Having taken stock of your reasons for wanting a change in nursing specialties, it’s time to make the switch.

The following are five strategies to keep in mind as you prepare for the transition. 

1: Research Other Nursing Specialties 

Now that you’ve evaluated yourself, it’s time to assess specialties.

You should research the different specialties and be aware of additional schooling or certification requirements, pay differences, and life/work balance.

When you begin to research, start online by reading: 

• Industry publications
• News articles
• Reputable blogs
• Relevant journals; or
• Whatever else you think might be helpful

Along with your online research, try attending nursing conferences and job fairs. 

It’s a great way to quickly learn about various career options and an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues and recruiters you might not otherwise cross paths with. Someone you sit next to at a conference panel might become your coworker or boss one day!

2: Gain Hands-On Experience 

Now that you’ve narrowed down the list of possible specialties you’re interested in, it’s time to experience them yourself. 

Shadow nurses in the units you consider, just as if you were in nursing school again.

After working as a nurse for a while, it may seem strange to go back to shadowing. Still, you can’t fully understand what it would be like to work in a specific specialty simply by reading articles or talking to people — the action needs to be witnessed in person, so don your scrubs and go shadowing!

3: Network With Others in Your Desired New Specialty 

Most jobs are found through networking and employee referrals rather than traditional job searches. 

You will increase your chances of finding a relevant job opportunity by networking with others in your specialty. Therefore, it’s wise to start networking early before you’ve even decided on a particular specialty.

Reach out to colleagues, tell them you’re considering a change, and ask if they would be willing to answer some questions about their jobs.

Then, once you’ve decided on a specialty and established a networking relationship, you can tell them what kind of position you’re looking for.

4: Consider the Best Time to Transition 

The time to switch specialties is almost as important as the specialization itself. 

Transition too early, and you’ll look like you’re a job hopper with commitment issues, but transition too late, and it might be challenging to catch up with younger colleagues. 

Generally speaking, the best time to make a switch is after you have mastered your original specialty and your growth has plateaued, but not so late that you have moved up the ranks and have to swallow a significant reduction in title or compensation.

Of course, major personal events such as moving and having a baby are also part of this equation, so don’t forget to account for those. 

5: Try a Change of Scenery First 

Think outside the box before making a massive shift in specialty or investing a lot of time and money into something new. For example, consider working at a clinic instead of a hospital or traveling as a nurse to experience a new setting.

A few other ideas include: 

• Aesthetics
• Clinical education
• Pharmaceutical sales
• Risk management; and
• More