What field of Nursing will you work in??? & best/worst place to work?

Steph2007 · Jul 9, 2006

I want to work in the NICU or a pediatric unit. I'm still in high school though, so I have a long, long way to go.

xiahe · Jul 11, 2006

For nursing students: Once you become a Nurse, which field of nursing would you want to work in??

i really would like to work in the pediatric oncology/hematology unit, or the PED-ER. :)

mmurphy · Jul 24, 2006

Hi BJZMom.
Be ready for a looooooooong learning curve in dialysis. You will think you're a failure because it takes forever to catch on. Believe me, it's worth it though. Don't give up when you come home for the umpteenth day in a row feeling like you don't know your orifice from your elbow. Just hang in there. You'll get there. Come back and talk to us so we can cheer you on.
Eventually you'll love it. Honest. You just have to go through a pretty long gauntlet first.[/qu
After several years in critical care, I have been a hemodialysis nurse for 20 years. I don both acute and chronic dialysis. I enjoy it very much. It is not hard to learn, it is in fact very easy. In my experience someone that is not fully competent in dialysis within 3-6 months of hire is not going to be competent in dialysis.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2006

In my experience someone that is not fully competent in dialysis within 3-6 months of hire is not going to be competent in dialysis.

I'm not sure what the statement is saying. If you are not fully competent in dialysis then you won't be competent in dialysis? Can you explain?

Three months! Ayeeee!

My supervisor says "If you are good at this after 3 months, then I don't need you. You're obviously taking short cuts that are putting the patient in danger."

The rule in my company is that you really don't know what you're doing for six months to a year. And they mean it. I have had many, many pep talks from my co-workers on those days when I felt like I totally blew it. They understand because they've all been there.

mmurphy · Jul 26, 2006

When a dialysis nurse has been properly trained, in 3 months time, this nurse should be able to competently set-up a machine, initiate a dialysis treatment, monitor the patient treatment, trouble-shoot common patient and machine problems, discontinue the dialysis treatment, assess and discharge the patient. After 12 weeks a new dialysis nurse should be able to perform these tasks with limited assistance. Of course situations will arise when you will need to ask for the help of more seasoned employees. But the basics should be mastered within a 12 week period. How long is your training program?

I apologize if my statement "fully competent" within 3 months was a little strong. Of course for the first year or two in dialysis you will run up against unusual situations in which anyone inexpereinced would need assistance.

It sounds like your boss equates competence with "speed". Unfortunatley this is the trend in most dialysis facilities. See how fast you can turn over your assignment. This is sad. You may not be as fast as experienced nurses after 3 months, but speed does not equal competence.

I feel that you should be capable of turning over a 3 patient assignment within 3 months of starting hemodialysis with minimal assistance. This can certainly be done with competency and without taking "shortcuts". You may not be as fast with your assignment ( again in my opinion quickness has nothing to do with competence) as your experienced co-workers, but you can still perform competently.

The stress will pass, and most nurses that stay in dialysis eventually like their work.

BROOK9960 · Jul 27, 2006

When I graduate, I think the very best place to work would be NICU, or peds emergency and the worst place to work for me would be LTC. I have done quite a bit of volunteering in LTC and it just wasn't for me. I would love to work in peds because it would be my opportunity to try to help children live a full, long life, and if I can't help them do that, then I can help them enjoy the life they have been given. I love children and they tend to like me. Eventually I would like to get my BSN and then CRNA and work in ped surgery traveling from ped hospitals as a traveling CRNA. :rolleyes:

vonxojn · Jul 28, 2006

In my years of nursing, the best place for me was :redbeathe med/surg. The verrrryyyyy least 3 places I don't want to work is peds, ob/gyn, and psych. I'll go to those units kicking and screaming.:chair: .

mustanggirl · Jul 29, 2006

Currently I work in PACU, and so far it has been my favorite place to work. As of anywhere it does have its down times where it gets really stressful, but overall the good times outweight the bad. I never realized how many new things I would learn working in PACU, but you really get to learn some of the naunces of every surgical specialty, and become more comfortable with airway issues. In PACU everyday is different, as are the patients and patient load. As for the worst place to work I think every area has its good and its bad.

skemergirl · Aug 11, 2006

Best place I've worked is PICU. Worst is NICU. Too quiet/dark

ORRN2001 · Aug 16, 2006

I love the OR. I have been in the operating room for 5 1/2 years and I am now certified. It is a unique place to work and I can focus on one patient at a time. I hated peds and had some bad experiences..just when I was in school, so I would not want to do that. My second is nursery/ Neonatal ICU...I did an extertenship while I was in school and loved this area!

tlcprn2u · Aug 16, 2006

I love the OR. I have been in the operating room for 5 1/2 years and I am now certified. It is a unique place to work and I can focus on one patient at a time.

I find it ironic that the healthcare system is set up so that after the surgery is done and the patient leaves the OR, he or she starts competing with other patients for the attention and focus of the nurse, no matter what unit the patient is transferred to. A nurse who, mind you, would love to be able to do and say the same thing as the OR nurse: to be able to focus on one patient at a time without rushing from patient to patient and from room to room.

At the Nurse Alliance of SEIU we will continue to fight for legislation that includes the current standards of one circulating OR nurse per room and incorporates safe staffing ratios in the rest of the units of the hospital.

Sunny01 · Nov 8, 2006

I am an RN. Worst place to work in for me would be ICU because I feel the "air smells like death there"...so many critically ill patients and so few that make it only to return a month later and die. The best place would be either L&D or postpartum units...so much happiness and new lives! Most patients are also healthy and in need of teaching how to care for their babies...love it