So you have been considering a career in nursing? Then good for you; the nursing career is constantly evolving and will continue to do so as...
The demand for nurses is continuously growing, and the nursing career path provides several advantages, including high salary potential, numerous opportunities, and a feeling of fulfillment.
Now you might ask why nurses should specialize. Given the significant changes in the American healthcare system, many nurses may find themselves in this situation.
To transfer their knowledge to a new generation of nurses and to promote change within the healthcare system, they could desire to take leadership or teaching positions.
The rewards for specializing and growing are substantial, making continued education worthwhile. By specializing in a specific niche, nurses can become experts and leaders in their fields and impact healthcare outcomes, education, and practice.
This article will discuss the fastest-growing fields where nurses can specialize and put their unique abilities to work.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are among the most sympathetic and close-knit healthcare professionals.
After all, their work is founded on long-lasting and occasionally multigenerational patient relationships.
FNPs have always been in demand. However, a recent shortage of family practice physicians has caused an increase in the number of primary care positions that FNPs fill, particularly in underprivileged populations.
FNPs typically have a meaningful sense of the general health of the communities they serve because of their comprehensive grasp of treatment across all age groups.
This may be extremely helpful to healthcare professionals and community leaders during times of crisis.
An FNP provides patients of all ages with both primary and specialist treatment. They generally concentrate on preventative care, long-term health monitoring, and supporting physicians with potential problems.
Nurse practitioners can work in many places, such as private practice, surgical clinics, hospitals, and managed care facilities.
They also have various sub-specialization options.
While they are distinct areas of focus, these specializations typically fall within the category of primary healthcare.
So, their responsibilities can always differ. But here are some things you can expect to do while working as an FNP.
Keep track of medical history updates for patients.
Gather samples (blood, urine, mucus, stool, etc.) and order diagnostic procedures or lab tests as necessary.
Conduct thorough evaluations of patients and develop and carry out treatment strategies.
Collaborate with other medical experts and specialists in prescribing medications
Manage other nurses, including RNs, CNAs, and LPNs
Follow up with patients to see if their treatment is working and, if not, what needs to be changed.
Recognize and treat common wounds and serious illnesses
Offer vaccinations
Manage diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and other persistent medical conditions
Write prescriptions for drugs and treatments
Inform and guide patients and their families about available therapies and healthy lifestyle choices.
Working as a nurse practitioner has several benefits, much like the other nursing careers on this list. For one, you can expect a higher earning potential.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a nurse practitioner can expect an average base pay of $123,780 per year, depending on their experience, education, and other factors.
The same report also showed that the overall employment of nurse practitioners will increase by 40% between 2021 and 2031. This is mainly because of the pandemic's shortage of qualified nurses.
Since you will be spending more one-on-one time with patients as a nurse practitioner, you will be able to give them more individualized treatment.
By doing so, you can develop a thorough understanding of their medical requirements and build trust—two things that are crucial for enhancing patients' general health.
The ability to adapt your career focus and direction is another benefit of being a nurse practitioner. Nurses can also work in more than half of the states. Additionally, they enjoy more freedom nationwide.
But how do you become a nurse practitioner in the first place? The reality is becoming a nurse practitioner is a significant career move. One way of doing that is taking an RP to NP online program at a prestigious academic institution such as Arbor University. Therefore, you must have the right skills and educational qualifications to transition successfully.
The minimal educational need to become a nurse practitioner is an advanced nursing degree. But before enrolling in these programs, many graduate institutions demand that applicants have a few years of nursing experience.
You might need a state license and certification to become a nurse practitioner. There are unique licensing requirements for each state. As a result, you must decide what they are before beginning your education and training.
Healthcare organizations typically publish a list of graduate-level schools that have been pre-approved and are acceptable for nurse practitioner licensing in that particular jurisdiction, depending on the laws of your state.
National certification exams may also be required for nurse practitioners. Depending on the candidate's selected field of concentration, several professional associations offer national certifications for nurse practitioners.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board are just a few national organizations certifying nurse practitioners.
Nursing Management
The role of nurse managers in a hospital is essential. They are in charge of various responsibilities at work, including hiring nurses, running day-to-day operations, and more.
One of the reasons why most hospitals run as efficiently as they should is because of their presence.
You will make choices as a nurse manager that will enhance the day-to-day operation of a healthcare organization. You'll work to give patients the finest care possible.
Being a nurse manager allows you to oversee healthcare resources without entirely separating yourself from the patient care floors, which is the optimal combination of administration and patient care.
Although the duties of a nurse manager can vary depending on the healthcare organization they work in, some of the things you can expect are the following.
Establish departmental schedules that specify the hours nurses will be on duty.
Monitor nurses while they work with patients, handle patient issues, interact with families, and carry out all other duties of their jobs.
Give patients better care while completing all bedside nursing procedures that are necessary.
Resolve any problems with the way the clinic is run.
Coordinate with employees to ensure patients get the best treatment possible from intake to release.
Hire and educate new nurses
Increase the effectiveness of all processes within the healthcare industry.
Arrange facility documents for easy recollection and future use.
To succeed, nurse managers must communicate effectively, manage numerous priorities, and solve issues.
Data shows a nurse manager can make a base salary of $95,121 per year based on their abilities, credentials, experiences, and location.
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses devote their expertise and abilities to caring for children from infancy through puberty.
They frequently have an in-depth understanding of child growth and development because many problems are specific to growing and developing bodies.
A pediatric nurse's day is anything but boring. Pediatric nurses typically develop stronger ties with their patients in a different way than they would with adult patients since their charges are younger.
Pediatric nurses may engage in games, jokes, comedic behavior, and even hold patients' hands during strenuous procedures in addition to their regular duties.
Every day, pediatric nurses are responsible for a variety of tasks. Such responsibilities can include the following.
Examine the indications of life and symptoms.
Carry out diagnostic tests.
Administer drugs and shots and perform other minor procedures.
Make a treatment plan and arrange for any necessary follow-up care.
Inform family members of possible treatment options.
Work with kids, inquire about their health, record patient symptoms and medical background for the doctor, and ask about their health to make a diagnosis.
Recognize changes in a child's symptoms and act quickly in an emergency.
Participate in pediatric pain management.
Follow age-appropriate recommendations when immunizing children, taking blood samples, or administering medication.
Keep careful notes while monitoring body temperature, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure.
Evaluate kids for abuse symptoms and indicators.
Address the concerns and needs of parents and assist families in coping with a child's illness or accident.
Stay on top of recent innovations, laws, drug therapies, technology, and medical practices.
You might be asking how to become a pediatric nurse now that we've established what they do daily.
To get started, you must have a bachelor's degree in nursing. You must also complete specific training in working with children and pass the National Council Licensure Examination.
Depending on your chosen healthcare facility, you might also need certification through the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board before or during employment.
For this certification, you must have finished the necessary coursework and logged at least 1,800 hours of pediatric patient care in the previous two years.
Pediatric nursing is one of the most sought-after nursing specialties because they work in various settings. As the globe struggles with the dangers and uncertainty of the pandemic, demand is expected to surge.
Being a pediatric nurse can be financially advantageous in either case. Depending on experience and credentials, data shows that certified pediatric nurses make an average of $76,000 a year.
Becoming a Nurse Today
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