I told a classmate from my community college that I have decided to be a Neonatal Nurse. She said, "Oh, yeah...everybody that goes into nursing wants to be a neonatal nurse. It is very competitive to get in the NICU. You have to work on other floors for a couple of years and keep applying to work in NICU." That kind of bummed me out.
Is that true? Do most of you want to work in the NICU? I thought not everyone would like to work with such small babies. I figured most nurses would like patients who could actually speak or tell you what is hurting them. What type of nurse do you all hope to become?
I want to work in the ED. I love the mystery solving. When a patient arrives, it's a race to see what they have. There's always something new and different happening in the ED and I tend to get bored pretty quick. I also love the adrenaline rush and the fast pace.
I don't think I could ever work strictly with kids. Even my own tend to scare me to death sometimes.
When I started school I was dead set on being a OB/GYN type nurse. However, the longer I'm in school the more unsure I become. I've interviewed for psych, I'm looking into peds, mulling over oncology (it was actually one of my favorite clinical rotations), and, of course, med-surg. Decisions, decisions!
I am currently in LPN school w/5 months to go till graduation. Most of us in my class plan on furthering our education and going for RN.
Those of us who are going for RN have desire to work in many specialties from Cardiac, Diaylsis, Peds offices, ER, OR, trauma, burn unit, Hospice etc. I am the only one who wants NICU and L&D. there are quite a few large urban hospitals around me that have huge NICU's, and I always see openings for RN's. and yes, even recent grads are encouraged to apply.
I can tell you where I'd never ever ever work..Burn Units!! Years back when I was in school for RN (long story) I did a rotation (luckily it was 1 day) on the Burn unit in the hospital that most burn cases go to here in my area. Oh no!! Could not do that day in and day out. All that pain and suffering, nope not for me. But my hats off to those special souls who can work that field.
I'm graduating in Aug and doing my practicum in a Level 1 Trauma Center Pediatric ER & aboard their air medical transport helicopter. I'm interested in Peds ER, PICU, & Adult ER/ICU. Eventually, I would like to do critical care transport/flight nursing.:)
Hospice. I met the most wonderful hospice nurse at my uncle's funeral (he was a hospice patient). I don't know how long I could last there though, it's got to be high stress.
OR (don't you love this lol)
something with older patients.
Psych could be fun too (I'm a psych major, and that stuff's just fascinating).
I'm sure I'll have likes/dislikes once I start clinicals.
And I agree. It is just so neat that there's so many possibilities with a nursing degree!
I have always thought I'd like to work in L & D. The whole birthing process just amazes me. I have two of my own and I still watch in amazement!!! I like excitement and a fast pace but I don't know if I could handle ER. I don't think I want to be a floor nurse but I haven't even begun my program yet so I'm sure my mind will change 100 times. Definitely not burn unit, no way! God bless those who can though!
shoegalRN, RN
1,338 Posts
I'm with you. OR nursing all the way!!
I'm gonna try to get my Capstone in the OR at the hospital I am currently employed at. Hopefully, once I graduate, I can get on as an OR nurse.
Call me crazy, but I crave the structure of the OR. I like the idea that things happen on a timely schedule. Chalk that up to my corporate background.