New Grads

Published

  1. Did you know what specialty you wanted to be in before starting nursing school?

    • 7
      Yes
    • 5
      No
    • 6
      Yes, but it changed by the time I graduated.
    • 1
      I still haven't picked one.

19 members have participated

Did you know what area or specialty in nursing you wanted to go into before nursing school, and if so, did it change or stay the same once you graduated?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to first year after licensure.

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Specializes in L&D, Cardiac/Renal, Palliative Care.

Still haven't decided. I have a couple ideas in mind but I'm not really married to any of them :nurse:

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I didn't know what I wanted to specialize in during school and I still have no idea. BUT I do know that I've never had a desire to be in any of the sought after specialties (L&D, ICU, NICU) and think I may be drawn more to non-acute care settings.

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I loved the experience of being a CNA at a long-term care facility: getting to know the patient's quirks and preferences, finding ways to connect to them at whatever level they were at... loved it. I went to acute care on a med-surg floor for the experience shortly before beginning nursing school. I did learn A LOT - including the fact that I hated med/surg: my strengths as a caregiver do not align with it. I always loved end-of-life care, and wanted to go into Hospice.

I'm a new grad and I have been offered a job in the inpatient unit at my local Hospice. I put in the application as a "reaching for the stars" thing; my local Hospice is very well-regarded. I did not expect to get the position. I thought I'd get there after "doing my time" on med/surg.

I know new grads are not encouraged to start there....but the heart wants what it wants, and I've been given the opportunity. Hospice care incorporates a lot of what I consider to be my strengths as a caregiver, while also challenging me in new ways. We'll see how it pans out, but I'm going to do my best!

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Changed when I was applying as a new grad. I had already worked at my current employer and primarily worked in the ICU/CCU. So, that was the place I was looking to go to when I finished; however, my hospital only had new grad programs for the ER, med-surge, and telemetry. My older brother, who previously worked another local hospital which was the only one that had a new-grad ICU program in the area, recommended not starting there as the pay was very low, and it would be tough as a new grad to start in critical care. Figured I'd start on telemetry as a new grad then transition to ICU. Glad I started on telemetry. The acuity is perfect and my team is awesome. Don't think I'll ever leave telemetry any time soon or ever go to critical care.

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