Do I Create My Own Niche?

[Nugget]

Hi everyone! It has been a couple of years since I posted on this awesome forum, probably since before I graduated nursing school. Just curious to get some ideas about areas of work. I currently work casually for a nursing resource team (was my first job out of school - worked full time doing med/surg/mental health inpatient nursing for 2 years), and recently started a 18 month contract working for an ACT (assertive community treatment) team. I love love love mental health, especially working with those with schizophrenia; however, my equal love for medicine is just not satisfied working for an ACT team. I hate working on inpatient med/surg floors, the stress is just not for me. I was burnt out after 2 years.

Anyway, I need to find an area of nursing to satisfy both my love for mental health and my love for the knowledge of medicine. I miss that critical thinking aspect, and the satisfaction of doing a really great dressing, or getting an IV into a patient who is swollen and impossible to palpate, hahaha . Don't get me wrong, I definitely have to think and act quickly in the community, working with people with persistent mental illness, but it is a different type of critical thinking.

I would like to do my masters soon, so was thinking I could do my nurse practitioner and open up a NP-led clinic. I am wondering if anyone else out there has the same interest and has found a job to suit their needs as a health care professional? I am just curious to get some ideas :)

Thank you!

P.S. I am in Ontario, Canada

[klone, MSN, RN]

If you love mental health, I would recommend finding a job at a safety net hospital for uninsured people (although I imagine in Canada that type of thing doesn't exist, eh?). Or working for a free clinic for homeless people. There is a VERY high percentage of mental health comorbidities among that population.

[mhy12784]

I know there's a huge need involved with mental health for the military. PTSD and all that stuff, possibly a little different than what youre looking for though

[firstinfamily, RN]

Mental Health for the military would most likely meet most of your needs as there is a tremendous mental health as well as physical medical health needs for this population. I am sure Canada's military is not as large as the US, but still there should be facilities that cater to their special needs. Good Luck!!

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

Is seems like mental health is just as in demand as geriatrics. I've been working as a mental health worker/cna for six yrs and seeking another niche for career growth.