Published Jan 13
Ts2906
7 Posts
Hello everyone,
I am thinking about going into nursing. I was wondering how nursing students and nurses pick their choice of specialty. Do many people figure this out while in a nursing program or once they're working. I know you can earn certifications in different areas of nursing, such as psychiatric nursing, critical care nursing, and many other areas of nursing.
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 11,967 Posts
I went into nursing school thinking I wanted to work in labor and delivery or pediatrics. I realized I was very, very wrong once I got to experience those clinicals. I was fortunate enough to shadow a patient from preop through surgery through recovery and back to the floor and realized that the OR was what I wanted. I've been in different OR roles and different employers, but I've been in the OR since I graduated.
That doesn't mean you have to come out of nursing school and spend your entire career in one area. That's the beauty of nursing - in the US, we graduate with a general education and can work in any area. Or work in one area, decide to move on to another, come back to the original, try something new.... etc. Sometimes a job isn't a fit, either because of coworkers, management, or the job itself.
So really, just concentrate on your clinical experiences and see what you like and don't like. Try not to go in with a preconceived idea of where you want to end up, because you might find out that it's not for you.
As for certifications, they are evidence of expertise in a specialty of nursing, and require experience in the area. My certification, CNOR, requires 2 years with a minimum of 2,000 practice hours in the OR itself before you're even eligible. Most, if not all, others also require some amount of experience.
Thanks for the reply. I know many different areas exist. I am interested in the emergency department and working in a clinic. Like an orthopedic clinic or another outpatient clinic. I am not very interested in working in an inpatient unit. I worked in a level one trauma center as a nursing assistant and worked in many different units in the hospital. It was good experience.
I also would like to become a FNP as well someday. I am aware that you can work in clinics as an FNP and even in the emergency department as an FNP with the right certification. I am not interested in the operating room or labor and delivery. I also would like to work as a nurse for a few years before starting an FNP program.
Cricket183, BSN, RN
1 Article; 267 Posts
I went into nursing with the specific intent and focus of being a NICU nurse. It was my desire from the time I was very little. I was a NICU baby, weighing 2lbs 14oz at birth-which by today's standards isn't that surprising of a survival story but 57 years-it was! My mom use to tell me stories of the NICU nurses who cared for me-one in particular affectionately called "Granny" that was remarkable and I wanted to be just like her! I even spent my senior practicum in NICU. The problem arose when I graduated because where we lived the hospital did not have a NICU, just a level 2 nursery. I had commuted 2 years for nursing school (and had planned to after graduation) but with a husband and 2 boys in late elementary school/Jr high who were becoming very active in extracurricular activities-I just was not willing to do it any longer. There weren't any openings in the Level 2 Nursery so I took an opening on an inpatient medical oncology unit thinking I would get a year's experience and then transfer when there was an opening in the nursery (and eventually start commuting again to work high level NICU once my boys were out of school). I ended up falling in love with oncology; it quickly became my passion and I never looked back! I obtained my chemo certification and obtained my OCN. I spent most of my career there-until we moved to a small rural town with only a critical access hospital where you become jack of all trades (working anywhere & everywhere from M/S to ER to "ICU" (although true ICU patients are transferred out) to L&D/PP overflow to outpatient on holidays/weekends or any other time they can't be available, LOL, to pre/post op to anywhere & everywhere else they might cross train you!). That was actually a really cool experience! Once in the same day I had a patient who was 2 hours old and one who was 102 years old! Unfortunately, I am no longer able to work do to medical disability. Nursing is a broad field and there are so many different areas you can pursue. You will find your niche!
Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP
8 Articles; 4,468 Posts
My undergrad degree allowed me to be exposed to various areas of nursing from community health to adult in-patient, pediatrics, maternity, and nursery, and OR. It allowed me to get a sense of which areas I might be good at. I certainly did not like OR, peds/nursery, and maternity during nursing school. Luckily adult in-patient nursing (Med-Surg, ED, ICU) seems to be the bulk of job openings when I graduated so I ended up in the field I thought I would be good at.
Nurse Meg, BSN, RN
13 Posts
I believe one of the greatest aspects of nursing is the sheer variety of paths it offers. There are countless specialties, industries, and settings—both clinical and non-clinical. The possibilities truly are endless. You can impact patient care without ever touching a patient. I believe it's important not to limit yourself to just one area, especially since your goals, life events, or unexpected circumstances may lead you in new directions—and that's completely okay. Start with what interests you most, but stay open to new experiences as you go.
Before nursing school, I worked as a Medical Assistant at a Spine/Pain Management clinic, then as a tech in the ER. During nursing school, I worked part-time as a secretary on a Peds Hematology/Oncology unit. By the time I applied for my first nursing job with those experiences alone (plus clinicals), I had a clearer idea of what I wanted, but those experiences also helped me understand what I didn't want. Happy Exploring & best of luck in your studies!
Thanks everyone for your comments, I really appreciate it! I have an interest in both the ICU and the ED. I have also thought about psych as well. However, I worked in psych as a nursing assistant at a major level one trauma center. I didn't really like working on the psych units all that much honestly.
The only thing that worries me about working in the ED is that it can be fast paced and not being able to keep up with the fast pace as well as being overwhelmed. I think it would be very interesting to work as an ED nurse in general though. However, I know that the ED can be slow at times though. I also have interest in becoming an NP. Either an FNP or an AGNP.
I know you can work in the ED as an FNP or AGNP with the right certification. Just like PAs can work in the ED.
windsurfer8, BSN, RN
1,378 Posts
You can change if you want so it isn't that big of a deal to pick a certain area. Try what you think you might like. If you don't apply for a job doing something else.