Nursing, both as a profession and a field of study, is evolving rapidly.
New nursing medical and specialties and domains continue to arise with technological advancements and medical sciences. Not to mention the demand for nurses continues to skyrocket as well.
At a dynamic time like now, knowing what specialty to choose can be tricky. Although your interests may like in one field, the market might indicate picking a completely different prospect.
However, there are other factors that can influence the decision-making process for many aspiring nurses. If you have been toiling about which nursing specialty to consider, you might already have a lot on your plate. The best possible way to make the right decision in this regard is to understand the various domains available and the benefits that come with them.
What Must You Know Before Starting Your Career In Nursing Specialties?
Here’s everything you need to know about different nursing specialties that you can consider:
1. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
As the name indicates, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) looks after all the members of a family. This means they cater to individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Their responsibilities can include but are not limited to diagnosing and treating various illnesses, conducting physical exams, prescribing different medications, and performing diagnostic tests.
Through the UTA FNP program, you can enroll in this discipline, particularly if providing extensive and in-depth care to patients of all ages interests you.
This specialty requires a Registered nursing specialties License and a master’s degree in nursing. FNPs are commonly employed in hospice facilities and doctor’s offices all over the world. A survey of the job market indicates that there is a 16% increase in their expected development through the professional stages.
2. Critical Care Nurse
One of the most in-demand nursing specialties professionals with an expected 19% job growth, these nurses specialize in dealing with emergency situations.
From tending to serious injuries to handling trauma cases as well as stressful scenarios, these nurses are fully trained to handle these events effectively. Their overall responsibilities and education levels are similar to those of RNs, a specialty we will discuss next.
In order to become a CCN, you need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree along with a Registered Nursing License.
3. Registered Nurse
RNs deliver and manage healthcare to patients, educate them about various health issues, and offer patients’ families support and advice. In a variety of contexts, the majority of RNs collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals.
You should consider whether an RN versus BSN degree is best for you based on the type of registered nurse you want to become.
Since becoming an RN always require either an associate’s help who has a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you can start work in the nursing industry considerably sooner than in other nursing specialties.
Depending on your interests, numerous job options are available, with expected job growth of 15% and employment in residential care facilities, hospitals, and even elderly care homes.
4. Cardiac Nurse
Heart ailments are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Therefore, having a specialty of nurses that deals with this field makes sense. This niche also requires a BSN or associate degree along with a Registered Nursing License.
The expected increase in jobs is 16%, with occupational opportunities available in rehab or in-home care centers and hospitals.
If you are someone who takes an interest in the field of cardiac medicine, this niche is for you. Not only are cardiac nurses able to assist in surgical procedures, but they can also provide care and basic treatment to heart patients.
Specialized cardiac nurses can join in not just on basic operations but also in complex ones like angioplasty, bypass installation, and pacemaker surgery. These nursing specialties subjects are among the most in-demand, given the growing need for trained nurses to look after the increasing number of patients each year.
5. Geriatric Nurses
Looking after the rapidly aging population and assisting the elderly community in various aspects falls under the domain of a geriatric nurse.
This field revolves around providing essential care for older patients’ injuries and illnesses while maintaining a healthy quality of life for them. As a geriatric or senior care nurse, you are in charge of anticipating the care that these patients will require in the long term.
In this domain, you are trained not just to cater to physical ailments but also mental health conditions since they are trickier to manage in people beyond a certain age.
6. Mental Health Nurses
The name says it all. While other nurses deal with physical ailments, injuries, and trauma cases, mental health nurses are trained to deliver quality care to patients dealing with psychological disorders or conditions.
This niche involves developing in-depth connections and meaningful relationships with patients with mental challenges and nursing specialties, providing them with all-inclusive care.
Since the job here is more complex, a master’s degree is required along with a license. Moreover, with the growing number of mental health patients, the estimated job market increase is 31%.
7. Surgical/OR Nurse
Also known as a perioperative nurse, this field of specialization allows you to be more involved in the surgery room. From pre- to post-operative care, these nurses deal with various treatments and procedures.
They are in charge of prepping the operation room and assisting throughout the procedure, getting hands-on experience with a diverse range of surgeries.
To become a surgical/OR nursing specialist, you’ll need a nursing license and an associate or bachelor of science degree. If you are a person who wants to experience first-hand providing physical, emotional, and even mental care to surgical patients, this is the field for you.
Conclusion
Nursing is a diverse and constantly evolving field. Both as a student and as a professional, there is a lot that you can explore here in terms of specialties. Wherever your interest may lie, you can find the appropriate specialization courses there, thanks to the modern educational landscape.
The world of nursing is fascinating, which means you can make your decision based on passion, job growth, and career development in nursing specialties. You just have to plan ahead.
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