Registered nurses can work in various specializations and environments. Nursing is a career with many pathways that help patients in different ways.
Let’s look at different careers available for nurses and see if one of these fields might be the correct one for you. The nursing career is flexible, and your job is likely more secure than other career paths. Before deciding on a field, ensure you know your career goals, consider your options and check out educational sites that might have a piece of advice for you. With so many areas of specialization, it is easy to get confused about which career path to follow.
However, these five positions are some possible careers in nursing:
Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses that specialize in administering and maintaining anesthesia. They prepare patients for the procedure, assess them and administer pain-free injections. These specialists also maintain the sedation rate and supervise the patient until they recover. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as dentists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, and physicians, to ensure a successful process. CRNAs are employed in clinics, operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centers, and private practices. They begin with a bachelor’s degree in a related field before graduating with a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia.
Nurse researcher
Most nurses looking for advanced non-clinical careers in the industry opt to become nurse researchers in their master’s program. They’ve probably spent many years in the clinic and think it is high time they tried something different. Not only is this field interesting for a newcomer, but it is also rewarding. Nurse researchers are scientists who spend their days studying illnesses, human anatomy, and general health care. They identify research questions in their chosen field, analyze data and report the findings to improve healthcare services. Although they don’t attend to patients, they are employed at hospitals, universities, nonprofit organizations, and laboratories. As a bachelor’s degree holder, you can qualify for an entry position in the above-listed organizations, but with a master’s or doctoral degree, you can become a nurse researcher.
Pediatric endocrinology nurse
Pediatric endocrinology nurses treat children of all ages and young adults suffering from endocrine diseases. These experts provide direct care to patients with diabetes, thyroid disease, hypoglycemia, and other gland disorders. They also play the role of educators for the patient’s family members. They guide the child’s caregivers and immediate family about coping with the disease’s impact on their loved ones. These nurses may also work in a physician’s office, which attends to less emergent situations. To become a pediatric endocrinology nurse, you should have at least an ASN or BSN and pass the necessary exams. The United States needs these experts due to the increasing number of children with diabetes and endocrine disorders. To become a pediatric endocrinology nurse, you must first attend an accredited university or college and graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. You must also pass the required examination and gain experience in medicine, endocrinology, diabetes education, and pediatrics.
Certified dialysis nurse
Certified dialysis nurses are also called nephrology or renal nurses. These nurses attend to patients whose kidneys no longer function properly and rely on dialysis to eliminate waste. They ensure that toxins do not build up in the systems of those suffering acute or chronic kidney failure. Nurses who wish to qualify for this degree must have at least 2,000 hours of dialysis experience. This high-demand profession is needed globally, especially with the increasing population living with kidney failure. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there is a continued demand for nurses to fill this shortage. Despite this specialization’s popularity recently gained, only a few people have ventured into it. Every nursing specialty has its fair share of challenges. In the case of a dialysis nurse, the patient may never get better as there is no cure for kidney disease, so they are tasked with maintaining their health in the best way possible. The advantage of this career is that nurses can build long-term relationships with these patients.
Adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
An adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner provides advanced nursing care to young and older adults and elderly patients with acute and chronic conditions. This professional works with different healthcare professionals to stabilize and improve the patient’s health. They collect information based on the patient’s history, physical findings, and symptoms before taking action. Aside from performing the task of an advanced practice nurse, the AGACNP also supports chronically ill patients by interpreting ECGs and assessing their response to treatment. Suppose you already have a BSN and are thinking about becoming an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. In that case, a fully remote online degree will allow you to stay in your full-time job while earning your advanced degree in this field. Baylor University offers this degree fully remote, so you can still work full-time, and it will give you the knowledge you need to tackle this new career path.
Conclusion
Nursing is a noble profession open to passionate and driven individuals. Many countries attach huge monetary rewards to the job because they understand the risks and effort involved. Finding the correct field to work in and determining the right choice for yourself can be confusing. Depending on your location, one specialty area may be needed more than another. Regardless of specialization, nursing aims to save lives at all costs, and it is a rewarding career that offers flexibility and workdays that are never the same.