What Specialty is Right For You?

So you have decided to take your passion for helping others and turn it into a  rewarding and lucrative career by becoming a nurse. Nursing is one of the most in-demand and respected career paths out there. You will be able to enjoy tons of benefits throughout your promising nursing career. But before you do, you will need to select a nursing specialty to pursue once you finish school.

Selecting a specialty is often one of the most intimidating aspects for many new nurses. There are so many options available to you from neonatal to geriatrics, and everything in between, it can be overwhelming trying to decide where and how you want to apply your new skills. Keep in mind that while nursing school does a great job of preparing you for your career in nursing, it is not an accurate depiction of what life on the floor is truly like. If you found yourself struggling in nursing school, you will probably find that you thrive out in the field.

Unfortunately, you must select a specialty to pursue once you graduate, and it will have a huge impact on your career and lifestyle. Therefore, it is important to do your homework exploring different specialties to gain an idea of what will be the best fit for you. With that in mind, here is a guide to help you identify which path you should take when selecting your nursing specialty.

3 Secrets to Help you Find the Perfect Nursing Specialty

1. Explore Outside of Your Comfort Zone

As you are studying different areas of medicine in school, you may find that one area come easiest. Or you may have started school convinced that you would end up with a particular specialty. However, you should still push yourself to try practicing other areas as well. In fact, you should try to get your hands dirty in as many different specialties as you can to see what clicks. You may end up being surprised by which specialty ends up suiting you the most.

2. Go with your Gut

Who knows you better than you? If you have a gut feeling about one or two specialties that feel as thought they would be fun, challenging, and exciting, then you need to listed to that feeling. Sometimes people think that they will want to specialize in one area but the reality is that when they begin to practice in that field, they don't feel a true connection. Take some time and pay attention to how you feel in different specialties for hints about where you will be happiest.

3. Remember Your Aha Moment

Do you remember that moment when you first decided that you wanted to become a nurse? That "aha moment" when you realized your true calling. More than likely, you will feel the same type of light bulb go off when you are practicing in the right specialty. It's that moment when all of the reading, class lectures, and practice came together and just clicked for you and made sense in a way that nothing else quite had before. The key, is to pay attention to it. When everything fits together so seamlessly for you, it is the best indicator that that will be the best possible specialty for you.

Different specialties will have different challenges, perks, and paces which will also play a role into your decision. For example, if you like thrills, you may want to pursue the fast-paced ER. Consider whether you want the ability to travel or stay in one place. Do you click with kids, or are adults more your style? Take these three tips, be honest with yourself, and you will find the best specialty for you.

Begin your first step to becoming an RN at  Athena Career Academy. Contact us and we will show you how to further your nursing career.