Which specialties in demand?

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After reading another thread I am curious. What nursing specialties are in high demand? I am an LPN studying for my ADN. So far only worked LTC. Pretty sure that as things stand now this is not going to be my area. I love it but can't stand the lack of staffing and IMO substandard care it causes the elderly to recieve. Not by choice of course the staff I work with, for the most part, are wonderful but we are only human and can only accomplish so much. So I am still searching and curious. Any input appreciated.

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This differs greatly from region to region, and facility to facility even. Med-surg is always in demand as are specialty areas. Very few specialties, anymore, do not have turnover. Don't worry about it, especially if you are still in school - just keep your mind open to all areas and find what you enjoy. There will be an opening in that area somwhere (even if it's not right away and you have to do something else for a short while, until the opportunity arises.) One thing I can tell you with 99.9% certainty is that if you specialize in an area of nursing because you perceive it to be "more in demand" or to pay better, you will not be as happy as you could have been had you followed your interests. Nursing is hard enough when you are in the specialty you love.

Edited to add: LTC is a different animal altogether. Nothing else in nursing is quite like it, so don't worry about running into the same old thing in the hospital setting. All specialties are going to have their own positives and negatives.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Bravo to RN4NICU. Stated beautifully. Just follow your heart and don't worry about what is in "demand". You need not "specialize" to find your niche and do well in nursing as an RN. There is plenty of work in most places ----plenty to explore. Good luck to you in your future endeavors as an RN.

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