Nursing Specialties

I think many people change during nursing school. It isn't crucial to decide now. I went into nsg wanting to do L&D and now am leaning towards hospice, but that may change next year!

I'm a DOT nurse (take driver's licenses away for medical reasons) so your second comment about the driver makes me crazy. Yesterday I passed a delivery truck and the guy had made himself a table that fit around the steering wheel, filled with sandwiches and cole slaw containers!

Changing specialties? I think it depends. I've been Peds, Rehab, Occ Health, Psych and my current Community Health hybrid. Occ Health was hard to get into because there are few jobs and the people stay forever.

You can always change. Really.

Yesterday I passed a delivery truck and the guy had made himself a table that fit around the steering wheel, filled with sandwiches and cole slaw containers!

Yikes!!!

Nursing generally allows for changing between specialties. That is, you don't need to go back for another degree to be qualified to apply for a job in a different area of nursing.

The availability of other jobs, your hireability, and your own willingness to "start over" come into play as well. As another posted noted, some areas are hard to get into because there aren't many jobs and people stay in them forever. Some areas, certain experience is required and even if you're an expert in your area, you may need to get experience in the other area, but that may mean a substantial pay cut... and employers are often hesitant to hire people who can easily make more in another job. Finally, when you change specialities, you are back to being a beginner. It can be thrilling and challenging. And it can sometimes be intimidating.

I'm not trying to make it sound next to impossible to change. It's very possible! Just pointing out some considerations. Having the ability to change areas is one benefit of nursing as a career. However, one's own personality and preferences play into the ease in which such a change is made. If you know yourself to enjoy a new challenge, then you can do it!

jjjoy, great point about the pay cut. I took a 25 % paycut going from hospital based nursing to community health. It did come up in the interview as a concern. I've made it all back but it was a significant income drop. Friends of mine have also experienced that going to other out of the hospital jobs or even changing shifts. So that can really happen.

OP, I hope you find work you enjoy. That's really key.

Thanks everyone for your comments!