What did you want to specialize in vs. What you want to specialize in now

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I was just curious as to what you guys originally had in mind prior to nursing school/clinical placements compared to what you have decided/want to do now that you've had some experiences on the different floors.

I still haven't found my passion yet, although I've only done long term care and maternity rotations thus far.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

I'm not a nurse or in nursing school yet but I have my mind set on labor delivery. However, working at a nursing home and emergency department are making me slightly consider! I loved working with the elderly and I am also enjoying working in the ED and trauma. I guess I'm still iffy about my nursing career right now but still completely set on eventually being a midwife. If that even makes sense.

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I thought I'd want to go into L&D when I first started nursing school. But I remained open minded, and now know that L&D is definitely not what I want to get into.

I have fallen in love with MedSurg nursing. I feel at home when I'm on MedSurg/Tele, and that is where I see myself working once I graduate and pass my NCLEX.

You don't have to decide right now. Just enjoy your clinical experiences, accept every opportunity to see and do whatever, and maybe your "niche" will find you.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
I thought I'd want to go into L&D when I first started nursing school. But I remained open minded, and now know that L&D is definitely not what I want to get into.

I have fallen in love with MedSurg nursing. I feel at home when I'm on MedSurg/Tele, and that is where I see myself working once I graduate and pass my NCLEX.

You don't have to decide right now. Just enjoy your clinical experiences, accept every opportunity to see and do whatever, and maybe your "niche" will find you.

What do you love about med surg?

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I specialize in adult Med-Surg (and am certified in my specialty) and love being a float nurse. I am currently training to be able to float to our adult Stepdown ICU's as well.

I adore kids but just not sick ones...or crazy and scared parents for that matter.

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Specializes in Med-Surg ICU.

I thought I wanted L&D or peds. Now work in an adult MSICU and love it! Wanna stay as far away from OB and peds as I can!

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What do you love about med surg?

That each of my patients has something different. I am able to see different disease processes, meds, surgeries, procedures, etc. There is just so much to learn, and I love every minute of it.

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I was dead-set on public health when starting nursing school. Then I realized I wanted acute care experience first. I went through a small period of time in my second year where I was kind of interested in ICU and Emerg, and now in my third year, I have settled on NICU and have started taking the required specialty courses. I chose NICU because I love the patient population mixed with the high technology/high acuity aspect of it. I also love that it involves a lot of family teaching like I would have gotten in public health. I still like the idea of public health, but not for many many years. I absolutely despised my medical and surgical rotations, which made me want to steer clear of adult ICU and Emerg.

Not being too narrow-focused on one area really helps open you up to all the wonderful possibilities in nursing. You go through each clinical rotation and pick out the pieces you liked or disliked about the unit (even on the rotations you absolutely hate). That way you can focus on your interests and find an area that's fitting. That's what's so great about this profession; everyone can find their niche somewhere! Just keep plugging along and it will come to you!

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Thanks all for your input! A lot of my classmates are gunning for L&D too. I think the entire concept of "playing with babies" all day seems too good to pass up. Realistically, we all know that's not how it is. What about that rotation made you run from L&D?

I specialize in adult Med-Surg (and am certified in my specialty) and love being a float nurse. I am currently training to be able to float to our adult Stepdown ICU's as well.

I adore kids but just not sick ones...or crazy and scared parents for that matter.

I feel the same way about children. Sick ones break my heart and some parents can be very frustrating. I originally thought I wanted Peds, I still kind of do, however I've never had to administer medication on a sick and screaming child. So that could quickly change.

As for med-surg, I'm so excited for that rotation next semester. I really enjoy using my skills in the clinical setting.

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Specializes in ER.

I wanted to specialize in ICU or OB. I am in the ER now.

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Specializes in Surgery, ICU.

Prior to nursing school, I wanted to work psych. As a nursing student, I wanted to work labor and delivery. As a new grad, I wanted to work ICU (my current job) but now I've decided that I want to get into public health/community for a few reasons.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Before nursing school, I wasn't too sure, possibly pediatrics but I had said, never the ER after seeing shows like ER. I thought it was too dangerous. Then I got a job as an ER tech during nursing school and loved it!

The chaos I thrived on it

Then during nursing school, I had this pull towards pediatrics

I am now in the best fit for me a Peds only ER and am loving it

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