Do We Choose Our Nursing Specialties?

One of the greatest aspects of being a nurse is that your skills are in high demand. A close second is that career mobility and opportunities for advancement are virtually limitless. So how do you choose the best nursing specialties? And, do you even need to specialize at all?  

Many nurses agree that starting off in a hospital or clinical setting builds a strong foundation for a promising career. What many people don’t realize, though, is how vast opportunities are for nurses outside of the traditional healthcare environment. Nurses find fulfilling and impactful roles in places like schools, correctional facilities, military bases, aircraft and even on cruise ships. 

RNs And Nurse Practitioner Specialties

As a new nurse, you can start in certain nursing specialties immediately. Settings like pediatric offices, ERs, or geriatric practices are a few popular examples. Nurses in these specialties gain valuable on-the-job experience. Oftentimes, these positions will expand your knowledge base and help you decide what your preferred specialty might be.  

Nurse practitioner specialties present another great career path. This area of practice requires an advanced degree, either an MSN or doctorate degree. These types of nurses have a great deal of autonomy in their role, being able to diagnose conditions, order tests, and prescribe medication. If you are looking for upward mobility in your nursing career, a nurse practitioner can work in a myriad of specialties in almost every field of medicine. 

Nurse Specialties 

One of the great things about a career in nursing is that as you grow and change as a person, so can your career path. As you gain experience as a nurse, you may discover a new passion for helping a certain population of patients— like pediatrics, geriatrics, or bariatrics.  Maybe you’ll find that your gifts are better utilized within a given specialty— like obstetrics or emergency medicine.

The good news is that nurses have great career mobility. If you are interested in making a shift in your career path, CynaMed can help. From newly licensed nurses to seasoned healthcare professionals, our ebook is a great resource in nurse specialties to help you find the right fit no matter where you are in your career.