You Changed Your Mind. That Doesn’t Make You Flaky. It Makes You Free.

Let’s get real for a second. There is a lot of pressure in the world of nursing. From the moment you enter nursing school there’s this unspoken expectation to pick a lane, stay in it, and never look back. Whether it’s bedside, psych, leadership, or academia, the message is clear:

commit fully, no matter the cost.

But what happens if you change your mind?

What if you decide that the version of success you were chasing no longer feels like… you?

I used to think changing my mind was a sign of weakness. That it meant I wasn’t cut out for this. That maybe I was ungrateful for what I had. There’s this interesting piece of nursing culture that tells you that more hours served on the floor, in clinic, in practice, etc. somehow equates to more success. You chose your path now you must stick to it at all costs, even if it means sacrificing your health. But the truth is? All paths do not have to be linear. Changing my mind about what my future could look like was the bravest thing I’ve ever done.

Choosing yourself in a system that tells you to keep grinding no matter how tired or burned out you feel is pretty radical even in 2025. It’s powerful. And it’s allowed because you are in charge. Not the big corporation. Not the clinic. Not the University. You.

When I pivoted from direct care into writing and creating, I felt both terrified and deeply relieved. I had spent years feeling like I had to keep doing what I was “trained for.” But I forgot that what I was really trained for was critical thinking, compassion, communication, and problem-solving; all of which translated beautifully into storytelling, education, and advocacy.

Nursing is not just a job. It’s a lens. A skill set. A way of seeing the world. You don’t stop being a nurse just because you’re not doing twelve-hour shifts or answering MyChart messages at 9 PM. (And if you are, please stop!)

You’re allowed to explore new sides of yourself. You’re allowed to want a different kind of impact. You’re allowed to say, “This doesn’t fit anymore and I’m ready for what’s next.”

Changing your mind doesn’t make you “unreliable” or less than. It makes you self-aware and it means you’ve grown.

And around here? We celebrate that. No matter what comes next in your nursing journey, know that you’re not alone in wanting to continue to evolve and carve out a space that feels right for you.