Choices - How to decide

[Dreaming on the beach]

HI!

I've been a nurse for 4.5 years. I have three areas of nursing that I really like. I'm currently charge on a busy surgical floor. I've explored the areas I like, interviewed people, discussed pros/cons with my mentor, picked up PRN/volunteer positions over the years in these areas that did not present on the floor. The three areas are vastly differently. All three play to my strengths and other nurses say any of them would be my cup of tea (along with becoming a nurse educator). I could reasonably work at my hospital in any of them.

I like each of the 3 fields equally well. They all require additional education to get certifications but none would need a master's unless I went the nurse educator route which I don't plan to do anytime in the next few years. Any of them would increase my pay. 2 are positions anywhere - hospital, office, home health, gov while the other one would be a little more limited in where I could work. Once my youngest is through with school, then i would probably work on my master's in education.

What criteria would you use to decide which path to take? I can't decide how to proceed.

Thanks.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

The best criteria is whether or not you're passionate about one choice above the others.

How stable is your husband's job? Is he likely to be transferred to Twospot, Montana? If he is transferred to Twospot, how difficult would it be for you to find employment there in the specialty of your choice?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I make my decisions based on health insurance, PTO, and flexibility. If all jobs are with the same employer then presumably the health insurance and PTO are the same so personally I'd pick the one that seems the most flexible. I.e. I want to start and end my day at the time of my choice and I want the flexibility to schedule my day around MD appointments or if I need to have a plumber come to my house. Your post is too vague for me to offer opinions on your specific situation.

[Dreaming on the beach]

Thanks!

Hubby's job is very stable, no possibility of a job move, almost zero chance of being laid off. But if we moved, I think I could find employment in any of the areas. My job only contributes insurance and play money.

I kept it vague originally to gauge thoughts on the picking process because IRL it causes quite a reaction in nurses when I ask and they base their thoughts on their feelings about the specialties.

But the areas I am looking into are WOCN, palliative care, and lactation consultant. Totally different areas but if my boss came to me today and said my new job would be in any of those three, I would be delighted, sign up for the certifications, and start tomorrow. But I can't decide which. Due to the pt population of my floor, I regularly deal with all three areas and perform the work regularly with wound care being the largest and lactation the smallest part. (Yea I know that's a really strange floor)

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Thanks!

Hubby's job is very stable, no possibility of a job move, almost zero chance of being laid off. But if we moved, I think I could find employment in any of the areas. My job only contributes insurance and play money.

I kept it vague originally to gauge thoughts on the picking process because IRL it causes quite a reaction in nurses when I ask and they base their thoughts on their feelings about the specialties.

But the areas I am looking into are WOCN, palliative care, and lactation consultant. Totally different areas but if my boss came to me today and said my new job would be in any of those three, I would be delighted, sign up for the certifications, and start tomorrow. But I can't decide which. Due to the pt population of my floor, I regularly deal with all three areas and perform the work regularly with wound care being the largest and lactation the smallest part. (Yea I know that's a really strange floor)

Which one of these do you consider to be the most limited? Because I can tell you all 3 have a place in home health. In your OP, you said only 2 can be anywhere. I'm guessing it's lactation consultant because wound and ostomy care and palliative care most definitely have a place in Home Health. I worked with 2 nurses when I worked inpatient pedi who went to do home health MCH visits. Both are now certified lactation consultants still working in home health. 1 even has her own business where she sees patients privately.

For me I'd pick palliative care but that's because I'm not interested in wounds, ostomies or lactation. I think all 3 of these positions would offer a fair amount of flexibility. Are these positions actually posted/is there a reasonable chance you could be offered them? I think, in general, you already have to be certified to get lactation consultant or WOCN jobs so if it was you vs someone with certification/experience, that person might win out.

[Dreaming on the beach]

Thanks!