Is there a test to determine which area of nursing you are best for?

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Hi! I'm just wondering if anybody knows of a test that helps nurses ascertain which areas of nursing they are best suited for? I have a couple years of experience in Med Surg and LTC behind me. I don't know if either one is right for me in the long run, these are the areas where I have been able to obtain employment. Don't know what to plan toward/ where to go from here! I appreciate any help

I'm curious to know how they score those things.

Me too!

Here's my result - nothing like I expected.

https://www.discovernursing.com/diagnostic-results/4856,4858,6645/?primary=5#.VeaIFPlVikp

OP, just for fun, see this flow chart :up:

https://torontoemerg.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/new-from-k-tel-the-career-nurse-select-o-matic/

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I'm pretty quiet and reserved, a bit anal, anxious, and like things organized and in order. Based on my personality, you'd wouldn't think I'd necessarily be an ER person, but.. I work in a pediatric ER and love every second of it.

So, you'd be surprised.

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Um, JnJ may want to take a second look at their algorithms. Even my husband laughed when he saw my results. I guarantee that I am NOT suited to be a substance abuse nurse. I think I would be sad all the time as a transplant nurse, and possibly the same with an HIV/AIDS nurse. I love doing wound care, I love educating. Not seeing anything like that in this assessment for me.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Holy crap that test told me I should be a CNM!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Holy crap that test told me I should be a CNM!

It told me I should be a CNM too. :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

I was searching for that flowchart yesterday, thanks for posting.

I think it's pretty accurate.

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Specializes in PICU.

I was also told that I should be a Certified Nurse Midwife. I don't really have any desire to work with laboring women.

I have done only Peds ICU.

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Yes! There certainly is. Check out this link: https://www.discovernursing.com/diagnostic#.VeYuSkt6nwI

Certified Midwife!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

OH NO NOT TODAY! :eek: Definitely do not what to deal with anything that have to do with pregnancy and deliveries.

On another note. Do anyone watch "Delivery Man" on netflix???? It's about a ex male police officer that gave up his job as a cop to be a certified mid wife. The show is pretty funny.

BUT me as a midwife.....DEFINITELY NOT! :roflmao:

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Specializes in PACU, presurgical testing.

You can probably get into a float pool at your hospital, but that isn't likely to expose you to the specialized areas like ICU, PACU, ED, maternity, etc. My recommendation is to shadow. I knew the first time I shadowed a nurse on a med-surg unit that it was not for me. I also knew the first time I shadowed in PACU that I was hooked, and to this day it is my favorite place in the whole hospital!

What do you like about the places you've worked? What did you dislike? Think about your preferences/strength in nurse-patient ratio, acuity/critical care needs, telemetry/technology (I LOVE monitors, but a lot of nurses hate them), continuity of care/LOS (i.e., do you have the same patient for an hour like me, or for a year like LTC), age of patients, type of health issue (if you don't like cardiac, don't work telemetry), amount of patient education, etc. Don't forget to look at your hours/days; urgent care usually requires every other weekend, but there is no call; OR/PACU require call but may not schedule nights depending on the facility, etc. Office nursing typically has no nights/weekends/holidays/call, but the pay may be lower, and you may miss the hospital.

Also, what do you want to learn? I'd like to learn wound care, but it doesn't come up in PACU and would require me to take a course or moonlight in the wound center!

I didn't take the self-test, and from people's responses I'm not sure you should, either! :) You have valuable experience coming from med-surg and LTC, and there is no reason you can't find a real niche in nursing! The sky really is the limit!

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Here's my results: https://www.discovernursing.com/diagnostic-results/6618,4839,14/?primary=6613#.Vec2yflViko

Not bad at all!! According to the flowchart, I should be an OR nurse :)

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.
Yes! There certainly is. Check out this link: https://www.discovernursing.com/diagnostic#.VeYuSkt6nwI

Neat!!! It told me I'd be a good transplant nurse!!

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