Nurses who specialize in a specific niche have the opportunity to become experts in their field and influence practice, education and healthcare outcomes. Each specialty is a leadership designation, though specific qualities and interests shape the area in which a nurse advances professionally. Pursuing a specialization is not only beneficial for career advancement but also for shaping the future of the health care industry.

The Importance of Specialization

Many nurses may find themselves in this position given the major changes underway in the American health care system. They may want to pursue leadership or educational roles, which will allow them to not only impart their experiences to a new generation of nurses, but also to facilitate change from within the health care organization. The decision to specialize and advance professionally is a commitment that generally requires a Master’s degree in nursing; however, the benefits are far-reaching making continuing education a worthy pursuit.

Areas of Specialty

There are many areas of specialization within the nursing profession (oncology, mental health, neonatal, etc.), each of which provides opportunities for nurses to advance. Specializing provides the opportunity for nurses to pursue career ambitions in leadership roles. Nurses qualified to fill these specializations will continue to be needed as the health care climate evolves following passage of the .