You’re probably not unfamiliar with the nursing field. From films and television shows to news articles regarding nursing shortages, everyone knows the importance of nurses in the healthcare sector.
Nurses are essential to patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes since they are the primary healthcare providers for patients of all types. Without these professionals, the healthcare sector would find it difficult to operate at all.
Because of this, there will always be a need for nursing specialists. Even though COVID-19 presented a new set of difficulties for the medical profession and nurses, nursing remains one of the most sought-after professions worldwide.
So you wish to pursue a career in this gratifying field but wonder where to start?
The best thing about nursing is that it offers its professionals many career paths. Although most nursing graduates typically prefer to begin their careers in a hospital setting. Some nurses take this path because they enjoy it and stick with one hospital department throughout their careers. Others, however, pursue one of the numerous nursing specialties outside hospitals. When it comes to different types of nursing, it’s all about preference; there is no right or wrong answer.
In the article below, we discuss the different types of nurses and their job responsibilities:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Do you have a strong passion for providing patients of all ages with high-quality care? The best option, in that case, could be to become a Family Nurse Practitioner or FNP
Among the different job roles of a family nurse practitioner, the primary duty includes diagnosing patients’ medical conditions, performing diagnostic testing, developing treatment plans, and educating patients on leading healthy lifestyles. Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and computer skills can help you excel in this path.
Your day-to-day job duties as an FNP can include the following:
- Identify and treat medical conditions
- Create treatment programs for both acute and long-term illnesses
- Prescribe medicine
- Conduct physical examinations
- Educate patients about illness management and preventative care
Cardiac Nurse
Heart disease is currently among the top leading causes of death in the US. With a rise in people experiencing heart-related issues, the demand for cardiac nurses has increased too. Not only this, but you will also help with surgeries like bypass, angioplasty, or pacemaker surgery as a cardiac nurse.
These professionals can work in a variety of environments, including Cardiovascular intensive care units (CVICU), Coronary care units (CCU), Intensive care units (ICU), Operating theaters, Cardiac rehabilitation centers, etc.
Typical job responsibilities of a cardiac nurse can include the following:
- Prepare tools and assist the doctor as they examine and treat the patient
- Record all care details concisely, precisely, and comprehensively, as well as promptly, on the proper forms, in the appropriate format
- Connect patients to devices that collect data on electrocardiograms, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and other variables
- Give after-operative care
- Guide and encourage patients to make lifestyle adjustments
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
One of the nursing specialties with the highest salary is Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). From the beginning of their treatment until their full recovery, CRNA professionals give close attention to their patients.
To succeed in this line of work, one must possess good interpersonal and communication abilities. In addition to hospitals and other medical care facilities, certified nurse anesthetists can work in public health facilities, dentist offices, surgical centers, and many different settings.
The following are some of their regular duties:
- Assess the patient’s health both before and after the operation
- Order and evaluate the diagnostic test
- Identify emergencies and use cardiopulmonary resuscitation or airway management to address them
- Set up the operating room with all of the required supplies and machinery
- Administer pre- and post-anesthesia care and dispense medication
- Work with other medical specialists to develop a pain management strategy
Nurse Case Manager
Do you enjoy researching, coordinating, and managing? Then, a nurse case manager career might be just what you need.
As a nurse case manager, you are responsible for designing, administering, and reviewing health plans for elderly patients, those recovering from injuries, or dealing with chronic illnesses. Nurse case managers can find employment inside and outside hospitals or other healthcare facilities. A good nurse case manager must possess excellent leadership, motivational, and interpersonal skills to take their career to the next level.
On a given day, your day-to-day job duties can include the following:
- Together with family members, medical professionals, and other health service providers, plan and organize care, resources, and services on an individual basis
- Promote individualized treatment plans that take a patient’s specific healthcare requirements into account
- Arrange for their patients’ medical appointments and then make sure they show up
- Inform the patient and their family about their health situation
- Provide information and direction for negotiating difficult medical decisions
- To promote high-quality, cost-effective care with the best patient results, act as a liaison between patients and their insurance companies
Nurse Educator
As the title suggests, you will be in charge of imparting your knowledge, experience, and abilities to others to support their professional development. Nurse educators might serve in both clinical settings and classrooms.
These professionals are primarily responsible for creating lesson plans, delivering lectures, and assessing their students in clinical situations and through tests and assignments. As a result, you must possess exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
A typical workday for a nurse educator can involve the following:
- Create educational programs
- Educate technical workers and caregivers on how to use modern medical tools and equipment
- Carry out studies and produce papers or proposals
- Keep up with the most recent clinical techniques
- Identify possibilities for professional development and educational requirements for working nurses, and act as a mentor to nurses
- Plan instructional programs, patient treatments, and nursing practices using evidence from research
Conclusion
Note that this is by no means an exhaustive list of all the possible nursing types. There are countless other opportunities available to nurses inside and outside the hospital. Whether you’re looking to diversify your experience, sharpen your skills, or earn extra income, platforms like Locumstory can serve as valuable resources, offering insights into additional nursing career paths. Finding the best path among the several nursing areas can significantly impact your earning potential, job satisfaction, and overall career. That said, the most crucial elements in your success include obtaining the proper education, earning the necessary certifications, and acquiring the soft skills that will make you a must-hire for potential companies.