Best speciality to get into for newly qualified?

I've been told that surgical nursing would be the best to get into initially as your clinical skills would blossom and you'd see a vast array of conditions but others have said different. I suppose it depends where you want to be when you qualify but I'm looking more into what would develop my knowledge and competence further....rather than where I'd like to be. I love surgical nursing but it's so busy and demanding! I just don't know as newly qualified it would be a good idea. Coronary care also interests me. I'm looking way ahead but I'm excited haha

You'll want to go somewhere which is fairly challenging and will stretch you, but equally not an area in which you will feel unsafe/not comfortable. PICU tempted me as a NQ but as I'd never done a placement there, I chose not to apply for any PICU jobs.

I'm biaised but I believe general medical is a great place to start. I look at the learning opportunities/competencies left on my ward (Paediatrics, obvs) for me... Central lines & ports (Just need signing off), tracheostomies (& the ventilators), CPAP, TPN, Blood transfusions, NPAs, chest drains, catheter care... The list could probably go on, but those are the key ones. If I could come away with all of those in about another 3 years time, (And maybe the HDU course too) I'd be a very happy 4 years-qualified children's nurse. From somewhere like general medical you can move on almost anywhere because its so broad. One thing I love about my ward the most is the variety.

That all said, I don't think there is anything wrong with specialising early if you are confident that is what you want to do. A friend went to NICU as an NQ, is still there (1yr later) and loves it. And of course there are still transferable skills across specialties

I've been told that surgical nursing would be the best to get into initially as your clinical skills would blossom and you'd see a vast array of conditions but others have said different. I suppose it depends where you want to be when you qualify but I'm looking more into what would develop my knowledge and competence further....rather than where I'd like to be. I love surgical nursing but it's so busy and demanding! I just don't know as newly qualified it would be a good idea. Coronary care also interests me. I'm looking way ahead but I'm excited haha

I don't think it matters that you have not done a placement. There are places to avoid as a first job - outpatients, endoscopy, theatres etc. You don't develop a wide range of skills in these ones. I would go for either a general surgical or medical ward