Hope it's ok to post here, but I'd love some feedback from seasoned (and not so seasoned ) nurses!
My question is...how does one decide on a specialty?
Was perhaps just an area that really appealed to you before you even stepped one toe into a hospital as a nurse? Was it just something that kind of happened because that's where you got a job? Was it something that you really enjoyed during rotations as a student?
My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that during nursing school, we will (as students) hopefully be given the opportunity to spend time in each major hospital area, such as L&D, surg-med etc. and I assuming that is where many students feel a particular "draw" to a specific area of nursing??
ICU. I knew in my final semester clinical rotation it's what I wanted. I like having something vastly different every day and I like the high acuity. It's like a giant puzzle to me on how to get this patient better and what can I do to help get them there.
You don't get exposed to every type of nursing in school - there are far too many - but you do, or should, get exposed to a number, plus whether as part of school, on here, or just your own research/reading, you'll get exposed to a bunch of them while you're in school. I can tell you that in my class there were at least a few who came in with strong desires as to what specialty but changed that once they'd been exposed to something else that they really liked.
I knew I wanted to be a flight nurse from the day I saw a helicopter land on the helipad at my old job.
I've loved emergency nursing from the day I rotated to the ED in nursing school, so I started there as a new grad and became a flight nurse 6 years later.
I love the job for lots of reasons, but a big part of it is that you really have to rely on your partner in the air. You form close bonds with the people you work with because it's just the two of you taking care of a critically ill patient. I like the autonomy of it, and how different the job is every day.
I would say look at the jobs you have enjoyed in the past, even if they are non medics. I've always liked high pace, frequently changing, and low down time jobs. I don't want to see the same people every day. I graduate in April as an RN and am considering new grad float position but I'm keeping my options. I know I don't like L&D, babies, or kids. I love babies /kids but it gets to me too much to enjoy it.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hope it's ok to post here, but I'd love some feedback from seasoned (and not so seasoned ) nurses!
My question is...how does one decide on a specialty?
Was perhaps just an area that really appealed to you before you even stepped one toe into a hospital as a nurse? Was it just something that kind of happened because that's where you got a job? Was it something that you really enjoyed during rotations as a student?
My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that during nursing school, we will (as students) hopefully be given the opportunity to spend time in each major hospital area, such as L&D, surg-med etc. and I assuming that is where many students feel a particular "draw" to a specific area of nursing??
Thanks in advance.
It's too early to worry about a specialty. As you begin your nursing clinical program and learn more about different aspects of patient care and different specialties, you may find yourself beginning to gravitate toward a certain specialty. Or not. Either is OK. When you graduate, you may find yourself in an area of nursing shortage (rare these days) or an area that is completely saturated with new grads. You'll take your first job in the specialty which will hire you. As you work and gain experience, you'll form opinions about what you like and don't like about the job and what appeals to you or doesn't appeal to you about the specialty. THEN you'll be in a position to make an informed choice about what specialty calls to you.
Some nurses seem to "know" well in advance of their first job that they want to be an ED nurse or an OR nurse. I was most interested in oncology. After a few years, I discovered that I was burning out in oncology and found myself in MICU. I've been in critical care ever since. It isn't where I wanted to go or anywhere I thought I might go, but is truly my niche. You'll find yours . . . don't worry if you don't find it right away.
It's too early to worry about a specialty. As you begin your nursing clinical program and learn more about different aspects of patient care and different specialties, you may find yourself beginning to gravitate toward a certain specialty. Or not. Either is OK. When you graduate, you may find yourself in an area of nursing shortage (rare these days) or an area that is completely saturated with new grads. You'll take your first job in the specialty which will hire you. As you work and gain experience, you'll form opinions about what you like and don't like about the job and what appeals to you or doesn't appeal to you about the specialty. THEN you'll be in a position to make an informed choice about what specialty calls to you.
Some nurses seem to "know" well in advance of their first job that they want to be an ED nurse or an OR nurse. I was most interested in oncology. After a few years, I discovered that I was burning out in oncology and found myself in MICU. I've been in critical care ever since. It isn't where I wanted to go or anywhere I thought I might go, but is truly my niche. You'll find yours . . . don't worry if you don't find it right away.
You're right - I should focus on getting into school first! I guess I was just interested in how the process worked; what you have described above (as well as all the other great posts) has explained that the process is pretty organic and will evolve naturally as I rotate thru clinicals, rather than being a "forced" process that requires any specific route to follow!
You're right - I should focus on getting into school first! I guess I was just interested in how the process worked; what you have described above (as well as all the other great posts) has explained that the process is pretty organic and will evolve naturally as I rotate thru clinicals, rather than being a "forced" process that requires any specific route to follow!
Thanks for the post :)
I love your post! I'm in my third semester (out of 5) and I've enjoyed all clinical so far. The only thing I've ruled out is surgery, because I absolutely love patient interaction and get slightly creeped out seeing a patient go under anesthesia. When I started school I thought "NO WAY" to pediatrics, NICU and L&D, because I'm a mom and wasn't too keen on seeing kids in pain or being around kids all day when I have three at home. But my first peds clinical just felt *right*. I can't explain it, I just loved it. I asked my RN tons of questions and at the end of the day I asked her why she got into Peds and if she would recommend it. She was like "how much time do you have?" meaning her answer was long and complicated. Anyway even though you are not there yet I think it's a very interesting question and I thank you for asking it!
) nurses!
LovingLife123
1,592 Posts
ICU. I knew in my final semester clinical rotation it's what I wanted. I like having something vastly different every day and I like the high acuity. It's like a giant puzzle to me on how to get this patient better and what can I do to help get them there.