The nursing profession is broad and offers a wide range of options for professional advancement. Even though the majority of the duties and competencies throughout nursing occupations are identical, each has distinctive qualities that can make them better suited to different types of individuals.
A profession in nursing can be highly rewarding and offers several chances for skill growth and promotion. Individuals can practice in a variety of environments and concentrate on a certain specialization, such as a nurse educator or nurse administrator, if they have the appropriate qualifications. When embarking on a career in nursing, it can be helpful for individuals to choose a specific field of interest. Below we discuss some of the key responsibilities and specialties available in the nursing field.
General duties of registered nurses
A registered nurse (RN) is a medical practitioner who helps physicians and other healthcare providers with patient care responsibilities. They examine patients physically to assess any health concerns. They provide medical attention to those who are ill, injured, disabled or recovering. In addition, registered nurses establish and implement nursing care plans and educate patients about the treatments they need to follow for their medical issues. They are also in charge of supplying a clean, risk-free working environment. RNs also provide emotional support to patients as well as their relatives and encourage them to adopt healthy behaviors. They conduct and evaluate certain diagnostic tests and support medical professionals throughout treatments.
Various career paths for registered nurses
A career as a nurse will be extremely diverse as you will have countless options to choose from. For those looking to transition into nursing who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field, one option to consider is the ABSN program at Holy Family University. This accelerated bachelor of science in nursing can be completed in as little as two years and includes 100% online coursework. Those considering a profession in nursing can choose from a variety of specializations. While all nurses offer assistance and treatment to their patients, certain nurses are more skilled in treating particular patient populations and providing particular kinds of care. Some of the various nursing careers open to registered nurses include:
Clinical nurse specialist
An RN with extensive training in pharmacology, physiology and other advanced medical techniques is known as a clinical nurse specialist. Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) can also take on leadership roles in various medical facilities, managing teams and nursing personnel. A CNS can also work in conjunction with research teams and other medical experts to advance and enhance existing procedures in nursing and therapeutic modalities. In essence, a CNS is a medical expert who supervises the direction and administration of healthcare institutions.
Clinical nurse specialists are capable of performing a wide range of tasks. They oversee nursing staff to give patients the best possible care and take part in medical research to advance medical treatments and methods. Additionally, they examine ways to reduce costs in healthcare facilities while enhancing the standard of care provided to patients. These professionals also teach nursing personnel about best practices, rules and clinical techniques, as well as serving as a point of contact for patients and healthcare professionals.
Advanced practice registered nurse
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) have expert knowledge, clinical competencies and decision-making skills in nursing. They provide patients with treatment regimens, examine illnesses and health problems, counsel the public on a range of health-related topics and assist patients in managing chronic illnesses. They frequently act as a point of contact among the relatives of patients and doctors. Advanced practice registered nurses include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and nurse anesthetists.
Advanced practice registered nurses play a crucial role as medical providers and community health practitioners in addition to providing preventative medical services. They are capable of working in a range of medical environments, including long-term care institutions, pain management clinics, schools, specialty clinics, dentistry offices, hospitals and community-based organizations. Additionally, they can focus on working with a particular patient demographic by becoming specialists in the field of pediatrics, women’s health or the elderly.
The range of tasks and obligations assigned to an APRN will vary based on the kind of medical facility they work for. They are in charge of examining patients physically and making diagnoses. They request and interpret laboratory tests for patients as well as conduct comprehensive assessments of patients’ psychological, psychosocial, functional and developmental domains. Additionally, they maintain medical histories of patients and modify patient treatment regimens. They ensure that the medical institution continues to adhere to legal requirements. APRNs also educate patients and their relatives about the treatment and refer patients to specialists when required.
Nurse administrator
An advanced practice nurse who manages the nursing workforce and department is called a nurse administrator. They make sure that nurses follow the rules and guidelines set out by their hospital. Additionally, nursing administrators ensure that the highest quality of care is given to patients by their nurses. They help to raise the standard and effectiveness of the nursing profession in their organization.
Nurse administrators support the professional growth of their staff members, carry out administrative procedures and oversee nursing patient care. They design and organize timetables for nursing staff. They make sure that patient records are completed and examine the care and methods of nursing. In addition, they cooperate with medical professionals, including physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. They are responsible for addressing problems within the department as well as putting together performance reports for departments. They arrange and direct staff meetings for nurses and implement departmental policies. Additionally, nurse administrators are involved in recruiting, employing and educating nursing staff as well as providing nursing professionals with opportunities for further education.
Nurse educator
A nursing educator is an experienced qualified nurse who instructs both students and other nurses. Nursing educators frequently have academic positions in educational institutions or serve as clinical nursing instructors in healthcare facilities. While they are educators, many nursing educators continue to practice nursing as well. While teaching, nurse educators can better maintain their understanding and abilities by continuing to serve patients.
Training and teaching both seasoned nurses as well as nursing students preparing to enter the field is the responsibility of a nursing educator. They are in charge of developing course curriculum and schedules for lessons. They teach students and promote class discussions. In addition, nurse educators guide students in clinical environments and monitor the results and development of students’ learning. In addition to teaching, doctorate-holding nursing educators can additionally carry out research and produce academic writing, such as peer-reviewed publications.
Nursing educator roles come in a variety of forms. Some examples include:
- Nursing professor: Nursing professors are in charge of instructing university-level nursing programs. They may also produce scholarly writing and carry out research in nursing.
- Clinical nurse educator: A clinical nursing educator instructs nursing professionals in clinical settings while they are employed by a healthcare facility.
- Nursing education consultant: The role of a nursing education consultant is to develop the prerequisites and learning goals for students enrolled in nursing courses and training programs.
- Clinical lab instructor: Nursing educators who train individuals in a laboratory environment are known as clinical lab teachers.
Public health nursing
A public health nurse is a licensed nurse who uses illness prevention and medical awareness to safeguard and enhance the wellbeing of a community or particular demographic. They promote long-term health and look for methods to increase care access, particularly for marginalized or impoverished groups.
While they carry out fundamental nursing tasks, public health nurses spend the majority of their time educating the population. Typically, the responsibilities of a public health nurse consist of:
Examining demographic data
Examining demographic data helps to determine the health problems and possible dangers inside a community. In addition, public health nurses gather data on children, adults and the elderly and pinpoint general health concerns that they may be facing. Using this information, they collaborate with other medical specialists to develop public health programs that are beneficial to the community.
Administering immunizations
Public health nurses can be summoned to a company or school to provide vaccines to the general public. They may also work as a part of a healthcare team that provides free immunizations.
Teaching other medical professionals
Public health nurses may be responsible for teaching other medical professionals as well as informing clinics and hospitals about treatment plans for patients with underlying medical illnesses or recurrent patterns in community health issues.
Developing strategies for possible disease outbreaks
In the event of a mass contamination, environmental or biohazardous incident, public health nurses may assist in the planning process. In order to create reaction plans in the event of a disease outbreak, they must collaborate with local, regional or state officials and be informed about both domestic and international diseases.
Raising public knowledge of health concerns unique to a community
Public health nurses may assist in developing creative strategies to raise awareness of a health concern or sickness prevention. This might entail collaborating with experts in marketing or public relations to develop public service announcements, posters, billboard advertisements and other creative approaches to raise public awareness of health issues or sickness prevention.
Finding patterns of neglect and abuse
In accordance with federal legislation, public health nurses assist in identifying and disclosing patterns of child neglect and domestic violence in the community.
Occupational health nurse
An occupational health nurse (OHN) works to prevent diseases and injuries that occur in the workplace. Additionally, an OHN tends to sick or injured workers. Occupational health nurses make sure that workers remain safe and collaborate closely with both companies and workers to achieve this goal. Although OHNs are employed by clinics, hospitals and medical facilities, they are also employed by private businesses, so OHNs can operate in a variety of settings and sectors.
For the benefit of community organizations and employee populations, occupational health nurses provide health and safety initiatives. Like environmental health nurses, OHNs’ experience in healthcare is complemented by their understanding of business and health, which together offer the right balance for a safe and healthy work environment. The specific competency that sets apart a registered nurse with a state license in general nursing practice from an occupational health nurse is an awareness of employee care.
OHNs are responsible for monitoring, assessing and analyzing any hazards that are identified. They do this by leveraging the research they do on the consequences of exposure to hazards at work. OHNs often handle cases for both work-related and non-work-related illnesses and injuries. When it comes to group health, workers’ compensation for employees, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), long- and short-term disability benefits and workers’ compensation, OHNs perform case management.
Occupational health nurses also have other responsibilities, such as harm prevention and risk reduction. They provide initiatives for staff members to support various constructive adjustments to work and lifestyle habits. By providing preventive techniques, including chronic disease monitoring, vaccination, stress management, smoking cessation, diet and weight control, exercise and fitness and stress management, the OHN job role also involves helping employees remain productive and healthy.
In addition to the services highlighted above, these nurses offer crisis intervention and counseling for various problems that may arise that are outside of the purview of therapy that is restricted to treating work-related diseases and accidents. OHNs frequently provide psychological and drug use counseling to staff members. In order to provide the best care possible, they may collaborate with psychologists.
Travel nurse
A travel nurse is a certified nurse who fills in as a temporary employee for clinics, hospitals and other healthcare organizations. They may offer care in a variety of areas where there is a demand as they are often trained in numerous clinical specializations. For instance, a travel nurse may work in an understaffed hospital’s emergency room or offer urgent treatment in a clinic after a disease epidemic. Typically, a travel nurse remains in one place for eight to 26 weeks or until the medical facility no longer requires their assistance.
A travel nurse is accountable for the wellbeing and treatment of their patients, just as in most nursing professions. They have a duty to provide patients with high-quality care due to their position of responsibility. They may examine patients, document their health indicators, and obtain tissue, blood or urine samples. They administer medication to patients and support medical professionals during exams or procedures. They may change bandages, dress wounds and help to create patient care plans. They may also be responsible for feeding patients and keeping an eye on their food consumption, as well as bathing, washing and assisting patients with using the restroom. Additionally, they maintain and clean medical devices and equipment and keep track of patient histories and notes using EMR systems.
Legal nurse consulting
A registered nurse (RN) who works with lawyers and other legal experts to offer expert advice on medical situations, such as accidents or medical negligence, is known as a legal nurse consultant. They evaluate data, outcomes and healthcare-related challenges in order to advise legal teams on particular matters.
As qualified experts with knowledge in the medical arena, legal nurse consultants can aid attorneys in comprehending the difficulties faced by physicians and patients. When assessing the advantages and disadvantages of medical situations, attorneys frequently turn to legal nurse consultants to examine the medical data.
Legal nurse consultants assist litigation teams in looking into medical situations by combining their knowledge and experience in the field of healthcare with a view to enhancing legal outcomes. To assist legal teams in coming to the right decisions, they review case files, medical, employment and disability records, and evaluate body scans, X-rays and other data. They may also provide expert witness testimony in court, particularly in situations where medical misconduct is alleged.
A legal nursing consultant develops and analyzes the medical language used in legal papers on a regular basis, mostly in an office setting. In addition to legal firms, they may examine patient data or evaluate medical claims for pharmaceutical and insurance corporations.
They perform patient interviews, analyze medical evaluations and examinations, decide on the long-term health requirements and expenses of plaintiffs in trials and investigate legislation, precedents and healthcare literature. Legal nurse consultants are also employed by government agencies, patient safety groups, healthcare facilities, forensic divisions and the legal departments of corporations and sectors.
Career opportunities
Registered nurses have a wide range of career opportunities that they can explore, which include both a variety of clinical and administrative positions. Many of these roles may be accessed by obtaining additional education in a specialty, such as nurse educators and advanced practice nursing. Offering generous compensation and a variety of possible roles, registered nurses are in increasing demand as we move into the future, making nursing a very wise career move.
