When did you know what you wanted to do?

LaZarca, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2021

My story is a bit pessimistic so I hope this doesn't discourage you.

My original dream was to be an ICU nurse and go onto CRNA. I love Chemistry, I loved the intense stuff, and I had a great experience with those clinicals.

I've been an RN for 2.5 years now and I've never gotten a chance at ICU. I wound up doing med-surg. After working through the pandemic, the ICU is the last place I want to go. Since the pandemic has thrown everything out of whack, I can't get a job anywhere except med-surg because that's where my experience is. So my goal is to keep learning about what's out there. Nursing is a very flexible license.

Nueticles · Jun 23, 2021

Thank you for sharing! I can understand that frustration. That’s something I’m afraid of. Our clinical hour totals are almost all med-surg with maybe a day or two in a few other areas thanks to the pandemic. STUPID COVID! I hope it works out for you.

NPOaftermidnight, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 5, 2021

I've been in nursing for 8 years and I still am not sure what I want to do. That's the best part about nursing - there's so much flexibility and so many different areas you can go into, there's no need to make a final decision. And you will continue to build up your skills. I'm an NP now and I've done everything from adult critical care to pediatric primary care. I currently work in women's health and although I really like it, I don't plan on sticking with it forever.

Elton Veals Jr · Jul 5, 2021

Hi! I have a different story. I started young as a volunteer in a Women's & Children's Hospital in the NICU. I thought I wanted to do that and PICU (Critical Care). Then right before I started college, I got a job in a local oncology practice where I was exposed to various aspects of the healthcare team (RNs, NPs, CNS's, MD's), and I was mesmerized by the world of oncology. Medical, Surgical and Radiation. I was then exposed to the infusional, research and clinical aspect of the field.

Here I gained mentors and it was then I knew I was an oncology nurse at heart. When I got to nursing school there was no changing my mind. Oncology nursing is one of the few professions where you use pretty much all of your nursing education because cancer effects the entire system. So I use all of my med-surg, critical care, psych, GYN, uro, cards, GI, etc... EVERY DAY!

I've practiced in private practice (office setting), infusion centers, inpatient units, radiation oncology and larger/corporate oncology systems. I've been in it for 13yrs, and have certified in the profession, and have held many positions within the discipline. I am now in the application process to become an oncology NP. It has been one of the best choices I've every made!

My advice is, find something you love, stick with it, invest in it , certify in it , and then grow in it! But don't forget to pass it along to the next generation! ?

Elton Veals Jr · Jul 5, 2021

Also... Your clincials will be all med-surg, aside from critical care, because it is the backbone and foundation of nursing. Most others are just sub-specialties. It's no different than a doctor. The majority of them have to do a residency in "internal medicine" before specializing in Cardiology, Oncology, GI, Rheum, Endo etc...

I tell my new grads... Before you try and specialized its good to do Med-Surg (not necessary) but its good to do so. You learn how to actually develop the skills to take care of an acute patient and begin to develop the knowledge to recognize what an "acute/ unstable" patient looks like and how to critically think about the management of that patient. You will need those skills when you do specialize. THAT WAY you can focus on learning the nuances of the specialty instead of learning how to "be a nurse" and still learning how to manage your time. ?

Don't look down on med-surg! Some of the best nurses are med-surg RNs, and RNs who are in specialties but mastered med-surg prior to specializing!