What nursing field would you recommend?

suzy253, RN · Jun 30, 2007

I finally decided during my senior year. I really enjoyed my rotation on a step-down tele floor...very very busy and there was this great nurse there who I asked if he would precept me after graduation. So I chose this floor and am still there (just a year since I got my RN). Maybe during your clinical rotations, see what clicks with you. Good luck.

RaggedyRN · Jun 30, 2007

Pediatrics! Pediatric ICU is my home now and I absolutely love it. I tried cardiac step-down for a year and HATED it. Just goes to show you it really is a personal thing. You will gain a better feel for which specialty is for you as you go through clinicals. Good Luck to you

RaggedyRN

summersent · Jun 30, 2007

yeah I'm interested in seeing responses to this also. what area of nursing would more experienced nurses recommend? I understand that everyone has different experiences and what works for one person might not work for the next. I also know nursing is stressful but from an more experienced nurse perspective what area were you most happiest and least stressed out? How was the pay? How was management? etc?

indynurse#2 · Jul 2, 2007

I agree that this question could be answered a million different ways depending on who you ask! The great thing about nursing is that you have literally hundreds of options. You will get a feel during school of areas you like and areas you know right away you have no desire to ever work in. I spent 2 years right out of school working night shift on a surgical unit - I learned a lot but hated it! I then worked for a Pediatrician which was much better hours, but the pay was much less. I am now working as a medical management nurse for a major insurance company - I love the job, have good hours and get paid well. So my point is that chances are you will move around a bit after graduation but will finally find your perfect fit!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2007

Hello all! I have spent a little time this morning reading through some really great posts, you guys and gals are awesome.
I am starting my first quarter of my ADN program next week! I am very excited and pretty scared. I get so many questions from family and friends about what field I want to go into. I have read the posts that say you won't know until you try it, but I would like to know from other nurses what fields they really enjoy the most. Also what fields pay the best and usually have the best shifts would be helpful information.
Thanks,
Karen

Welll.....every nurse who is happy in her job will tell you that his/her field is the best, of course! As well as every nurse who hated a particular job/field will tell you that THAT one is awful, avoid it. So, what's the answer? Whatever calls YOUR interest is the one for you. But you know what? That first job might be one you're not sure you should take, maybe you think it isn't right for you, but it was the best option at the time, and it turns out to be the best thing you ever did: you love it. Or, conversely, you are certain you want to go into a particular field, get that job you wanted....and hate it.

I guess I'm one of those nurses who would have to say you WON'T know until you've tried it! That said, I think we all have fields we absolutely are positive we don't want to go anywhere NEAR. For me, that's pediatrics. I know this, I have my own children, LOL! And yet, for someone else, it's the very best job in the entire world. I love surgical nursing, and a friend of mine would rather eat bugs than go near an abdominal wound! That's why nursing is such a wonderful career in general: you have such diverse choices.

I also say that where you are in your nursing education is too soon to make any decision of any type. More often than not, those who think they're going into one field of nursing wind up choosing another before graduation. Or soon after. Or start in one, and change to something else.

Give your clinicals and lectures time to work on you. Be OPEN to whatever you learn, and do NOT ever catch yourself saying "no WAY am I gonna use this, I'm not going into XX nursing". You really never know. Why do I say this? Because I hated, HATED my med-surg clinical rotation in school. Got through it, couldn't wait to finish because THAT was something I was never going to do. ROFL now, because I hesitatingly chose a job doing exactly that, and now I'm so proud of what I do, and I honestly can say I love it.

Welcome to the Club! :)

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 4, 2007

I work in the PICU and LOVE it :)

I'm a senior in nursing school, but I did want to share my limited working experience.

Find a floor that you are somewhat interested in that has GOOD team work, where the RN's help each other out, are willing to teach, make a newcomer and scared new RN feel that it's ok not to know everything and ask questions. Find a unit that has a good reputation and the nurses are happy. Ask around, talk to nurses who work there, etc.

I never though my first job would be in a peds ICU. BUT, when I did my clinicals I kept hearing how awesome the PICU in this particular hospital was, how it was so supportive, how everyone was just great, etc. It had an excellent reputation. To me, as a soon to be new RN, was *very* important. I have always been interested in critical care so this just fit the bill. I am very very happy working there, the RNs and most of the Drs I work with are great people. It is also a teaching hospital.

I agree with everyone, keep your options open while in nursing school. Do an externship (or whatever it's called where you live) in an area you think you might be interested in. I went into nursing school thinking ONLY ER for me (I still plan to do that), but have found my first home in the PICU.

nurserynurse55 · Jul 9, 2007

I agree with everyone. It depends on who you ask. I am a new grad who graduated and passed the boards one month ago. You will get a better idea durring your clinicals. I love OB and PEDS and pretty much do not care for much more, so I work in the NICU. It is the best of both worlds. I think that every field is hard when you are just statrting out.

good Luck!

:welcome:

nursejcarrie · Jul 18, 2007

PEDS!!! I did the whole med surg thing which I enjoyed (I just didn't like the facility that I worked at!). I also did the orthopedic thing, which was mixed in with my med surg experience. But I went into nursing school pretty much knowing what I wanted to do when I graduated.

My older son has cerebral palsy due to his biological father (or sperm donor!) shaking him when he was an infant. I spent a month in the PICU watching the nurses take care of him. I was amazed by the compassion and the caring they showed him. They treated him like he was someone's child, not just another patient they had to take care of. I realized that was something I wanted to do. And I knew that I wanted Peds as my specialty so I could give back to other children what those nurses gave to my child. That's how I arrived at what specialty I wanted to do. And all through nursing school, I was known as the "Future Peds RN" because my passion for pediatrics was that deep.

Once you start nursing school, you'll have that moment of "zen." When everything clicks and you know what exactly you'll want to do. Don't try too hard to look for it because you may misss it. Let it come to you.

Best of luck to you and I hope you have success in whatever specialty you choose!

:uhoh21: