What specialty are you??

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello,

I am applying into nursing school for this upcoming fall semester, and wanted to get some opinions on different avenues of nursing. Can you list what dept. you are in, and your overall opinion about it or any other dept. that you worked in. I know that people's opinion vary, but I think this should help me gain some type of knowledge of what to expect. Thanks!!!

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

Hey there, I work Medical ICU... I see lots of older sick people whose bodies are failing them. It is very hairy at times, but I like having 2 patients and knowing everything about them because I do everything for them, (no LPNs or CNAs) I get to be at the bedside alot, and I like the toys I get to play with.

I have floated to Med Surg and 7 patients that get up and down to the commode, eat and drink are too much for me!

I have also floated to Neuro Surgical ICU... and that seems pretty interesting too... different set of patients, diseases and protocols!

I worked briefly in an internists/oncology office... 40 patients a day, lots of shots... I did not like it at all.

Good luck with school! Once you start clinicals you get a feel for some of the different areas. Ivanna

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Hey there, I work Medical ICU... I see lots of older sick people whose bodies are failing them. It is very hairy at times, but I like having 2 patients and knowing everything about them because I do everything for them, (no LPNs or CNAs) I get to be at the bedside alot, and I like the toys I get to play with.

I have floated to Med Surg and 7 patients that get up and down to the commode, eat and drink are too much for me!

I have also floated to Neuro Surgical ICU... and that seems pretty interesting too... different set of patients, diseases and protocols!

I worked briefly in an internists/oncology office... 40 patients a day, lots of shots... I did not like it at all.

Good luck with school! Once you start clinicals you get a feel for some of the different areas. Ivanna

HEY THERE IVANNA!!

Thanks a lot! :yeah: that was tid bit of information actually very insightful!! I'm just one of those types that feels the need to know what exactly in im getting myself into! I would like to have some general idea of what type of work I will hopefully be doing in the next 2 yrs. (granted that I do well on my entrance exam) :)

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

When I was in nursing school everyone had very fixed ideas on what they wanted to do in the first semester. You would be surprised at how many changed their minds by the final semester. People went into specialties that they had no prior interest in, but once they did the clinicals they fell in love. Even though people may share their experiences with you on this forum, your experience may be very different to theirs once your feet hit the ground. I would estimate that at least 50% of the people who just knew what they wanted to do that first semester had changed their minds by graduation so try to keep an open mind about everything - you just might be surprised, despite what you think you know.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I'm primarily med/surg tele. It's a good place to be if you like a boatload of pt's and can work at a fast pace. :lol2:

It's not a focused place to work. You can't know the pt like you would in ICU where you have 1-2 pt's.

OPS: is a great place to work, if you like healthier people coming in for surgeries and then leave afterwards. No back breaking lifting, for the most part, and it's an in and out sort of job.

Mother baby: Great place for teaching (so is med/surg tele, IF you can find the time) and cuddling babies of course. Can be tragic though, as we all know babies are stillborn.

No matter where you go, get used to A LOT of paperwork. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I think it is the 7th wonder that I fell in love with pediatrics, because I absolutely hated my peds rotation in nursing school. In fact, I really thought I would be an L&D nurse until the end of days. I love everything about women's health. I worked about 2 years in L&D before moving on. It just wasn't exactly right; I still can't put my finger on it, because i love OB/GYN. I drifted to med/surg, ER, postpartum and staff education before I decided to take a chance on newborn nursery. That was a match made in heaven! I loved taking care of babies. And I loved that I got to teach new moms how to take care of their babies. Then I was forced to orient to NICU--it was a new requirement that all RNs in the nursery had to train for NICU. I had NO INTEREST in doing that, but it was learn or lose my position. I oriented to NICU.

And there I found my second love. :redpinkhe NICU was like mother/baby on steroids. Very intense, lots of one on one, lots of teaching and nurturing. I worked in NICU for about 9 years, until i couldn't do it anymore. Since then I have worked in several areas under the umbrella of pediatrics. Now I'm a school nurse in a delightful little school. I don't miss working in a hospital at all. I go to work at 8am, give a few meds, manage some diabetes, do a tube feeding, take some temps, check for lice, patch up some boo-boos and do the occasional assessment for suspected child abuse. I eat lunch 30 minutes every day and I always leave at 2:30pm. :coollook: It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

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When I was in nursing school everyone had very fixed ideas on what they wanted to do in the first semester. You would be surprised at how many changed their minds by the final semester. People went into specialties that they had no prior interest in, but once they did the clinicals they fell in love. Even though people may share their experiences with you on this forum, your experience may be very different to theirs once your feet hit the ground. I would estimate that at least 50% of the people who just knew what they wanted to do that first semester had changed their minds by graduation so try to keep an open mind about everything - you just might be surprised, despite what you think you know.

TaketwoAprin--

Yeah.... I have heard that before! It makes sense considering that we all have different opinions about what's easy, hardy, fast pased, etc... I just can't wait to experience all that nursing has to bring! I have some ideas of what I would like to do (as of now), but every piece of insightful information is very helpful!!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Neonatal ICU and I love having 2-3 patients that have no prexisting conditions they forget to tell you about .. it's fun to teach the parents how to take care of their special baby as they grow and I love the ICU aspect of it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I work in long term care (a.k.a. nursing home), and I like the fact that the patient population is generally in stable condition with predictable outcomes. In addition, I appreciate that my work is generally routinized, task-oriented, and presents a low to moderate stress level.

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Thanks everyone! All of your input is very helpful. I am a loving, caring type, but don't like the stress of a fast past unit like med/surg. I would like to work in the type of environment that is generally "stable" and am able to provide lot of attention and teaching to my patients. I know people say not to have "fixed ideas" about what unit you want to work on.... however, I think my personality help shape my ideas on what unit works for me. Anyhoo--- Thanks everybody... for the imput!!!! :)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

i have been a school nurse for 18 years. medium sized school system. 800 students and myself ! oh..............and............i have to mention.................um.........i'm an lpn !! omg !! :lol2:

i am good at what i do and i love it. i have the respect and appreciation of staff, students and parents. i thank god every day for my job !

praiser :redbeathe

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i have been a school nurse for 18 years. medium sized school system. 800 students and myself ! oh..............and............i have to mention.................um.........i'm an lpn !! omg !! :lol2:

i am good at what i do and i love it. i have the respect and appreciation of staff, students and parents. i thank god every day for my job !

praiser :redbeathe

i actually thought about being a school nurse, i love the hours, especially considering the fact that i have a young child. as much as i would love to be a nurse, i must admit working traditional hospital hours (weekends and holidays) are a major turn-off. i would like to work in a setting that allows me to be home with my family on weekends and holidays... are there any other aspects of nursing that allows me to do this?

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