If you’re looking for a career in nursing, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the many available specialties, such as pediatrics, oncology, geriatrics, and public health. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of each discipline can help you decide which to pursue. The very first step before choosing which specialty you’d like to work in is finding RN programs near me which can strengthen your knowledge and help employers know you’re a highly trained professiona.
Additionally, earning certifications or additional degrees in nursing can open up opportunities such as management, education, or research roles. Demonstrating communication, problem-solving, empathy, organization, and leadership skills can make you stand out and help you advance. Nursing is a rewarding career, offering plenty of potential for growth and success.
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What is a nursing specialty?
A nursing specialty is an area of nursing that specializes in a particular patient group or illness. Examples of focusing on a patient group are pediatrics (children) or geriatrics (seniors), while specialties covering a health condition might be diabetes or cancer.
Before committing to a specialty, nurses are usually required to complete a period of rotation to gain practical experience. After fulfilling their hours of competencies and necessary hands-on experience, nurses can opt for further study and then receive a certification in a given nursing specialty that focuses on a particular section of medical nursing, such as heart disease or the digestive system.
For nurses who wish to specialize but are wondering what you can do with a doctorate in nursing, Marymount University offers an excellent course. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredited the university to award doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees, and its Doctor of Nursing program (DNP) ensures students receive expert teaching and information on various nursing policies, laws, and cultural disparities. This means students who graduate from Marymount University can advance their careers in the nursing world and advocate for exceptional patient care.
Different specializations for nurses and what environments each pathway will work in
Cardiac care nurse
Cardiac care nurse is a nurse specialization that involves providing care for patients with cardiac or cardiovascular diseases. Generally, one can locate cardiac care nurses in hospitals or other medical care facilities.
Cardiac care nurses collaborate with multiple specialists, including doctors, health technicians, and other healthcare personnel, to look after and support their patients. They are responsible for helping patients comprehend their diagnosis and any essential procedures and sustaining their psychological and physical requirements. Besides, they may be liable for observing and evaluating their patient’s vital signs and other pertinent lab tests.
In the hospital setup, cardiac care nurses work in a fast-paced and highly technologically advanced environment. To work in this type of environment, nurses must be able to quickly assess a patient’s physical state and provide help as needed. In addition, they must understand complex medical data and ensure they meet patients’ needs.
Cardiac care nurses must likewise be at ease handling several people in distinct situations. They must communicate effectively with physicians, other healthcare personnel, and their patients. Nurses must understand how to answer correctly and show compassion for their patients.
Neonatal nurse
A neonatal nurse specialization specifically attends infants born prematurely or with medical problems shortly after delivery. With specialized training in newborn care, neonatal nurses aid in stabilizing the newborns’ well-being by observing vital signs like heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, body weight, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.
They also provide medical attention, nutrition management, and curative care. Neonatal nurses may prescribe medicines, offer respiratory care, or perform surgical procedures depending on the situation.
These nurses commonly care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), designed mainly to take care of very unwell newborns who were born sooner than the expected time or who require surgery or other intensive care. The environment can usually be situated in hospitals or perinatal units and may be stressful due to the delicate character of the patients.
Neonatal nurses must function with high sensitivity, patience, and understanding to attend to babies effectively. They must be able to provide emotional assistance to guardians of newborns and demonstrate empathy towards those in difficult circumstances. Moreover, they must know the value of keeping accurate records and reports.
Oncology nurse
Oncology nurses specialize in attending to cancer patients. They strive to deliver comprehensive care and education to their clients to guarantee the highest quality of life. Oncology nurses must be competent in performing a thorough assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of people with cancer.
These nurses must understand the physical effects of cancer and its treatment. They can help manage pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and other adverse medication reactions. Oncology nurses are also liable for aiding patients and their families when making treatment decisions.
The oncology nurse works in a physically and emotionally taxing environment. Oncology nurses offer compassionate and sympathetic care, instruction, and technical support in administering medical treatments. They must be capable of evaluating the scenario and providing comprehensive information while respecting patients and their family’s choices. These nurses collaborate closely with the oncologist and other healthcare practitioners.
On top of the patient’s bedside care, oncology nurses frequently give classes and support groups and conduct therapy sessions with patients and families. They must be ready to work with intricate cases and maintain suitable documentation. Additionally, they must be knowledgeable about the extensive range of symptoms cancer patients might have and any treatments or medications that might be necessary.
Hospice nurse
A hospice nurse is an indispensable specialization for nurses who are devoted to tending to individuals who are terminally ill, as well as their families. This specialty involves compassionate care and support for people with a limited life expectancy in the final stages of a terminal illness. The hospice nurse pathway can be in hospice care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, or a patient’s home.
The hospice nurse environment entails complex emotions, conflicting attitudes, and ethical problems that should encompass the patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This care offers comfort and fosters dignity across the person’s journey. The hospice nurse should be able to provide pain and symptom management and emotional and spiritual help to the patient and relatives. This type of job necessitates excellent bedside manners and emotional balance.
Besides, the hospice nurse should have a clear comprehension of the physical and emotional needs of the patient and also oversee the delivery of other team members. They need to be able to identify any variations in the patient’s condition and take appropriate action.
School nurse
A school nurse is a specialist that works in the learning environment. Mainly, a school nurse administers health services for students in K-12 educational institutes. They could operate in a physical building on the school campus or virtual space, such as in a telehealth backdrop. This may incorporate general medical services, like primary care for illnesses and injuries, and more intricate precautionary maintenance.
A school nurse’s responsibility is vital in guaranteeing the health and security of the school’s student body. It includes conducting health assessments, providing vaccinations, and guiding pupils and parents on topics relating to health and well-being.
These nurses must also be knowledgeable about the unique needs of students who could require extra healthcare services. Additionally, school nurses collaborate with administrators and personnel to create safety procedures and design health education activities.
Concerning the physical environment, a school nurse should be comfortable working in the school setting. This could include summer and after-school programs and the usual educational term. Although office space may be dedicated to the school nurse, they could also be expected to be on call for health and safety needs outside their scheduled working hours.
Emergency room nurse
An emergency room nurse is a specialist dedicated to delivering quick and specialized treatment to patients in emergency rooms. The nursing pathway is a professional practice designed to fulfill the distinct needs of patients requiring immediate medical support because of illness or harm. These nurses make the most of their specialist expertise to categorize patients based on illness severity and offer quality care as fast as possible.
The nurse pathway operates in an acute hospital setting that consists of a larger hospital with a dedicated ER department. Nurses in this environment can trust the assistance of other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers.
Free-standing emergency departments (EDs) are smaller and provide the same administrations as an acute hospital environment but are usually positioned in communities needing more extensive hospital access. The emergency room nurse offers a full scope of primary, emergency medical, and trauma care in this setting.
In both settings, the nurse is uniquely responsible for supervising numerous patients with a broad collection of injuries and illnesses and maintaining the overall safety of the ER. They assess patient health and treat conditions ranging from minor to life-threatening.
Psychiatric nurse
A psychiatric nurse is a specialized attendant who offers psychological well-being services to people, families, and groups enduring psychological sickness, emotional disturbances, and behavioral problems. This includes evaluations, guiding, medication management, crisis intervention, advocacy, and health education. Psychiatric nurses regularly work in inpatient psychological well-being offices, including doctor’s facilities or psychiatric wards, and in outpatient settings, for example, private practices or community facilities.
These nurses assess patients’ physical well-being to distinguish any medical issues or conditions contributing to the psychological well-being issue. They may utilize various medications and treatments to address the individual’s needs. These medications may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, music therapy, and family therapy. They also collaborate with different experts to build an individualized treatment plan.
Psychiatric nurses are answerable for giving short- and long-term patient care. This includes observing the patient’s progress to gauge the treatment plan’s effectiveness and maintaining an environment suitable for treatment and recovery. Additionally, psychiatric nurses educate and support patients and their families, helping them comprehend the psychological wellness issue and advancing healthy coping skills.
Geriatric nurse
Geriatric nursing is a specialized nursing practice focusing on looking after aged individuals. These people frequently require particular medical aid and help to manage their wellness and optimize their quality of life. Geriatric nurses accurately diagnose and treat medical conditions in elderly patients and help them handle their chronic conditions. They evaluate, treat, and use preventive tactics to guarantee elderly patients are well cared for.
These nurses continuously work with patients and their families and provide multi-disciplinary support to address geriatric patients’ emotional and physical needs. In this role, geriatric nurses develop specialized care plans for elderly patients, seize available resources, and provide community support to guarantee the best care. They also collaborate with other healthcare team members and guide and support those who care for elderly patients.
Geriatric nursing is generally exercised in numerous healthcare settings, such as long-term care establishments, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home healthcare agencies, hospitals, and outpatient medical clinics. In these healthcare settings, geriatric nurses use evidence-based practices to devise personalized care plans and provide consistent, amiable care throughout their patient’s journey.
Reproductive health nurse
A reproductive health nurse is a specialized assistant who collaborates with both males and females and offers comprehensive care for reproductive health matters. This includes anything from contraceptive guidance to fertility assistance and all things between. Reproductive health nurses can also support patients facing sexual health disorders, including STDs, teenage pregnancy, and sexual dysfunction.
These nurses usually work in a variety of healthcare settings. These include general hospitals, primary care centers, private practices, and reproductive health clinics. They will likely be integral to the healthcare group in such environments.
Their primary responsibilities comprise providing direct care to those with reproductive health concerns and offering solo and group counseling sessions. They will also be responsible for health education and referrals for specialized services.
In addition, reproductive health nurses may work with other health care professionals such as physicians, nutritionists, and social workers. They will also be involved with research and establishing educational projects for patients.
Choosing the best nursing specialization
Nursing provides multiple specializations to select from, allowing nurses to concentrate on a specialized area of focus to care for patients more effectively. Each specialization has its place in different medical environments.
For instance, nurses specializing in surgery may be found in operating theatres, while those engaged in administration and education are likely in administrative offices and classrooms. Whatever pathway nurses take, their role remains: to provide quality care and service to patients.