Some aspiring nurses begin their programs with a clear career goal, knowing they want to specialize in areas like dermatology, emergency room (ER), or labor and delivery nursing. However, many others finish their studies without a precise career path in mind.
Nursing offers incredible flexibility, allowing you to explore various specialties until you find the one you enjoy the most. Starting by narrowing down your choices can be helpful, and in this post, we’ll cover seven steps to guide you in choosing the nursing specialty that suits you best (at least to get started!).
Research Education Requirements
Certain nursing careers, such as nurse anesthetists, require more than just an RN license; they also demand a master’s or doctorate degree. While an RN credential allows you to begin specializing, be prepared for the significant time, effort, and resources necessary to pursue advanced education.
Consider courses like nursing executive leadership courses to move into management roles. Other specialties, such as lactation or legal nurse consultants, target specific populations or care environments and require additional certifications. Ensure your chosen specialty’s educational requirements align with your career aspirations and personal preferences.
Explore Career Advancement Options
Career progression is always valuable, even if you embark on a new career or specialty. Many nurses aspire to remain in direct patient care, aiming to increase their salary through gained experience, seniority with their employer, and acquiring extra certifications. Alternatively, some may seek to advance into roles such as charge nurse, nurse supervisor, or nurse administrator.
Larger healthcare organizations like hospitals provide more advancement opportunities compared to working in a private physician’s office. However, consistent business hours in a private office setting might make pursuing an advanced nursing degree easier due to the stable schedule.
Discover the Pay Across Various Nursing Specialties
Consider the financial aspect, as different nursing roles come with varying pay scales. An extra $10K annually greatly influences your ability to save for retirement, purchase a home, or support your family.
Conduct thorough research on the specialties you’re interested in and determine which ones offer the best pay in your area. While salary isn’t the only factor, many nurses follow their passion over higher salaries, it plays a role. Make sure to factor in potential overtime. With the current nursing shortage, hospitals are likely offering more high-paid overtime hours than private practices.
Consider the Highlights and Challenges of Each
Working in healthcare is challenging. It’s both emotionally and physically demanding, so nurses must assess what physical and emotional challenges they can manage. Consider the best and worst parts of the specialties you’re exploring.
For instance, a labor and delivery nurse enjoys seeing new parents meet their children. Yet, they might also need to involve social services if a new mother is struggling with addiction, and they will likely encounter difficult situations like traumatic births, maternal fatalities, and stillbirths.
While this field has many rewarding moments, the tough times can be particularly harsh, especially for those who find dealing with the illness or loss of infants extremely distressing. Personal trauma and past experiences can shape your career choices. If your family has a history of cancer, you might feel driven to work in oncology, or the emotional toll might lead you to steer clear of it entirely.
Check the Workload
Nursing specialties can offer diverse options when seeking a work-life balance. For instance, nurses in outpatient settings often enjoy more predictable hours and regular days off than those in hospitals.
Likewise, clinic nurses may experience more flexible schedules than their counterparts in doctor’s offices. If prioritizing work-life balance is crucial for you, it’s wise to research the workload differences among various specialties before deciding.
Consider Work-Life Balance
Consider the hours and days you want to work when choosing a specialty. For example, school nurses enjoy holidays and summers off, while emergency room nurses might appreciate the flexibility of shift work.
Consider your chosen field’s emotional and mental demands. While all nurses need to be compassionate and will encounter stressful situations occasionally, a registered nurse in a small general practice might face burnout less frequently than someone working in critical care. Aligning your passion with your priorities can help you build a career that fits your lifestyle.
Endnote
Selecting a nursing specialty requires more than just applying to every available position and waiting for responses. It’s essential to thoughtfully consider which roles align best with your interests, motivations, schedule, and those that won’t leave you feeling exhausted.
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