Question for all nurses with specialties:

[princesasabia]

how did you find out what speciality you wanted to do and how many years of experience do you reccomend someone have before they go into a specialty? also what are some specalities that have the highest demand for nurses? also do you have any advice about the nursing field or about nursing school? sorry for all the question. im just trying to find out as much as possible about nursing until i start my classes for my adn next year in january.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Unless you have a burning desire to work in one particular area then I recommend you keep an open mind and not address this till after graduation or after you have worked a year or two. You "find out" by working. Some people claim they "always wanted" to do a certain thing. Once you are working you will learn what specialities are demanded in your market and what is the cost/benefit of meeting the criteria to specialize. Many certifications will not allow you to qualify unless you have a year or two (or more!) experience in that area of nursing. ANCC is the certification branch of ANA (www.nursingworld.com). There are several others and you can check out the qualifications online. Good luck on your journey!

[ernrs2b]

I agree, I don't know how many people in my class that wanted to specialize in Pediatrics or L&D who later changed their mind after experiencing those areas..:typing

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I loved my surgical placement when I was training and hated Critical care, but when I qualified there were only jobs in critical care available so I ended up working there. I loved it and stayed for almost 10 years, I moved to a surgical HDU and did a bit of teaching and now work in general surgery.

I don't think I would have been given the opportunities I have had without my critical care experience so i am really glad it worked out as it did, even though at the time I thought it was the worst thing in the world to have to do

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

when i was in school, i thought i wanted NICU. at graduation, the only job available was adult special care/ICU, so i took it. that was 30 years ago. sometimes the specialty picks you.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Started off working adult med/surg (not to get experience, but because that's what I wanted.) Never thought I'd do peds. Hated it in school. Just didn't appeal to me. Then kept getting peds patients (worked at a more rural hospital). Ended up deciding to work peds, and now I love it. Still med/surg peds though. Love med/surg, just like my patients younger now. When I started school, had thought I'd want ICU, but did my preceptorship there, and was happier the days that my preceptor got sent to step-down so we'd work there. I just don't like my patients being intubated, I want to talk to them! (Although, there is the occasional patient and more often family member I'd LOVE to intubate!) I'm a perfect example of give yourself time to find where you want to go. It's not always where you'd expect, and may not be where you decide to stay.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

This is not a decision you need to make now, as you really have no idea what a day in the life of different settings/specialties is like at this point ... nor should you/can you know right now.

You'll see a wide variety of things while in school, and this may steer you in one particular direction or another.

And please don't believe that a medical-surgical unit is NOT a specialty area. Because it sure is.

Good luck with your studies.

[Jules A, MSN]

What a great thread! I love hearing how people decided where to work or as one person put it which speciality picked her. :)

I had no clue starting out and enrolled in the LPN program because I wasn't even 100% sure I wanted to be a nurse. I figured with all the opportunities for nurses surely I'd find something I liked. My clincal experiences really opened my eyes as to what I might like and what definitely wasn't for me. As luck would have it I did a rotation at the facility where I work now, loved it, and was offered a position before I graduated.

[IPrepU]

when i was a student i really wanted to work in pediatrics but was told i couldn't get there until i did med/surg first. i did however, know right away! that psych nursing was not for me!! hats off to those who are psych nurses though.

[color=#556b2f]shortly after becomming a surgical rn i became the pediatric lead. so even though i didn't get to the pediatric floor i still get to fulfill my love for peds in the or.

[color=#556b2f]while you are in the program you'll find the area that feels right.

[color=#556b2f]we all, one way or another, find our niche.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

I wanted ER/trauma ICU all through school. In my grad year, I was allocated to ICU and loved it. I applied for a critical care course, and was accepted into a cardiac ICU. Now, 12 years later, I LOVE cardiac and hate trauma/ER! Every job since my grad year has been cardiac.

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

I did my time in psych and then med/surg, then ended up working on a cardiac unit. I felt like I was ready for the higher acuity level, and it was where a position was open. I'm glad that I had a firm grounding in psych and general med/surg before I got to the cardiac floor, because it has definitely made me a better nurse, but I'm also glad those dues are paid!