Question:

Dear Donna,

I am an RN working in a medical/surgical floor. I do relief charge and on my days off I work with the wound care team. I am debating on either continuing what I am doing or switching to a floor position on PCU. What would help my career the most in the long run?

Debating Between Specialties

Dear Donna replies:

Dear Debating Between Specialties,

There is no one right or better way to go. Either path will serve you well. The best way to make a decision is to go with whatever you find most interesting and exciting and where you see the greatest opportunity for personal and professional growth. The rest will work itself out.

Since you already know what your current position has to offer, you may want to do some informational interviewing with nurses in the PCU to have a clear picture of what that specialty, and this particular unit, has to offer before making your final decision. To learn how to get the most out of such interviews, review “The scoop on informational interviewing” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/Interviewing).

Here’s an article with some additional tips on making a sound decision:
“To act or not, it’s your decision” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/To-Act-or-Not).

Best wishes,
Donna