How to Find My Passion - Which Specialty is Right for Me?

This post is too emotional and does not get down to the reality of things. People won't take nursing seriously if all we talk about is "passion" and "your natural gifts." Also, the question askers first mistake is going to a for profit school. you may as well throw money down the drain.

Nurses are so wishwashy no wonder we aren't taken serious. Just pick an area you "like" that will provide you with employment. None of this "get your easy online degree and the dollars and awesome jobs will come" nonsense

I believe that post is VERY much realistic and finding your passion in nursing (or, in life in general) is what promotes a happy fulfilled life. You should not hate going to work as so many of our nursing colleagues do. I have been a nurse 4.5 years and work oncology, I realized last year (after being on dayshift for a few months) that advanced practice was my passion. I have wanted to teach since I was a kid and now with this advanced practice realization, I will have my dream job as an NP and nursing professor when I'm done. Dreams take time and effort to achieve but I believe those of us that are not happy are sometimes lazy and do not like change, or stepping outside of the box. I have found happiness at all 3 jobs I have had as a nurse, I love what I do but I know I want more. Finding your passion may take one moment, one situation, one experience that opens your eyes to the light. I have worked both oncology and long term acute care for the past few years, I have dealt with tremendous amounts of death, dying, palliative care, hospice, full code but should be DNR patients, resuscitate until no rib bones are intact patients. At one moment a few months ago after I struggled real bad with a patient who's family had no sense of reality for the outcome for their family member. Aged in the 90's, multiple comorbidities, bed bound x5 years, comatose/unresponsivex3 years, multiple organ failure. I was the only nurse out of all of our staff including doctors, that was able to explain to this family what was going on, and I was able to make them understand what DNR really means and they finally changed their loved one to DNR. They call me the DNR queen at my LTACH , even the doctors come to me when they need to talk to a patients family about the reality of prolonging a life with no sense of quality of life. But In the one moment with that one patient out of hundreds I've had, I realized my passion- as an advanced practice nurse I will go into palliative care, and advocate for patients and families that need education and a calming voice to explain everything in terms of life and death. Sorry for the long post, but I love talking about my passions!!

Great job identifying palliative care is where you need to be. Helping families cope and understand what is happening is a tremendous feat and humbling experience as it takes a great deal of patience to understand what they are thinking and correct what they don't have right! Please take care of yourself when you immerse yourself into this specialty as it is draining to the mind and spirit. Ensure you are well grounded in your own life as your grow through your profession.

Good luck!

Thank you nurse turbo!

As an "old" RN (almost 60), I would love to get a Master's, but the cost is so great. We live in Northern Michigan. I question if a Master's would realistically be marketable here and if I could earn enough to justify the cost of the Master's. I don't know how to go about learning about this small job market. I did take a "nurse.com" certification review course about Informatics, and I hated it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

This is something so very needed so I wish you well to get there. I have been a Nurse almost now 39 yrs and Dr.s are terrible at giving the true story of a code and what happens. I am very much like you and would love to sit down with some of these families that won't budge. I can be very detailed. A good and much need choice...

Thanks for this reply/post. I would like to see more topics/guidelines in this area, focusing on specialization, passion, certification, etc. There are so many paths for nurses and just as much confusion for many nurses about how to get there!

I believe that post is VERY much realistic and finding your passion in nursing (or, in life in general) is what promotes a happy fulfilled life. You should not hate going to work as so many of our nursing colleagues do. I have been a nurse 4.5 years and work oncology, I realized last year (after being on dayshift for a few months) that advanced practice was my passion. I have wanted to teach since I was a kid and now with this advanced practice realization, I will have my dream job as an NP and nursing professor when I'm done. Dreams take time and effort to achieve but I believe those of us that are not happy are sometimes lazy and do not like change, or stepping outside of the box. I have found happiness at all 3 jobs I have had as a nurse, I love what I do but I know I want more. Finding your passion may take one moment, one situation, one experience that opens your eyes to the light. I have worked both oncology and long term acute care for the past few years, I have dealt with tremendous amounts of death, dying, palliative care, hospice, full code but should be DNR patients, resuscitate until no rib bones are intact patients. At one moment a few months ago after I struggled real bad with a patient who's family had no sense of reality for the outcome for their family member. Aged in the 90's, multiple comorbidities, bed bound x5 years, comatose/unresponsivex3 years, multiple organ failure. I was the only nurse out of all of our staff including doctors, that was able to explain to this family what was going on, and I was able to make them understand what DNR really means and they finally changed their loved one to DNR. They call me the DNR queen at my LTACH , even the doctors come to me when they need to talk to a patients family about the reality of prolonging a life with no sense of quality of life. But In the one moment with that one patient out of hundreds I've had, I realized my passion- as an advanced practice nurse I will go into palliative care, and advocate for patients and families that need education and a calming voice to explain everything in terms of life and death. Sorry for the long post, but I love talking about my passions!!

Hello,

I just have to say that reading this post has helped me with my journey as a relatively new nurse. I worked as a Registered Respiratory Therapist for over 35 years.

In the last year and a half I have had a couple of jobs where I was fired. Imagine that, I felt that because I had been in the medical field for so long that I would be able to pick my new role. It has been an eye opener to say the least.

When people would ask me what field would you like to be in? I had no idea. This article has opened my eyes and ears for the "right" words I needed to hear.

Great article and great posts! I am currently searching for my passion in nursing and how to capitalize on it. I am currently working MedSurg, Psych and LTAC/Rehab (all are PRN). I don't know where I'll be in a few years, so I'm am testing my options lol! Luckily I am in my 20s and don't mind working 60 hrs/week while paying off my student loans and building my savings! Good luck everyone!