It has become clear over the past eight years that the healthcare industry is not only growing, but evolving as well. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the industry will in fact have the fastest employment growth through 2024, it isn’t necessarily in the areas that one would traditionally expect. For example, the BLS projects that employment at hospitals will grow at a slower rate than hiring at outpatient care centers as well as nursing and residential care facilities.

According to Greta Haskel, a Director within The Execu|Search Group’s Health Services division, this presents clinical nurses with new opportunities to diversify their experience. “Both new grads and seasoned nurses tend to aim toward the ‘coveted’ med-surge, hospital position without understanding the full scope of opportunities available to them,” she says. “While that is an excellent role, there are a number of different areas that can make you just as, if not more, marketable as a registered nurse. If your goal is to ultimately land a position in a hospital, in many cases, working within different settings can help you gain the experience and develop the clinical skills you need to successfully make the transition.”

Here are a few different areas worth exploring:

Adult day habilitation: Working at an adult day habilitation center where you could be responsible for a wide range of clinical care, from administering medication to monitoring each participant’s health, can be a great stepping stone in your career.

Ambulatory care: From family medicine practices to offices that specialize in dermatology, gastroenterology, or other specific areas, there is a lot of room to explore different specialties. Because this setting allows you to take a very active role in patient care and see a variety of cases, most nurses can leverage this experience to eventually land a position in a specialty of their choosing.

Detox/substance abuse centers: Since this is an inpatient setting, this type of role can help nurses develop a strong foundation of clinical skills. Nurses who work at these centers are responsible for everything from intake to medicine management to triage, so this type of experience can transfer well to a hospital position.

Residential group homes: Pursuing an opportunity in a group home setting is an excellent way to position yourself for future opportunities with a similar patient population. For example, working in a foster care home where residents need chronic management can be a stepping stone for nurses with an interest in pediatrics. Similarly, taking an opportunity in a rehab facility can help you build experience with an adult population in an inpatient setting. This scenario is particularly similar to the experience you’d gain at a hospital since you’d be part of a multi-disciplinary care team, working in a clinical and care management capacity.

Schools: Regardless of whether or not you’ve considered a career in pediatrics, experience in school nursing can help you stand out amongst your peers. Creating a learning environment that meets the physical, mental, and emotional needs of students requires an individual to have strong clinical, organizational, and communication skills—3 qualities that are indicative of a well-rounded RN.