This is a question that has been nagging me for quite some time.
Why is it so horrible for us to plan out our route? I want to become a NNP and as stated in a previous thread, infants are the only reason I chose nursing instead of completing a tech degree. From what I have seen on this board and a couple of others say, nursing students shouldn't choose their route before clinicals. But many pre-med programs allow students to choose their route beforehand. I even have a close friend who is a pre-med major and they are writing research papers about their route.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with comparing the two. If I have a question then it is MY business if I would like it to be discussed.
But that's like comparing apples to oranges. Doctors study medicine while nurses study nursing.
Also what is with the attitude? You posted a question & people are giving their piece of mind. Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean you should be rude.
I don't know the answer to your question, except that Nursing has a long history of expecting nurses to be well-rounded and do Med-Surg first.
And it is a good idea to have a back-up plan. Learn everything you can in every area of Nursing to which you are exposed. It can all come in very handy some day.
And whatever you do, do not let other students or instructors or anyone know of your desire to be a NNP because some people are vicious and jealous and just live to rain on your parade.
So keep your heart's desire to yourself unless you super trust whoever you're dealing with - like your closest family or friend. Just be a student and learn all you can. It will all help you reach your ultimate goal.
Plan now for some bland, run of the mill response when you interview or tell why you want to be a nurse. Don't shout from the housetops about NNP.
But I definitely wish you well on whatever path your journey takes you.
I may be wrong, but I think the reason is that nurses are multi versatile. We can change specialities very quickly, and nursing care is not the same as a health provides care.
I personally wouldn't have desired to chose" anything during my nursing school. You have to get your feet wet first before you know what your niche is, IMHO.
Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
I don't know the answer to your question, except that Nursing has a long history of expecting nurses to be well-rounded and do Med-Surg first.
And it is a good idea to have a back-up plan. Learn everything you can in every area of Nursing to which you are exposed. It can all come in very handy some day.
And whatever you do, do not let other students or instructors or anyone know of your desire to be a NNP because some people are vicious and jealous and just live to rain on your parade.
So keep your heart's desire to yourself unless you super trust whoever you're dealing with - like your closest family or friend. Just be a student and learn all you can. It will all help you reach your ultimate goal.
Plan now for some bland, run of the mill response when you interview or tell why you want to be a nurse. Don't shout from the housetops about NNP.
But I definitely wish you well on whatever path your journey takes you.
I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with knowing early on what you want to do. However, it is important that you also devote yourself to the other specialties (i.e. med-surg and OB) during your training. Just because you know you want to be an NNP doesn't mean you don't need to have a general background as well. Nursing is a holistic profession so no matter where you end up you want to be able to draw upon a solid general background. Furthermore, in the event that you don't wind up where you want, it'll be helpful to have that versatility.
On the other hand, you seem very determined and intelligent and I suspect you already knew everything I just said. So just keep following your dream and prove the naysayers wrong :).
Also, with regards to the medical students... in my experience many of them are not taken seriously either when they decide on a specialty early on. I think this is because residency is so competitive so many of them don't get what they want. Alternatively, many medical students change their minds after rotations. Maybe what you describe is less common in medicine, but it certainly is not exclusive to nursing.
Best of luck with everything and keep up that determination. You'll do great!
I am willing to do everything in my power to have placement in a Level III nicu even if that means I have to relocate or even get placement in a nursing residency program for NICU to gain experience. Which is what I might do seeing as though we don't have a clinical in a NICU at our school. The passion that I have for infants is incomparable.
So I don't see the problem at all. Many nurses have chosen their field before even starting school and is now working as NPs in their field.
That drive and willingness to do anything to get into the specialty you want is commendable (in my opinion). Many new nurses say that they want **** specialty and are determined to find a job in that field but then when they can't find anything in their area or on the shift they want then they say that there are no opportunities. If you really want a sought after specialty then you need to be open to the possibility of moving to another part of the country and working on a less desirable shift (such as nights). The other thing to consider is that if you can't find a NICU opportunity that works for your life when you graduate I would strongly consider finding a facility where you want to work that has a strong NICU and try to find a position on a postpartum mother-baby unit or labor and delivery unit so that you can gain valuable experience and eventually transfer to the NICU when a position becomes open. I realize that positions on postpartum units and labor and delivery units are not easy to come by either but may be a good option to establish yourself in a facility and transfer into the NICU (just a thought).
Best of luck OP! Keep your head up with an open mind and try to remember that every scenario/situation is an unrecognized opportunity.
I silently nod and chuckle when I work with fellow PCT's that are "pre-med" and say they want to surgical subspecialties. If it was a medical student telling me that, maybe I would believe it. I get plenty of flack for saying I want to work in an ICU as a new grad, but I don't let it bother me. I am comoletely undeterred and actually further motivated.
I'm a second-career nurse and I knew what I wanted to do when I got into nursing school and five years later I am well on my way to that path, albeit slowly because my specialty of interest works that way but I have been on that road all along.
Maybe OP feels that people have been dissuading her from the NICU because yes, it's true, 1) things change, 2) people change, 3) it really isn't easy to get first choice once we get out of nursing school, but I think it's good to have a good goal in mind and if that's someone's calling, then great.
Nursing school also projects that subtle (or not so subtle) message that unless you work in an acute care setting, how can you be considered a nurse? I have several friends who did not go into acute care after graduating and they are doing very well. Not everyone has to take the beaten path. Bottom line: Just because the majority of people in nursing school does XYZ doesn't mean you have to.
I would just tell the OP that having passion and setting a goal is wonderful. Be open to taking some detours, that's all. They may or may not come--we shall see.
Regarding pre-med students (not med students), not all my medical friends finished off where they thought they would end up. Life is fluid, we as humans are fluid. I used to like eggplant when I was younger--can't stand the stuff now. :)
Shookclays, try to get a student internship or tech position in the NICU. It doesn't have to be level III, it will give you experience and connections before you graduate. You'll get to know the staff, the workflow, and see NICU nurses in action. You will also be able to meet the NNPs and see their role as well. You can apply for nurse residencies in the NICU as an internal applicant, and if they like you and see how much determination you have, you'll have a good shot at getting into the specialty you want as a new grad. Even if it is level II, you can always work there for a year, and then transfer to level III or level IV NICU. Best of luck and don't give up, just be flexible and patient with your goals and future plans!
OrganizedChaos, LVN
1 Article; 6,883 Posts
But that's like comparing apples to oranges. Doctors study medicine while nurses study nursing.
Also what is with the attitude? You posted a question & people are giving their piece of mind. Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean you should be rude.