How did you choose your current specialty, and what about it makes it the right "niche" for you?
And if you care to elaborate, was this the specialty you knew you wanted to choose right out of school, or did it take a few false starts before you found the right field for you?
I'm headed to school in the fall and have little idea other than that I'm not cut out for pediatrics or geriatrics, and would love to hear about your experiences.
Thanks for the replies! Very interesting to see the diversity in what keeps you going as nurses.
Another question though as I see a couple of you were nurse externs while in school - did they pay you for that? My local hospital offers an extern program starting in the summer after the first ADN year, and I was wondering whether it was likely a volunteer position or whether they would pay a little. [/quote
Yes. I was paid $11.00 an hour and the experience was priceless.
When I was in nursing school I thought that I definetely would want to work on an oncology floor. Upon graduation no positions were open, so I ended up working in a step-down unit with a Resp. focus. We took slow wean vents, telemetry patients and some gtts. Well within a year I decided ICU was the place for me. I've not looked back and that was 5 years ago. I absolutely love my job...not everyday...but the majority. I work in a hospital which has a medical ICU and surgical ICU, all RN's are cross trained for both units and since we're a trauma one hospital--> We get a varitety of patients. I can take a fresh CABG from the OR to a Septic shock then turn around and admit a trauma. It's perfect for me, I never get bored with the same population because it's always changing. I really think that if a nurse isn't happy in the job that their in...keep looking until you find your niche because once you find it and work with other people that feel the same way, it's a very enjoyable experience.
Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.
When I started nursing school, I was sure that I wanted to do peds, L/D, or community health working with peds/adolescents/teen mothers...while those rotations were fun in school, I ended up working in a cardiac intensive care unit...I did a student nurse "emersion" program where I worked in the unit for six months almost full time prior to graduation (I paid for it/didn't get paid)...it was absolutely worth every minute...I was hired into the unit full time after graduation and I really enjoy it...we take both medical (cardiogenic shock/MIs/codes, etc) and surgical (post cabg/valve) critically ill patients. Recently, I started working on call in a PACU (same day surgeries) and it is interesting too...I don't think that I would want to do it full time at this point in my career, but it is interesting and I am learning alot, plus we do get some peds too so I am learning quite a bit in that area...
I work in ICU and I love it. I like the fact that I can spend time with my patients and help educate them about their condition. Once in a while I will take care of a terminal patient and the family and the feeling that I might have helped in some small way during a really difficult time, makes it all worth while. On the other hand I love all the drama in the unit.
In school I knew that M/S and OB were not the place for me and I was not real crazy about geriatrics either, though at times, depending on the pt ppopulation in the unit, it can feel just like a nursing home.
I like where I am but will probably not stay forever.
i knew i wanted to be in the or since before i started nursing school. i had a few careers prior to nursing school, and i knew the sort of style my personality had. i was going to school, taking pre-pa courses (physics, calculus, etc.) and a relative (who is an md) offered me some time to spend with him and his partners for a summer. it was the best time i ever had working so hard. i got up before my alarm clock! that's an accomplishment for me...
anyway, i started out there right out of school, and i have not looked back for a second. everyday i drive home i realize i am doing the right thing for me. there is something new and fresh everyday, and i'm having a blast - and the day goes by so fast. i sometimes wonder how i got so lucky to do the thing i've wanted to do for so long.
i was a pct for the last two years of nursing school, and that helped to cement the decision. while i enjoyed the ed and icu, they didn't compare to the or (for me). at some point, i might want to transition into nursing education, but that's a few years down the road.
How did you choose your current specialty, and what about it makes it the right "niche" for you?
And if you care to elaborate, was this the specialty you knew you wanted to choose right out of school, or did it take a few false starts before you found the right field for you?
I'm headed to school in the fall and have little idea other than that I'm not cut out for pediatrics or geriatrics, and would love to hear about your experiences.
I'm still in school but I have known that the NICU is the place for me ever since I was seven. I spent that summer in and out of different ICUs when my dad was sick and knew that was where I wanted to be. I've visited several NICUs and know that watching babies start out really sick and either helping them get better or die peacefully is what I am meant to do. I cannot wait for this next year to go by so that I can begin working in a NICU.
I'm going back to my first love--surgery! When I was in school I thought I wanted to work in surgical ICU but I didn't care for being with the same patient for 12 hours. I spent a some time in surgery and knew it was where I wanted to be. I was fascinated by the whole aseptic technique, gowning and gloving, all those beautiful trays of instruments, seeing all the anatomy wide open in front of you. I did it for five years but felt that my practice was missing something. So, I took a slight detour and answered an ad for an office nurse for a surgery practice. While I've learned many things that have enhanced my nursing and made me more well rounded I've left the office job and am headed back to surgery where I belong. In the office I had to split the job and half the time do the rooms, which I preferred and half the time at the desk doing clerical work, phone triage, secretarial stuff like making appointments, checking in patients and tons of paperwork. I got real tired of tracking down noncompliant patients who missed there appointments, blew off their tests and avoided us like we were bill collectors. I hated that whole "babysitting" aspect of the job. So, now I'm going back to surgery where I feel I fit in with the instruments, equipment and anesthetized patients. I feel like it is very important to advocate for the patient and their safety who is unable to because of their unconscious state. I find surgery fascinating.
When I started nursing 10 years ago...I thought I wanted to work in the ER...but was overwhelmed with the thought of the speed, the knowledge, and the volume the nurses dealt with on a daily basis...so I started on a med-surg (mostly surg) floor...I worked there for four years...learning time management, and prioritization...my floor then changed with the times and became a telemetry floor, where I learned how to become efficient at dealing with cardiac issues and better at reading EKG's and cardiac gtts...We then added oncology to the mix where I learned how to mix and administer chemo...and make lasting relationships with patients who came in monthly for their treatments...and how to deal with frequent loss with patients who became very sick...Then to the ICU for a brief stint to learn how to prioritize in a whole new way...which opened the door to allow me to be ready to dip my feet in the ER....and here I am 6 years later and loving every minute of it...I learned valuable lessons and experiences from every specialty I worked in...but BY FAR the ER is the best place I have ever worked, especially the Level I trauma center I currently work....I love the adrenelin rush, the near constant excitement and fast pace...I love all the things that first had me feeling overwhelmed...because it no longer overwhelms me, but makes me want to do more, see more, and learn more....Although in every specialty I learned something new...I have that opportunity to see everything from CHF and COPD to post op complications to pediatric emergencies and birthing babies...every minute is different, every day is different...I love it...besides its in my blood....my mom is an ER nurse and so is my brother and my cousin....and I'm marrying a paramedic...Its my life, what can I say....
When I started nursing 10 years ago...I thought I wanted to work in the ER...but was overwhelmed with the thought of the speed, the knowledge, and the volume the nurses dealt with on a daily basis...so I started on a med-surg (mostly surg) floor...I worked there for four years...learning time management, and prioritization...my floor then changed with the times and became a telemetry floor, where I learned how to become efficient at dealing with cardiac issues and better at reading EKG's and cardiac gtts...We then added oncology to the mix where I learned how to mix and administer chemo...and make lasting relationships with patients who came in monthly for their treatments...and how to deal with frequent loss with patients who became very sick...Then to the ICU for a brief stint to learn how to prioritize in a whole new way...which opened the door to allow me to be ready to dip my feet in the ER....and here I am 6 years later and loving every minute of it...I learned valuable lessons and experiences from every specialty I worked in...but BY FAR the ER is the best place I have ever worked, especially the Level I trauma center I currently work....I love the adrenelin rush, the near constant excitement and fast pace...I love all the things that first had me feeling overwhelmed...because it no longer overwhelms me, but makes me want to do more, see more, and learn more....Although in every specialty I learned something new...I have that opportunity to see everything from CHF and COPD to post op complications to pediatric emergencies and birthing babies...every minute is different, every day is different...I love it...besides its in my blood....my mom is an ER nurse and so is my brother and my cousin....and I'm marrying a paramedic...Its my life, what can I say....
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
OB was my goal long before I was accepted into nursing school....and it's definately my niche 8 years after graduation....................I love it and can't imagine doing much else really.
Great thread! I am just starting the RN program in the fall and can't wait to start clinicals to experience a little bit of each of these specialities. Right now, I am thinking ICU or cardiac care after school, but it may change, we'll see!!
Urology because ......you look after a lot more men than women ..... men don't have to get out onto the commode every 10mins 24/7 ......men are used to being told what to do and not argue back........ women think they have come to hospital to be pampered!!!!!
LCRN
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