What nursing field is best

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I'm looking for information. I'm a new grad ADN RN. Currently working Per Diem at a rehab facility. I am trying to decide what my next step will be in my nursing career. The aspects of nursing that I love are working with the family and the patient, performing nursing skills (not just Med administration). I don't want to try to get into another position and not enjoy it, so I'm looking for info about other kinds of nursing. Home health, hospice, critical care, School nursing?????

Thanks, Rebecca

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ICU if you can get into it. You'll do everything you could ever imagine and have the pride of taking care of the sickest patients out there.

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Specializes in ED, psych.

The field of nursing that is "best" is one which challenges your interests the most. This will differ from person to person.

For example, my floor is pretty much the med surg floor of the psych world. Usually, I quite enjoy it. I still get to apply my skills (IVs, wound care, ECGs, etc etc) while working with a challenging population.

My husband (also a nurse) would hate this job. I couldn't do his job either (ICU) because I have absolutely no interest in it. If we switched jobs tomorrow we'd both fail (while being miserable in the process).

The jobs you mention are quite diverse. What do YOU think would interest you most?

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ICU if you can get into it. You'll do everything you could ever imagine and have the pride of taking care of the sickest patients out there.

Unless you hate the ICU, then it's not the best. What is best for you depends on your interests, goals, skill, and education. Do you want to work Monday through Friday and have weekends and nights off? Maybe a clinic or school nurse is best. Are you an adrenaline junkie? Maybe the ED. Do you love geriatrics? LTC/SNF. Do what makes you happy.

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Specializes in Gerontology.
ICU if you can get into it. You'll do everything you could ever imagine and have the pride of taking care of the sickest patients out there.

Or you could work in Rehab and have the pride of getting pts who were bed bound when they left ICU back up walking, talking and seeing them go home.

Every unit has it's own pros and cons. No unit is better, more important, more satisfying than another.

Happiness comes from within.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

"Best" is whatever is best for you. You've identified some things that matter and that you enjoy about nursing (e.g. working with families) so use those interests to guide you to areas of nursing where those interests are an asset. Maybe it would help to talk to nurses in some of the areas you are interested in and get their view on their jobs?

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Specializes in PICU.

Although the ICU is challengin, so are the other areas. A Previous poster mentioned something about pride in taking care of the sickest, etc.. it is not all that great. In the ICU you will see many chronic vent/trach patients and some may require total care. It is very tiring and trying. It does feel good when someone who you thought would never leave the hospital get another chance at life in rehab, or even at home, but that is where the real work begins. Those Nurses that work in rehab have the toughest work, working on restoring functionality. Home health would be very routine, and you would really want to know up front your responsibilities, who your relief is, chain of command. Have you considered education, as in patient/family education or staff education?

To try and help, make a list of what you like doing in your day to day job, make another list regarding things you want to learn, lastly make a list of the areas and see if anything matches up.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

"Best" is subjective. I love the ICU because that's what I've always wanted to do. If you put me in a labor and delivery area I'd hate getting up and going to work every day. I couldn't stand working home health or long term care, but other people are very happy in it. What do you want to do? Personally, I love acute care. I love the sickest of the sick, 20 different drips, CRRT, IABP, invasive monitoring and intubated patients. If you have that kind of mindset then ICU is for you. If you'd rather be talking to patients and getting involved in their day on a long term basis, then another area is right for you. Only you can make that decision.

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Specializes in CCRN.

The best thing you can do to figure this out is to seek out opportunities to shadow someone currently doing those jobs. Get in touch with people and see if you can shadow them for a few hours or even a full shift. Watch what they actually do during their day, ask them tons of questions, and then take all of that information into consideration to see which area is really a fit for what you like or don't like.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Any answer other than ER is wrong.

That being said it is highly subjective and to each their own.

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I agree with others, what is best for you may be different than what is best for others. One suggestion that I would give is to identify those areas in nursing school that you really enjoyed. Start there and maybe investigate by talking with someone in that field or working in that area; then discuss options with them. Look at the schedule, the academic requirements, the commitment required, the nursing team, and other concerns you have related to working in that area.

I wish you all the best in finding a job that you will love. It makes work and life enjoyable.

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I totally understand that it is really a personal fit! I just can't figure out where that will be.

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