As a nurse, you know that continuing your education can be key to furthering your career. But when it comes to choosing an area of focus, how do you know which degree is right for you?

The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) has called for at least 66% of nursing professionals to hold bachelor’s degree or higher degrees in nursing. Currently, more than two-thirds of the RN workforce (69%) are prepared at the bachelor’s or master’s level. 11 Progress reports indicate nurses are going back to school, and those who already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are returning to school to earn a master’s degree in nursing.²

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), quality patient care hinges on having a highly educated nursing workforce, such as those with a BSN, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Research has shown that lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and quality outcomes are all linked to nurses prepared at the baccalaureate degree level and higher.3

Focus Your Nursing Degree With a Specialization

With numerous nursing specialties to choose from, understanding the kind of care you want to deliver and in what environment will help narrow your focus when deciding on a nursing program. By reflecting on how you may react in certain situations as well as your personal character traits, you can effectively weed out some of the specialties that don’t align with your skills or goals and identify those that do.

For example, your habits and skills may say a lot about what kind of care you can deliver. Are you exceptionally cool-headed, disciplined, or patient? Are you good with kids or elders? Do you like to learn and do research or educate others? Do you like to lead or prefer to follow? Are you tech savvy or a travel geek? How you handle sad situations or how quickly you can make a decision also can steer you toward one nursing focus over another.

Other factors are environmental. Would you prefer an office setting or do you like hospitals? While nurses often work in hospitals, some aren’t as comfortable with hospitals and choose other working environments. The nursing profession can be fast-paced and unpredictable, but depending on your workplace setting, the pace and predictability can vary.

As an RN, if you think you know which nursing specialty is best for you and have access to that department, see if you can spend some time observing what it’s like to be a nurse in that area of expertise.

Choosing the Right Nursing Program for You

After you’ve had the chance to discover what area of nursing suits you, the next step is to find the right nursing program for you. Colleges and universities are working hard to make it easier for nurses to remain competitive in the market and contribute to quality patient care.

For those who plan to continue working while pursuing their next degree, an online degree may be the best choice. For example, Walden University’s online RN to BSN and RN-to-MSN programs allow nurses to continue working as well as to immediately implement what is learned to improve the health of their communities and the reputation of their healthcare environment.

Consider specializing in an area you identified during self-reflection. For example, if you are good with elders, you may want to consider an MSN degree where you can specialize as adult/gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. For those who are tech savvy, an online MSN program with a specialization in nursing informatics could play toward your strengths and interest.

With a force of 4.7 million strong⁴, nurses remain the heart of healthcare. There are many reasons to become a nurse, and with the right education there are just as many specialties from which to choose.

Walden’s College of Nursing offers a quality online nursing education for nurses at all stages of their careers with a number of specializations to fit your goals and dreams. Programs include an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online degree program, with an RN to MSN pathway. The university’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD in Nursing online programs are also good options for nurses who want to go back to college to earn a doctoral degree.

Walden also offers two nursing degree programs in the optional Tempo Competency-Based Learning™ format: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) and the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in Nursing Education, Nurse Executive, or Nursing Informatics. With competency-based learning, you can move through your nursing degree program at your own pace.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral nursing programs. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-information/fact-sheets/impact-of-education

²Source: www.nurse.com/blog/2015/12/10/iom-releases-progress-report-on-future-of-nursing-2020-goals/

³Source: www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Nursing-Workforce-Fact-Sheet.pdf

⁴Source: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-Information/fact-sheets/nursing-fact-sheet

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, www.hicommission.org.