Nursing fields: What has been your favorite?

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Specializes in LTC, Management.

I have been in healthcare for 9 years. Some as a STNA, lpn and RN. I will soon have my BSN and am getting the itch to try something other than a SNF. I recently accepted a hospice job with great hours and pay. However, with all the resources on this site (all of you), I wander what everyone's favorite field is?

Has anyone tried hospice and hated it/ loved it?

Maybe the vast majority of you love the hospital and wouldn't trade it for anything?

Maybe some love the routine of a SNF.

Lets talk about your favorite fields and why to give some of the newer nurses on this site (like me) some wisdom ? 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Hospice is one area of nursing where I haven't worked, but have had a interest in it and and have respected those who work in Hospice, DyerRN.

As you can see from my "specializes in", I've worked in a variety of areas and found gratification in each and every one. I enjoyed serving all the patients and clients in every area. The one factor that made or broke the job was those with who I worked; Coworkers can make or break a position.

Learning therapeutic methods and ways to deal with difficult Patients and Coworkers were some of the best things that I learned in my Nursing career.

I would have to say that my my epiphany, the point where my consciousness was heightened, came to me when I worked in Chemical Dependency treatment, from 1987 to 1990. I worked with a great group of Nurses, Therapists and Patients who worked a proven method of recovery with a common goal.

I learned things in CD treatment that I carried for the rest of my career and carry with me still.

Thank you for asking and the best to you, DyerRN!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

I have worked in ICU, ER, home health, infusion,  corrections and school nursing.   Each one was my favorite when I was doing it.  As the previous poster indicated,  coworkers  ( and management) can make or break your time in an area.   I was in home health when hospice was still in its infancy, so I ended up being a defacto hospice nurse.  And I really enjoyed being able to help people at a time when they felt so helpless; and also enjoyed helping people be as comfortable as possible in their final days.  Currently, there are inpatient hospice centers and home-based hospice.    If you are home-based, there is always on call to deal with.  When my husband passed away, my hospice nurse was fabulous, but I remember thinking I would not want her hours.  

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Specializes in LTC, Management.

Thank you for the comments! The position I am going into is Mon-Fri 0830-1700 case management with 1 on call day (24 hours) every 2 weeks. It is travel inside my county only, so I do not feel it is too bad. I always wanted ED! The EDs in my area will only hire BSN. My plan was always to go there after that degree (in a couple months) unless I really love this new job!

Davey I agree with you that the people who surround you can make or break a job! This goes back to even my STNA days and having the "dream crew".

Some great insight into the many fields of nursing here! Anyone else want to chime in?

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Specializes in kids.

I have done med-surg, LTC, office (multispecialty group practice and  family practice, home health...and I've been in school nursing for 27 years!! Absolutely love my job in a small rural community.

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Specializes in LTC, Management.

I would love to experience school nursing! Very hard to get into due to the rural community I'm located in. Those nurses tend to stay put like you! ?

Thank you for your input! I'm interested in how long you worked LTC? Only because like I've said it is all I have done and you made large jump to school nursing! 

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Specializes in kids.
22 hours ago, DyerRN said:

I would love to experience school nursing! Very hard to get into due to the rural community I'm located in. Those nurses tend to stay put like you! ?

Thank you for your input! I'm interested in how long you worked LTC? Only because like I've said it is all I have done and you made large jump to school nursing! 

My home health (5 years) was what sealed the deal for school nursing. Lots of independence and autonomy. I did LTC 2 years as DNS in a very small ECF and per diem in ICF/AL for 11 years.  Right place, right time! Good luck!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

In 27 years I have experienced: ER 4mos, ICU 13 years, MedSurg 4 years, home health 5 years PRN, hospice 2 years PRN, LTC  7 years while doing the HH and Hospice PRN, and 3 years at dialysis. Dialysis and LTC have been my absolute faves

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Specializes in LTC, Management.

Hoosier thank you for your comment!

I hope LTC doesn't even up being my favorite sense I will be leaving a management position tomorrow! It seems like you ventured around a lot to come to that conclusion and if that's what I need to do to find peace in my career choice then I guess I am taking the jump!

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Specializes in Dialysis.
2 hours ago, DyerRN said:

Hoosier thank you for your comment!

I hope LTC doesn't even up being my favorite sense I will be leaving a management position tomorrow! It seems like you ventured around a lot to come to that conclusion and if that's what I need to do to find peace in my career choice then I guess I am taking the jump!

Don't dwell on it. We all have different personalities, likes, and dislikes. That's why different specialties work for different people. Just take this next step as a learning experience. Remember, LTC usually needs help, so you'd probably be able to go back and work back up to management if your new gig doesn't work out. You'll never know unless you take the plunge. Good luck!

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SNF is my favorite type of direct-care job but I did enjoy the Hospice cases we got in the SNF facility.  I would have loved to pursue the job offer you have.

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Bedside nursing, for the most part is quite overrated irrespective of the particular field/department. Nonetheless, I think ICU was my favorite albeit a ground for breeding pomposity, but quite the conducive environment for introspection and profound humility relative to the fallacy of being human and our unimportance in this world.

I loved taking care of septic patients on multiple drips, CRRT, et al. Reminded me of our self-imagined grandiosity as the apex predators yet primitive single-called organisms unseen to our eyes could bring us to the brink of death and at times an untimely appointment with our maker, irrespective of race, weight, social class, intelligence etc. 

Keep advancing your education. It enhances your chances of being irreplaceable and/or indispensable. 

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