How Soon To Specialize

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I am a student nurse, graduating with an Association Degree this December. I am planning on going farther (my BSN) ASAP and then specializing. The question for those of you RNs with experience, is should I spend X amount of time on the floor, getting my feet wet or immediately start heading in the direction of what I would like to specialize in?

Your input is greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in L&D RN.

Aloha Nearly an RN,

When I was a new grad, there were many programs offered to new grads to specialize and be trained. I was always told it was best to have at least 2 years of med surg experience before specializing. I chose to get experience and regret that decision. I really wish I had gone to L&D, where my heart has always been, because now there are not many opportunities to get in anywhere without previous experience in that specialty. I say follow your heart if you know your specialty, get in while you can!! Good Luck!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I'm another one who doesn't agree that 2 years med surg is the golden rule. Everyone is different, so it depends. I have had friends who specialized in psych, community health, and research straight out of school. They don't ever plan on working those floors. You learn different skills depending on the setting.

However, in this economy, be wise and be willing to accept whatever you can get. I also know of people who are unemployed a year later because they are hoping for that "dream" job.

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Specializes in Medical/Telemetry. Now ICU.

What area do you want to specialize in? If you can get it, then go for it!!! . Most likely you won't be able to get into specialty, esp with an associates. But it's good you want to go back for your BSN. You might have to do medical or tele or surgical. I did almost 3 years medical/surgical...now i'm in an ICU. Good luck.:)

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Thanks for your help! I am interested in Forensic Nursing, but am not 100% sure yet.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Hemodialysis.

I was unable to even get an interview in the departments that I was interested in. I am working med/surg now and I do enjoy my job and am learning new things each day. If I were in your shoes I would apply for the area you want to specialize in and for positions like med/surg where you get a lot of excellent experience. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Hospice.

If you are interested in forensic nursing, I would try getting into an ER setting. If this is not possible, stick it out on a med/surg floor. I have a friend who wanted to specialize in psych, and she got a position right out of nursing school. Because she has no med/surg experience, she is pretty much stuck is psych until the job market loosens. Turns out she does not particularly like psych, and it has really been a struggle for her. I would recommend getting some sort of basic med/surg experience (whether through ER, ICU, float pool, or true med/surg) just to help keep doors open down the road.

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi!!

I think you should follow your heart. I graduated last December with my Associates Degree in Nursing and I will be starting my dream job, in the NICU! And I also got offered a second RN position in a different hospital in the NICU as well. So many people discouraged me from going for my dream of becoming a NICU RN and they would always say "No one will hire you in the NICU as a new grad". But I followed my heart and I did not regret a moment of doing so :) But I did apply for every and any RN job I could find. I'm just happy my job search ended the way it did. Good luck!!

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Hi!!

I think you should follow your heart. I graduated last December with my Associates Degree in Nursing and I will be starting my dream job, in the NICU! And I also got offered a second RN position in a different hospital in the NICU as well. So many people discouraged me from going for my dream of becoming a NICU RN and they would always say "No one will hire you in the NICU as a new grad". But I followed my heart and I did not regret a moment of doing so :) But I did apply for every and any RN job I could find. I'm just happy my job search ended the way it did. Good luck!!

I'm a new grad and also want to work in the NICU. I have had two interviews but had been rejected both times (they went with nurses who had experience). Can I ask where you live? Im in Cali and i'm starting to feel like I will not be able to get a job in NICU right away.

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Specializes in NICU.
I'm a new grad and also want to work in the NICU. I have had two interviews but had been rejected both times (they went with nurses who had experience). Can I ask where you live? Im in Cali and i'm starting to feel like I will not be able to get a job in NICU right away.

Hi RNnicu42! I live near Los Angeles, CA. I got hired at LAC+USC Healthcare Network in the NICU full-time and also I got hired per diem in the NICU at Ventura County Medical Center. I know how hard it's been for new grads to find a job so I was prepared to work med/surg but so happy I don't have too. Are you in Northern or Southern Cali? Both LAC+USC and VCMC are hiring. I wish you luck :) If you have any other questions I will gladly answer.

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Hi!!

I think you should follow your heart. I graduated last December with my Associates Degree in Nursing and I will be starting my dream job, in the NICU! And I also got offered a second RN position in a different hospital in the NICU as well. So many people discouraged me from going for my dream of becoming a NICU RN and they would always say "No one will hire you in the NICU as a new grad". But I followed my heart and I did not regret a moment of doing so :) But I did apply for every and any RN job I could find. I'm just happy my job search ended the way it did. Good luck!!

Hi CrisNICURN! Congrats on your 2 job offers in the NICU, that is so awesome!! I will be graduating with my ADN in June 2012 and would like to go directly into NICU as well! I despise med-surg and am hoping and praying I can find a job in a NICU. I live in thousand oaks and was wondering if you took the job at VCMC and if so how do you like it there? Any info would be great, thanks so much!!:)

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Specializes in NICU.
Hi CrisNICURN! Congrats on your 2 job offers in the NICU, that is so awesome!! I will be graduating with my ADN in June 2012 and would like to go directly into NICU as well! I despise med-surg and am hoping and praying I can find a job in a NICU. I live in thousand oaks and was wondering if you took the job at VCMC and if so how do you like it there? Any info would be great, thanks so much!!:)

VCMC offered me a per diem job, so I took the full-time job in Los Angeles. However, the NICU manager at VCMC still wants me to work there so she said I can do per diem for her and full-time in LA once I get more comfortable working in the NICU. So I haven't officially started at VCMC yet, but one day soon I will. I did volunteer in the NICU at VCMC during nursing school, so I think that definitely helped me to get hired. And I took NRP. I also started taking NICU classes at VCMC as well, so that also helped. That helped me to get hired in LA too because they saw how much motivation I had. I loved VCMC when I volunteered there. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions :)

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