4 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Nursing Specialty

As the healthcare system becomes more complex, many nurses have decided to focus their efforts on a certain area of nursing. There are many benefits of choosing a nursing specialization, including greater job security, improved career satisfaction, increased salary potential, and greater recognition and respect. If you’re a nurse and have decided to specialize in a certain area, here are some factors to consider to help you choose the right area for you.

Each nursing specialty comes with its own environment and pace, so try to choose one that fits in well with your own personality, interests, and skills. This is important to make sure that the job is a good fit for you and so that you will be able to work at your optimum level. Consider whether you are more detail-oriented and methodical or whether you prefer to work in an environment where there are constant challenges and adrenalin rushes. 

Before you apply for a master’s degree in nursing, it’s worth considering how you prefer to engage with others. Some nurses are more naturally introverted and would rather have a job where they do not have to constantly meet new people, while others thrive on meeting different people every day. If you’re not a natural ‘people person’, you could specialize in being a forensics nurse, a nurse researcher, or an informatics specialist. 

Think about what the day to day work will look like for you when you choose a certain nursing specialty, and how it will fit with your personality. For example, if you are comfortable with a leadership role, you might find that nurse management or nursing executive leadership is an ideal position for you. Or, perhaps you’d like to work closely with patients. Maybe you would prefer to conduct your work away from the bedside. Different nursing specialties come with various types of day-to-day work, so consider the one that is the best fit for your preferences. 

Nurses work in a wide range of different settings so think about where you would be most comfortable working in your nursing career. Perhaps you enjoy working in a hospital or maybe you would prefer to work outside of this clinical setting. Nurses can work in a range of non-hospital settings including public health departments, schools, rescue helicopters, research labs, doctor’s offices, private clinics, corrections facilities, industrial job sites, and more. Even if you decide to opt for a traditional hospital-based job, it’s important to consider the setting before choosing a clinical specialty as different hospital settings can vary. For example, there will be vast differences between psychiatric units and intensive care units. 

With so many different specialties to choose from, a nursing career can take you in so many different directions. Consider these factors to help you choose the right pathway for you.