Career Resources / Changing Your Specialty
Now may be the perfect time to consider changing your nursing specialty. With ICUs jam-packed, the stress and pressure of the pandemic have been weighing on nurses for almost two years straight. As a result of this, burnout rates among nurses are at an all-time high.
A change is a great way to help combat nurse burnout. It will give you the chance to change up your typical day and duties to which you are accustomed. If you are considering changing your nursing specialty there’s no shortage of options. It may also be easier than you think as you likely have relevant experience. All it may take is a new certification to explore all your options until you find your niche.
Changing your nursing specialty for a change of pace
Are you looking to switch for a change of pace? We’ve listed some great options for nurses looking for a slower pace of work in different work settings:
- Infection control
- Occupational medicine
- Case management
- Clinical nurse educator
- Nurse advocate
- Telehealth
These options don’t call for overnight shifts and in most cases, you will also get weekends and holidays off. The flow of patients is also more controlled – you get familiar with regular patients rather than the large influxes of patients you would see in hospital environments.
Salary increase potential
By changing your nursing specialty, there is often an opportunity for you to increase your salary. The BLS cites that advanced practice nurses (APRNS) can expect to make over $100,000, while registered nurses make an average of over $80,000:
| Profession | # Employed | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse-Midwife | 7,750 | $114,210 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 43,950 | $202,470 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 234,690 | $118,040 |
| Registered Nurses | 3,047,530 | $82,750 |
There have also been findings that it pays to switch jobs every few years. So, feel free to explore all your nursing potential!
Check out our full list of nursing specialties
Continuing Education
Continuing your education is a great way to ensure your specialty change will come with a pay increase. Additional education may include online certification courses or classes at a local college. You may even consider getting an advanced degree such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). If you are interested in leadership roles such as a nurse practitioner or a nurse anesthetist, obtaining an MSN is necessary. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states there is an expected 45% increase in the job outlook for APRNs.
We live in a time where you now have more options than ever when it comes to fitting in time for your education. There are accelerated programs, part-time programs tailored to working nurses, and even online MSN degrees.
Earn your CEUs free
Our easy online CE courses are ANCC-accredited and 100% free for nurses.
Next steps
If changing your nursing specialty sounds like the step you need to take to revitalize your nursing career, then you’re probably wondering what your next steps should be. A great start is to browse job listings for the position you are interested in and read job descriptions to get a good idea of what employers are seeking for in candidates.
And there’s good news! As a nurse, your experience is relevant. So, you can brush up your resume with relevant skills you’ve gained at your current job.
