worried about losing sight of why I started nursing in the first place

ImKosher · Jun 3, 2012

I went into nursing after my grandmother received atrocious care in the geriatric ward of the local hospital. I know a lot of ppl join because they saw/received some amazing nursing care- I'm the opposite.
I wanted to give the elderly population the care and respect they deserve- well, that was my goal for the past 3 years. I've recently just finished my Oncology outpatient clinical, which came a few moths after my Oncology ward clinical (university screwed up the clinicals so we did the same field twice) and it felt just "right".
It's scares me that my mind is no longer 100% sure on geriatrics, more like 50%.
Next year we do our "placements" (I have no idea what the term is in English) and my instructor from the oncology clinical says that she thinks I'm a natural for oncology and I should really consider it.
I feel that if I do oncology i'm betraying my own principles.
If I choose oncology for my placement, I feel that I won't know if geriatrics is for me. On the other hand, If i choose oncology, I'll be getting my foot in the door at the same hospital for future employment opportunities.
I'm sooo confused and conflicted.
Has anyone else had a similar feeling?

Why question your natural talent? If you've been doing great in Oncology, then go for it. A lot of us have intentions on going into a specialty even before NS. You will perform your best in what you feel most confident in. I understand it was your mission to go into geriatrics, but I feel you need to loosen up and go with your natural talent.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2012

I definately say you should go where your heart tells you. I thought that I would love pysch or geriatrics before starting nursing school and now I can tell 100% I do not ever want to work in either of those areas. If I had to I could but I would be very unhappy. On the plus I discovered I loveddd Labor and Delivery and I love wound care. I'm open to other stuff as well, possibly ed and who knows what else. So I think you just learn as you go not just about school but about yourself as well. :)

coco.nut · Jun 3, 2012

The geriatric population gets cancer too.

FORTHELOVEOF!!!! · Jun 3, 2012

I too wanted to get into geriatrics, I still do but have fallen in love with the ED now. So my plan now is one year of experience on a stroke/neuro unit for experience (still get plenty of geriatrics) and then ED for how ever many years I can do it. After I am too old to handle the fast pace of the ED I plan on getting into hospice (again, lots of geriatrics). Just because you like one area doesn't mean you have to spend your whole career in it. That's what I love about the nursing field, so many things we can do without feeling like we are stuck there forever! Do what makes you happy, not everyone gets the opportunity to do what they want so don't pass it up! Good luck!

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 3, 2012

I've noticed that nurses are very likely to have many specialties throughout their careers. If you start in oncology, you may do oncology for the rest of your life, or you may do it for 5-10 years and then pursue a different interest. Most of my instructors have a varied career history -- going from peds to ICU to ortho to hospice to ED to home health. That's one of the beauties of a nursing career -- you have HUNDREDS of options, and you can switch among them relatively easily.

If you break it down further, you went into nursing b/c of atrocious care a relative received. Won't you be fulfilling your original dream if you in turn provide competent care to cancer patients and their families? Think of it this way -- would your grandmother be disappointed that her grandchild became a caring nurse to people going through cancer treatment? I think that answer will bring you some peace.