Discovering your Nursing “Why”
Before you dive into job searches or career changes, it’s important to pause and reflect on what would fulfill you in a new nursing role. Understanding your core motivations will guide your next steps, whether you would like to continue to work at the bedside or explore nontraditional roles.
Reflect on your motivation
Ask yourself, why did I choose nursing? Has this changed throughout my career? Everyone has their own reasons, and recognizing yours will help clarify your future direction. Here are a few broad categories to give some thought to and help narrow your focus.
Patient Care Focus
Are you drawn to direct patient care and hands-on support? Does making a difference with each patient you see fill your cup? If you were not interacting with patients directly, would you miss it?
Specialty Care
Do you feel passionate about working in a particular area like oncology, pediatrics, or mental health? Are you excited by becoming an expert in a niche area? These are just a few examples as there are countless areas to specialize in the nursing field.
Population Focus
Do you find yourself more interested in leadership, policy, or influencing healthcare on a systems or population level? Do you love to improve processes that can make an impact at a larger scale?
Having trouble finding your “Why?”
Nursing is a demanding profession, and your “why” is most likely different now than it was when you were in nursing school. It is ok for your “why” to be a paycheck if that is the priority at this time. There is no shame in prioritizing you or your family over professional goals either. It is important to be honest with yourself when starting this journey. If this resonates with you, think hard about what would make you want to go to work each day.
Identify What Matters Most to You
Before you begin applying for new roles, it’s important to understand your own values and what matters most to you in a job. This will help you narrow your search and focus on positions that align with your priorities. To respect your own time, be intentional about what roles you are applying to so that you are not wasting time on interviews or applications that do not fit your criteria. This will help the job search feel less exhausting and give you energy and excitement for the interviews you really want. Here are a few key areas to consider:
Work-life Balance
One of the biggest challenges for nurses is finding a role that allows for a healthy balance between work and personal life. Some nursing roles offer flexibility in scheduling, like part-time positions or jobs with 12-hour shifts that provide more days off. Ask yourself, do you prefer a traditional 9-5 schedule, or are you comfortable with longer shifts that give you more consecutive days off?
Compensation
Financial stability is important for all professionals, but compensation also includes more than just salary. Look into benefits like healthcare, retirement options, and bonuses. Additionally, some nursing roles offer incentives like tuition reimbursement for further education, which could be valuable for long-term career growth. Don’t be afraid to research salary ranges on platforms like Glassdoor. Think about what you are striving for in a total compensation package.
Patient Interaction vs. Administrative Work
Do you thrive in roles where you provide direct patient care, or are you more comfortable working behind the scenes in administration, education, or policy? Some nurses love the hands-on nature of bedside care, while others prefer to use their expertise to improve healthcare systems, technology, or training programs. Think about which area excites you the most and aligns with your strengths.
Career Growth and Development
If you are seeking long-term growth, consider roles that offer professional development opportunities, like mentorship programs, certifications, or leadership pathways. If career advancement is a priority, make sure to look for organizations that support continuing education and offer clear paths to specialized or leadership positions.
Tip: Consider what types of certifications or educational advancements may help you stand out in the future. But make sure those certifications align with your long-term goals, not just as resume boosters.
Location
When identifying what matters most in your next nursing role, the location of the job is a key factor to consider. Think about both the physical city where you’d like to work, as well as the type of work environment—whether you prefer a remote, hybrid, or in-person setting. Each option offers its own advantages and potential challenges. For example, working in-person may offer more direct patient interaction and a strong sense of team camaraderie, while remote roles can provide flexibility and better work-life balance. Hybrid options could give you the best of both worlds, allowing you to balance face-to-face interaction with the convenience of working from home. Identifying your preference here is crucial to aligning your job with your lifestyle and long-term career satisfaction.
Job Security
Stability in nursing roles can vary depending on the type of position or healthcare setting. Hospital jobs might provide more immediate job security than emerging fields such as healthcare tech startups. Startups may come with fewer guarantees but other potential upsides. Keep this in mind if job security is a top priority to you!
Pinpoint your Strengths
You have worked so hard to get where you are, and picked up a TON of skills on the way! It is time for a thought exercise on what these are.
- List out as many skills that you are expert or proficient in and then pick your top 5 overall skills. Give yourself a pat on the back for mastering these and think about what jobs these could translate well to.
- Identify any areas that you think you could improve on that would help you reach your career goals. Would you like to get into leadership but lack direct management experience? What roles in your past have helped you learn leadership skills? Charge nurse? Head of a committee?
- Now that you’ve identified your top skills and areas for improvement, it’s time to see how they align with current job market trends. Start by doing a preliminary search for roles that interest you and take note of the common skills, qualifications, and responsibilities listed in the job descriptions. Pay attention to recurring keywords and required competencies to ensure your skills match what employers are looking for. This research can also help you identify gaps in your experience and plan for additional training or certifications that could strengthen your candidacy.
Make sure to think about clinical skills as well as “soft skills” such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, and conflict management.