{"id":8224,"date":"2024-05-27T14:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=8224"},"modified":"2024-05-22T22:03:12","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T22:03:12","slug":"7-adaptable-nursing-specialties-that-make-career-shifts-easy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/career-resources\/7-adaptable-nursing-specialties-that-make-career-shifts-easy\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Adaptable Nursing Specialties that Make Career Shifts Easy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within the diverse world of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/career-resources\/choosing-nursing-specialties-for-new-and-experienced-rns\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nursing specialties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, your career choices are as varied as your patients. Unlike other healthcare fields, nurses can easily transition between specialties with the same degree and minimal extra training. This flexibility is a major draw and keeps nurses engaged, so if you\u2019re craving a change, explore the many opportunities available. While each specialty has unique demands, transferable nursing skills make transitioning between them easy. Let\u2019s explore seven nursing specialties, examining the skills and knowledge each requires and the pathways that connect them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7 Easily Transferable Nursing Specialties<\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>1. Med-Surg Nursing: The Foundation for Transitioning<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/Nurse-with-patient-Resized-scaled-e1716408135635.jpg\" alt=\"Med-surg nurse providing patient care\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Med-Surg<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/med-surg\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> nurses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> typically work in a hospital setting, caring for acutely ill adult patients. Med-Surg nursing is one of the most popular specialties for new and experienced nurses to excel in and the most versatile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/cmsrn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse<\/span><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Total patient care<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comprehensive assessment and monitoring<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication administration and education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wound management and infection control<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain assessment and management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobility assistance and rehabilitation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critical thinking and clinical judgment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cultural sensitivity and individualized care<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accurate documentation for continuity of care<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/long-term-care-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Long-Term Care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/rehab-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Rehabilitation Facilities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there may be some differences in care delivery, many of the skills learned in med-surg nursing are applicable in these settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/telemetry-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Telemetry\/Step-down Units<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These units provide care for patients who require close monitoring but don&#8217;t need intensive care. Med-Surg nurses can transition to telemetry or step-down units relatively seamlessly due to their familiarity with monitoring equipment and general patient care.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/home-health-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Home Health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/palliative\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Palliative Care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Med-Surg nurses who enjoy patient education and care coordination may find these roles fulfilling with minimal additional training.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>2. Intensive Care Unit Nursing: The Critical Foundation<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/BlogPostTemplate-2.jpg\" alt=\"ICU Nurse Treating Patient\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/BlogPostTemplate-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/BlogPostTemplate-2-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/BlogPostTemplate-2-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/BlogPostTemplate-2-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/06\/BlogPostTemplate-2-705x370.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/icu-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide specialized care to critically ill patients in a hospital setting. ICU nurses have expertise in critical care and ensure patients receive the highest level of care to optimize outcomes in life-threatening situations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/ccrn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Certification in Acute\/Critical Care Nursing<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/acls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced patient assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hemodynamic monitoring<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ventilator management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced medication administration and knowledge<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critical thinking and decision-making<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multidisciplinary collaboration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crisis management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patient advocacy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family support and education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">End-of-life care<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/er-emergency-room-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Emergency Department (ED)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The fast-paced ED environment is familiar to ICU nurses, who are accustomed to making rapid assessments and decisions in high-stress situations. Their experience managing critically ill patients makes them valuable assets in ED settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/transport\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Critical Care Transport<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/flight-nurse-or-critical-care-flight-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Flight Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ICU nurses are well-equipped to provide care during patient transfers between healthcare facilities, in ambulances or by air. Their experience managing unstable patients makes them ideal candidates for critical care transport roles. Because ICU skills are directly applicable to the high-acuity medical transport environment, the transition is smoother and requires less additional training compared to nurses from other specialties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/educator\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Clinical Education<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or Staff Development: Transitioning to roles in education allows ICU nurses to share their expertise and contribute to the professional development of other nurses without requiring extensive clinical retraining.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>3. Emergency Nursing: The Frontline Response<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8089\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/Emergency-room-nursing-Resized-scaled-e1710453455331.jpg\" alt=\"emergency room nursing aka emergency department nursing\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency nursing is a dynamic and fast-paced specialty that focuses on providing immediate care to patients with acute illnesses or injuries. Emergency nurses assess, triage and stabilize patients quickly, often in high-pressure environments such as emergency departments. They play a crucial role in saving lives, managing emergencies and providing compassionate care to patients and their families during times of crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/cen\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Certified Emergency Nurse<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/acls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/pals\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/tncc\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proficiency in rapid patient assessment, triage and stabilization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ability to prioritize patient needs swiftly and effectively<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skilled in managing critically ill patients in critical care settings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aptitude for immediate interventions in trauma centers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/occupational-health-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Occupational Health Nursing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Emergency room (ER) nurses can utilize their expertise in acute care management to promote workplace safety, provide employee health screenings and offer health education programs within corporate or industrial settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/rapid-response\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Rapid Response Nursing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With rapid assessment skills and a calm demeanor under pressure, ER nurses excel in facilitating timely interventions to ensure patient safety.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/telehealth\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Telehealth Nursing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ER nurses can leverage their assessment and triage skills to provide remote patient care, conduct virtual consultations and offer health advice through telecommunication platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>4. Pediatric Nursing: The Compassionate Caregiver<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Pediatric-Nursing-Resized-scaled-e1710450295130.jpg\" alt=\"Pediatric Nursing\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/pediatric-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pediatric nurses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> specialize in delivering care to infants, children and adolescents, working across diverse healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, pediatricians&#8217; offices and schools. Their focus extends beyond physical health, encompassing emotional and developmental support to ensure holistic well-being for young patients.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/cpn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Certified Pediatric Nurse<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/pals\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pediatric assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family-centered care<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pediatric medication administration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pediatric procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pediatric emergency response<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/picu-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pediatric Intensive Care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Skills in pediatric assessment, communication and family-centered care are transferable in providing specialized care to critically ill pediatric patients in intensive care settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/pediatric-hematology-oncology\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pediatric Oncology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Expertise in pediatric assessment and communication is transferable to pediatric oncology, where nurses provide specialized care and supportive services to children with cancer and their families.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/pediatric-er-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pediatric ED<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Skills in pediatric assessment, developmental support and emergency response are transferable in providing specialized care to pediatric patients in emergency settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>5.<\/b> <b>Obstetric Nursing: The Maternal Advocate<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8085\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/Labor-and-delivery-nurse-Resized-scaled-e1710449825777.jpg\" alt=\"labor and delivery nurse\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/ob-gyn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obstetric nurses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are vital in supporting women throughout their pregnancy, labor and childbirth, from prenatal assessments to labor support and postpartum care. Obstetric nurses advocate for the health and well-being of both mother and baby, empowering women to make informed decisions about their childbirth journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/onqs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Obstetrics and Neonatal Quality and Safety<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/acls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/pals\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prenatal assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Labor support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Postpartum care<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neonatal assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patient education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interdisciplinary collaboration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/post-partum-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Postpartum Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A background in obstetric assessment, labor support and neonatal care provides a solid start for this specialty, where nurses<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> monitor maternal health, assist with breastfeeding, educate new mothers on newborn care and offer emotional support directly after childbirth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/nicu-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Leveraging expertise in neonatal assessment and care to provide specialized support to premature or critically ill newborns and their families is a natural transition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/lactation-rn\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Lactation Consulting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With their understanding of maternal and newborn care, obstetric nurses can pursue roles as lactation consultants, offering breastfeeding support and education to new mothers and promoting successful breastfeeding experiences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>6. Operating Room Nurse: The Surgical Expert<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8099\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/OR-Team-scaled-e1716408442959.jpeg\" alt=\"Operating room nurses, OR techs, Physician assistant and surgeon\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As one of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/money-taxes\/highest-paying-rn-specialties\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">highest-paying RN specialties<\/span><\/a><b>, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">operating room (OR) nurses assist during surgical procedures by preparing operating rooms, sterilizing equipment and supporting surgeons. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/or-operating-room-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OR nurses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also monitor patient vital signs, administer medications and ensure patient safety throughout the surgical process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/cnor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Certified Perioperative Nurse<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/acls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surgical preparation and assistance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sterilization techniques<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patient monitoring and vital signs management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication administration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Team collaboration and communication<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/preop-pacu-post-anesthesia-care\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Pre-Operation\/Post-Anesthesia Care Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OR nurses can leverage their surgical preparation and patient care expertise to excel in providing comprehensive perioperative care to surgical patients before and after procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/endoscopy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Endoscopy Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OR nurses bring procedural expertise and patient care skills to endoscopy roles, ensuring efficient and attentive care for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/outpatient-surgery\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Outpatient Surgery Centers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Transitioning to outpatient surgery centers allows OR nurses to apply their knowledge in preoperative assessment and patient education, supporting patients undergoing minor surgical procedures in a convenient setting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>7. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: The Behavioral Health Specialist<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8091\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/Psychiatric-nurse-Resized-scaled-e1710454110854.jpg\" alt=\"psychiatric nurse\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/psychiatric-nurse\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatric nursing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves caring for individuals with mental health disorders, offering support, therapy and medication administration. Nurses in this specialty work with patients closely to manage symptoms, promote wellness and facilitate recovery. Psychiatric nurses play a crucial role in advocating for mental health awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Recommended Certifications<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/pmh-bc\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse &#8211; Board Certified<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/bls\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Basic Life Support (BLS)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transferable Skills and Knowledge<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapeutic communication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychosocial assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication and behavioral management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patient advocacy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatment planning<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>Transition Opportunities<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/clinical-liaison\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Clinical Liaison Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Psychiatric nurses use their expertise in communication, crisis intervention, treatment planning and patient advocacy to make great clinical liaisons, where they can bridge gaps in healthcare delivery and promote holistic outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/addiction-medicine\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Addiction Medicine Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With their understanding of mental health conditions and behavioral interventions, psychiatric nurses can transition into addiction nursing, where they assist individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/nursing\/correctional-nursing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Correctional Nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Psychiatric nurses transitioning to corrections nursing use transferable skills to de-escalate tensions, provide compassionate trauma-informed care and empower inmates through education. These abilities enable psychiatric nurses to seamlessly contribute to corrections healthcare, positively impacting inmate mental health.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Strategies for Transitioning Between RN Specialties<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prioritize continuing education, certifications and networking opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge in the new field and ensure a smooth transition. Embrace soft skills such as adaptability, effective communication and a commitment to lifelong learning, which are essential for success in any nursing role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take the time to reflect on your reasons for wanting to change specialties and consider <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/career-resources\/5-benefits-of-a-mentorship-in-nursing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shadowing a nurse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> already working in the field to gain valuable insight and perspective. By taking these proactive steps and carefully considering your motivations, you can confidently navigate your transition and set yourself up for success in your new nursing specialty.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Embracing flexibility in nursing opens many opportunities for personal and professional growth. Exploring various specialties and roles in nursing helps prevent burnout, enables career advancement and promotes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/nursing\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">higher staff salaries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/nursing\/travel\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel salaries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. By diversifying their skill set and experience, nurses can find fulfillment in their careers while making meaningful contributions to healthcare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/download\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Download the Vivian app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the latest job alerts in the specialty of your choice. Your dream nursing job is just a click away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #124e3b; color: #fdfeff; font-size: 20px; border-radius: 10px; padding: 15px; min-height: 30px; min-width: 120px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/browse-jobs\/landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Browse Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bored in your current role? Transition to another one and seize new career opportunities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":8226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[362,123,303,465,75,426,90],"class_list":["post-8224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-resources","tag-lpn-lvn","tag-nursing","tag-permanent","tag-registered-nursing","tag-rn","tag-staff","tag-travel"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Nursing-Specialties-iStock-Resized-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}