A Complete Nursing Career Overview

With almost 2.6M registered nurses (RN) in the UnitedB. Certified Mid-wife
States, nursing is now the largest health careThis is a specialty nurse position where the nurse aids
profession in the country. If you think that hospitalschildbearing women. It starts during the
are the only place a nurse could be found, you arepreconception stage and goes through the prenatal,
certainly misled. Public health agencies, communities,labor and delivery. Postpartum period care is also
ambulatory care centers and other places whereincluded in her duties. The nurse also provides family
health care services are rendered also commonlyplanning counseling as well as gynecological care for
have nurses employed.women.
1. The Nursing PracticeC. Case Manager
Nursing covers a wide area of practice. It includesOver time, a nurse can become a nurse case
- Childcaremanager. In this position, the nurse will be involved in
- Elderly carethe process of organizing as well as coordinating the
- Services for pregnant womenresources and services of an entire group of nurses,
- Services for newborn infantssuch as an entire hospital.
- Specialty area - injury nursingD. Nurse Educator
- Specialty area - cancer nursingThis is also a position a nurse could get involved with.
- Specialty area - forensic nursingEducating people about proper health care needs and
2. Choose Your Nursing Programprocedures would be the basic tasks for this position.
The first step to be a nurse is to graduate from aA Nurse Practitioner on the other hand conducts
nursing program. This would enable you to take aphysical exams on patients, conducts diagnoses and
state licensure examination. In the US, more thanprovides treatments. A nurse practitioner could also
1500 nursing programs are offered. Three of thesewrite prescriptions and could also manage patients
programs prepare you in assuming different taskswith chronic conditions such as diabetics and those
once you graduate.with hypertension.
A. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)E. Nurse Anesthetist
This is a four-year curriculum offered in colleges andA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist assists
universities. A graduate of this course has theduring operations. They give anesthesia to the
advantage of learning health care settings thatpatients before and after the operation.
includes leadership and management. A degree in BSNThere are also various specialty nursing programs
is preferred and often required in many fields ofthat would help you specialize in a specific area.
nursing.Radiology Nursing, Rehabilitation Nursing, AIDS Care
B. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)Nursing, and Forensic Nursing are few of these
This is a 2 to 3 year program offered in communityspecialty areas. Radiology Nurses are concerned with
college as well as in junior collages. This programpatients that undergo diagnosis in radiology imaging
prepares the student in handling direct patient care.environments. It also includes Ultrasonography,
C. Hospital Diplomamagnetic resonance and radiation oncology.
This is a 2 to 3 year program that is based inRehabilitation Nurses or Psychiatric Nurses takes on
hospitals.providing physical and emotional support both to the
3. Nursing Positionspatient and their families. They deal with patients
Now that you've covered the basics, let's take ahaving mental incapacities. An AIDS Care Nurse
closer look on some of the nursing positions you canmanages the physical, psychological, spiritual and social
occupy. These positions are based on yourneeds of a patient suffering with AIDS. A Forensic
experience and education.Nurse works in a different environment with other
A. Entry-level nursing positionnurses. They work with the law enforcement officials
This is the Staff Nurse Position. The nurse takes onto help in the investigation of crimes like sexual
making judgments based on scientific knowledge. Youassault and accidental death. They also help in the
have to rely on procedures and standardized caretreatment of the victims of these crimes.
plans.