Question guys...what field of nursing are you going into?

I'm drawn to the NICU and will ultimately consider an NP. However, I may instead decide to purse a PhD in the hopes of becoming a professor at our local university. Gotta graduate and get a few years of experience (and pay) under my belt.

I'll be heading to an ICU somewhere. I'm currently doing my peds rotation in the PICU and will be precepting in the SICU next semester. I'm applying for critical care residencies at several major medical centers to help me figure things out.

Psych!... hopefully. Get a few years under my belt and return to school. Would love to become a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner.

As you go through the rotations in school, you hear that one area might appeal to you, and you might say "this is for me".

I enjoyed the psych rotation. That was where I felt I did the most for people, and told the nurse manager on that unit I'd look him up after graduation. He said I'd need a years worth of med/surge first.

So I graduated and went to a renal/medical floor of the largest health system in the area. The unit became a renal transplant unit recently and made all the local news when we had our first live donor procedure.

I've been there since July. In five months, I've learned that med surge is not for me. It's just not who I am. I was told that I was doing well, and I went home thinking I'd done OK most days, but it was not feeling like something I could continue doing. I had a talk with my nurse manager, nurse educator, and then an interview with a new nurse manager.

I start my new position on the Psych unit of the same hospital next Monday. It feels like the right thing. A former professor of mine wrote me a great recommendation letter. I made an impression on my new Nursing Director, and she squashed HR's attempt at making me stay on the unit I was on until I finished the year. The new Nurse

Manager seemed impressed as well. She called me an hour or so ago to set up my days for next week.

We'll see how it goes.

ND2007, RN

I worked at a nursing home as a LPN for a couple years and I loved it! Originally I never wanted to work in a nursing home ever, but working with a geriatric crew really had its perks. I don't think its a right fit for me in the future, but it was a good start. Currently I'm pursuing a position in an ICU or ER setting. Time flies, which leave no room for clockwatching. Whats better than knowing that the shift is over in a blink.

I worked at a nursing home as a LPN for a couple years and I loved it! Originally I never wanted to work in a nursing home ever, but working with a geriatric crew really had its perks. I don't think its a right fit for me in the future, but it was a good start. Currently I'm pursuing a position in an ICU or ER setting. Time flies, which leave no room for clockwatching. Whats better than knowing that the shift is over in a blink.

I did a two-month stint at a nursing home. I liked my residents (patient was not the term used). I felt like all I could do for them all day was dispense meds. There was no time to give them what many really wanted... someone to talk to.

Time flying is something I felt on busy days on the unit I've left. The day would steamroll right over me. Next thing you know the 1800 meds are due out and I'm doing the final hour push to get all of my stuff done. Some days, when it was slower or we had an extra nurse, the day would drag. It's much easier to be busy than to try to pass the time. That was like my last day there... it could not end fast enough.

One of the things I'm concerned about in my move to psych (I start tomorrow) is that the day might pass too slowly. We'll see. I think I'm going to do well there though. I look forward to work tomorrow.

ND2007

I am thinking of going into PICU or NICU. I found during my clinical classes that I'm very good in those areas and that I do get good responses from parents in that area as opposed to maternity of pediatrics itself. However I ultimately want to go into teaching as I feel that male nursing teachers are far and few between but that is a goal I want to accomplished later on in my career.

I would like to work in the ICU and then go to anesthesia school to become a CRNA.

ICU after graduation (just a few more months away), then on to CRNA school when I can.

I'm planning on a multifaceted career. At the moment, I'm an EMT making my way through RN school. Among my plans are to get my paramedic cert, work on my Masters, and make FNP. I'll be moving to a rural area after my schooling's done, and I want to be a competent journeyman in several areas. Two 24's a month on the ambulance as a paramedic, three 12's a week as an RN, and we'll see what develops as I find out more about the opportunities available to FNP's.

Who knows? Maybe life as an FNP will appeal to me, maybe the ambulance will call my name, maybe the NICU or the psych ward will be my home for a while.

At the moment, I find the experience of taking care of babies to be so rewarding that I just might find myself in pediatrics. It's been so rewarding so far that I can't imagine limiting myself to just one thing for the rest of my life. There's so many things to explore, so many challenges to face.

Up until last week I had been saying, "NICU for me." Now, having spent two days in the PICU with my kid, I think I might prefer that.

I've just a heart for the young 'uns and I like the critical care environment.