30 of the Best Nursing Career Paths for Your Personality Type
Do you thrive in a calm environment or one where every minute is different? Are you seeking long-term patient relationships or new faces every day? One of the benefits of becoming a nurse is that there are many ways to be one, and the best nursing career paths are the ones that suit your personality and interests.
But you might still be wondering, What kind of nurse should I be? In this article, we’ll break down the personality traits that suit different types of nursing specialties and career options.
Nurse Career Path Overview
Whether you’re a new nurse considering the best new grad careers, or an experienced nurse looking for something fresh, your specialty options can be overwhelming. Nurses work in acute care centers, post-acute care, private companies, academic institutions, and much more.
Salaries also play a role in this discussion — some clinicians are looking for a role that pays a lot, and they’re willing to go through additional nursing school and training to get there. Others are looking for stability without having to pursue further education.
The best nursing career path for one person may change as their needs change. For example, parents raising a young family might be drawn to nursing roles that offer flexibility so they can work on the weekends and be at home the rest of the time. But maybe when their kids are older, those same nurses are able to explore weekday shifts or specialties that are known for having unpredictable schedules. Your work priorities might change many times during your career, and the role that makes you happiest might only reveal itself with experience.
30 Nursing Specialties Based on Your Personality Traits
To help you think about the best nursing career paths for your strengths, we’ll rely on the Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Everyone exhibits these traits in varying amounts, and your traits can vary throughout your life. So, what is the best nursing path for those who are high and low in each trait? We’ll cover each one below.
1. Openness
A nurse with high levels of openness is curious, creative, and willing to explore new ideas or experiences. They may be adaptable, innovative, and enjoy problem-solving. Someone with low openness prefers routine, structure, and familiarity.
What kind of nurse should I be?
High in openness: These nurses may prefer specialties and roles where they can learn something new daily, such as:
- Med-surg nursing: Provide care for patients recovering from surgery and illnesses in hospital settings. You’ll be exposed to many different populations in this role.
- Community health nursing: Work in clinics, homes, and other settings, finding creative ways to educate the community and improve health outcomes.
- Wound care nursing: Use various treatments on complex wounds, pressure injuries, and surgical sites, often working in hospitals, clinics, or home health settings.
Low in openness: The best nursing career paths for these nurses may be ones with more routine, such as:
- Dialysis nursing: Follow structured treatment protocols, providing consistent, routine care for patients with kidney disease in clinics or home settings.
- Outpatient nursing: Provide care for patients in clinics, surgical centers, and specialty offices. These nurses typically work on an office schedule, so they’re great if you’re seeking a more regular routine.
- Long-term care nursing: Work with patients over days, months, or even years in environments like nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This role gives you the opportunity to get to know your patients and create a routine based on their needs.
2. Conscientiousness
Conscientious nurses are self-disciplined, organized, responsible, and goal-oriented. Low conscientiousness may signal more flexibility and spontaneity, as well as the need for variety in the nursing path they choose.
What kind of nurse should I be?
High in conscientiousness: The best nursing career paths for these nurses could be:
- Critical care and ICU nursing: Work in high-stakes environments with patients who are on complex and strict treatment plans. ICU nurses are known for their dedication to detail and organization.
- Infection control nursing: Meticulously monitor hospital practices, enforce hygiene standards, and implement evidence-based strategies to prevent the spread of disease.
- Operating room nursing: Ensure surgical procedures run smoothly by maintaining a sterile environment, coordinating instruments, and following exacting safety protocols with every procedure.
Low in conscientiousness: Nurses seeking flexibility may be looking for roles with the following structure:
- Per diem nursing: Work in a range of settings on schedules you choose, sometimes picking up shifts the day of.
- Float pool nursing: Move between different hospital units based on demand — a great role for nurses who thrive on variety.
- Travel nursing: Take contract-based roles in different cities, states, and regions, allowing you to explore new places with every work assignment.
3. Extroversion
Extroversion is a nurse’s ability to relate socially. Someone with high extroversion is energized by other people and may prefer group interactions. If you have lower levels of this trait, you may be more reserved, enjoying independent or small-group work.
What kind of nurse should I be?
High in extroversion: These nurses may enjoy roles where they work with many people in a day, such as:
- Ambulatory care nursing: Nurses in these areas typically treat many patients per day, so it’s a great fit if you’re looking for lots of patient interaction and variety with each shift.
- Emergency room nursing: Care for several patients at a time, often with a range of illnesses. Being highly social is a strength in this area.
- Labor and delivery nursing: Work closely with expectant mothers and their families, offering support, guidance, and care during highly emotional times.
Low in extroversion: These nurses might thrive in more solitary nursing career paths:
- Nurse researcher: Work on structuring studies, analyzing data, and interpreting findings in small groups. This role can be well-suited for nurses who prefer less patient interaction.
- Nurse informaticist: Manage healthcare data and implement new technology systems, often in office settings or behind the scenes in healthcare systems.
- Nurse simulation specialist: Design and operate clinical simulations for nursing students, often working in academic institutions and hospital education departments.
4. Agreeableness
Agreeableness corresponds to a nurse’s cooperation with others. High agreeableness is signified by patience and empathy, while nurses with lower agreeableness may be more direct and independent.
What kind of nurse should I be?
High in agreeableness: The best nursing career paths for agreeable nurses could include the following roles:
- Hospice nurses: Provide end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, demonstrating deep empathy and the ability to juggle multiple expectations within a patient’s care network.
- Pediatric nursing: Care for infants, children, and adolescents, addressing their medical needs while offering reassurance and comfort to them and their families.
- Breastfeeding counseling: Assist new mothers with breastfeeding, offering education and support. This role requires you to foster trust and communication with postpartum women.
Low in agreeableness: Nurses looking for roles with independence could thrive in:
- Forensic nursing: Use objectivity to understand clinical facts while collecting evidence of violence, trauma, or other harm. Forensic nurses may work on small teams, and they don’t perform typical patient-care tasks like unit nurses do.
- Correctional nursing: Deliver medical care in prisons and detention centers, often working autonomously. Assertiveness and independence are essential skills in this area.
- Nurse consulting: Advise healthcare organizations on areas of improvement. This role requires the ability to give unbiased and direct feedback to hospital leadership.
5. Neuroticism
Neuroticism relates to a person’s ability to handle stress and high-pressure situations. High neuroticism means you may be prone to anxiety and avoidant of stress, while low neuroticism is linked to calmness under pressure.
What kind of nurse should I be?
High in neuroticism: These nurses may be looking for a nursing path with slightly lower-stress roles, such as:
- School nursing: Manage student health and emergencies in schools, typically dealing with routine care and less complex medical issues.
- Occupational health nursing: Focus on workplace health and safety, addressing and managing health concerns before they escalate.
- Public health nursing: Promote health and prevent disease in communities. Vigilant and cautious nurses can help identify and address potential public health issues early.
Low in neuroticism: The best nursing career paths might be more high-pressure, such as:
- Flight nursing: Provide emergency care during air transport. This role requires the ability to stay calm under pressure and make decisions independently using emergency protocols.
- Surgical nursing: Assist in operations before, during, and after surgery, using a calm, focused approach when several procedures may be going on at once.
- Trauma nursing: Care for patients with severe injuries in emergency settings, maintaining a steady demeanor and thinking clearly under pressure.
Best-Paying Nursing Careers
What if you’re less worried about personality-based roles and more interested in earning as much as you can as a nurse? Check out the RN roles linked to the highest salaries:
- Nurse manager: $134,440
- Nurse researcher: $112,380
- Outpatient nurse: $102,640
- Specialty hospital nurse: $98,220
If you’re willing to go back to school, consider one of these high-paying advanced nursing roles:
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA): $214,200
- Nurse midwife: $131,570
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS): $129,490
- Nurse educator: $86,530
Best Remote Nursing Careers
Looking for jobs you can do in your pajamas? Remote work has surged, and certain nurses can now commute across the house rather than across town. View some of your options for nursing jobs that let you work from home below:
- Case management
- Insurance claims review
- Legal nurse consulting
- Medical writing
- Nurse coaching
- Nurse informatics
- Telehealth nursing
- Triage nursing
- Utilization review (UR) nursing
- Worker’s compensation nursing
The Best Nursing Career Paths Are Closer Than You Think
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