I am sure this is a realtively basic question for most but one that has come to my mind. Do all RN's specialize?

In the last couple of weeks I had seen an article on here about nursing specialties and is actually one of the reasons why I opted to switch my goal of being a respiratory therapist to becoming a registered nurse. I looked into the different specialties and actually have several that I am interested in. I know for now my first goal is to get accepted into the ADN program but I also do think about down the road.

Actually you have. It is actually what I had thought before I even asked the question but I did not want to assume. We all know what happens when we assume. LOL

Immediately my goals are as such:

1) Get into nursing school (adn program) (1 year)

2) Graduate and pass the NCLEX for my RN (2 years)

3) Obtain a position at a local hospital and continue obtaining my BSN (1-2 years)

4) Explore the different areas I am interested in* (2-3 years)

5) Obtain my MSN to enhance my skills and move forward (2 years)

6) cannot forsee as of yet (beyond)

Funny I've got like a 10 year plan. Just did that for my own morbid curiosity as to what I had in mind.

* The specialties that interest me are Cardiac Care, Critical Care, Infection Control, Med-Surg, Pulmonary Care, Surgical, and Trauma.

Of course this can always change as I learn more but atleast that's what's in mind at this time. Everything is subject to change. LOL Hell to be completely honest just 3 months ago I was fully planning on going for Respiratory Therapist and had it in the back of my mind to have the RN program as a backup plan but then through more soul searching, research on nursing, and job outlook projections I changed my focus.

Right. It's just like what I did 15 years. I was a "drafter" but worked mainly in processes piping and plumbing. I also did work for a couple of years in civil land development and in structural steel stair design but really those were what I would call focus. Meanwhile when a person becomes an engineer by obtaining their bachelors degree they become an engineer in a specific discipline. Then they may go on and get an advanced degree for something even more specific within that discipline. I pretty much that this is the same basic concept for nursing. Getting an ADN or BSN is pretty much a generalized nursing degree. Main difference of my understanding between an ADN and a BSN is more clinicals in ADN and more theory in BSN. Then most people work in a focused area but don't gain an advanced degree unless the want to be a so called specialist in that area or it is a requirement to actually have the advanced degree to do the work. Good example of that being a NP.

So really I fully understand it.

That really is so true. I know at school many people say I am very helpful and that they like studying with me. My whole life I have always been one to work with others in sharing knowledge and knowhow. I found through the sharing of experiences with others that I also learn from their expeirences that they share as well. The more you know the better prepared you are for the challenges before you. I also take the stance that someone will always know more then I and someone will always know less and you never know what another person knows so don't make any assumptions about their knowledge.