Choosing the right career pathway is essential to determine your professional and financial growth. A professional degree is one of the prerequisites to sustain a designation in any organization—many career opportunities existing in different fields having specific criteria in terms of qualification and skills. For example, an engineer cannot pursue their career if they lack the skills or adequate knowledge required for a particular designation. In simple words, you cannot expect your plumber to fix your electric wires, or you cannot expect your gardener to do the plumbing. Every person has unique skills and expertise, making them fit for their jobs.
Compare the educational requirements of an engineer, doctor, nurse, or architect; you will find a significant difference in their curriculum outline. One might find a connection between doctors and nurses, but their job has different demands and responsibilities. The Healthcare system is an integral organization in any country, and doctors and nurses are its frontline drivers. We see many people pursuing different career pathways in the field of health and medicine. Working as a biomedical engineer to a radiologist, the field of health and medicine undermines diversity. Even the field of nursing has so many opportunities that one may never have explored.
Nurses are the primary caregivers and play a vital role in enhancing a hospital’s rapport in patient satisfaction. As a result, we see nurses in every hospital department ensuring prompt assistance to patients and doctors alike. Suppose you have recently completed your bachelor’s degree in nursing. In that case, you might need to narrow down your career pathways within the field. With so many nursing specializations, like a travel nurse to a scrub nurse or a midwife, it is vital to know what you choose as your specialization. While you are narrowing down the choices, consider the following pointers.
Start With The Educational Requirement:
A bachelor’s degree is enough to enter the field of nursing at a beginner level, but would you like to work in the same position for the rest of your career? If you are looking for transitions within your field, spare some time to update your qualification. A terminal degree in nursing can help you acquire job designations that are not possible with a bachelor’s degree. It is the highest professional and academic track for nurses willing to work as leaders or healthcare managers. You might have several options chalked out for specializations. But before you enroll or register for a particular position, take a look at your academic qualifications and analyze what you need to study or learn more.
Find Your Motivation
We all have a knack for a thrill in our life. Career choices are lifelong decisions that we can transition but cannot quit. Would you be happy going to a job that appears monotonous and boring to you? Before you settle for a field, look for that one motivating factor in that pathway that can keep you going. Are you someone with an adrenaline rush and dealing with challenging situations every day? You might find your calling as an emergency nurse practitioner (ENP). Analyzing your skills will help you in choosing the right field for you. If you have a knack for organizational and communication skills, you can opt for a hospice nurse. Do you have the capacity to engage with others? Or would you want a field that allows you to work in the background? Nurses can both be extroverts and introverts. If dealing with people makes you feel like it is not for you, you can opt for careers like nursing informatics, case management, or nurse education.
Survey The Job Market
Career opportunities can be life-altering decisions for many people. For example, suppose you are looking for a specialty in nursing. In that case, it is vital to screen the hospitals or other healthcare organizations in your area. Look for the job opportunities they are offering and see if you can find your desired job. Another critical factor in choosing your specialty is the median salary that it offers. If you want to make more money than the average RN, consider working in a high-demand specialty such as pediatrics. You could look into the salaries offered by your local hospitals where you can get your dream job at the salary you want.
Your Appetite For Stress
Every job comes with certain levels of stress. If you are looking for a thrill in your job, it might sound interesting in the beginning. However, it can take a toll on you in the longer run. While choosing a specialty, check for the job description and how much it is demanding from you. Your job shall not be a stress to you, nor should it drain you of energy. We all have varying capacities to work under pressure. If you can easily get tired after twelve hours of working, choosing a surgical nurse pathway will take a toll on you.
Working Environment
According to BLS, 60% of the registered nurses (RNs) work in the state, local, or private hospitals, while others find jobs in non-hospital settings. While you are looking for the best field, ensure that you choose the right working environment. Our workplace environment significantly impacts our productivity and performance as an employee. Identifying your area of interest plays a substantial role in your career. If you love to work in an organized and long-hour job, look for a career centered around a hospital setting. If you are working for fewer hours, working in a school or nursing home is best for you.
Conclusion
We see nurses walking in the halls of hospitals, suburban care facilities, in a doctor’s clinic, or a rural setting. As primary care providers, they are there for everyone visiting a hospital. The nursing field has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, and many nurses choose more than an RN as a profession. You can choose to be a midwife, a law firm or a school nurse, or ENP. Whatever field you want to explore or choose, make sure that you choose the right one aligned with your interest and expertise.