Do I Create My Own Niche?

Hi everyone! It has been a couple of years since I posted on this awesome forum, probably since before I graduated nursing school. Just curious to get some ideas about areas of work. I currently work casually for a nursing resource team (was my first job out of school - worked full time doing med/surg/mental health inpatient nursing for 2 years), and recently started a 18 month contract working for an ACT (assertive community treatment) team. I love love love mental health, especially working with those with schizophrenia; however, my equal love for medicine is just not satisfied working for an ACT team. I hate working on inpatient med/surg floors, the stress is just not for me. I was burnt out after 2 years.

Anyway, I need to find an area of nursing to satisfy both my love for mental health and my love for the knowledge of medicine. I miss that critical thinking aspect, and the satisfaction of doing a really great dressing, or getting an IV into a patient who is swollen and impossible to palpate, hahaha . Don't get me wrong, I definitely have to think and act quickly in the community, working with people with persistent mental illness, but it is a different type of critical thinking.

I would like to do my masters soon, so was thinking I could do my nurse practitioner and open up a NP-led clinic. I am wondering if anyone else out there has the same interest and has found a job to suit their needs as a health care professional? I am just curious to get some ideas

Thank you!

P.S. I am in Ontario, Canada
If you love mental health, I would recommend finding a job at a safety net hospital for uninsured people (although I imagine in Canada that type of thing doesn't exist, eh?). Or working for a free clinic for homeless people. There is a VERY high percentage of mental health comorbidities among that population.

I know there's a huge need involved with mental health for the military. PTSD and all that stuff, possibly a little different than what youre looking for though

Mental Health for the military would most likely meet most of your needs as there is a tremendous mental health as well as physical medical health needs for this population. I am sure Canada's military is not as large as the US, but still there should be facilities that cater to their special needs. Good Luck!!

Is seems like mental health is just as in demand as geriatrics. I've been working as a mental health worker/cna for six yrs and seeking another niche for career growth.