If you have just finished prereqs and don't already work in a hospital the best way to fingure how what you want to specialize in is.. when you start doing clinicals you will find one area that really peaks your interest or you will just find an area that you really excell in.  It will come to you in one way or another.  Sometimes you think you know and then you end up in a total different direction.  Sometimes its not even where you would have thought you would have liked to be.  Me.. Never thought I would like Med-surg Neuroscience but that is where I plan on staying after graduation.

I fell into pediatrics after I graduated and stayed- as for being certified, I just haven't taken the time. You do have to work so many hours/years in a speciality prior to being able to sit for the certification exam. I am a board certified lactation consultant as well as a RN. I had to prove 4,000 hours of breastfeeding counseling for nursing mothers plus continuing education before taking my boards.

Hey John Sorry I'm just getting back to you now.  Worked over night and needed a little sleep.  In answer to your question, I am a Clinical Assistant and in my area that is someone that is in school for their RN (in either a diploma program, ADN or BSN).  I wanted to get my feet wet and see if I would like to even be a nurse, even though it was my lifes dream, and so applied for a job as a nurse aide in the hospital.  When they called me for the neuroscience floor I was like... wow I don't think this is me but I interviewed and decided that I would take the job when offered and I could always move to another floor if the opportunity arrived.  To my surprise I really began to like it.  Even after I graduate in Dec. I will have to do speciality training on the floor in telemetry, and we have on our floor what is known as the EMU unit in which we have two rooms that are camera monitored 24 - 7 with patients that have epilpsey and or seizures of some sort.  These patients agree to come in and stay for up to 5 days and brain waves are monitored continiously to determine what part of the brain is the focal point of their problem.  We have seen patients that have then had surgery to remove a portion of that brain matter and it has greatly reduced their seizures to the point that they are now living a somewhat normal life.  We deal with back surgery and brain surgery as well as stroke victims and neuro disease such as MS and a variety of other diseases.  So as you can see it's not run of the mill in and out patients.  So to answer your questions it is speciality and it is a on going learning experience and gives you a great reference if you chose to move on.

John, You will be surprised @ what will interest you.  Just keep an open mind and by the time you are ready to graduate you will find your way.  I have to admit I went into my job with a closed mind in the beginning and after completing so many clinicals nothing else really sparked the interest that this did.  Okay maybe Psych did alittle but to be honest you will use that speciality all the way through your nursing career and I do have a little bit of that everyday at work when you deal with doctors HA HA.

Breastfeeding is not a "natural skill" as people (mostly men and women that have not attempted breastfeeding) assume.

I Passed my  wine through my nose laughing when i read this.....I guess I have to agree that any MAN who has attempted breast feeding might be a bit confused....

I admit I am ignorant of the process and have NO desire to attempt it.

SEVOFLURANE says ...

Breastfeeding is not a "natural skill" as people (mostly men and women that have not attempted breastfeeding) assume.

I Passed my  wine through my nose laughing when i read this.....I guess I have to agree that any MAN who has attempted breast feeding might be a bit confused....

I admit I am ignorant of the process and have NO desire to attempt it.

Oh how true this statement is!!  People only assume it is a natural thing for all moms and babies.  Some women have the impression that all you have to do is lay the baby close to the nipple and it will attach, but this is not always the case.  Sometimes it takes a lot of work to get them started, and some never do well.  This comes from working with them for many years.  Moms do have to put a little effort in to it, not just lie there!