What field of nursing do you want to go in and why?

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I think I want to go into ER. This is because there is lots of teamwork (well, I guess that's based on the workers), it's also standard protocols rather than scheduled orders on the floor, and the MD is always present when needed...though it's a challenge, I'm up for it. What about you guys?

Still got a couple of years to decide personally :p either way i hope to find where i want to go before i graduate

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i havent started clinicals but I would like to work in the ER, I volunteered there and it was a great experience....i also want to become a nurse practitioner and hope to work in the ER when that time comes

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Many of my cohort members entered the program not knowing what they wanted to do, as you'd expect, but several of the girls wanted to go into OB. None of them want OB now, and I think nearly everyone (there's only 10 of us left) wants to enter the ER. One wants to work with babies but not deliveries.

The consensus, however, is that medical/surgical floors are grossly unappealing work environments, and so no one wants to work in that. If I were put into a position to "have" to work med/surg as a daily job I'd keep on with my current career and put my RN card in the drawer somewhere.

I initially wanted to go into the ER since it seemed like a good fit (used to work a side job as a paramedic several years ago), and I don't think I have any interest in that now. I just kind of want to distance myself from nursing for a while and keep doing what I'm doing. I took the exit HESI today and did really well which I'm proud of, but I'm tired of thinking about all of it. My standard of living won't change much with a career change so I'm comfortable doing what I do now and am very good at it. I'm not looking for a nursing job so much as I am the right nursing job.

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I would like anything that keeps me on my toes! I haven't started any clinicals yet, and am going to keep an open mind to everything. Right now, ER, ICU (scary intimidating, but exciting/rewarding), and NICU are most appealing. I would definitely do my time in med/surg to tweak my skills and gain knowledge/experience before diving into any of those fields.

I still go back and forth about working at Children's Hospital, but I'm nervous I wouldn't be able to handle it (besides NICU). Hospice is also at the top of my list. I think there's something very rewarding about helping someone (and family) pass with comfort and peace. I guess we'll see what happens when I get into clinical.

I always thought I wanted to get into OB/Delivery, but I'm 100% passionate about natural childbirth, and don't think I'd be able to keep an open mind to the "intervention filled" childbirth process we have in the US. Maybe if I could work for a midwife!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
ICU all the way!! I absolutely love everything about it( so far anyway lol) I like the rush, nurse-pt ratio, lots of meds, teamwork, most importantly RNs are more independent, I love the leadership role.there are. At least 10-15 doctors on the floor everyday, they barely leave the floor. And so much more.

*** That's great you want to do ICU. I went directly into ICU as a new grad and it was a great thing for me. I wish you good luck.

However I wanted to point out something. I have worked critical care for the last 16 or so years in a variety of hospitals in 4 states. In most ICUs there are very sedom physicians there. The ICU where you were would be an exception. In many very large high intensity ICUs there may almost never be a doctor in the unit. Where I work now the docs round in the morning from about 0600 to about 10:00AM and then they leave, usually not to come back until 0600 the next day. This is in a large teaching hospital that is a trauma center with an active heart program.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I went into pediatrics because I wanted to work with kids. It was pretty simple, really. Although I was super fortunate that a PICU position was offered to me as a new graduate. I had just moved to a new state as was very lucky to get an offer for my dream specialty. I would have accepted anything to get my feet wet.

Had I not moved, I was also seriously considering applying to an outpatient wound/hyperbaric treatment center where I did an extended clinical rotation. Wound care is one of my loves, and definitely something I would go back to if I ever needed to leave peds.

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"the consensus, however, is that medical/surgical floors are grossly unappealing work environments, and so no one wants to work in that. if i were put into a position to "have" to work med/surg as a daily job i'd keep on with my current career and put my rn card in the drawer somewhere."

reality check here: the vast majority of beds in hospitals are not specialty areas like icu or er, or even ob or pedi. they are med/surg adult nursing units. therefore the majority of nurses working in hospitals are not in the specialty areas; they are in adult medical/surgical floors. the truth is that most new grads will not be working in specialty areas for some time.

yes, we all know somebody who started in a specialty area right out of school. these people are in the minority because specialty areas want people with experience, real experience. also, try to remember this: "anecdote" is not the singular of "data."

this is not to suggest that i agree with the quote above. since the vast majority of inpatients travel in and out of med/surg floors, what makes you think they are "grossly unappealing"? with all due respect, i think you may lack the actual work experience to make an informed decision on that. since most new grads will, in fact, not be in specialty areas, it might be better to consider that there is a very large body of experience out there that you will not even glimpse in your student experiences (including any of your paid cna work), and keeping your mind open to it may yield gratifying results. going into a new job saying, "this is grossly unappealing and i am so out of here as soon as i can because i'm gonna be an np" is not an attitude that will glean you many brownie points when it comes to getting recommendations for said np program.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I graduate in May and still have no idea where I want to work. Like many others my classmates are all foaming at the mouth for positions in ICU/CCU and the ER. I feel like I should want this too but I don't. My mentorship is on an OB floor in a small community hospital. I enjoyed my OB rotation but I don't know if that is what I want to do. What is nice about nursing is that there is so much you can do with your degree. I am going to apply for jobs and see where I end up.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

General med-surg for the experience, and then on to some sort of ICU/ER.

I've even thought about flight nursing.

I've also thought about public health because of my activism/community background,

but I'm thinking in wayyyy down the road after I spend my younger years in acute care.

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Specializes in L&D.

I want to go into ER for a year. It's not my passion, but I want the experience of quick thinking in an emergency situation.

My true passion is OB/GYN, so after a year in ER(if I am able to get a job there), I will move to OB.

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who are you to suggest what i'd like and not like? i can very well say that i would not enjoy being an accountant, and i can accurately gauge that i would not like med/surg. in fact, i cannot envision myself now being any type of nurse. thanks, but mind your place, and your place isn't where you just imposed yourself.

"the consensus, however, is that medical/surgical floors are grossly unappealing work environments, and so no one wants to work in that. if i were put into a position to "have" to work med/surg as a daily job i'd keep on wity current career and put my rn card in the drawer somewhere."reality check here: the vast majority of beds in hospitals are not specialty areas like icu or er, or even ob or pedi. they are med/surg adult nursing units. therefore the majority of nurses working in hospitals are not in the specialty areas; they are in adult medical/surgical floors. the truth is that most new grads will not be working in specialty areas for some time. yes, we all know somebody who started in a specialty area right out of school. these people are in the minority because specialty areas want people with experience, real experience. also, try to remember this: "anecdote" is not the singular of "data."this is not to suggest that i agree with the quote above. since the vast majority of inpatients travel in and out of med/surg floors, what makes you think they are "grossly unappealing"? with all due respect, i think you may lack the actual work experience to make an informed decision on that. since most new grads will, in fact, not be in specialty areas, it might be better to consider that there is a very large body of experience out there that you will not even glimpse in your student experiences (including any of your paid cna work), and keeping your mind open to it may yield gratifying results. going into a new job saying, "this is grossly unappealing and i am so out of here as soon as i can because i'm gonna be an np" is not an attitude that will glean you many brownie points when it comes to getting recommendations for said np program.
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Specializes in Medical-Oncology.

I just finished my preceptorship yesterday on a med-surg (mostly surgical) unit. My big plan is to work in med-surg for a couple years and then move onto something more specific. Initially, I did not enjoy med-surg, but my 3 months there has changed my opinion. It really is good experience. After med-surg, I'd like to go to surgery, endoscopy, or oncology.

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