What nursing specialty interests you the most for the future?

Terridts · Jul 6, 2015

I love your last paragraph. Excellent advice! I have three semesters left of my program. I started with the intent of working in hospice only, but as I am exposed to more in my clinicals and classes, I find myself considering other fields like pediatric palliative care or psychiatric nursing.

Satori77, ADN · Jul 26, 2015

I first became interested in nursing 12 years ago when my daughter was born and she was in the NICU. I feel a strong pull towards the NICU, I won't lie. And the more I learn about it and talk to NICU nurses, that is my first choice. But I am also interested in critical care in general, OR, and PACU. But I'm open-minded enough to know the real world is different than the images I have in my mind.

I know nurses that have gone to school with one specialty in mind, and they stuck with it. That's what they love to do. I also know many nurses that have changed their minds. I might as well. I'm just excited to start nursing school and see where this journey takes me.

bewareofthephog, BSN · Jul 26, 2015

I used to think I wanted to work at a major trauma center or CVICU but I started a job as a unit secretary in NICU thinking I would just get my foot in the door at the hospital and then take a different job on one of those floors as a tech or secretary when one opened up. However after a year, plenty of those types of jobs have opened up around me and I've stayed at the NICU because I find it fascinating. The nurses I work with know I'm starting nursing school in August and have been great about showing me anything that is the least bit interesting. I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed at how small a 24-25 week kid can be or how much equipment their delicate little bodies can be hooked up to.

babeinboots, MSN, NP, CNM · Jul 27, 2015

I'm about half way through my program; I just finished my advanced med-surg rotation at the hospital, I had 4 days in the ER and LOVED it.

I'm still keeping an open mind because I haven't done my OB (start next week), peds or mental health rotation yet, but ER is definitely on the top of my list. It's funny because before I started nursing school, ER terrified me and peds was on the top of my list, but I had my first peds patient during one of my days in the ER and I'm not so sure that specialty is for me.

jazzieO93 · Jul 27, 2015

Of course I sound like a lot of other nursing students but OB is my passion.. always has been. I specifically want to work in L&D, I wouldn't mind floating throughout the whole maternity unit (L&D Mother/baby NICU) But I am not shutting down my options

LAst term I got to do clinicald on a medsurg unit more medical patients than surgical patients which I like! I wouldnt mind working on a unit like that as a new grad to get my feet wet. Because if its one thing I learned about OB, things can go wrong. I want to be prepared when my OB patients start to do Non-OB Things lol

msbossb · Jul 27, 2015

My number one choice has always been women's health but not particularly l&d. My reason for wanting to be a nurse is to be a part of helping young girls and women learn how their bodies work and how to take care of themselves. I've also took an interest in other areas but won't kno for sure how much they interest me until I've had a chance to experience some things in the area. I would consider urgent care/emergency department, and corrections. I kno working with kids isn't my thing soo I'm furthest away from wanting to be in peds but u never kno until u try it.

Pumpkinn · Jul 27, 2015

I always told my students to ask every nurse they came in contact with to ask why s/he did what s/he did. Everybody tells you that. But also be sure to ask why s/he doesn't do what s/he doesn't do.
Example: "Mother-baby all the way. What better opportunity to get a new family off to a good start, establish breastfeeding, usually a healthy population."
"Mother-baby, blechhhhh! Tits and fundi and screaming babies and pushy mothers-in-law, addicted mothers who won't ever care for their addicted offspring, and if I never see another entitled princess with a six-page birth plan it will be too soon."
See?
It's fine to have an idea or three in mind. Bear in mind, though, that you have no idea about what nursing in various settings is like and it's much more likely than not that you will end up in something you never knew existed. Those thousands of students who confidently declare they've got it all figured out -- a year in critical care, then CRNA school, a year in ER then NP school, whatevs-- will very likely not end up there because the odds are steeply against them.
So walk your path with an awareness of your peripheral vision. An open mind allows the possibility of something falling into it.

I always admire your posts! This is great advice

cjsiege · Jul 27, 2015

I want to be an NP. Eventually, I'd like to work in an ER. My initial entry wish is pediatrics, but I'm pretty flexible in that regard.

dpop89 · Jul 27, 2015

CRNA. Father is an anesthesiologist and witnessed countless hours of OR time watching what he does. Love it.

teesquared · Jul 28, 2015

I work as an OR tech now and want no parts of the OR as a RN. The nurses in my OR mostly chart/circulate or will occasionally scrub. I'd rather do SICU, CICU, or TBICU initially then maybe get into nurse anesthesia or go into the OR as a First Assist.

AbetterFuture · Jul 31, 2015

I'm starting a 2 year BSN program at College of New Rochelle in the fall. And I'm definitely continuing afterwards to get my lactation consultant license. I'm praying to get offered a position in NICU or mother baby upon graduation but only God knows where I'll end up. I'm definitely going into it with an open, determined mind. Tunnel vision all the way!!

ChickaBoom · Jul 31, 2015

I love love love Cardiac - but what part of the Cardiac process I want to be in is still a big question for me. I absolutely fell in love with ICU during my rotation there (because of the protocols, technology, and teamwork), but I also fell in love with the OR (even though I was not in a Cardiac-centered OR and was more observing than taking on a nursing role, which means I got to see more of the surgeries themselves than the nurse, who was notating and getting supplies, etc). I, like many who have responded previously, loved the NICU, but I also love the adult population (especially the older adult) and love having patients I can talk to.

And it's good advice to ask the nurse you're with during your rotation day why s/he chose to do what s/he does. I ask everyone that. My favorite answer so far was that they had to decide whether they liked their patients talking or not. This can go for whether you're choosing between babies and bigger people or OR and non-OR, so it's pretty good advice to get things narrowed down. lol