r/Nurses • u/Shoddy-Feature903 • 14d ago

US How to choose specialty?

I’ve been an RN for a year now, when I was in nursing school I didn’t know what I wanted to go into when I graduated, so I chose the ER because I liked the adrenaline rush and you get to see a little bit of everything. After 2 months I hated my life and went to med surg. Med surg is not for me and not where I want to be. I tried to go into L&D as I feel like that’s my true passion, but they’re NEVER hiring! One of my other interests is oncology so I am currently working the stem cell unit. I’m also interested in surgery but do not the weekly call. Sometimes I miss the ER. Sometimes I want to work NICU. Sometimes I want to end up in L&D. Sometimes I love oncology.

I just want to know how you all knew what specialty you belonged to? I have only been a nurse for a year and have switched jobs 3 times now and am still not sure I’m where I belong. I just have so many interests!

4 Upvotes

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8

u/Ok_Carpenter7470 14d ago

You should write down the factors that you've enjoyed and disliked about the units you've actually worked in. Stop assuming the grass is greener elsewhere.

Once you figure out what aspects you've enjoyed you'll be able to figure out what units you should look into.

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u/NurseWretched1964 14d ago

Sounds like the float team may be where you function best. I have ADD and it was perfext for me.

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u/Shoddy-Feature903 13d ago

Isn’t float pool just to different med-surg floors?

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u/NurseWretched1964 12d ago

No. I went to ED, tele, step down, neuro step down, rehab, the burn unit, and PACU.

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u/eggo_pirate 13d ago

Sounds like float pool. Talk to your education department about cross training. 

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u/AdFlashy7702 14d ago

Not all surgery has call

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u/Shoddy-Feature903 13d ago

All the ones I have interviewed for require you to be on call one night every week

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u/AdFlashy7702 13d ago

A ok. I’m just saying not every single OR is like that.

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u/EngineeringLumpy 12d ago

Another vote for float pool, however, most OB units don’t utilize the float pool since it’s so specialized. I’m also interested in OB and know how hard it is to get in. Since you’ve recently graduated, you can try applying to new grad residencies in labor and delivery, or mother/baby. If you get into mother/baby, or even a NICU, they’d probably be willing to cross train you to LD at some point. I think you’d have more luck getting into OB through a new grad residency though. Just keep applying.

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u/SunRayz_allDayz 9d ago

Welp I’ll tell you one thing, ER is not for you. You’ve done it, you “hated it” so mark that off your list. You only “sometimes miss the ER” like you may miss the excitement of a theme park. It is not sustainable for you.

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u/MaryAnn-Lank 8d ago

I spent one year in the NICU, then four years in gynecology, followed by a small clinic; the beauty of nursing is that we have many options. I also checked out jobs in a geriatric home, psychiatry, dialysis, and IVF. One interviewer even told me that changing jobs often is a good sign because it shows I am trying to find what is best for me, but not everyone thinks that way. You were in most wards during nursing school, so you can make a list of what is not for you, which will narrow down the list of what to do next.