Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

RE: Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

Claire Kealey — Wed, 23 May 2018 14:21:58 GMT

Thank you for all of the replies! It's something that's just been playing on my mind for a little while. I'm by no means a "specialist" in anything really but I am advancing my knowledge on areas that interest me. I've never not got stuck into mundane tasks but I do understand that there are people out there that view themselves too highly to help on the shop floor as it were.

I just meant, basically, should I be doing things that I feel other people are better at doing than me? Why not refer clients to nurses in my practice that are more experienced with certain clinics and I take on what I know?

RE: Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

Sam_M — Sat, 19 May 2018 18:32:30 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]Also - and no disrespect to anybody - I have found that some 'specialists' will use their specialism to avoid doing some of the more mundane or onerous tasks that need to be done and should be shared by everybody.[/quote]

This made me giggle because I completely agree that this can happen, whether it is intentional or not, I've seen it. Having said that there are things that I will actively seek out to help out with, especially if they aren't 'everyday' procedures like transfusions and I would hope I don't fall in that category.

It's great to have a special interest, whether you work in general or specialist practice but I think in general practice you need to accept that you can't do all the 'fun' stuff all the time. If you work in referral then maybe it's different because you could potentially stay in one area? Can't say for sure as I'm in a first opinion practice. What I can say though is if you work in a practice with a fair rota then everyone will get their share of the fun and the other stuff and I think that keeps most people happy. If you have a particular interest then sure explore it and learn as much as possible, just share what you know with others and everyone wins.

RE: Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 19 May 2018 12:33:20 GMT

I think its good to have an area of interest but the danger with specialism to me is that one person may 'hog' all the cases that are of interest to them which then prevents other members of the team gaining experience in that area. Come the day your 'specialist' ups sticks for pastures new or goes off sick then you have clients attending the practice looking for a specialist service that just isn't available anymore.

Also - and no disrespect to anybody - I have found that some 'specialists' will use their specialism to avoid doing some of the more mundane or onerous tasks that need to be done and should be shared by everybody.

Whatever the area of specialism just make sure its actually useful to the place you are working

RE: Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

Clare Espley — Thu, 17 May 2018 15:33:09 GMT

There's no reason why you can't specialise in areas that you prefer but I think it's important to still have good knowledge of all things nursing.

I think most nurses start out as all rounders and then gradually find things they are more interested in or better at within their practice and that is what makes them better nurses. A while ago I stopped working in our kennels and theatre areas because I really didn't enjoy it (& for health reasons) and now only do consulting - specialising in nutrition and behaviour, client education, insurance claims and run the social media side of things at the practice; I am lucky that there are other nurses within our practice that want to do the things I don't, and appreciate that in other practices this may not be possible.

I still make sure that I keep up to date with advances in theatre and inpatient nursing even though I don't actually do them on a day to day basis. The important thing is that you enjoy your job and love the work you do.

RE: Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 06:51:13 GMT

all rounder required in general practice, I think. Having said this, I prefer consulting and hospital nursing so am naturally drawn to be an 'expert' at these disciplines because I am so very interested in them and therefore learning more/doing more assists this 'expertise'. Competency in other disciplines essential for balanced team work in practice (and clearly patient welfare of course). If I had a wish though, if I never had to do another anaesthetic it truly wouldn't bother me but takes away my consulting and I would cry.

So, what do I do? Have a job where my consulting bent is appreciated and spend the majority of my week doing that, whilst keeping my hand in 'out the back' to maintain competency and team work.

hth

Ali h

RE: Is there room to specialise or do you have to know a bit of everything?

apache — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:29:14 GMT

I think there has to be balance in life. Doing less favourable tasks makes the ones you enjoy more pleasurable. I love steak but if I ate it twice a day I'd start enjoying it less.