Today, there are more than 50 unique specialties that make up the bulk of the nursing profession. These specialties can be split into two groups: medical and general.
Medical specialties have been around for centuries and have become a big part of modern healthcare.
Working in a medical specialty requires extensive education, training, experience with specific treatments or procedures, further study in the field, and certifications that enable nurses to practice those areas with confidence.
Today, nurses’ roles have expanded to include more areas than just simply healing patients. These new roles make nursing a much more complex profession, which requires higher levels of knowledge, education, and specialized training.
For example, pre-hospital emergency care requires nurses to know a myriad of procedures and equipment. It’s also becoming common for nurses to work in outpatient or ambulatory settings that require them to be able to respond to everything from athletic injuries to drug addiction management.
In terms of general versus clinical specialties, the main difference is that general nursing focuses on the health of individuals within a population rather than following a specific disease or condition.
Nursing: The Most Fascinating Career in the World
Registered Nurses (RNs) have the same medical education as physicians, engineers, and other professionals.
However, a nurse’s working hours typically require that he or she work at least 40 hours per week, instead of the usual 20 to 30 hours that other professionals work.
After at least four years of nursing school, nurses must pass a state examination before getting a license to practice as registered nurses.
Following that, there are different requirements for continuing education that keeps nurses up to date on the most recent advances in their profession.
This allows them to continue to provide optimal care, while also ensuring that they can maintain their license to practice nursing.
It is possible to become a registered nurse with fewer than four years of college. Online courses are usually a fast-track way of getting into nursing, but it’s worth remembering that not all courses, just because they are online, are flexible and allow the student-nurse to work outside their studies.
Click here to find out more about these courses and how to fast-track your nurse studies.
Why Healthcare is in Need of Transformation?
In the last few decades, healthcare has changed substantially. The new developments in technology and medical treatments have made it possible for doctors to not only heal patients but also to save their lives.
For many years, in the medical field, nurses played a supportive role in helping doctors by taking care of patients. Nowadays, registered nurses are more likely to be called “physician assistants” or “nurse practitioners” because they have become more integral to healthcare and its many aspects.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) can provide primary care to patients just as well as physicians can, but they may not prescribe medicine.
The Different Types of Nursing Specialties
Below is an introduction to just a few of the most popular nursing specialties in the USA, along with brief descriptions and career prospects.
From the list of nursing specialties below, you can see that all of these specialties involve working with patients and seeing them in a variety of settings.
A few examples include hospitals, home care, intensive care units, critical care units, pediatrics, and even rural clinics.
Of course, not all nurses work in every specialty. Certain specialties require more training or education than others do. Some have become so popular that the supply far exceeds the demand for professionals who wish to join the nursing field at present.
Therefore, there is a significant number of vacancies in some of these areas.
Pediatric Nurse
As a pediatric nurse, you will be responsible for taking care of patients from infants to adolescents.
You will work in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare environments, helping out pediatric doctors with their patients.
You will be the main person the kids can go to if they have a question, want their parents to know something, or need their parents to help.
Most pediatric nurses are general nurses with additional training in pediatrics.
Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric nurses have to be sensitive to the needs of patients suffering from anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. As a therapist, you will support patients by giving them treatment and counseling.
Psychiatric nursing includes inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as crisis intervention.
Community Nurse
A community nurse is a registered nurse who works mostly in the community to promote health and well-being, detecting risks and keeping patients as healthy as possible. A community nurse plays multiple roles, including advising patients on ways to improve their lifestyle and medical care.
The duties of a community nurse include working with doctors to solve health problems within the community the general public lives in.
Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist is a specialist nurse who helps provide anesthesia for surgeries and other medical procedures – they are also known as “anesthesiologists”.
As a nurse anesthetist, you will work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers to provide a smooth communication flow between them and the patient.
You might also be called on to help a surgeon in an emergency case where they haven’t got access to a nurse or doctor.
After the complicated surgery, you are responsible for helping the patient relax while they recover in bed.
You may also be given orders to do minor procedures, such as flushing out their nose or giving them painkillers.
Emergency Nurse
In this specialty, nurses work with patients in the hospital and at home to provide essential care and help them recover as safely as possible after a health threat. It’s also the job of nurses in this specialty to promote the well-being of their patients.
This includes ensuring that medical equipment is functioning properly before surgery or other procedures, providing assistance when needed, and preparing patients for surgery or procedures by working closely with doctors.
Critical Care Nurses
Critical care nurses work in ICUs and CCUs. This kind of work requires special skills; nurses must be able to quickly and accurately assess the patient’s situation and figure out the best course of action.
The duties of a critical care nurse involve providing treatment, carrying out tests and working with doctors to come up with a care plan for each patient.
Infection Control Nurse
Like all nurses, infection control nurses help patients recover and heal, but they do it in a special way. Infection control nurses use special tactics to ensure that they limit the spread of bacteria and viruses that could hurt or infect other patients.
They work in hospitals, geriatric facilities, and other healthcare facilities, inspecting equipment such as bedsheets and towels.
Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses specialize in the treatment of cancer patients, but they also work in blood banks, dialysis centers, cancer research laboratories, and other settings where patients with cancer need specialized care.
Working in oncology care is a demanding job that requires specialized training and lots of discipline, which can be achieved through your specialization.
Family Nurse Practitioner
As a family nurse practitioner, you work with patients who have complex medical problems and health issues. In addition to patient care, nurses in this specialty often work in community clinics or hospitals to promote health awareness among the general public.
The duties of a family nurse practitioner include providing preventative care, medication management, disease screening, and ensuring the safety of patients in the community. Enroll in an MSN FNP accelerated online program to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Neonatal Nurse
A neonatal nurse is primarily responsible for providing care to babies and children born prematurely, so it’s important to have a thorough understanding of this specialty.
As a neonatal nurse, your work will include preparing patients for surgery, addressing any complications that may arise, and providing care until the patient can leave the ICU.
Nurse-Midwife
A nurse-midwife is a midwife who specializes in caring for women and girls during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as for mother-child relationships after birth.
In some jurisdictions, nurse-midwives are not certified professionals; if you’d like to make sure you’re covered under professional standards of practice, talk to your state’s regulatory body or research nurse-midwifery associations in your area so you can check whether or not nurse-midwives are formally recognized.
Occupational Health Nurse
Occupational health nurses work with employers to promote safety and prevent disease in a range of workplaces, such as factories, warehouses, and even restaurants. They also work with injured workers.
Occupational health nurses are different from industrial nurses, who work with physical injuries, mental health, and substance abuse.
Home Health Nurse
Home health nurses are responsible for providing or arranging end-of-life care and clinical support services for patients living at home.
They are also able to take a patient’s medical history, do tests, and order X-rays.
As a home health nurse, you will need to understand how to handle the emotional needs of patients and families.
Geriatric Nurse
Working with elderly people requires special training and patience, especially because many old people may be suffering from a number of illnesses and taking many different medications.
A geriatric nurse is responsible for providing services in nursing homes and hospitals, and also helps patients and families in day-to-day living.
Wound Care Nurse
A wound care nurse is a specialist nurse who takes care of people with a wide range of health issues, such as skin diseases, injuries, and accidents.
They are also able to provide comprehensive patient care and answer patient questions regarding medical conditions. A wound care nurse advises patients on healthy ways to prevent age-related problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Theater Nurse
As a theater nurse, you will work with patients who have just undergone surgery and their family members.
Theater nurses will also help the operating doctor independently without any interference and make sure that the room is well equipped with all the necessary equipment and instruments.
The Importance of Specialization In Nursing
The concept of specialty is more important than ever, as the healthcare industry is ever evolving and incorporating new terminology daily.
Specialization has become an important part of the nursing field; whether you are a new nurse or an experienced nurse, continue to develop your knowledge of what it means to be a critical care nurse.
As you progress in your career, you will quickly understand that many things have changed over the years; from theories to practice, the most important part is to keep up with the latest in nursing knowledge.
How to Choose Which Nursing Career Is Right for You
There are many organizations you can turn to for help. Most states have a professional association for registered nurses and may offer free or low-cost licensing assistance.
You can also find out more about different nursing careers from sites like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which explains what it’s like to be a nurse in different roles and provides advice based on your interests.
Most importantly, you need to know that you are taking the right step to work as a nurse. If you have a passion for helping people and want to be able to use your skills within the medical field, then becoming a nurse may be the perfect option for you.
As long as you have enough determination, passion, and patience, then your aspirations will be fulfilled.
Conclusion
Nursing is truly an incredible career path if you are one of those people who has the desire to work with others and help them get better. This is the perfect career option for you.
The key is to keep working hard to stay up to date with the knowledge and developments in your field and the latest advances in nursing. It’s important that you continually pursue your passion for this career and continue to learn about other nursing specialties.
A nurse’s job is never done and never will stop changing. The more you know, the more you can be an asset to your patients as they get better.
