Does nursing allow you to be creative and have autonomy also?

These are two things that are important to me in my career as I going through a change of wanting to move into something caring and working with people and helping them directly. I know I need a job where I can use my creativity as well and be autonomous. Can I find that in nursing? I would appreciate feedback from anyone who has worked in this area.

As far as creativity and autonomy go; you will not have any such thing doing bedside nursing. I've been a registered nurse for 5yrs working at the bedside for 2. Well I can tell you first hand that being at the bedside really limits you to just that. Most of your time is focussed on bedbaths, grooming and just giving pills. Youl'll pretty much be doing things that any lay person can do. Sure you'll be checking bloodwork and hanging IV's but you hardly ever get to apply any knowledge you were taught in school. The best thing to do is community nursing. You'll be on your own making your own decisions while working with a network of other people who wont be there physically breathing over your back. So if you are looking to be creative and autonomous. Community nursing is it. Though you'll be trained in the community, it's always nice to get a years worth of bedside training. Very rewarding profession otherwise and you can go anywhere in the world and work. I've worked in 2 different countries and now approaching a third.

Depends what area of nursing you specialise in after you qualify. I work in Primary Care and have a lot more autonomy than a hospital based nurse.