A Complete Guide to Changing Nursing Specialties: Tips and FAQ

Written by: Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer

If you’re considering changing nursing specialties, there’s a lot to think about before making the leap. How do you know whether a different specialty will suit your needs? How can you show that your current experience makes you a good fit for a new role? And can nurses change specialties easily? Get the details on these questions and more in our complete guide on how to switch nursing specialties.

There are more than 65+ types of nursing specialties, and it seems that new options crop up every year. Maybe you’ve been in your current unit for several years, and you’re ready for something new. Maybe you’ve started a role, but you know you’re not in the right place. One of the benefits of being a nurse is that this career offers so many options and different ways to work. There’s no need to stay in a specialty that doesn’t suit you.

At the same time, changing nursing specialties can be a big decision, especially if you’ve been working in the same type of job for several years. Some specialty changes are less drastic, like switching from the cath lab to the operating room. On the other hand, going from community health to obstetrics is a larger leap. Still, the skills of critical thinking and patient assessment carry over. Let’s explore why — and why not — to consider a specialty change.

When to Consider Changing Nursing Specialties

There are many emotional and logistical reasons you might be considering a change in specialty:

Emotional Reasons:

Burnout: You feel drained, emotionally detached, or just not as good at the job. Some forms of burnout may be temporary or fixable. But if you’ve been feeling this way for a while, it may be time for a change.
Restlessness: Maybe you feel like you’ve reached the limits of what you can learn in your current area. You might want more out of your career than you used to, or you might have different interests.
Lack of advancement opportunities: As you grow your nursing career, your current role may not meet your needs. Moving to a new area may open opportunities for advancement, leadership, or specialization.

Logistical Reasons:

Scheduling: Maybe your life schedule has changed, or will soon. If you’re in a night-shift role, you might be considering an office schedule, or vice versa.
Physical challenges: You might be looking for a role that entails less physical activity and risk. Acute care and post-acute roles are generally more physically demanding than outpatient nursing.
Pay: Some specialties may offer opportunities for higher pay. If you want to boost your income as a nurse, changing specialties may be a good way to do so.

When Is Not The Time to Change Specialties?

Certain issues might be solved with smaller-scale solutions. For example, maybe you don’t like the culture of your current unit, but if you like your specialty, there might be a similar specialty unit you could move into.

Changing specialties may be especially difficult in your first few years as a new nurse, especially during a nurse residency program. If you’re struggling as a new grad, speak with a trusted mentor, as it may be challenging — but not impossible — to change specialties during this time.

Other ways to grow your nursing career include the following:

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Changing Nursing Specialties

Any career change comes with uncertainty; you’re foregoing a work schedule and environment you know and entering the unknown. But there’s also the potential to gain something new. Check out the pros and cons of trying a new specialty below.

Potential Benefits:

Revitalize curiosity: Changing to a new area may breathe life into your nursing practice. If you’ve been feeling burned out or unexcited about your current role, a new specialty may liven things up.
Broader knowledge: Trying out a new specialty gives you the opportunity to learn about different diagnoses and patient problems while adding to your repertoire of nursing skills and instincts.
Scheduling control: Changing specialties can help you adopt a new schedule, such as moving from the night shift to an office schedule to be more in sync with family and other commitments.
Team benefits: Having a nurse with a diverse background benefits the broader team by bringing a new area of expertise. For example, an ex-cardiac nurse now working in an obstetric unit can help their teammates recognize and respond to cardiac issues when they arise.

Potential Drawbacks:

Starting over: While you might not be a new nurse, changing nursing specialties may make you feel like one. You may be learning new skills from the ground up, and you might need a lot of assistance from coworkers. Still, your previous nursing knowledge doesn’t go away and will still serve you in a new area.
Scheduling: Some competitive specialties, such as critical care, may require new nurses to begin on the night shift. Additionally, many units use a seniority-based scheduling system, so you may have less control over your work schedule.
Training: Depending on the specialty, you may need 6 months or more of training before you can work independently. Even with your experience, you’ll likely be paired with a preceptor and need to work under supervision, depending on the specialty.
Pay: Some specialty changes come with a pay cut. This is not true for everyone, and if you’re changing specialties within the same health system, you may face no pay changes at all.

What to Consider When Changing Nursing Specialties

If you’re considering a new specialty, this is a big decision to tackle. You have so many options you could pursue — but which one is right for you? Figuring out the answer calls for some honest self-reflection.

Consider what it is about your current role that isn’t the right fit, and what might appeal to you in a different position. Here are some questions to ask yourself when thinking about changing nursing specialties:

Do you want more or less patient contact? For example:

Scrub nurses tend to have less time with awake patients.
Med-surg nurses tend to have more face-to-face patient time.
Nurse managers tend to have less patient-facing time.
Nurse consultants have no patient contact at all.

What types of patients do you want to serve? Common choices include the following:

Adults
Children
Neonates
Older adults

What types of diagnoses or issues are you interested in? Your options include the following, and more:

Cancer
Surgery
Wounds
Psychiatric disorders
Cardiac problems
Gastrointestinal issues
Pregnancy and obstetrics
Research and quality improvement

What schedule works for you? Consider the following choices:

12-hour shifts, 3 days per week
10-hour shifts, 4 days per week
8-hour shifts, 5 days per week
Weekends
Weekdays
Per diem
Swing shifts
Office schedule

What work settings do you prefer? For example, check out these common settings:

How do you like to work with coworkers? Some roles offer more or less autonomy and teamwork:

Home health nurses tend to work with patients alone, with remote support from medical providers.
Intensive care nurses work closely with medical providers.
Med-surg nurses take independent patient loads, but lean on each other for assistance.

Do you want predictability or variety? For example:

Procedural nursing (such as OR nursing or cath lab) tends to follow a set schedule.
Bedside nursing tends to have more variation.
ER nursing varies widely from shift to shift.

How to Change Nurse Specialties: 4 Steps

Whether you’re considering a move or actively applying for roles, here are the general steps to follow when changing nursing specialties.

Step 1: Know Your Options

The first question: What new specialties are available in your area? Are you willing to move for a new specialty? For example, if you want to work in a level-one trauma center ICU, you’ll likely need to live in or move to a city. You’ll have different opportunities depending on your location:

Urban areas tend to have larger acute care facilities and specialty centers.
Suburban areas may still have smaller hospitals, post-acute care, clinics, and home health agencies.
Rural areas may still have opportunities for remote work, community health, and more.

You’ll also need to look at your nursing experience in the context of a new role. Some specialties require experience in a specific area. For example, if you work in an outpatient setting, it will likely be difficult to move to a critical care unit without gaining some other acute care experience first.

Just because a role is outside of your current experience, that doesn’t mean it’s unavailable — but you may need to gain skills before entering the specialty that interests you. Once you understand the opportunities available in your location and skill area, you can begin a shortlist of specialties that might fit your needs.

Step 2: Do Your Research

Next, learn more about the specialties on your list to determine if they’re the right fit for the next phase of your career. Researching nursing roles may include:

Perusing nursing forums for real-world experiences.
Watching YouTube videos about specialties.
Shadowing a nurse in a specialty unit.
Reading job descriptions on nursing job boards to understand role qualifications.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to specialties that fit your needs, consider the qualifications or certifications that may be required, and make a plan to complete them. For example:

If you want to become a wound care nurse, some roles require certification to apply.
If you want to work in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), many roles require critical care experience.
If you want to work as a nurse manager or educator, you’ll likely need a master’s degree.

Step 3: Tweak Your Resume and Apply

Once you know what specialty you’re interested in, it’s time to take a look at your nursing resume and cover letter. Use the skills of your current nursing role and angle them towards qualities that hiring managers are looking for. For example:

If you’re moving from med-surg to obstetrics, mention your patient rapport and thinking on your feet.
If you’re moving from pediatrics to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), emphasize your ability to communicate with families and coordinate care.
If you’re moving from oncology to research, mention detail-oriented documentation and adherence to chemotherapy protocols.

Once you get called in for an interview, begin prepping your interview answers. Emphasize your experience and curiosity about the specialty, as well as your willingness to learn. It may also be wise to inquire about the training process for nurses new to the specialty, as well as any recommended resources.

Step 4: Evaluate Job Offers

Once you receive job offers, evaluate them thoroughly. Before changing nursing specialties, get clear on these essential elements:

Pay: Can you expect lower pay in the role than what you previously experienced? Will a lower pay meet your household needs? And if you will experience a pay gap between roles, how can you plan for it?
Training: Will you be adequately prepared to serve patients through preceptorship, classroom learning, or other skills training, like a fellowship?
Schedule: Will your schedule differ in the new role? How will you plan to adjust to this change? Will you lose seniority when asking for time off?
Certifications: Some units require that new nurses earn a certification within their first year of working, such as advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).

Changing Nursing Specialties: FAQ

Help! I want to change specialties, but I’m scared. What should I do?

Fear is normal — after all, it probably took you years to achieve confidence and competence in your current role. Starting in a new specialty, with a new setting and team, is intimidating. But you’ve also experienced change and learning before. You can do it again.

Here’s another way to think about this question: Ten years from now, you’ll be ten years older whether you went for the job you wanted or chose to stay in the same place. Which future outcome are you more interested in exploring?

Is it hard to change specialties as a nurse?

You generally won’t need a new degree or certification to change nursing specialties, and nurses can switch specialties several times throughout their career. However, whether or not it’s easy to find a new specialty role depends on your job market, experience, and where you want to be. Some specialties are easier to enter than others.

Can nurse practitioners change specialties?

Yes; 35% of NPs have changed specialties at least once, and 65% of surveyed NPs said it was easy to switch specialties. But this also depends on your background and where you’d like to go. Learn more about the types of nurse practitioners.

What career do most nurses switch to?

There are many options for nurses looking for a change — whether you want to make a lateral move to another specialty, leave the bedside, or take a break from clinical work entirely. If you’re looking for a less intensive setting than acute care, consider a clinic, office, home health, or occupational health.

Nurses who want to leave nursing entirely might find other paths in healthcare-related fields, such as legal nurse consulting, nurse writing, or medical sales. Nurses are needed in a variety of fields. Learn more about when to consider quitting nursing.

Which field of nursing has the highest burnout rate?

Acute care and intensive care are generally associated with higher rates of burnout — but don’t let that turn you away from a specialty you think you might enjoy. Burnout is multifactorial and is associated with many risk factors, including age, sleep, workload, and many others.

Where do the happiest nurses work?

Nurses working in psychiatry, occupational health, and geriatrics report some of the highest rates of job satisfaction. But the specialty that makes you the happiest might be entirely different from these, and depends on your preferences, skills, schedule, and more.

What nursing specialty has a shortage?

Critical care and labor and delivery are two areas that can be prone to nursing shortages, alongside psychiatric nursing and cardiac nursing. But these are far from the only areas that may need nurses. Shortages differ by region, facility, and season, and some areas even have a surplus of nurses. To learn more about needs in your area, check out nursing roles near you.

Need Help Changing Nursing Specialties?

You’re in the right place. Credenza helps match nurses with roles that light them up. When you share your preferences, we’ll send you nursing roles tailored to your needs. Learn more today.