Tips to choose the right nursing specialty for you
Opportunities abound within the nursing profession. Nursing shortages have stretched the profession thin in both the United States and Canada. For example, a report in fall 2022 indicated that a nursing shortage was directly responsible for the closure of 16 emergency departments in Ontario, Canada’s largest province. Warnings regarding a potential nursing shortfall have been sounded for years in the United States as well, with estimates from the country’s Bureau of Labor and Statistics projecting more than 200,000 job openings per year over a decadelong period beginning in 2021 and ending in 2031.
Though the Ontario closures illustrate how nursing shortages pose a public health problem, those shortages also present opportunities for individuals considering a career in nursing. Nursing is essentially an umbrella term for a career path that includes an array of specialties, and aspiring nurses may need a little help choosing the right path within the field.
CONSIDER YOUR POTENTIAL SCHEDULE
The pandemic highlighted just how essential nurses are to public health, and many specialities within the field do not have a down season. If routine is something you aspire to in order to create work-life balance, then certain specialties within nursing may be more appealing than others. For example, school nurses and nurses who work in doctor’s offices generally work 9-to-5 shifts, which can afford such professionals the same work-life balance as other professions. If you thrive on a fast-paced environment where routine is less important, then a career as an emergency-room nurse might merit consideration.
IDENTIFY WHY YOU WANT TO BE A NURSE
Opportunity for career growth and earning potential are good reasons to pursue any career, but those are not the factors that compel many people to initially consider a career in nursing. Many nurses were first inspired by a personal experience, such as helping an elderly relative. Others may have been inspired by a love of children and a desire to help kids recover from illnesses. When faced with the decision of which path to specialize in, aspiring nurses can benefit from identifying what compelled them to pursue nursing in the first place, then look for an opportunity that aligns with that inspiration.
DETERMINE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education requirements vary widely within the field of nursing. Some specialties require a two-year associate degree, while others may require considerably more formal education. For example, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners indicates that nurse practitioners must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program and have advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional registered-nurse preparation. Aspiring nurses can identify the educational requirements of various nursing specialties to help them decide how big a commitment they are willing to make.
RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN PIVOT
Aspiring nurses should also recognize that they can pivot to a new speciality if they have a hard time identifying a career path when they begin their formal schooling. In fact, many nurses find that on-the-job experience is the best way to identify which specialties appeal to them and which do not.
Nursing is a vast field loaded with opportunities. Aspiring nurses can consider a host of factors as they try to identify which career path to take.