Your desired specialty

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It seems as though many people who enter nursing want to enter the ER or the Labor and Delivery unit because of the "cute babies." So I ask this question: what would you like to specialize in once you are a nurse?

I am in interested in the NICU and pediatrics. I also wouldn't mind labor and delivery.

I would like to work critical care, trauma, CCU, or surgery.

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Specializes in ED.
Sorry so long winded, but there is a point....Kind of....

I actually do specialize in ER and L&D. I didn't get into it for the "cute babies" though lol, I got into it because I love helping people through a very amazing process, and there is nothing more amazing than another human being emerging from it's mother. I have been doing both for the last 6 years and know quite well that not all turns out as planned. That "cute baby" the people might be envisioning may not turn out as perfect as they had hoped, sometimes things don't turn out well at all. I love being able to assist in the process no matter what the outcome, and it is just icing on the cake when they see you out and about and stop you to thank you for your support or show off their children. I LOVE ER. I never know what is coming in the door, and again, helping people through a sometimes difficult and scarey time does it for me. I don't even mind all of the clinic crap that comes in through the ER if there is time for it, it keeps ya busy. Anyone going into ER for all of the codes and the occasional open heart in the trauma room needs to wake up and turn off the TV cuz like it or not, MOST of your time will be spent pretending to be a REALLY EXPENSIVE clinic nurse. I admit, I live for those unexpected patients with the head trauma or severed artery (man can they SHOOT across a room, ALMOST like TV :lol2: haha.)

All depends on what you like and what you're willing to put up with and go through. Life and Death are both a fact and if you go into L&D thinking you are going to just be "bringing beautiful new lives into the world" and that it is such a "happy place", you will be disappointed. The first time you're taking care of a mom and the fetal strip has been BEAUTIFUL the whole time, and the baby comes out coding, unable to get back, you will be disappointed. The first time you take care of a patient who has a GORGEOUS PERFECT baby and they want nothing to do with it, you will be disappointed. The first time you take care of a couple who have tried for SO LONG and this time doesn't quite work out either, you will be disappoointed. The first 12 year old that walks in with her friends thinking childbirth is going to be a breeze and she can't wait to see if the baby will bring her 14 year old boyfriend back, and she turns into the 12 year old she really is, crying for her mommy when the pain gets bad, you will be disappointed.

If you are strong enough to help them through these and many other trying, HEARTBREAKING times, maybe it will be for you too. Just don't go into thinking everything is just like ER or THE BABY STORY, or YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.

I LOVE IT! :D

AMEN... I feel like an expensive clinic nurse! Most people don't know the difference between something that is an emergency and something they can go to Urgent Care or even their PCP for. Oh well... It does keep you busy, so I guess I can't complain. :)

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Specializes in ED.

I used to think I wanted to be an L&D nurse and then during my rotation I was SO bored, I actually had more fun being in postpartum with the mommies and new babies. I fell in love with the ED, and I can see myself doing this for a while, I can't imagine the loss of autonomy when I move to a different floor... yikes. That'll suck after being so free in the ED and working so closely with the EDMDs. oh well... guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

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Haven't started NS yet (will be this fall '10). However, I would like to work in anything along critical care/ICU/PICU/NICU, ER, Flight Nurse - gotta stay active or I will be BORED very easily!

Speaking of Flight nurse, I live in South Florida and my friend is a flight nurse and all of his assignments are to neighboring caribbean islands...he's been to Aruba, Barbados, St Maarten, Haiti, Jamaica, PR, DR, Cayman Islands, and more. Cool yet exciting eh!?

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I have NO IDEA. I am looking foward to clinicals so I can really experience it and get a feel for all the different areas!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Geriatrics.

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