Few people fully understand how flexible the life of a nurse can be. Night shift, day shift. Part time. Full time. Remote. Travel. No matter what scheduling requirements you have, there will be a job out there that suits your lifestyle.
But it goes beyond that. There are also dozens of different types of nursing jobs. Graduate school is a great way to get a better understanding of your options and earn a flexible credential that will simultaneously boost your qualifications and your earning potential.
In this article, we take a look at how you can find your ideal nursing specialization through graduate studies.
How to Pivot
There are actually many ways. For a big pivot, you may need to earn a new credential. That could mean going to graduate school or pursuing an advanced certification program, depending on your goals.
For many nurses, the best first step is to gain a year or two of hands-on experience before making a move. It’s during this time as an RN that you’ll develop a clearer sense of your passions. What do you enjoy most about nursing? What aspects of the job do you dislike? Answering these questions can help you determine your ideal role and the steps you need to take to get there.
Once you’ve identified your interests, focus on roles that align with them. Research job descriptions, talk to professionals in your desired field, and consider additional training or certifications that will make you a strong candidate. Whether it’s shifting to a specialized unit, transitioning into administration, or pursuing a completely new healthcare path, the right credentials and experience will help make your pivot a success.
Graduate School
So what does graduate school look like? It typically takes around two to three years if you follow a traditional full-time schedule. Naturally, if you’re eager to accelerate your career, you might aim to complete it as quickly as possible. However, it’s important to remember that faster isn’t always better.
Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint. There’s an old Navy SEAL phrase: Slow is steady. Steady is fast. In other words, taking your time to do things the right way is faster than burning out or making mistakes.
It’s also worth talking to your employer about your plans. They might offer tuition assistance, which can ease the financial burden of further education. Plus, putting graduate school on their radar signals that you’re serious about career advancement—potentially opening doors for future promotions before you even finish your degree.
What A Master’s Will Get You
Master’s degrees are good for nurses who want to pursue an Advanced Practice position. Nurse practitioners, or other higher-level nurses who operate with great autonomy.
Advanced practiced positions often command six-figure salaries while allowing you to engage more deeply in areas of interest. For example, if you really like working with babies, you might pursue a degree in neonatal care. If you are extremely passionate about mental health interventions, you could go for a job in psychiatric medicine.
Advanced practice careers are generally highly specialized, making them great for people who really want to zero in on their passion areas.
Family nurse practitioners can work in almost exactly the same capacity as general practitioners. This could involve seeing your own patients, making diagnoses, prescribing medication, and helping people strategize for better long-term health.
If you are interested in going this route, review your state laws to find out what powers and permissions are available to FNPs.
Special Certifications
Special certifications are your next option. These are generally achievable without graduate school. While they do take time to earn you can often begin working in a career with a specialized certification requirement before you have checked off all the prerequisites.
Take hypothetical nurse Abby as an example. Abby began her career right out of college working as a floor nurse. She enjoyed her work, which frequently allowed her to help children and their families cope with life-altering illnesses in a way that was both productive and hopeful.
Her life changed at 25 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. As a nurse, she was well-equipped to manage the problem. However, she quickly realized how much specialty knowledge the condition required.
She developed a new passion. Educating people about diabetes. She soon found a career designed around doing exactly that. Diabes educator. One problem: the position required a special certification she didn’t have.
Abby, like many other nurses in her position, was hired anyway. For two years she worked under supervision while she completed the certification requirements. The best part? Her new employers paid for all of the classes and exams that the certification process required.
There are many possible versions of this same story. You could take a similar approach to working as a school nurse, a forensic nurse, or a psychiatric nurse.
Certification programs take time but a significant amount of the requirements simply involve doing the job under supervision. Learning through experience.
Completion time can vary pretty dramatically both based on the unique requirements of the job and of the state where you live.
While there are fewer specialized positions than there are RN roles, they are still relatively accessible careers because the barrier to entry is higher. If you want the job and are willing to put in the work to get it, you should find something available in your area—particularly if you live in a region with a well-developed healthcare system.
It’s Not A Lifetime Commitment
If you feel overwhelmed by your list of options, remember that it doesn’t have to be a lifetime commitment. Nursing is one of the most elastic professions on the planet. There are so many different ways to do it. Naturally, you want to pivot into a direction that will be a match made in heaven. However, there is nothing wrong with playing the field a little bit.
Pick something that you are passionate about now. Pursue it vigorously and with excitement. If, in five years, your interests shift, you will have the ability to migrate into a new niche.
Don’t get so overwhelmed by your choices that you don’t act. Think your decision through carefully, but place a high value on forward momentum. You’ve got this.
EDTECH 4 BEGINNERS 
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