One of the most appealing aspects of being a nurse is the job’s potential for variety. You could begin your career in a medical-surgical unit, work in the intensive care unit for a while, and then end up in a private pediatrics practice. Nonetheless, picking a nursing specialization that closely matches your talents, personality, and interests will likely make you the happiest on the job.
Here are some tips to help you figure out which nurse practitioner path is the best for you.
1. Think About Your Personality And Interests
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Every nursing specialty has its own pace and environment, so pick one that fits your style and allows you to function at your best. Consider the following questions:
Do you enjoy adrenaline rushes, endless challenges, and the excitement of the unknown? Perhaps you should go to a trauma center or an emergency department.
Are you organized and detail-oriented? Clinical research could be a good fit for you. What interests you outside of work? Do you have a passion for children or a keen interest in nutrition? There are nursing specialties that enable you to integrate a variety of personal interests with your profession.
2. Level Of Education
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Advanced-practice nurses must complete graduate-level education and training in their specialization by receiving a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), the highest-level practice-focused degree.
Advanced-practice nurses with a master’s degree have the necessary knowledge and expertise in their field to provide the kind of safe, high-quality, economic, and accessible care that is in high demand around the country. The DNP adds to typical master’s degrees by teaching evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership.
What are the advantages of obtaining a DNP? It makes it easier for nurses to advance in healthcare administration and offers possibilities for academic roles in nursing education at all levels. In larger job markets, it also helps to distinguish nurses.
Other health professions, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, physical therapy, and audiology, also require doctoral-level study. Nursing is following suit, so the DNP may soon become the standard for advanced-practice nurses. So, soon, there’s going to be a huge demand for learning resources in this specific nursing field of study. Companies like Lecturio.com which is a learning platform is working tirelessly to come up with great practical learning experiences for both students and working professionals.
3. Do You Want To Have Career Flexibility?
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Some aspiring nurse practitioners have a strong sense of what they want to do with their lives, while others are unsure. Some NPs prefer stability, while others plan to practice in a variety of roles throughout their careers. If you’re not sure which fields of medicine best suit your interests and talents, or if you want to work in a variety of specializations during the course of your career, a broader specialty, such as primary care or acute care, is a good choice. A more generic specialty choice will allow you to define your professional path further as you go along, as well as provide you the opportunity to work in a variety of medical fields.
4. Where Do You Want To Work?
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Nurses can work in a variety of situations outside the hospital. Nursing jobs are available at rehab centers, schools, correctional facilities, doctor’s offices, physician’s offices, nursing homes, cruise ships, ski resorts, sports teams, and legal offices, among other places. The possibilities are practically limitless.
Consider the type of environment you feel most at ease in on a daily basis. Do you prefer consistency and being in the same area every day at work, or do you prefer to switch things up every few months, if not every day? You can also think about the types of places in your neighborhood. If you don’t want to drive far, living near a nursing home or rehab facility may be a better option.
5. Examine the Job Market
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For many nurses, where we begin working is determined by the job market. You’ve probably heard of the nursing shortage, and it’s true in many professions as the population ages and requires more medical attention. Many elderly nurses are also retiring, leaving long-held positions vacant in a variety of specializations.
Look around your neighborhood to see what fields are in need, chat to other nurses to see what opportunities are open and available, and do online job searches to determine what specialties are most in demand.
If there aren’t any openings in your area for a specialization you’re interested in, consider moving, either permanently or temporarily, to a location where that field is hiring.
List Of High-In-Demand Nursing Specialties
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Registered Nurses
Clients are cared for directly by registered nurses (RNs). RNs are usually kind individuals who can confidently care for and educate clients and their families.
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Emergency Department Nurses
Nurses in the emergency department (ED) or emergency room (ER) must be prepared for almost any eventuality. They usually work in a hospital’s emergency room, where they provide care to patients.
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Neonatal Nurses
Nurses who work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provide care for newborn babies (NICU).
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Pediatric Nurses
Clients under the age of eighteen are cared for by pediatric nurses. A pediatric nurse might work in a pediatrics office, seeing children for both well-child and sick-child visits.
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Surgical Nurses
In the operating room, surgical and perioperative nurses help surgeons. Clients may also be expected to care for them before and after surgery.
6. Consider Salary
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NP pay differs by specialty, even though they all have the title “nurse practitioner.” Emergency medicine and dermatology, for example, guarantees a six-figure pay. Pediatrics, for example, is closer to the $80,000 mark. Although the wage disparity across nurse practitioner specializations is not as significant as it is among physicians, your specialty choice will have an impact on your earnings.
Conclusion
Finally, if you start working in a field you thought you’d enjoy only to discover it’s not for you, don’t be scared to look for something else. Many of us don’t realize where we belong until we’ve explored jobs in other niches and experimented with our careers. Every nurse will find a nursing profession that suits them. It’s only a matter of time, but the feat entails searching, exploring, and experimenting.
