4 answers
Luolin
Student
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1
Question
Asked
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What sort of nursing should I do?
Currently in my first year of nursing and was wondering what are some options I can specialize in?
#medical #nursing
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4 answers
Krystal Dopson
RN
1
Answer
Lakeville, Minnesota
Updated
Krystal’s Answer
The options are endless. Critical care, OB, pediatrics, OR, mental health, Prep/recovery or PACU, geriatric care, long term care, nephrology, anesthesia, case management, ER, legal, and education are a few. It really depends on what you have an interest in. As you go through nursing school and clinical rotations, you should start to gain some clarity on what you like and don't like. My best advice would be to follow your heart as any type of field will have its challenges and if your heart is not in it, it will be difficult to do. With that being said, try to strengthen your clinical skill set as much as you can which will prepare you for almost anything. I went into critical care nursing believing that if I can take care of the sickest patients I can do just about anything and it has prepared me well enough to explore a lot of different avenues. Hope this helps:-)
Thank you so much for the insight!
Luolin
Allison Henderson
Aprn
2
Answers
Crestwood, Kentucky
Updated
Allison’s Answer
ICU will give you the best knowledge and experience. If someone sees this on your resume they will be very impressed. It is also a Very easy jump off to be a cRNA. But if working in the ICU does not interest you there are many other avenues. I would suggest finding what you're interested in whether it be neurology, nephrology, palliative, etc. that you can work on as an RN and if you want to further your education and become an APRN You will already have experience in the field you're interested in. Just be mindful of the market that you were about to enter in your professional career, what city you're in and how many local colleges have in NP schools. They are pumping our nurse practitioners like you wouldn't believe and if you have no interest in being a nurse practitioner staying as an RN Really is the way to go. But I do suggest you figure out what excites you, what field you're comfortable in, and stay there.
Kerrie Chambers, MSN, RN, CNOR, CNS-CP, CLNC
Registered Nurse
59
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Kerrie’s Answer
The only person who can answer this for you is you! You know yourself and what you like and dislike. There are so many different facets of nursing that you can learn what kinds of nursing there are but someone cannot tell you what kind of nursing to do,m you need to decide for yourself.
Here are some examples of questions to think about, do you want to work with children or infants or adults or geriatrics? Do you want to work in a school and teach as a professor or do want to work in surgery and take care of patients in all phases of their care? Do you want to become an advanced practice nurse, like a CRNA or CNS or NP, or do you want to work at the bedside in a hospital or nursing home? Do you want to become a nurse administrator or a flight nurse? Do you like a quiet atmosphere or a fast-paced trauma setting? Do you want to work in a rural setting or teaching facility?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse, and always thought I wanted to be a flight nurse; however, there are height requirements to being a flight nurse and I am short in stature and did not meet them. So when I was in my last 2 years of nursing school, I heard about an externship over the summer at Mayo clinic so I applied for that. Little did I know that would help define my career to becoming a perioperative nurse for the past 25+ years! Once you become a CNA or are in nursing school, seek out opportunities to explore the areas of nursing to see what is out there, you might be surprised what interests you! When I had been in the OR for about 10 tears, an opportunity presented itself to be to become a member of the housewide nursing practice council and from there I became the chair and was mentored into becoming a Perioperative CNS which I loved! I was able to stay at the hospital I was at for 14 years and with my MSN, was able to move to another state later one in my career, and now I am able to work from home for a global publishing company! The world is wide open to do what you love!
Here are some examples of questions to think about, do you want to work with children or infants or adults or geriatrics? Do you want to work in a school and teach as a professor or do want to work in surgery and take care of patients in all phases of their care? Do you want to become an advanced practice nurse, like a CRNA or CNS or NP, or do you want to work at the bedside in a hospital or nursing home? Do you want to become a nurse administrator or a flight nurse? Do you like a quiet atmosphere or a fast-paced trauma setting? Do you want to work in a rural setting or teaching facility?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse, and always thought I wanted to be a flight nurse; however, there are height requirements to being a flight nurse and I am short in stature and did not meet them. So when I was in my last 2 years of nursing school, I heard about an externship over the summer at Mayo clinic so I applied for that. Little did I know that would help define my career to becoming a perioperative nurse for the past 25+ years! Once you become a CNA or are in nursing school, seek out opportunities to explore the areas of nursing to see what is out there, you might be surprised what interests you! When I had been in the OR for about 10 tears, an opportunity presented itself to be to become a member of the housewide nursing practice council and from there I became the chair and was mentored into becoming a Perioperative CNS which I loved! I was able to stay at the hospital I was at for 14 years and with my MSN, was able to move to another state later one in my career, and now I am able to work from home for a global publishing company! The world is wide open to do what you love!
Raymond
Student
0
Questions
Updated
Raymond’s Answer
If you would like to work in a hospital, I would suggest working in a float pool. While you may not be considered a specialist in any one unit, being a floater broadens your skillset, expands your networking opportunities, and most of all, allows you to find your niche.
Of course, outside of the acute setting, you can also try skilled nursing facilities, home care, and ambulatory care. The key is being flexible and having an endless thirst to learn. As people may have already told you, a nurse never stops learning after graduating from school. Learning as a nurse is a lifelong process, and that includes self-discovery.
Of course, outside of the acute setting, you can also try skilled nursing facilities, home care, and ambulatory care. The key is being flexible and having an endless thirst to learn. As people may have already told you, a nurse never stops learning after graduating from school. Learning as a nurse is a lifelong process, and that includes self-discovery.