Your Specialty & Why

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Hi all,

Im a pre-nursing student and just wondering how long you have been at your current specialty & why? Is there something about your personality that meshes with it? Life-altering experience? Accident? Is it where you thought you would be when you began nursing school? And what specialty, if so, would you like to work next and why?

Specializes in Nsg. Ed, Infusion, Pediatrics, LTC.

I work as a home infusion nurse, a specialty that I love. I've been working in this specialty for 7 years. Prior to that I worked as an infection control nurse, an ADNS, and a nursing supervisor. This year marks my 17th year as a licensed nurse, and I just love what I'm doing! I'm planning on enrolling this December in a MSN/ Education program, as my dream is to teach.

Finding your specialty is a unique journey. Some nurses know right away, while others work in many areas before finding the specialty that speaks to the. Enjoy your journey- and good luck!

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When you worked as an ICN did you have direct patient care? Or was it more of employee protocol tasks?

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Specializes in Nsg. Ed, Infusion, Pediatrics, LTC.

Yes, mostly rounding on new admits and new infections with the ID doc. Lots of interface with the local DOH. Tons of administrative tasks as well such as audits, tracking, reporting, and the formation of new P+P. Wonderful position and a great learning experience. If you're interested in getting into Infection Control, I highly recommend checking out your local APIC.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I've read up on what they do. Seems like most work under an infectious disease physician. Although you bring up an excellent point that I should be looking a a realistic job market instead of blindly following my interests. Thanks for the tip!

The ID MD would employ a nurse to utilize skills you would learn in an acute care environment and will not learn in nursing school.

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Jifferte thank you for all the info you can give! I love direct patient care and diseases, I'm hoping this path can be the best of both worlds for me!

Pmfb thanks for the tip I hope I can get a job out of school that will lead me in the direction that I want to go!

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Specializes in Nsg. Ed, Infusion, Pediatrics, LTC.

You're very welcome! Good luck to you and please keep us updated.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

I absolutely hated Peds in school, hardest subject, awful clinicals. But now I work in Peds and I love working with the kids! They are so much fun. Step out of your comfort zone, you might surprise yourself.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I thought I wanted peds, but I witnessed a cild in respiratory distress and it really shook me. As a parent, I figured I wouldn't be able to handle it. Long story, short, I ended up in ortho, which I never thought I would like because I have a long, personal ortho hx. Surprise! I love ortho and have been doing it almost 2 years. I was in rehab a year before that.

Your specialty will find you :)

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Specializes in Perinatal.

L&D is all I ever wanted to do and all I ever plan to do. It was the reason I went to nursing school and I was lucky enough to get hired as a new grad. I don't feel like I'm lacking by not having worked med-surg first (maybe I just don't know any different?).

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Geriatrics, and I'm a certified gerontological nurse. I really enjoy working with seniors because there's a mix of medicine, psych and end of life care.

You could not pay me any amount of money to work peds or with babies. The great thing about nursing is that there's something for everyone.

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L&D is all I ever wanted to do and all I ever plan to do. It was the reason I went to nursing school and I was lucky enough to get hired as a new grad. I don't feel like I'm lacking by not having worked med-surg first (maybe I just don't know any different?).

That's how I feel! The only reason I'm going to nursing school is to become a CNM eventually. I feel like I live and breathe L&D as a doula and a CBE.

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Specializes in ED.

ER nurse, only area I've ever been in. I enjoy the organized chaos and like my little niche in the nursing world. I've been considering going to cath lab but I think I would miss the pace of it all and I am fairly attached to some of the doctors here.

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