Practice Pivots: Finding Your True Path in Nursing

Some people know from the time they’re children that they’re meant to be nurses. Others arrive by accident, instinct, or a twist of fate. What’s remarkable about nursing is not just the entry point, but the many ways the profession allows you to evolve, to pivot, as you grow.

In today’s blog, I’m sharing my personal story and reflecting on why practice pivots are not only possible in nursing, but necessary for long-term professional fulfillment.

From Music to Nursing: A Surprising Shift

Growing up, I never imagined myself as a nurse. I was going to be a musician! That was the plan, the dream, even. I was fully immersed in music classes, rehearsals, and performances, confident that music would be my lifelong path.

But then something unexpected happened.

During college, I had what can only be described as an epiphany. On a whim, I changed my major from music to nursing. It was a bold shift, and I didn’t have all the answers, but something in me said, “This is where you need to go.”

That decision, spontaneous and surprising, would change the entire trajectory of my life.

Baptism by Fire in the Emergency Department

After graduating from nursing school, I wasn’t exactly sure where I fit. Like many new nurses, I felt both qualified and unprepared, confident in my skills but unsure of where they belonged.

By default, I was placed into an internship in the local Emergency Department. My very first day, we had two code blues and a level-1 trauma. I was instantly hooked.

The adrenaline, the urgency, the need for calm in the chaos, it clicked for me. I loved how quickly you had to think, how deeply you had to trust your team, and how no two days were the same.

For years, the ED was where I felt most alive as a nurse.

When the Fire Burns Too Hot

But as time went on, I noticed something unsettling.

The intensity that once thrilled me started to change who I was. I became calloused, more impatient, more cynical. I felt disconnected, not just from patients, but from myself.

I no longer recognized my own thoughts.

This wasn’t burnout in the traditional sense. It was more like a slow erosion of empathy, a quiet hardening. I realized the environment that had once brought out my best was now bringing out my worst.

And so, I pivoted again.

A New Calling: Veterans and Education

I transitioned to primary care, working with veterans, and eventually into nursing education. These new roles gave me the opportunity to reconnect with the reason I entered nursing in the first place: to help, to teach, and to make a difference.

With each pivot, I found new parts of myself.

I discovered that the fast pace of the ED wasn’t the only place to find meaning. Sometimes, slower conversations and sustained relationships provide a different kind of reward.

And as an educator, I’ve had the privilege of helping new nurses find their own path, and encouraging them to listen to that inner voice that says, “It’s time to change.”

Why Practice Pivots Matter in Nursing

Nursing isn’t one career. It’s a collection of interconnected paths that allow you to grow and shift. The profession gives us permission to evolve, whether that means changing specialties, settings, or even the pace of your work.

Here’s why pivots are not only okay, they’re essential.

1. Burnout Is Real

Some pivots are about preserving mental health. High-stress environments can take a toll, and recognizing when it’s time to leave is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

2. Interests Change

What excited you in year one may not satisfy you in year ten. Whether it’s neonatal care, informatics, palliative care, or public health, new challenges can reignite your passion.

3. Life Changes

Family needs, aging parents, or your own health might lead you to shift from 12-hour hospital shifts to home care, education, or telehealth.

4. Skill Development

Pivots often open doors to continuing education credits, certifications, or specialty credentials that deepen your impact.

Using CEUs to Support Your Pivot

Every pivot requires preparation, and continuing education units (CEUs) play a key role. Whether you’re moving into:

• Leadership and management
• Primary care or population health
• Informatics or telemedicine
• Nursing education
• Behavioral health
• Veterans’ care
• Legal consulting

There are online continuing education courses that prepare you for the next step. Choose CEUs aligned with your next chapter, not just your current role.

CE Ready offers ANCC approved CE bundles and CEU packages that support smooth transitions while keeping you compliant with license renewal requirements.

Common Career Pivots for Nurses

Your pivot may be temporary, or it may become your forever role. Both are valid.

A Reflection and Invitation

Nurses are not meant to stand still. The profession itself is dynamic, evolving with technology, science, and social needs.

Maybe you’re new and still finding your place.
Maybe you’ve been in one role too long and feel stuck.
Maybe you’ve just realized your heart is no longer in it.

Wherever you are, know this: you can pivot.

You can listen to your gut, shift your direction, and trust that there’s a version of your nursing career that brings both purpose and peace.

Whatever path you choose and whatever path nursing or life take you on, your past experiences help shape your future yourself.  Don’t forget about the things you learned and the values you held when your plan was different.  Music was and always will be part of who I am.  And yeah, I still play.

When Have You Pivoted?

Now, I’d love to hear from you.

When have you pivoted in your nursing journey?
What lessons did it teach you?
Where did it take you that you didn’t expect?

Share your story with us on social media — and celebrate the freedom and flexibility that make nursing the most adaptable profession in the world.

Written by:

Pam Vollmer, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NPD-BC

CEO and Director of Content, CE Ready