But first, why nursing??
Nurses are one of the front lines of health care delivery teams. The goal of nursing care is to restore, maintain and advance the health of individuals, groups or entire communities. It is a science and an art. The science is obtaining research-based nursing knowledge, judgment, and skills. The art is the establishment of a caring relationship through which nurses apply nursing knowledge, skills and judgment in a compassionate manner. Both focus on the whole person, not just a particular health problem, and on individuals at all stages of the life cycle and in all states of health, from wellness to illness.
Every day can bring a different challenge in nursing, offering the opportunity to provide patient care, promote health and education in the community, coordinate care and conduct research to improve practice and patient outcomes. Nurses play an integral role in the health care system and improve patients’ lives every day. It’s no wonder nurses are consistently ranked as the most highly trusted professionals in the U.S.
Every day can bring a different challenge in nursing, offering the opportunity to provide patient care, promote health and education in the community, coordinate care and conduct research to improve practice and patient outcomes. Nurses play an integral role in the health care system and improve patients’ lives every day. It’s no wonder nurses are consistently ranked as the most highly trusted professionals in the U.S.
Registered nurse (RN)
- RN assists physicians in hospitals and in a variety of medical settings. Their main role in the hospital is patient care.
- Education needed: BSN or ADN
- LPN perform a variety of tasks like administer medicine, check vital signs, and give injections under the supervision of an RN or doctor.
- Education needed: Practical Nursing Diploma
- Medical-surgical nurses must carry out a vast array of tasks, and must possess excellent assessment, organizational, technical and prioritization skills. MS nurses treat all kinds of ailments, meaning they need to be flexible and must provide holistic care.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: CMSRN certification
- These RNs work in the intensive care unit (ICU) of hospitals, providing complex care to those with very serious illnesses or injuries. Due to the difficulty of this position, most hospitals require training or continued education before employing an RN in the ICU.
- Education needed: BSN preferred
- Relevant certifications: CCRN certification
- NPs can diagnose diseases, prescribe medications and initiate treatment plans. If you’re seeking more independence and responsibility without some of the educational requirements of a physician, becoming an NP might be the perfect fit.
- Education needed: Graduate degree
- Relevant certifications: Dependent on specialty
- A travel nurse works temporary jobs nationally and internationally, sometimes for weeks at a time and sometimes for a few years. Travel nurses perform many of the same duties as a standard RN, often working for an agency that supplements staff to facilities in need. This could be a great gig for someone who enjoys travel and change with few strings attached.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: Dependent on position
- An emergency room nurse will treat patients experiencing trauma or injury in a hospital ER. They will encounter a variety of conditions and have to stabilize patients dealing with traumatic events and injuries. This position would be good for someone who can handle high stress scenarios and find it rewarding to be a presence of calm amidst chaos.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: CEN certification
- While not technically nurses, nursing assistants work closely with patients under the direction of nursing staff. They provide personal care for patients, including helping them bathe, get dressed, use the bathroom, eat and more. Becoming a nursing assistant is a great entry point for those looking to get a taste of the nursing field.
- Education needed: High school diploma and post-secondary certificate
- Relevant certifications: CNA certificate
- Operating room (OR) nurses, also referred to as preoperative nurses or scrub nurses, care for patients before, during and after surgery. They work alongside surgical teams and act as a liaison between them and the patient’s family. These nurses also equip patients and their families for postoperative care. This is a good fit for someone empathetic to the stress of surgery on individuals and families.
- Nurse case managers coordinate long-term care for patients in hopes of keeping them healthy and out of the hospital. They can choose to specialize in treating people with diseases, like cancer, or can choose to work with a specific age group, such as geriatrics. You should consider becoming a nurse case manager if you enjoy research, coordination and scheduling.
- A home health nurse cares for patients in the comfort of their own homes. Often times, these patients are in geriatric care or young people with developmental or mobility issues. This is an ideal position for someone looking to work outside of a traditional hospital setting, but still enjoys working with patients.
- Education needed: Practical nursing diploma, ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: Dependent on specialty
- Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses work with patients as they regain consciousness from anesthesia after surgery. Also known as perianesthesia nurses, they are prepared to handle patients who react aversely, wake up in pain or confusion or experience other problems.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: CPAN certification
- NICU nurses care for premature and critically ill newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital. They care for infants needing immediate medical attention, connect them to life-giving technology and comfort them when they are in distress.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: RNC-NIC certification
- Staff nurses work in a variety of settings including rehab centers, critical care, psychiatric and outpatient facilities. They provide direct patient care, administer medications, perform IV therapy and more. Staff nurses often have the opportunity to advance and supervise other medical staff, like RNs or LPNs. Those with strong leadership skills may want to consider this option.
- Labor and delivery nurses help welcome new lives into the world every day. They care for both mother and baby throughout the process of labor, childbirth and even after birth. A labor and delivery nurse may aid in inducing labor, administering epidurals, timing contractions and educating the mother with nursing advice after the baby is born.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: RNC-OB certification
- Oncology nurses provide care for cancer patients and those at risk of the disease. They monitor physical conditions, prescribe medication and administer chemotherapy and other treatments. This is a good fit for someone interested in a challenging, yet rewarding, career that is research-oriented.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certification: OCN certification
- Nurse managers oversee the nurses on the floor who care for patients. They wear many hats and handle a lot of administrative duties. Sometimes called nurse supervisors, they are often responsible for recruitment and retention of nurses, as well as occasionally collaborating with doctors on patient care and assisting families in need. This is a great option for those hoping to step away from direct patient care after gaining some experience in the field.
- Sometimes called progressive care nurses, these professionals work in the telemetry unit of a hospital, where patients are often in critical condition and are in need of constant care and observation. In addition to typical nursing duties, telemetry nurses are trained to monitor patients’ vital signs with electrocardiograms and other technical equipment. This is a great nursing specialty if you’re passionate about technology and can interpret data.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: PCCN certification
- These nurses work in the pediatric department of a clinic or hospital, which specializes in treating children from infants to teenagers. Pediatric nurses carry out all of the typical nursing duties, as well as administering vaccinations and treating common ailments that are common in children. If you love kids and are patient and creative, this is the perfect nursing track for you to consider.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: CPN certification
- These nurses play a vital role in the psychiatric care process for patients and families suffering from mental health illnesses. Psychiatric nurses meet with patients to discuss and note symptoms, implement care plans, administer medications, update patient charts, assist in basic needs, facilitate group therapy projects and more. They work closely with the treatment team to provide the patient with total care and attention to help them live a productive life.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Radiology nurses also called radiologic nurses or medical imaging nurses, care for patients undergoing diagnostic imaging procedures or radiation therapy. They work closely with physicians and radiologic technologists to educate and prepare patients for X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and other tests.
- Education needed: BSN preferred
- Relevant certifications: CRN certification
- These nurses work in schools to help support student learning. School nurses care for students who are sick or hurt during the school day. They also implement strategies to help prevent illness and injury and promote student and staff health and wellness. If you love children and enjoy variety in your workday, this is a great option in the nursing field.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certification: NCSN certification
- A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a type of advanced practice registered nurse. They are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients and provide care before, during and after medical procedures. It’s the CRNA’s job to determine the best anesthetic plan for the patient, administer the anesthesia and monitor the patient’s vitals throughout the procedure.
- Education needed: MSN or DNP
- Relevant certification: NBCRNA certification
- Dialysis nurses, sometimes referred to as nephrology nurses, treat patients who are suffering from kidney failure to help their kidneys to work again. They care for patients undergoing dialysis treatments and educate them on their condition and medications. This is a great specialization for those seeking a rewarding career, because dialysis is an effective life-prolonging treatment for patients with kidney disease.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- Relevant certifications: CDN certification
- Cardiovascular nurses care for patients with heart or blood vessel diseases. Also called cardiac nurses, they typically work in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) with individuals who have suffered myocardial infarctions, have life-threatening arrhythmias or have undergone open-heart surgery. These nurses must possess strong critical-thinking skills and be able to work in a high-pressure environment.
- Education needed: ADN or BSN
- A public health nurse advocates and teaches communities about important health information concerning their society. They strive to educate their patients about different treatment options, prevention of disease and assist individuals with medical care.
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Relevant Certifications: Public/Community Health Nursing Exam
- Choose this Specialty If: you are interested in helping the health of large communities of people rather than working one-on-one with a patient.
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- A mental health nurse specializes in the diagnosis and treating of psychological disorders in patients. Counseling services are also often an essential duty within this nursing discipline.
- Choose this Specialty If: you are interested in developing a meaningful relationship with patients in order to provide them with an all-encompassing level of care that helps their emotional and mental needs.
- Education Requirement: Master's Degree and Registered Nurse License (RN)