What Specialty are you suited to ? and how do you find out while still a student

[BocaBabeNot]

I am a 39 yr old student graduating in August 2005. I would rather work in a specialty unit/Critical care unit then on Med Surg/Tele but how do I find out what unit I would be more suited to.

I am mature, fairly calm, analytical and methodical. I have worked in the ER and as a 911 Operator/Dispatcher for fire and police. I did think I wanted to work in Er but I dont like the "impersonalness" of emergency nursing (though I do like the pace, trauma and critcal care aspect).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Would like to extern in that area asap and also do my final rotation in that area.

Thanks

BocaBabeNot

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

does your school offer a preceptorship? have you not gotten an idea from clinicals?

think about what matters to you, what you would like to have. for example, me-(i am graduating May 2005)

-i want a closer relationship with my patients, i dont want 6 patients, i want 3, tops...so that rules out several units

-i do not want elderly patients as a general rule, so that rules out a lot of adult ICU's

-i want fast paced, ever changing enviroments/conditions

so, my top 3 choices are PICU(which i did an externship in), NICU, or L&D. ED is there, 4th, b/c of the fast pace, variety and change. not a close relationship with patients, but the other parts could compensate. the PICU/NICU/L&D have all of above i want.

so think about what you want in a work environment and that should help narrow it down.

hope this helps