. I enjoyed geriatrics, but felt that when I became an RN I wasn't using my skills to their fullest potential (and the pay kinda sucked, too).
I moved to a new town and was hoping to find a job at one of the big hospitals here, but no one would hire a new grad RN without a BSN, so I applied other places. I took a job at the county jail not really knowing what correctional nursing was. I have worked there 9 months now and I love it! I take care of a vulnerable population. For many, the only time they get medical care is when they are in jail. We have people with severe medical problems. one of our current inmates is in stage 4 liver disease and has esophageal varices. We recently had s man who did dialysis nightly in his cell. We have seizures, chest pains, suicide and self harm attempts, anaphylaxis. It's crazy and unpredictable snd I love it.
Always been interested in correctional nursing. Is it just you or is there other medical staff? I think that's what intimidates me about it, being completely on my own.
dianah, ASN
8 Articles; 4,711 Posts
I floated the first three years as a new graduate in the hospital I trained in: to ICU, Pulm ICU, Stepdown (DOU), Ortho, Onc, PostPartum, Newborn Nursery, NICU, Med-Surg.....
and gained a great amount of experience.
Even filled in for Charge Nurse sometimes.
When an opening appeared in a nearby hospital for a Cath Lab position, I applied and won it.
Worked there a year then moved across state, to work in Med-Surg, ICU and then in Cath Lab again.
Moved again to take a position in Radiology (and we also helped in the Cath Lab).
Stayed there 21 years.
11 years ago I changed to my present job in Cardiology (Cath Lab, Stress Lab, some Case Management).
Long story for my point: I floated the first years, which these days is akin to PRN position (as others have suggested). I could set my own hours (how many I wanted to work each week). It was always a surprise where I would end up working that day. But I made it through. :)
Good luck finding "your" area.