Do you have to work everywhere in the hospital first?

As a nurse starting out, do you have to rotate where you work? Like how a doctor has residency, where they work in different parts of the hospital, even though they already know their specialty?

If you already know which department that you want to work in, can you just apply to that one, and not have to be a nurse anywhere else?

Even IF you have a job, let’s say in the Pediatrics, can you be asked to help out in another department?

What are the chances of someone putting you in another department, even if you don’t want to work there?

Lastly, who has ‘control’ over the nurses? Nurse Practitioners, or the doctor? Or someone else?
During school, you rotate through just about every area, but once you get a job you stay in the same area for the most part. Sometimes you'll "float" but in my experience, they send you to similar areas (for example, if you're a cardiac ICU nurse, they might send you to a cardiac medical floor, but not to pediatrics). Nurses work for the hospital, and they have their own chain of command, so nurses "control" other nurses, from the floor nurse to the charge nurse to the nurse manager, all the way up to the hospital's Chief Nursing Officer. We DO NOT work for doctors in the hospital, that seems to be a big misconception

Quote from RNMeg [...] so nurses "control" other nurses, from the floor nurse to the charge nurse to the nurse manager, all the way up to the hospital's Chief Nursing Officer. [...]

Are you a new nursing student because if you are a new RN then you should have learned these things. As a nursing student you went to different areas. When you are hired for a floor no they do not have to rotate you. Many hospitals have floating though. If your floor is overstaffed and another floor is shortstaffed then you will be floated to that floor when it is your turn. For example, if you work on general pediatrics unit and your floor is overstaffed then you can be sent to the ED who is understaffed. Usually floor RNs do not float to the PICU though. You have to float if your hospital does that like many others. You are an RN and should be able to function as a nurse on different floors. Of course it can beyond your knowledge or skills and you have to speak up and say your concerns but no you cannot show up to work and say '"no I am not going to the ED."New nurses start out as floor RNs. With experience and knowledge some move on to become charge RNs. Some charge RNs still are floor RNs depends on who is working what shift. Did you learn about nurse managers and CNOs in nursing school? Those require BSNs or MSNs, experience, knowledge, etc. no new grad is going to be a manager or CNO anytime soon.No one "controls" a nurse, especially not a doctor. This isnt 1930. Nurses have managers, managers have supervisors, supervisors have the CNO, etc.I do not think you are a new nurse or else your school should be reported.

Quote from RNBSNxoAre you a new nursing student because if you are a new RN then you should have learned these things. ...I do not think you are a new nurse or else your school should be reported.

Quote from RNBSNxoI do not think you are a new nurse or else your school should be reported.

Quote from SprinklesSure, you can report the imaginary school that I got admitted to. I am a pre-nursing student, and wanted to ask this question in this section to read what actual nurses have to say. I was reading conflicting stories about what nurses really do, so that is why I was seeking factual information. Thanks for the reply!

Hospice Nurse LPN Re: Do you have to work everywhere in the hospital first?Originally Posted by Sprinkles Sure, you can report the imaginary school that I got admitted to. I am a pre-nursing student, and wanted to ask this question in this section to read what actual nurses have to say. I was reading conflicting stories about what nurses really do, so that is why I was seeking factual information. Thanks for the reply!

Quote from Hospice Nurse LPNYou should probably watch your attitude if you want to continue asking questions for people to answer.

I think the only time you would be working for a doctor is in a private practice setting. And that is only because it is their practice and they are your boss, not just because they are the doctor.

wow some people are so snarky. The girl is trying to get some information from real nurses and instead of just answering (or ignoring if they didn't like her perceived tone) she gets this? Sprinkles, good luck in your education and I hope soon you'll get into a non-imaginary nursing school Keep asking questions!

Quote from Hospice Nurse LPNYou should probably watch your attitude if you want to continue asking questions for people to answer.

As some of the other posters have stated,..while you are in school you will rotate all over the hospital,..just as the residents (students) do. Once you graduate and get your license you can apply to whatever area you want to work. Most hospitals have their staff float to other areas however usually they try to keep you with similar pt groups. I'm sure this varies per hospital,..but where I work, Level I trauma center,.pediatric RN's might float to newborn nursery but would not be expected to float to a cardiac floor. No one is expected to float to peds except peds ICU nurses. No one floats to ER and ER doesn't float anywhere.Hope that answers your questions. Best of luck to you!