Nursing student looking for my "niche"

[beatrice1]

I am a nursing student, second year. I always wanted to go into nursing, always been interested in Health and wellbeing. I always enjoyed people and caring for people...

I have had three clinical rotations so far and what I have seen mostly is that nurses do just alot of med administration and charting I really like the hands on/patient care.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what kind of nursing I should go into.

I am really intersted in "health promotion" diet, exercise....

Any input would be appreciated!

[nyteshade, BSN]

Hmmm let's see...maybe community health nursing?

[mailners]

I never saw myself in emergency nursing but it has been my niche for a while. Loved long term care, enjoyed ICU, had fun in med/surg at first. In ER you are a primary care nurse to many who cannot see MDs as they should. Definitely hands on. Whatever you try, give it time to get past the smoke and fog of being new. Wear armor to protect from negativity. Excel in that which intimidates you and it it no longer will. You work too hard for that RN title to let anything take away youe enjoyment of it!

Good Luck!!

[Ruthiegal]

Sometimes it take a while working in the profession to find that little corner that you can call yours, if you don't find it immediately don't fret, you will. Try different things that appear to fit what you are looking for until you get the one that feels right. Like with a lot of things in your life it may take a little trial and error. Good luck!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Don't fret about it too much now. You are still very new at this. I loved mailners' post. Just "go with the flow" for a while and do the best job you can do in each rotation/situation you encounter. It may take a couple of years for your niche to become apparent to you. You need to try a lot of things with an open mind, discover where your talents are (as well as your interests) and get to know yourself as a nurse and not just know yourself as a person.

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with asking the question. Just don't feel that you need to answer that right away. Also, remember that your niche may change a couple of times during your career as you grow and evolve. I have been a nurse for over 30 years and have a PhD -- but I have just recently "found my true niche - again" and can put a label on it.

Some people have been so ingrained on the necessity of "having concrete goals" and a firm "career plan" that it prevents them taking the time necessary to explore the possibilities thoroughly and in a non-pressured kind of way.

In short ... don't just focus on the destination, enjoy the journey. You'll lead a happier life that way.

[beatrice1]

Always loved that phrase... " Don't just focus on the destination... Enjoy the journey" It's a good rule to live by:)

[beatrice1]

I think that is what I was thinking of... "community Health Nursting"

What kind of jobs /postions are out there for that?

[86toronado, BSN, RN]

I don't do it myself, but I have a couple of co-workers that moonlight in home health. According to them, it's a lot of checking up on people after they get discharged from the hospital, doing dressing changes, teaching, etc. But I think you need at least a year of acute care experience before you can apply for those jobs. So if I were you I would just find a job for now, and get your feet wet. Being a student on a hospital unit is very different from working on that same unit as an RN, so you may find the same clinical sites you thought you didn't like being a great place to work once you graduate!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

community health, to me, means being employed by the county, the city, the state, or the federal government. phn's (public health nurses) that i am familiar with work in a community health clinic run by government.

their duties include: become expert at treating tb;

investigate cases of infectious disease (like food poisoning) and arrange for testing of contacts of the patient who was ill and arrange testing, treatment, and possibly work/school restriction for them until cured; the patient is the community, not the individual who is ill. your goal is to prevent spread of disease to the community. therefore, food handlers, child care workers, perhaps others are taken off of work until cleared. this causes financial hardship to them. can't help it, can't let this stop you from protecting the people with whom they would come in contact and to whom they might be likely to spread the infection.)

oversee cases of high risk pregnancies (teenagers, elderly women, diabetics, hypertensives, epileptics, etc.) make sure they get proper prenatal care, teach them infant care, refer for wic, etc., screen for emotional problems and domestic violence

lead poisoning (check out the home, refer to sources of help to get rid of the

lead at the home)

failure to thrive (check out the family, confer with pediatrician, refer to

sources of help

std (looking for contacts of the patient, getting them screened and treated). this includes making sure that mothers of newborns who are exposed to std's get the babies treated. while in contact with mom, screen for post-partum depression/psychosis, domestic violence, financial woes, trouble with any other children in the family, and lots of other problems;

get involved in the local schools and community organizations. participate in health screenings and career days at these locations. (like nursing careers)

teach hygiene, wellness, nutrition, exercise, and sanitation to local facilities that house juvenile or adult mrdd clients and psych patients who are able to live in community group homes.

get involved in emergencies, like floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes when shelters are opened for those who are homeless now. screen the residents on a frequent basis (daily or more often) for fever, diarrhea, malnourishment, dehydration, psych problems, lack of their regular medications, any other problems that could be overwhelming and spread like wildfire in such settings, if left untreated. isolate and get treatment for the ill.

work in the clinic giving vaccinations.

you do a lot of referring to social service organizations, both private and public.

you will be driving to shelters, group homes, private homes or places of work, schools (like maybe a school calls for help with a lice outbreak or you are giving a talk to the kids about nursing as a career). you will probably not be doing things like baths, shots, med passes, bandage changing, foley care, g tube usage, or other skills. this is not home health.

consider the weather.

car trouble is not an acceptable reason to call off. you might be expected to rent a car.

i hope this helps you understand what public/community health is about. even if you do not find this appealing, i hope you find something that you like. parish nursing? summer camp? there are lots of specialty camps - diabetics, those with mental retardation or who are developmentally disabled, epileptics, blind, etc. what about school nursing? work in the office of an alternative medicine md?

you might consider the military, too. great opportunities for nurses there - at least, i think they still need nurses.

check the fed gov websites for work as a nurse. there are nurses in the fed prisons and i'm not sure where else.

[beatrice1]

WOW- thanks for all that great information! That is exactly what I am looking for.

I know as a new nurse I will need some experience in the hospital setting first, but I hope to be able to do something like this. It's exactly what I am interested in.

Thanks

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

WOW- thanks for all that great information! That is exactly what I am looking for.

I know as a new nurse I will need some experience in the hospital setting first, but I hope to be able to do something like this. It's exactly what I am interested in.

Thanks

Awright!!!