Imagine completing an entire master’s degree and moving on as if you hadn’t done it at all. I had been a registered nurse for over 10 years when I completed my master’s degree in nursing education, and I remember finishing that degree, feeling so proud of myself and yet being so unsure of what I wanted to do next. I went into my master's program uncertain of what the future held for me but knowing I just wanted to advance myself.
For months, I continued as if I had not even completed it. I continued to work as a bedside nurse and debated my options. Should I continue doing what I was comfortable doing? Or should I leap and attempt something different that I had spent all that time going to school for? The simple answer was … Yes! Leap! However, that is easier said than done. I was nervous. I had never actually instructed students before, and it was going to be something very new for me.
I spent time talking to the clinical instructors at my facility, and they motivated me to take the chance and apply. I have the benefit of working at a facility that has a school of nursing, so the application process went smoothly. The interview (which I did after working a full night shift and do not recommend doing) went well, and shortly after, they called me with the wonderful news that I got the job!
It would be two days per week for a semester, and if I liked it, I could continue each semester. I was not aware that most clinical adjunct positions are contracted, and you sign a new contract each semester. The benefits of this are flexibility and the opportunity to try out teaching. I realized it was less pressure because if this was something I absolutely hated, I didn't have to do it again. I also could keep my current part-time position working on the hospital unit as a staff nurse. Basically, I was able to try something new while also continuing to do something I was already comfortable with.
Spoiler alert: I ended up loving teaching and will be teaching again in the next semester. There is something so rewarding about teaching the future generation of nurses. I have the opportunity to teach them in a way that I wish my clinical teachers had taught me. I am also able to seek learning opportunities for them and allow them to see or learn new things that they may not have otherwise experienced during school. In a way, it renewed my love for nursing to get to see the excitement and first-time experiences through their eyes.
However, not every nurse needs to get an advanced degree and become a clinical instructor. Although if that is something you are thinking about doing, you absolutely should. The point is to never be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and attempt to advance yourself or just make a change.
Nursing has the benefit of having a variety of fields within itself. If you find that one part of nursing is not for you, you can make a switch and try a different field. You can expand and go into management, education, or informatics or continue on to become a nurse practitioner. The possibilities are endless. The number of times that you can make a change is limitless. There is nothing that stops you but yourself. With that being said, it’s important to note that if you are content and happy with where you are in your nursing career, there is nothing wrong with staying there either. Nursing has no single “best” field that applies to all of us. It is just a matter of finding the right fit for yourself and having the courage to explore different ones until you’ve found the perfect one for you.
Content published on the Medical-Surgical Monitor represents the views, thoughts, and opinions of the authors and may not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses.