Nursing is a fantastic career to get into. There are a huge amount of options when it comes to specialization, for a salary increase, job satisfaction, and of course, the role of a nurse is almost universally respected cross-culturally.

Joining A Beautiful Career

You’ve made the decision to go into nursing. That’s fantastic! You’re going to forge a career that you’re proud of, that many others respect, and which will see you through your entire working life.

So, what are your options?

Where To Start

Before you begin, it pays to know what kind of nurse you want to be and ask yourself a few questions, such as: 

• Do you want to work in medicine or surgery?
• Do you want to work in mental health or palliative care? 
• Are you prepared for the incredibly hard work required by a career in intensive care or on an operating table? 

It’s important that you know what type of nursing entails before going into it. 

It’s vital that you know whether or not you want to work in a hospital, nursing home, aged care center, Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), neonatal ward, pediatric ward, etc.

It’s important to not just know what your specific job is going to be in the future, but what you’re going to have to do beforehand.

Nursing Education: What Do You Need?

You’ll have to know what you want to study in higher education. If you don’t know whether you want to go into medicine or haven’t made up your mind yet about what specialty to get into, then it’s time for some research.

If you’re doubtful that education in nursing is for you because of your doubts about the profession, then get all the information you can about nursing. 

Go online and do some research on different nurses who are currently working in the field of medicine, surgery, intensive care, or even neonatal intensive care. You might even consider finding out more information about them by following their online presence, especially if they run youtube channels or blogs.

Getting Your Education Sorted

It’s time to choose your school. Nursing needs specific education, usually to degree level.

Nursing degrees and qualifications are available from many places, and the options are vast, from the ability to attend an online nursing school, right to a traditional university, and in-person learning.

In the era of COVID, more students are deciding to take online courses in order to complete their studies.

Nursing Specializations

When it comes to what specialization is right for you, there are so many choices.

Depending on your choices in education, you can be a Registered Nurse or an Enrolled Nurse. Enrolled Nurses have the highest level of the nurse hierarchy, whereas Registered Nurses have an extra qualification that allows them to work independently in many settings. 

No matter what kind of nurse you choose to be, your education will be very different than it used to be. 

The future of nursing lies in education and reducing the length of time needed for students to get into the profession.

Here are a few of the options for specialization within the nursing field.

Critical Care Nurse

Being a critical care nurse is a very popular specialization. They work under the supervision of a doctor and do the basic tasks that doctors do, such as obtaining patient histories and assessing their patients.

Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse

These nurses work in NICU and other areas where premature and sick babies are taken. They can be considered to be specialized nurses working with other specialized doctors to care for newborns.

Pediatric Nurse

Another popular specialization, pediatric nurses work with children from babies to teenagers who have medical problems or those who need physical care instead of mental health care.

Obstetric Nurse

Obstetric nurses work solely with pregnant women and those who have recently had a baby. They can work in a hospital, a birthing clinic, or even the home of the woman giving birth.

Psychiatric Nurse

This specialization is one of the less frequently taken ones, but it’s very important for those who take it because psychiatric nurses work with mentally ill patients to ensure that they receive the right kind of care and medications. 

Nurse Practitioner

The role of a nurse practitioner (NP) is critical, especially in hospital settings, because they can specialize in certain areas such as pain management, pharmacology, and even mental health care. 

Critical Care

It’s important to know what you want to do, and because this is a highly competitive type of specialty, it’s very important that you make the right choice for your career. 

The role of a critical care nurse is paramount in any environment where patients are at risk of dying, but it differs from one environment to the next. Critical care nurses can be found in intensive care units or operating rooms, ambulances or fire/rescue teams, hospitals, or community settings.

Women’s Health Nurse

This is a role that is going to be in high demand. A woman’s health nurse, or midwife, works with women from adolescence to menopause. These nurses will monitor women’s health issues and see particular patients regularly.

Occupational Health Nurse

This type of specialist is going to work mostly in industrial or business-based settings. They monitor the health of employees and ensure that they’re fit for work.

Nurse Educator 

If you love educating and sharing information with others, then the role of a Nurse Educator is for you. This role is going to be very important as the education levels of nurses are going to rise because more people are going to need their services.

Certified Midwife Nurse

Just as with women’s health, working as a midwife is a role that will be in high demand. This type of nurse is going to work with pregnant women and help them while they’re giving birth.

Forensic Nurse

This area is going to be a hot area of study for new nurses. Forensic nurses work in hospital settings, usually dealing with the victims of accidents or violence. They work closely with doctors and can legally perform some procedures without needing a doctor’s supervision.

Nursing Employment Opportunities

There are a lot of employment opportunities for Nurses, but if you’re looking for a specific nursing job, the important thing is that you have a particular career path in mind. 

If you want to work in a hospital or doctors’ surgery, then great you’ll need some experience in this area. If it’s Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) or pediatric wards that interest you, then those are where the most jobs that suit you will be available. 

There are also a lot of employment opportunities for nurses overseas, especially in areas where doctors are in short supply. If you have the right qualifications, then it may be worth applying for jobs in countries such as the United States or the United Kingdom. 

Role of Nurses in Hospitals and Healthcare Settings

When people are sick or injured, they need someone to take care of them in an intimate manner that family members or friends can’t provide. 

Doctors have the medical expertise to treat patients, but patients need day-to-day care, and highly trained and highly skilled nurses usually do this.

Specific training is required to become a Nurse.

A clinical position (nurse) is not regulated by law in the United States, but there are professional organizations that set standards for both voluntary certification and the mandatory licensure of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs).

There are also state nursing associations that provide the public with information about nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), an association of state boards of nursing, creates and maintains the National Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows students to move from one state to another without having to get multiple licenses.

The Future of Nursing

Nursing will continue to be a popular career choice in the future. There are going to be more nursing jobs with increasing health care needs. Healthcare is going to experience a shortage of nurses, so there are going to be more job opportunities for people who want to do this kind of work.

Why You Should Be A Nurse In The Future

• Nurses have one of the most important roles in the health care team because they’re involved in every aspect of a patient’s care, from diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. 
• The demand for nurses is growing, especially because they’re in such high demand in hospitals and clinics that provide long-term care or specialized treatment. 
• There will be more nurses in the future because there are more people living longer, and there’s an increasing need for home care. 
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that careers in health care will grow faster than other careers, so it’s safe to say that nursing is one of the best career options for people who love working with patients.
• It’s also worth mentioning that nursing offers excellent salaries and high levels of job satisfaction. 
• Candidates may complete the education requirement outlined by the State Board of Nursing to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Nursing Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for nurse practitioners as of 2020 was $117,670. 

For those who choose to specialize in nursing degrees and choose nursing careers after school, the median salary is more than double what they make by working in a general position. 

The average annual salary for a registered nurse (RN) is $73,300, which is more than double the median salary of $35,977. 

Nursing Careers and Salary Information

Once you get into the field of nursing, you’ll need to do it legally. Becoming a nurse involves completing a few steps and following guidelines set out by state boards of nursing and other health-related agencies. 

In order to practice as a nurse, you’ll have to register with the state board of nursing and complete a commissioning process, which involves submitting an application for licensure.

Licensure is required in every state, and it’s usually possible for nurses who have bachelor’s degrees or higher degrees from accredited schools. 

Finding a Nursing Job

Finding a job as a nurse is pretty simple because there are almost unlimited opportunities for nurses who want to work in healthcare facilities or clinics where they can provide care to patients. 

People who want to work as nurses usually have to take a few steps, even if they already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses will also need to complete these steps in order to get a license. 

Not everyone can be a nurse because most states require that applicants have at least an associate degree in nursing or higher before they’re going to be eligible. 

Nursing Career Progressions

In order to become a nurse, you need to know about the different options that are available from each state. It’s a good idea to make a list of everything that’s required in your state and take note of which requirements you need to meet before becoming a nurse. 

You can get information about all of this from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Keep in mind that you’ll be able to work as a registered nurse after taking courses in nursing theory, nursing science, and the healthcare delivery system.

Each state has different requirements for nurses, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides charts and other statistics that help people figure out what they need to do in order to get licensed. 

Summary

This article displayed that there are numerous opportunities available for nurses. The writer also made it clear that nursing careers are open to any person who wants to work in this field. 

A candidate can choose from many different nursing degrees and nursing specialties, but he or she still has to follow the same steps required by most states in order to become a registered nurse. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also offers information about licensed practical nurse salaries, which will help job seekers make well-informed decisions about their future careers.