When choosing a career in nursing, prospective nurses can focus on specialized areas of medicine. The following list provides 31 nursing career paths, along with the requirements to successfully obtain each role. Show
This guide highlights the basic role of nurses within each specialization and includes projected job growth rates and average salary data. A general overview of each nursing career option can help prospective professionals determine if a specialty career in nursing aligns with their professional goals. Specialty Career Choices to ConsiderWe selected the following 31 best nursing jobs for their salaries, work settings, and high demand. An individual seeking a career in nursing can consult this list to identify their ideal role. 1. Certified Dialysis NurseCertified dialysis nurses, in one of the fastest-growing specialties, assist individuals who have severe problems with their kidneys.
2. Legal Nurse ConsultantA certified legal nurse consultant uses their expertise to consult on medical lawsuits, offering information about the healthcare system.
3. Nurse MidwifeA nurse midwife delivers babies and provides healthcare before, during, and after birth for mother and child. They conduct gynecological exams, deliver prenatal and postnatal care, and provide family planning information.
Featured Online MSN Programs4. Nurse AnesthetistA nurse anesthetist provides patients with anesthesia for surgery and can assist in caring for individuals during their time in the operating room.
5. Nurse Case ManagerA nurse care manager monitors patient progress, suggests alternative treatments, and evaluates care.
6. Nurse EducatorNurse educators combine a passion for teaching with clinical expertise to design, evaluate, and implement education programs for nurses in schools, universities, and colleges.
7. Nurse PractitionerNurse practitioners (NPs) provide primary and specialty care, often working in collaboration with doctors. Some states allow NPs to maintain their own clinics.
8. Nurse ResearcherNurse researchers create reports based on analysis and research gathered in the nursing field. They aim to improve medical and healthcare services.
9. Informatics NurseInformatics nurses provide healthcare data to doctors, nurses, patients, and other healthcare providers, along with providing training on updated applications.
10. Endocrinology Pediatric NursePediatric nurses specializing in endocrinology help children with diseases and disorders affecting the endocrine system, along with educating patients and their parents about sexual development and growth issues.
11. Travel NurseTravel nurses provide healthcare services to medical facilities and hospitals with short-term needs.
12. Chief Nursing Officer
13. Nursing AdministratorNursing administrators provide management support and specialized human resources within medical facilities. They also recruit, train, and hire staff, along with handling various business aspects within healthcare organizations.
14. Critical Care NurseCritical care nurses work in hospital intensive care units, often collaborating with teams to provide the best possible care.
15. Diabetes NurseDiabetes nurses work with individuals with diabetes, providing patient education, including fitness and nutrition information.
16. Family Nurse PractitionerA family nurse practitioner takes care of most of a person's ailments throughout their lives. They examine patients, diagnose illnesses, and prescribe treatments.
17. Health Policy NurseHealth policy nurses work with patients on a social level, creating policies to promote a healthier population, analyzing laws and suggesting new policies where necessary.
18. Medical-Surgical NurseMedical-surgical nurses perform several jobs, including caring for and monitoring adult patients, working with medications, and assisting in surgeries.
19. Nurse AdvocateA nurse advocate provides a link between medical professionals, doctors, and patients to explore alternative treatment options.
20. Nurse AttorneySince few attorneys have medical knowledge of nurses, nurse attorneys typically remain in high demand. These professionals work in various settings, including hospital legal departments and litigation firms.
21. Pain Management NurseA pain management nurse examines patients and helps determine the cause of the pain before consulting with other nurses and doctors to decide on the correct course of treatment.
22. Perianesthesia NurseA perianesthesia nurse works with individuals coming out of anesthesia.
23. Psychiatric NursePsychiatric nurses use experience and knowledge in mental health to help their patients navigate mental illnesses, helping them to avoid disability, social isolation, and other issues.
24. Trauma NurseTrauma nurses work in emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
25. Orthopedic NurseOrthopedic nurses offer care for patients suffering from musculoskeletal ailments, such as joint replacement or arthritis.
26. Neonatal NurseA neonatal nurse works with premature babies, typically within intensive care.
27. Pediatric NursePediatric nurses work with children in intensive care or clinical settings to provide specialized care.
28. Geriatric NurseGeriatric nurses work with elderly patients in nursing homes or hospitals, handling these patients' specific challenges, such as dementia, arthritis, and heart or lung problems.
29. Public Health NursePublic health nurses care for entire populations, generally focusing on preventative medicine by educating patients about health issues and how to make improvements.
30. Oncology NurseAn oncology nurse provides specialist care for cancer patients in clinical care centers, homes, or hospitals by administering chemotherapy and other treatments.
31. Clinical NurseA clinical nurse treats and diagnoses patients with serious health conditions in hospitals and clinics.
Which contemporary nursing role is one of the fastest growing specialties in the 21st century quizlet?ANS: B Nursing informatics is one of the fastest growing practice areas in health care.
What are the roles of a contemporary nurse?In the hospital, a nurse provides direct care for people who are ill and unable to care for themselves. Another function of the direct-care role is to help the client and family in managing the illness event.
What is the role of a nurse in the 21st century?Nurses can contribute to improved quality of care and to patient safety through the prevention of adverse events, but this requires that they work at their optimal capacity, within strong teams, and within a good working environment.
What is a contemporary nurse?Contemporary nursing is concerned with having the studies and documented data to hand (for practical and theoretical needs) concerning: the objectives and assumptions (general – basic and detailed), methods of work, methodology and methods of research, adopted solutions and expected results.
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