Here's how you can choose the most in-demand specialties as a new nurse entering the field.

When choosing my nursing specialty, I focus on evaluating current healthcare needs. I consider fields like gerontology, which are in demand due to an aging population, and critical care nursing, which is crucial for managing acute conditions. I think about where there are gaps in healthcare services and how my role in those areas can make a significant impact. I also reflect on the patient demographics I'm passionate about serving and research which specialties cater to those populations. This approach helps me choose a specialty where I can make a meaningful difference while also ensuring there are ample job opportunities.

While assessing needs in our healthcare system is a way of dictating your career trajectory, I advise you to assess needs to ensure you truly understand the specialty you desire. No one knows yourself more than you! You have many qualities and skills that may be unique to you and that are met based on specific needs being met. And you may need to be in a specialty different from what you imagined to highlight those qualities! So, before assessing the market's needs, assess your needs to make an informed decision.

Nursing has many career paths, and finding the right one for you is becoming more accessible to research by just jumping on your phone and searching over social media for other nurses on the path you see yourself on. I encourage you to find others working in disciplines you wish to be a part of and pick their minds to ensure you make an informed decision. You could shadow a shift or two before applying because I have also seen it when nurses do not research enough and end up disliking their career path, leaving them discouraged. You have the power to make an informed decision that will lead you to the life you envisioned. Now go for it!

A good mentor can go a long way with new grads. I have seen the results of good mentors and bad. Nursing requires lots of mental and physical discipline, which are not mentioned in our textbooks, so having someone to be a soundboard to vent to and express your frustrations with who has been where you are can be essential. If you are involuntarily placed with a mentor, find someone with a couple more years of experience than you that you feel you relate more to and start a conversation about your career. We were all once new nurses feeling lost, and many of us want to help you!

Nursing can be a fascinating career. One tip I give students and new nurses during their time with me is that you have the opportunity to choose your path. If you do not like a certain specialty, that is okay; you do not need to leave nursing because that area wasn't your best fit, which highlights your unique talents. There are many specialties, so I encourage everyone I encounter who may feel like leaving nursing to explore other options. Nursing needs you!