Sell me on your specialty...

[rose_marie]

I am just finishing up the first quarter in my ABSN program and so excited about everything I'm learning! However, I find myself in a rather wonderful predicament...I have no idea what kind of nursing I want to do! It seems like every week I fall in love with a new area (peds, cardiology, rehab, wound care, ortho, etc.) and I just can't get enough!

I know I'm just a baby (nursing-wise :)) and that I have plenty of time to figure this out--there's lots more experience and practice ahead of me that will hopefully shape my path. What's more, all my nursing instructors have had incredibly dynamic careers and many have changed their "specialty" several times, so I know that it's not just about picking one area and staying with it forever...but I still find myself looking for a bit of direction in terms of what's ahead.

I would love to hear what you have to say about the pros and cons of your area/specialty of nursing? What do you do, what do you love about, and what do you not like? What personality traits or skills do you find serve you best in this area? What experiences led you to choose your area? In what ways are you fulfilled by your work, or in what ways is it draining? What have you learned about nursing, your clients/patients, and yourself in your area or specialty?

Thank you for your feedback!

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

You may not know for years what you really like- sorry :) It takes a while to get really into any specialty- until then, it's hard to know. And what you think you'll HATE while you're in school, may turn out to be something you really like.... happened that way for me. What I thought I'd love, I ended up really NOT liking :) Just keep learning, and after you get some more experience, learn some more, and never quit learning, and it will get more clear :)

[IdrilRN, BSN, RN]

Come to psychiatry,we have sugar free candies, lots of down time on nights (least at my place). Where else can you spend your day talking to people? Our patients wipe their own buts, we don't spread the MRSA, we wear our own clothes, although sometimes colorful pajammas would be fun.

Sometimes I wonder just what are they saying, but to me it's the best ever.

It's really put things in perspective with some of the people I take care of. Oh, wait was that counter transferance.

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Come to the wonderful world of the Emergency Department!

You will see it all: from peds, psych, burns, cardiology, trauma, sniffles, and "I don't know why I'm here".

You will become a 'Jack of All Trades' with regard to patient care and skills. I believe ER nurses have a bit of ADD, OCD, incredible multi-tasking skills, organizational skills and listening/assessment skills. Sometimes you will be a patient's nurse, counselor, mother/ father, or stern teacher.

You may have one patient with an earache, another with an MI and cardiac arrest in another room. Sometimes you have these patients staggered, sometimes you get them all at once and have to prioritize and triage. One minute it may be slow (never say that out loud though) and the next you are bouncing beach balls against the walls. It's crazy and I enjoy it.

The cons: seeing the abuse of the system, impatient fast track patients who will not understand that a hemorrhagic stroke will be seen by the Dr before them (true example), pediatric codes/abuse.

Overall, this department is not for everyone, but if it fits your personality - you will have a great time.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I can't sell you on Nursing, let alone my specialty, to be honest with you. Sorry to be negative.

What I say doesn't matter, though. You will do what pleases you. Best wishes.

What are you thinking of doing?

BTW, I have had Nursing jobs that I've dearly loved. It's just that I'm not a starry-eyed 22 year old beginner any more and I have seen the best and worst of life and Nursing in the intervening years.

[sherri12]

Kooky Korky should get a new career and a new attitude. If you don't like your profession.... then leave.

It's better to be a starry eyed, excited 22 year old than a negative, cynical, old timer nurse.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

You may find like I did that after a few years of working in a specialty that you are bored. So what do I do now, I'm a float pool nurse! I work in almost every department in my hospital (peds, ER, PACU, med-surg, step-down, etc) and I love the variety. I never know what to expect, but there is certainly never a dull moment.

[mcleanl]

Not to be negative but in this economy it might be the specialty that picks you!

That being said......SICU....and always in a teaching hospital!!!!!

Pro: teaching hospitals tend to get the juicest cases

-rounding with the residents and the attendings....you will learn a ton

-ICU nurses get a decent amount of respect.

-in teaching hospitals there is always a resident around and in the ICU's they almost never leave the floor

-you will do invasive monitoring, CRRT, Vents, IABP, VADS.......I could go on for days with the equipment that you will learn to use

-drugs, drips, drains and dressings...oh boy!

-your nursing colleguagues will have your back when the poop hits the fan......I have never been in a crisis without a handful of nurses in my room helping

Cons......you will rarely get a sit down lunch!

[gvernz]

Well, 15 years ago , I got myself into the Intensive Care Unit as a starting nurse and did not know much...hated psychiatric nursing, Endocrine, Respi and Cardio as my subjects at school. All I really wanted was to be a maternal-peds nurse, I thought I would make it my mission. For 7 years , I worked in a very stressful environment where you get "code blues" all the time, mastered CPR , suctioning and caring for stroke and intubated patients , at times severe traumas. For all it was worth, I loved what I did. Then I migrated here in US and worked in Long term care- worked as staff nurse then worked as wound care nurse and did part time psychiatric nurse. I loved doing it all for all my 6 years of crazy , busy schedule.In the last 2 years of my stint at that LTC, I was assigned as a nurse supervisor/ rac/ mds nurse. I loved it too. Then again , due to family reasons, I had to move to another state and became a Inpatient Rehab nurse, still loving what I was doing. I get to see patients come in my unit with severe one sided weakness or severely debilitated and unable to move and as the days go by improve their outcomes and see the wonder in their eyes when they start standing with a walker and take baby steps. In short, it is not the specialty, it is the sense of accomplishment knowing that you are a part of certain individual's progress; having a mission to help people get better and learn ways to improve your technique in giving care.

[jlpsu]

I am loving reading about nurses who love their jobs! I know nothing is perfect, but this site is so full of nurses who hate their jobs and should have left nursing years ago that it is refreshing to read from long term nurses who love what they do.

From a hopeful nursing student (starting her 3rd career!), I thank you!

[IdrilRN, BSN, RN]

I have to say that I love my two jobs. I was an LPN for 12 years and now am an RN. I can't picture myself doing anything else. Somedays stink, but most days are good. A small handful of co workers are frustrating to work with, but I trust them and know I can count on them if/when I need it. One is OCD, one a ditz, one is crabby everybody has something I am sure I am a PITA sometimes but we all get along great.

[NeoPediRN]

I finally landed a job in my dream specialty - the ER. I can't sell you on it though, you're either an ER gal or you're not. :) I love the super fast pace, the 5 back-to-back ambulances, having half the ER as level 2 on the ESI. I love starting IVs. I love EVERYTHING about the ER....I don't even mind the poop, the puke, or the smell.