Shadowing opportunity

I would say your manager as he/she would know more about the hospital and the people who work it more than your instructor would. I would ask he/she and see if it would be alright to possibly shadow your desired field on a day off, so you don't get behind on work? That's just my opinion, interested in what others will say. Best of luck!

I hear you say that you don't want to be a floor nurse” and want to continue on to an advanced degree.” What did you have in mind? Are you aware that all graduate nursing degrees require bedside experience in order to be competent and, in some cases, admitted into the program? If you could explain a little more about how you foresee your career progressing we can better guide you in terms of how realistic they may be.

In the mean time, you can explore shadow opportunities almost anywhere. Set it up through your manager or through your HR department.

Hi Double-Helix,

I am very aware that I have to have floor experience to go to graduate school. I think I should have explained better when I said I don't want to be a floor nurse. What I meant is that I don't see myself retiring as a floor nurse. I would like to specialize in areas of either pediatrics, adult-gerontology or anesthesia. Because I am not sure which of the three, that's why I want to shadow to see which one I will like most. I would like to work as a floor nurse for at least five years before even thinking about going on to graduate school.

Gr4ceffa,

Thank you. I went and talked to my manager today and she said she will connect me to some of the nurses who work part time at our hospital who are currently in anesthesia school. She also said because I am only in my first semester of nursing school, that it is still a little too early to shadow a CRNA, and that I should wait until I am closer to getting my BSN. Thanks for the reply though!!