Is it better to stick with a speciality or should I diversify my nursing experience?

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Hi, so this is something I’m wondering as I will be starting my first nursing position as an LPN. Because LPNs are so limited in my hospital, they’re specialities seem to be all over the place. Is it better to have experience in different departments or am I better off staying in a field and making it a niche for the long term? I’m currently looking to transition from a pediatric Medical Assistant to an LPN.

Also, I’ve applied to pediatric LPN positions as well as LPN positions in pre-admissions working with mostly adults so because I applied to that first, I will be reviewed for the pre-admissions department before the pediatric positions I applied for. Where should I go with my background? I have almost 5 years of healthcare experience with 2 years as a pediatric Medical Assistant and 3 years of random healthcare experience from Patient Transporting, Secretary, Nurse’s Aide etc. and yes I’m currently enrolled in a RN program.

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It's hard to know which road to take when there's no destination in mind. I see nothing about your long term goals, here.

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Well, I’m not sure what my goal is. I’ve thought about being a pediatric RN but the downside to that is that I wouldn’t know anything else which may make it hard to accept side gigs through agencies since I don’t know anything else. I’ve also thought about picking up as many skills as I can get so I can be a well-rounded RN but I’m not sure what the downside to that would be.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

Being a well rounded RN is good if you want to explore the field and go from job to job. But it’s not needed.

If know what you want to do, then that’s great. If thats children, go for it. No need to get experience else where.

If you have interests in other areas though, explore them.

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