What path should I take?

[Annachu512, BSN, RN]

this is a purely curious question trying to get some opinion. i am thinking of either heading to the l&d route (which having my baby and seeing these nurses is the reason i'm attedning nursing school to begin with) or head to critical care (icu or ccu) in preparation for my crna. i am seriously considering that i want to get the crna...it seems sio interesting and challenging to me. obviously there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account.

what would you do? what path are you considering?

[blackbird singing]

I don't know how far you are in nursing school, but I'm sure clinicals will give you a much better idea about where you want to work. Or, you could look into shadowing for a day or two. If you know someone who has those jobs, you could ask them. Or, some hospitals offer shadowing programs where you apply, go to a required orientation (quick, easy, painless) and they can set you up with someone. You should check it out!

Or, I'm just gonna throw this one in there because this is what I'm doing! I have bachelor's in other fields, so I'm doing a bridge program. I will take 1 year doing the classes and clinicals required before I can sit for the NCLEX. Then, I will take 2 years doing specialty classes in nurse midwifery (the specialty I choose when I apply). I just throw this in here, since you mentioned L&D! If you are graduating with your LPN, schools offer a similar program, except I believe the pre-specialty is cut down to 1 or 2 quarters instead of a full year.

All in all, I would highly suggest reading about and shadowing in the two positions (L&D and CRNA). Since you are in nursing school, I definitely think you will have time to decide in the clinicals. Ooooor (too many choices!) you could get a PCA/PCT job in one of the floors to see how you like it!

Good luck, hope this helps!