If you’ve decided to pursue a career in nursing, you might be surprised to learn just how many specialties there are. With over 100 nursing specialties to pick from, choosing your specialty can seem like a daunting task. So, when it comes time to decide on a specialty, there are a couple of factors you should take into consideration. In this article, we’ll consider each of these factors and how they can lead you towards finding the specialty you excel in.
Who Do You Most Enjoy Working With?
When choosing a specialty, consider the kind of patients you enjoy working with and the age groups that appeal to you.
If you enjoy working with older patients, you might consider becoming an aged-care nurse, sometimes known as a geriatric nurse. Aged care nurses specialize in the care of older adults who have complex and acute health issues due to aging and focus on supporting them with their well-being, health, and daily living needs due to aging. These nurses may work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes.
On the other hand, if you prefer working with families, young people, and children, there are multiple specialties you may be interested in. If you love working with children of all ages, you may want to consider pediatric nursing. Pediatric nurses work with children aged from birth through to 18 to 21-year-olds. There are many settings a pediatric nurse can work in, ranging from private health practices to public health centers.
If you would love to work with babies, you may excel in neonatal nursing. Neonatal nurses can work with healthy infants from birth to 28 days, as well as in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This unit focuses on caring for newborns who are born prematurely or are critically ill. If your interest is in working with mothers, becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife may be your calling. Nurse-midwives care for obstetrical patients throughout their pregnancy and during birth.
What Kind of Environment Do You Thrive In?
Nurses can work in a variety of locations, so before deciding on a specialty, consider which setting will best fit you.
If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment, there are a few specialties you should investigate further. The first specialty is an emergency room nurse. Emergency room nurses work fast under high-pressure conditions to help save lives.
Another high-pressure specialty is theater nursing, also referred to as scrub nursing. Scrub nurses work alongside surgical teams during operations, so they must learn surgeries in detail to know and anticipate the surgeon’s needs. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is another intense environment that you may enjoy working in. ICU nurses provide care to seriously ill or injured patients.
Labor and delivery nursing could also be an option if you thrive in fast-paced situations. Labor and delivery nurses focus on caring for babies and mothers at all stages of labor and delivery. Tasks can include assisting with labor, assessing fetal health, identifying complications, and more.
If you prefer a more laid-back, lower-pressure environment, there are plenty of options for you to consider. You may choose to become a school nurse who provides general care to students, such as administering medication, daily health management, and education. Cosmetic nursing is another option you may enjoy, with duties including cosmetic procedures that improve skin appearance and enhance facial features. These nurses often work in independent practices or spa-like environments.
What Are Your Healthcare Passions and Interests?
If you have a certain healthcare interest or passion, you can pursue it through one of numerous nursing specialties.
If you’re passionate about helping cancer patients, oncology nursing is the obvious choice. Oncology nurses care for cancer patients in all stages of treatment. If you’re interested in end-of-life care, palliative care nursing may be for you. Palliative care nurses provide end-of-life health care and provide comfort and support to terminal patients and their families.
For those who want to be helping mental health patients, mental health nursing is a specialty you should consider. Mental health nurses look after patients with a wide range of mental health conditions.
If your interests lie in public service and community health, public health nursing may be the specialty for you. Public health nurses work on improving public health issues such as immunization and contagious illnesses.
Deciding on a Specialty to Make a Difference
Nursing can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career where you get to make a real difference in people’s lives, you just have to pick a specialty, enroll in one of many course options, such as online accelerated nursing programs, and you’ll be well on your way to making a real difference in people’s lives.
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