Specialty areas

[junebugger]

I am a new nurse. AD in Nursing. Previous BA in Art, Masters in Ed. I am currently working at a small community hospital while I work on my BSN. At what point can you venture out into a specialty area? I have been working for 5 months, I need more experience I know, but ultimately I think I would like to work at an outpatient surgical center. Most likely for pediatrics. Right now the hospital I'm at I'm doing Med Surg. Any advice on how to go about getting where I want to be would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

[klone, MSN, RN]

If a specialty area will hire you, you can at any time. We hire new grads regularly right into specialty areas.

[junebugger]

Most places ask for some experience I thought? At least that is what I see on postings. What is your specialty are and where do they post the positions? I find them difficult to find. Thanks

[Shanimal]

Most places ask for some experience I thought? At least that is what I see on postings. What is your specialty are and where do they post the positions? I find them difficult to find. Thanks

It really just depends on your geographical area and current hiring practices of surrounding employers. While in school I knew I wanted to do ER and ICU nursing (I was already working on a med/surg unit as a tech, and though I've always had great respect for those nurses I knew I'd be miserable doing that kind of work). I graduated with my ADN initially, but hospitals in my area at the time weren't hiring new grads into the ER or ICU unless they had a BSN. So I expanded my search for jobs across the state, and voilà , landed an ER job as a new grad in a different metro area.