Losing my way....how did you find your Niche?

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With only X amount of days coming up to renew my RN License some days I feel as if I don't want to. Don't know what I would wake up and do the next morning either. I've worked on a busy, understaffed med-surg floor for many years before going to ambulatory surgery for the past few years. Their both interesting and definitely different kinds of busy, but neither have quite been that place that I could call home. I would like to try something else, but not much peaks my interest. I love taking care of patients, educating them and being their advocate . After my long drawn out story, for a girl that's lost her way, any suggestions on finding my niche and how did you find yours?

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I would say you need to focus on your strengths. Ask yourself, what are your strengths as a person? What are the things that come natural to you? What are the things you've grown up around? What things do you have a genuine interest in that you lose track of time? What things can you talk about effortlessly on a Saturday night with your friends?

Understanding yourself will help guide you in the right direction and will make it easier on finding your niche.

I've been working in a tele/onc/step down unit for awhile now and have been burned out for the last 9 months or so. I'm changing career paths to become a school nurse because I love working with kids, I like being able to educate and teach, I'm very active and healthy and a big advocate of preventative care so I see this as an opportunity to organize health fairs for children. Also, as a person, I love to have freedom, be my own boss, work in a stress-free environment, and still have time/energy to work on my side projects.

I haven't started this job yet but asking myself these questions have pointed me in the direction of school nursing.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Nursery;Postpartum;Mother/Baby.

OP, I am in the same boat as you. I have been in the hospital setting for all 5 years of my nursing career. I feel that I desperately need a change of environment. So, I'm currently seeking positions that don't involve direct bedside care. I really love women's health, so I'm trying to find a job around that sort of specialty. With that being said, you should ask yourself what peaks your interest the most and what type of setting you would like to be in. Do you like bedside care? Outpatient? Do you like working with kids, adults, geriatrics, or gender specific populations? You can look into case management, home health, public health, utilization review, research nursing, or even the operating room. There are a multitude different positions/specialties that you can break into, but you will never what you like until you try.

I wouldn't give up on nursing just yet. You've worked hard for your degree and license, and it would be an injustice to yourself if you didn't explore all that nursing has to offer. I too, often (and I mean often!) think about other career options. But, I told myself that I am going to explore all nursing options before I even attempt to make a career change. I really do think that nursing has a place for everyone.

The great thing about this site is that they have a thread for every type of nursing specialty. Take some time to read about the ins and outs of the different specialties. Maybe this will help you get a better idea of what to try next. I've been reading them like crazy lol. Good luck and I really hope you find an area that fits you!

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Thank you so much. I definitely have a lot of soul searching to do. I am hoping that I can truly find our what my nursing journey is truly meant to be. Wishing you all the best when you take the leap into school nursing.

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I don't know how to tag you all. When I started nursing 8.5 yrs ago I thought I knew at the time what I wanted to pursue, but some specialties of course are difficult to get into. Even now at my current job my employer offers new grads a chance to experience so many didn't areas, I wish that was in place before. I don't believe med-surg floor nursing is it, I enjoy outpatient surgery, but I would love to reach the people before they end up in the hospital with me. I know my niche is out there. Thank you both for the encouragement.

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Please go ahead and renew your license, there are so many other jobs you can do!

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I would say you need to focus on your strengths. Ask yourself, what are your strengths as a person? What are the things that come natural to you? What are the things you've grown up around? What things do you have a genuine interest in that you lose track of time? What things can you talk about effortlessly on a Saturday night with your friends?

Understanding yourself will help guide you in the right direction and will make it easier on finding your niche.

I've been working in a tele/onc/step down unit for awhile now and have been burned out for the last 9 months or so. I'm changing career paths to become a school nurse because I love working with kids, I like being able to educate and teach, I'm very active and healthy and a big advocate of preventative care so I see this as an opportunity to organize health fairs for children. Also, as a person, I love to have freedom, be my own boss, work in a stress-free environment, and still have time/energy to work on my side projects.

I haven't started this job yet but asking myself these questions have pointed me in the direction of school nursing.

Good luck to you!

jadams92 Hi!! I love this post! I have been a member on here for a while and as I transition from LPN to RN, I also started to evaluate what I want to do and have a passion for. I love to teach as well and stress free is key! I say go for what you believe in and have a heart for! :) Wish you the best

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I found what I love (for now) completely by accident. On a whim and a prayer I moved nearly cross country for this job! I love it most days. I will say that if stress free is your goal - the OR is not it. Especially not at a Level 1 trauma center. I get to participate in procedures only being done in a handful of places nationally. It's really cool, but at the same time - very rarely do I have a day that is not stressful somehow. We have a special relationship with residents and attendings - and we do have a sense of humor that wouldn't be tolerated in other settings. There are lines we don't cross...but it's different than anything else I've ever seen. We're not making fun of patients... We do make fun of eachother...relentlessly, but that's another story (we're really one big dysfunctional family on my service line).

There is so much to do in nursing. Why not just try something else? Besides...even if you tried something non-nursing it's easier to maintain licensure than to get it re-instated later. Just thinking out loud.

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Thanks. I'm still trying to figure out what my next position or area of nursing may be.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

Hi OP,

Renew that license!!! You will find your fit. I am addicted to float pool, it lets me try a little bit of everything. Perhaps give that a shot? My fit is sitting in an office writing policies. I know that bores most normal people, but it is my thing. When I finish my MSN I hope to do just that. Until then, I am working my way up the ladder in my department and learning. I do not love my current position, but it will get me where I need to be. Try to think of it like that, if it helps.

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I have been there a number of times in my career and have worked agency nursing for a break and time to regroup. Have always come back refreshed and renewed. Agency cotract have included a urology clinic for 3 months, a Hispanic clinic for 8 weeks, and doing physicals for long term care. One assignment involved entering data for a preload for a hospital getting a new EMR, another was working in Behavioral health. Still another wad in an electrophysiology clinic doing research studies. You might find something that makes you excited about going to work. I did a diversion for 11 years in psych, now am teaching as a Nurse Clinician. I love my profession and the diversity it offers.

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Renew your license, but consider taking a year to do something completely unrelated, or maybe do volunteer nursing, where you travel for a year. After several years in the hospital, I needed a break from health care. I took a job as a nanny, moved to another part of the country, made some great friends, and I met my husband. I returned to nursing when my contract ended. I not recommending you become a nanny, just think of doing something different for short term. It gave me the space and perspective I needed.

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