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Different Careers For Nurses

Different Careers For Nurses

August 3, 2022 Uncategorized No Comments

Nursing is a career that offers many different opportunities and specialties, so it’s important to do your research before you decide on one. Here are some of the most common nursing careers:

Nurse Practitioner: This is a great choice for someone who wants to work in a clinical setting and have more responsibility than an RN. Nurse practitioners are able to diagnose and treat patients, but they can’t prescribe medications.

Critical Care Nurse: If you’re looking for an exciting environment with high stakes, this could be the path for you. Critical care nurses are trained on how to respond to emergency situations, including cardiac arrests and strokes. They also receive advanced training in treating patients with neurological disorders.

Pediatric Nurse: Pediatric nurses care for children from birth through adolescence, as well as pregnant women who are having their first child. Some pediatric nurses specialize in neonatal care (newborns) or pediatrics (children). They may also take on roles like school nurse or psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP).

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse: If you want to work with newborns who have been born prematurely or have other serious health issues, NICU nursing might be right for you! These nurses are responsible

Different Careers For Nurses

One of the greatest aspects of nursing as a profession is the ability to work in many types of environments and in many different roles. It is a field which is constantly evolving.

Registered Nurses (RNs) can work at the bedside with the sickest patients or opt to care for those who are mostly well. They can work directly with patients or indirectly by collaborating with the interdisciplinary team or others involved in healthcare to help patients.

For every individual temperament and personality exists a nursing specialty. The pace of a working environment can be fast and full of adrenaline, or a slower pace with lots of time to spend bonding with patients and families, or somewhere in between. RNs can have a great amount of pressure to do everything perfectly and quickly with extremely high stakes, or they may work in an environment that is more relaxed with basically “well” patients who want to chit-chat while they wait for their physician’s appointment. RNs can work with every age and population from very sick premature newborns to the elderly at the end of life, from school children needing check-ups to adults who are undergoing elective plastic surgery. The options are nearly endless. Learn how to become an RN.

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RNs have the option of working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, physician’s offices, prisons, from home, as a traveling nurse in hospitals across the country, and in many other specialty roles. Read more to see if a nursing career is right for you.

And, as the political healthcare environment continues to grow and evolve, RNs are finding that the options are growing quickly. There are specialties and niches for nurses of all education levels, from ADN and BSN educated RNs, to graduate degree-level nurses and nurse practitioners, and beyond. The nursing specialty options for RNs are bountiful, and they just keep growing! See our glossary of nursing abbreviations and terms and entry level nursing careers.

Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet. No wonder we’re exhausted at the end of the day! Donna Wilk Cardillo

Where Do RNs Work?

Nurses work in many different areas of healthcare and the roles often vary within each environment. All of them can basically be differentiated by either direct or indirect patient care areas.

Direct Patient Care RN

The RN works “at bedside” in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team and his/her primary role is to work “hands-on” with a patient. This RN works directly with patients, performing various tasks.

Indirect Patient Care RN

The RN works in collaboration with the Bedside Nurse and interdisciplinary team to support the care of patients. This RN may not be as “hands-on” as a direct patient care RN, and may work in more management or administrative capacities.

RNs can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Outpatient Settings
  • Physician Offices
  • Clinics
  • Insurance Companies
  • Government
  • Community Health
  • Elementary or High Schools
  • Universities
  • Correctional Healthcare Facilities

Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Careers

For nurses with big career aspirations, advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) is a rewarding pathway. These nursing careers require graduate-level degrees, such as a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. APRNs bridge the gap between nurses and physicians, performing high-level duties and often overseeing nursing staff. APRNs are also often a primary source of medical care for many patients, and therefore can enjoy long-lasting relationships. Advanced practice RNs can hold a number of highly coveted specialty nursing positions, including:

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Alternative Nurse Careers

A variety of non-hospital nursing career opportunities are also available for RNs who don’t want to work in the fast-paced hospital environment. Typically, these jobs require at least a few years of hands-on, clinical nursing experience. Nurses in an alternative environment may travel, provide in-home care, or work in an office setting. More of these alternative nursing opportunities will be available to nurses who hold a BSN or higher. Career options include:

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How Much Money Do RNs Make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 median salary for a RN was $73,300. However, the 5 highest-paying states for nurses in the US list average salaries that fluctuate between $91,080 – $106,950.

Many factors affect the salary of a RN. These include location, experience, specialty, certifications and education.

Location

The state in which the RN lives will affect salary greatly. The top 5 highest paid states or territories in May 2019 were California, Hawaii, Washington DC, Massachusetts, and Oregon.

Median annual salary for each of the highest-paid states in May 2019 was:

Experience

Experience in nursing is irreplaceable. Usually the most widely accepted experience for employers is as a direct patient care RN, or Bedside RN, at least at the beginning of the RN’s career. It is essential that the new-graduate RN get at least 1 year of bedside experience. The caveat to this statement is that there are always some exceptions! But, for the most part, this is true even for RNs who wish to work in indirect patient care roles. Therefore, finishing school and getting that first Bedside RN job as fast as possible is the best way to improve lifetime earning potential. Besides, working closely with patients in a Bedside RN capacity is why most nurses chose the profession!

Nursing Specialty

Specialties with the highest need and skill set tend to pay more and be in higher demand. Certain industries have a higher demand for RNs of all types, and may pay nurses in niche areas at the top of the pay grade.

The top 5 industries with the highest levels of RN employment in 2019 were:

  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
  • Offices of Physicians
  • Home Health Care
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Outpatient Care

Are Registered Nurses in Demand?

Employment is expected to grow by 12% from 2018 to 2028. This is well above the national average for all occupations. Driving factors for this include the aging population, changing political environments regarding insurance coverage, RNs reaching the retirement age, or RNs changing careers both within nursing or leaving the field.

Types of Nursing Specialties

Some nursing specialties are only available to RNs with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher. These may include:

  • Infection Control
  • Quality Control
  • Case Management
  • Healthcare Informatics
  • Assistant Nurse Manager
  • Charge Nurse
  • Nurse Educator
  • Clinical Development Specialist / Training & Development Specialist

Research available RN jobs and learn more about the nationwide nursing shortage.

Jump to Each Nursing Specialty or Career

Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse

Aesthetic/cosmetic nurses administer numerous non-invasive, in-office cosmetic treatments, such as anti-aging injectables and fillers, microdermabrasion, acne treatments, chemical peels, laser treatments, and more. This type of nurse also preps patients on what to expect with cosmetic procedures as well as the aftercare involved. Aesthetic/cosmetic nurses don’t typically work in hospitals, but rather in private offices or clinics as well as medical spas.

Learn more about how to become an Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse >>>

Ambulatory Care Nurse

Ambulatory care nurses provide high quality nursing care in an outpatient setting. This type of nurse may work in a clinic, medical office, university health center, government institution or other healthcare settings where patients are not required to stay overnight. They perform a variety of tasks including assessing symptoms, providing care for injury or illness, taking vital signs, and any number of general nursing duties for patients.

Learn more about how to become an Ambulatory Care Nurse >>>

Burn Care Nurse

Burn care nurses care for patients who have suffered physical wounds as a result of burns. This includes the immediate stabilization of acutely burned patients, cleaning and dressing of burn wounds and assisting in pain management and rehabilitation. Burn care nurses, who often work in the ICU or Burn Care Units (BCUs) of hospitals, also play a critical role in the assessment of a patient’s emotional and psychological wellbeing and ensure patients receive compassionate care as they recover physically and

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