When Changing Nurse Jobs Means Changing Specialties

When changing nurse jobs means changing specialties, nurses should know that they are not limited by what they currently do any more than doctors are.

There are times when a nurse reaches a point in life when she/he realizes that the work she/he is doing is not as fulfilling as it once was, if it was ever fulfilling at all. It is not that the nurse does not enjoy nursing; it is just that there is a burning desire to transition from a current position into a new one in an entirely different specialty. When changing nurse jobs means changing specialties, nurses should know that they are not limited by what they currently do any more than doctors are.

As one example, you may be a nurse who has spent the better part of your career working in the oncology department at your local hospital. It certainly has been rewarding and challenging. However, after 15 years, you are starting to realize that your heart is really in public health. Don’t worry; you can make the transition. You can go from oncology to public health, from pediatrics to emergency room medicine, or even from clinical practice to nursing education.

Easy Steps to Making the Transition

We do not mean to suggest there is a one-size-fits-all, step-by-step process that every nurse can use when switching specialties. Nevertheless, there are certain guidelines that apply in almost every case. So, keep the following in mind when changing nurse jobs means changing specialties:

  • Assess Yourself Honestly – Switching specialties is no minor undertaking. Before you go down that road, honestly assess yourself and your situation. Ask yourself questions about why you want to switch, what it is you are truly passionate about, and whether or not your desire to switch is really just a means of escaping a situation you do not like. Honest questions and honest answers should give you some much-needed clarity.
  • Research Your Options – Transitioning from one specialty to another does not necessarily mean you will only have one option within your new chosen specialty. There may be multiple options. For example, transitioning into pediatrics may include options at the local hospital, a group family practice, or even the neighborhood nursery school. Find out what is out there so that you can fine-tune your goals.
  • Consider More Education – Depending on what you want to transition to, you may need additional education. Consider this carefully. If additional education is required, you will have to decide whether to continue working while you are learning or become a full-time student in order to finish as quickly as possible.
  • Consider Volunteering – There may be opportunities for you to gain valuable experience by way of volunteer work involving your new chosen specialty. Never underestimate the power of volunteering. It is an excellent way to learn, gain experience, and network with people who might be important to know.
  • Seize the Opportunity – If you have a desire to transition to a new specialty, it is wise to seize the opportunity now. Just so long as your self-assessment provides the right answers to your questions, there is no point in putting off beginning the transition process. Remember, putting something off until tomorrow is a great way to never get it done.

For some people, changing nurse jobs is nothing more than leaving one facility for an identical job at another. For other nurses, it means a complete change of specialties. We hope any decision you make to change jobs is one guided by knowledge, experience, and wisdom gleaned from others. The combination of a wise choice and the right kind of planning can make it possible for you to add an entirely new and exciting dimension to your career.


Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Majority of Americans Have High Praise for Their Providers, Survey Finds

Over 80% of Americans have high praise for their providers, even as reported rates of physician burnout and other frustrations continue to rise.

from Becker’s Hospital Review

Of Americans who have seen a healthcare provider in the last year, 87 percent say they felt they were carefully listened to while 84 percent said they felt that their physician truly cared about their health and well being. Only 23 percent of patients reported feeling rushed and only 15 said they were confused about the instructions they received for treatments or at-home care.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Physicians to Congress: Continue Funding Loan Repayment Program

The NHSC program was launched in 1972 and has grown steadily in recent decades, but its funding was extended for only two years in 2015.

from AAFP

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program helps fully trained family physicians pay off qualifying educational loans in exchange for service in a designated health professional shortage area. The program also offers scholarships and monthly living stipends to medical students committed to providing primary care in underserved communities. Annual funding is set at $310 million, but it will expire on Sept. 30 without congressional action.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Three Ways Nurse Practitioners Are Transforming Healthcare Delivery from Hospital to Home

Here are three reasons why hospitals are turning to NPs and improving patient care in the process.

from Becker’s Hospital Review

Hospitals have employed nurse practitioners for decades, but only recently have they begun to capitalize on NPs’ potential.Changes in NP licensure laws, a swiftly aging patient population and increasing pressures from Medicare to focus on care quality has elevated the profile of NPs as key players in a new age of cost-conscious, quality hospital care. Here are three reasons why hospitals are turning to NPs and improving patient care in the process.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Expanding the Role of PAs in the Treatment of Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

Patients with severe and persistent mental illness often face limited access to psychiatric and primary care—PAs could change that.

from JAAPA

Among mental health teams that care for patients with severe and persistent mental illness, a growing concern is patients’ limited access to psychiatric support. One contributing factor is a shortage of psychiatrists, especially in community-based and outpatient settings. Physician assistants historically have been used in settings with physician shortages.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

86% of Americans: Healthcare Workers Should Discuss Clinical Trials

While the pharma industry spends upwards of $2B on patient recruitment every year, a recent survey found half of respondents were not aware of clinical trials.

from Research!America

The results of a new public opinion survey conducted by Research!America sheds light on the perception Americans have of clinical trials and may hold the key to the patient recruitment problem. The survey found 86 percent of Americans felt their healthcare professionals should discuss clinical trials with patients diagnosed with a disease, and that those discussions should be part of their standard of care.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

After 15 Years of Failure, What Can Pharma Offer Alzheimer’s Patients?

The most recent new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease was approved by European regulators in May 2002, with the US FDA following suit the next year.

from The Pharma Letter

As patients, physicians and pharma firms digest the latest research, presented at last week’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), what can the pharmaceutical industry offer the estimated 50 million people living with this most burdensome of conditions?

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Technology-Based Rehabilitation to Improve Communication after Acquired Brain Injury

The utilization of technology has allowed for several advances in aphasia rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injury.

from Frontiers in Neuroscience

The utilization of technology has allowed for several advances in aphasia rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injury. Thirty-one previous studies that provide technology-based language or language and cognitive rehabilitation are examined in terms of the domains addressed, the types of treatments that were provided, details about the methods and the results, including which types of outcomes are reported. From this, we address questions about how different aspects of the delivery of treatment can influence rehabilitation outcomes, such as whether the treatment was standardized or tailored, whether the participants were prescribed homework or not, and whether intensity was varied. Results differed by these aspects of treatment delivery but ultimately the studies demonstrated consistent improvement on various outcome measures. With these aspects of technology-based treatment in mind, the ultimate goal of personalized rehabilitation is discussed.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

My 4 Biggest Takeaways from WebPT’s Rehab Industry Survey

Some of the survey results were surprising, while others came with little shock, but all of it was very telling about therapy professions as a whole and what the future may hold.

from Evidence in Motion

Health care is often in the center ring of the modern media circus. And as a healthcare professional, I’m sure you’ve been caught in the crossfire of at least one or two debates on the subject—unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, that is. As I’ve watched this conversation unfold, I’ve noticed a concerning trend: physical therapy—and the professionals who provide it—is increasingly left out of the discussion.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

How to Help Explain Billing to Curious Patients

Knowing a few of the specifics about medical billing procedures can go a long way in assuring your patients and providing them better customer service.

by Eileen O’Shanassy

Between providing healthcare and every possible service that you can to patients, medical professionals also have to consider their billing procedures. Few would argue that healthcare billing is straightforward and easy to understand. We all know that the system is complex, but patients may be particularly curious about what they are being billed for, and regardless of your job, knowing a few of the specifics can go a long way in assuring your patients and giving better customer service. 

Detailing Expenses

Each patient is provided with a comprehensive breakdown of what is on their bill when they receive it, but that does not make it any easier to understand. They may even want to dispute certain charges because they are just so certain they are right about something and you are trying to rip them off. They may stick with this incorrect belief no matter how much you explain it to them, but trying to explain it may indeed save you some headaches. Familiarize yourself with common charges and help patients understand why you might need to charge for a certain procedure.

Go Through it with Them

The bills sent out to patients will have information that includes the date they received a certain treatment, the name of that treatment, the doctor or medical professional who administered the treatment, the portion that insurance covers, and more. If a patient has a question about their bill you should start by looking over the bill to see what you can find within the bill regarding the various treatments that they received. It may be the case that they just overlooked something that you can point out to them.

When Legal Action is Necessary

An attorney may be called for in certain situations if an irate patient begins to bring a suit against the hospital or medical facility because of how they were billed. It is often the case that the billing is correct and that the patient just does not understand it. However, it is also true that the medical billing people can in fact be wrong as well and make mistakes. If they make mistakes, then you could be open to a lawsuit coming your way. 

Someone trained in the law is called for in situations like this because they just know what the right moves to make are. They can look over the medical bills themselves and see where the issue is and try to resolve it with the patient out of court. Staying out of court is the number one goal here, and the best way to do that is to hire an experienced lawyer who knows how to defuse situations like this, and that may come up from time to time. You are definitely in the right to do this if you feel the pressure closing in from a patient.

Helping patients to understand their billing can make for a much better experience overall. Keep these things in mind when you have a patient who needs a few things explained.


Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter, @eileenoshanassy.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.