I Stumbled Upon It: Rethinking How Nurses Choose Their Specialties

It’s a phrase I’ve heard countless times when nurses are asked about their career paths: “I stumbled upon it.” This casual admission often repeated with a shrug hints at a deeper issue within our nursing education and professional development system. How is it that so many nurses end up in their specialties almost by accident, rather than by design?

The Gap in Nursing Education

From day one, nursing students are told, “You’ll figure it out.” The focus is squarely on graduating, passing the NCLEX, and stepping into the world of nursing. Many nurses are told to start at the bedside and go from there. While bedside nursing is fundamental, this approach leaves little room for exploring the full spectrum of specialties available in the field. Contrast this with medical training, where students are encouraged and often required to shadow professionals across various specialties. This early exposure not only helps them discover what resonates with their interests but also sets the stage for matching with a specialty that aligns with their long-term career goals.

A Missing Career Roadmap

After passing the NCLEX, RNs are thrust into a world with abundant possibilities but with little to no guidance. There is minimal to no structured support to help them navigate the nursing specialties available in nursing. Without a clear roadmap, many find themselves in roles that were chosen by default rather than through a deliberate, informed decision making process. This lack of direction can lead to job dissatisfaction and burnout, issues that plague the nursing profession today.

The nurses who do find a specialty that feels like a perfect match often have a markedly different and more satisfying career trajectory.

The Call for Change

It’s time to rethink how we guide our future nurses. By Integrating more shadowing opportunities and adding in nurse career coaching to nursing programs, schools can empower students to make informed decisions about their future. This change wouldn’t just benefit individual nurses it could lead to a more engaged, fulfilled, and resilient workforce overall. we must prepare our nurses for the career decisions that lie ahead, provide the guidance and exposure to various nurse specialties to ensure that every nurse has the opportunity to not just stumble upon, but intentionally find, their ideal nurse specialty.

Let’s move away from chance encounters and ensure that every nurse finds their specialty by choice—not by accident.