What Are The Available Nursing Careers For You?

Best Nursing Careers For You

Careers in Nursing Fields

Different Types of Nursing Careers

Exploring Careers - Registered Nurse and Nurse Management

The individuals that answer your call button at the hospital or the emergency room professional that takes your vitals has completed training in the field of nursing. A wide range of professions is found within the field of nursing that range from registered nurses to head nurses (or managers) at a health care facility. A positive attitude, willingness to help others, and careful medical attention are requirements for those interested in pursuing a nursing career.

A Registered Nurse (Staff Nurse) analyzes, plans, executes, and writes down all of the nursing care regimens for an assigned group of patients within a facility. During examinations and certain procedures, staff nurses are expected to provide assistance. Depending on their job description, they may administer tests or give out medication. A certification is necessary in order to become a registered nurse, as well as an associate's degree. The average salary for a staff nurse is between $48,499 and $68,424.

A Registered Nurse for the Emergency Room is responsible for providing care for people who need emergency attention. The patient flow of an emergency care system is often determined by the experience and judgment of an emergency room registered nurse, as they play a role in establishing priority based upon a variety of needs. They will assess both physical and psychological factors. In order to gain employment as a registered nurse in an emergency room setting, an associates degree, certification, and at least two years of clinical experience is required. Typical yearly salaries are found between $48,842 and $70,223.

An Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse is assigned to the ICU floor where patients with special recuperative needs usually reside. This type of job involves constant evaluations and assessments, as well as knowledge of the total intensive care nursing process. An associates degree, certification, and at least two years of clinical experience are required for this position. ICU nurses usually make between $49,317 and $69,899.

A Critical Care Unit Registered Nurse (also referred to as a Coronary Care Nurse) is assigned to the CCU floor, where patients are in dire need of attention, as their prognosis depends on consistent, managed care. Nurses, who work on this floor, possess an associates degree and have completed at least two years of clinical experience. The average yearly salary for a CCU Nurse is between $49,671 and $71,578.

Registered nurses assigned to an operating room are in charge of nursing care for patients undergoing surgery and other invasive procedures. Some will find themselves alternating between the role of a scrub and a circulating nurse. This particular nursing title earns between $51,389 and $72,210 on a yearly basis.

As for nursing positions in management, one may pursue a career as a Charge Nurse, who guides an entire nursing unit during an assigned shift. Knowledge of emergency procedures is necessary. An associates degree and more than five years of clinical experience is required for one to take a position in this field. A typical salary is seen between $50,420 and $79,387.

A higher position in management is that of a Head Nurse (also referred to as a Nurse or Nursing Manager), who is in charge of not only planning and establishing nursing policies within a unit, but also serves as head of recruitment, selection, and training of clinical staff. This position of Head Nurse is set aside for a registered nurse that possesses at least five years of clinical experience in a related field. A Nursing Manager will also supervise nurses and clinical technicians, who then usually report to head management. The yearly pay for this position is seen between $68,140 and $97,497.

A Chief Nurse Anesthetist is in charge of managing and scheduling nurse anesthetists for the arrangement and secure procedures regarding anesthesia equipment. They are also expected to take a role in instructing students and holding demonstrations for interested parties. Conducting and preparing reports dealing with the data of specific anesthesia, drugs and techniques is also a requirement, as it is important to also note possible patient reactions. In order to be considered for this type of job, a master's degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing, professional certification, and at least seven years of experience is required. This job usually pays on the average of between $138,162 and $187,635 on a yearly basis.

Typical Nursing Courses

When considering a career in nursing, you may consider the courses that a student may encounter when pursuing a job in this particular field. Typically, a nursing student will take classes, such as General Chemistry, General Psychology, General Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Pathophysiology, General Education Natural Sciences (such as Sociology or Anthropology), Mathematics, and English Composition. Additional courses or training may include Fundamentals of Nursing, Pharmacology, Adult Nursing, Family Nursing, and Mental Health Nursing.

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Top 5 Nursing Jobs - From Home Health Nurses to Floor Nursing Careers

Nursing is more than checking vital signs at regular intervals. The nursing field is full of opportunities for the new and experienced nurse who doesn't want to be limited in his or her choices. Here are five of the top choices in the nursing profession.

Once you graduate from nursing school, take a deep breath. The hard part is over and the fun begins. Now, you get to choose where you want to start your nursing career. The hospital floor is not the only choice out there anymore.

1. Home Health Nursing - People are living longer. With that comes the issue of care in the home. More seniors are opting to stay in their primary residence and take advantage of the home health benefits of their insurance plans. One popular nursing job is that of a home health nurse because they have the benefit of making their own schedule. They can take on as few or as many patients as they can handle. Home health nurses aid in bathing, wound care and dressing, general health assessments, and any other issues that the patient may have. There patients can be invalids or ambulatory folks that don't get around so well and seek a nurse that is willing to tend to their care within the home setting. Home health nurses are well paid for their skills and friendly bedside manner.

2. Nursing Assistants - Nursing assistants are an integral part of the nursing profession. They are not registered nurses but they provide patient care that falls under the category of the nursing profession. Nursing assistants are not only found in nursing homes. They work in hospitals, senior living communities, home health, psychiatric facilities, and other facilities where their care is needed. They care for terminally ill patients including children. Nursing assistants provide the care that others shy away from such as changing bedpans, bathing patients that can't bathe themselves, and feeding those patients whose disabilities prevent them from doing it for themselves. They bring respect to the area of nursing care and dignity to their patients. Nursing assistants see, on a daily basis, how their jobs impact the quality of life of their patients and their families. As patients get older, nursing assistants will be needed in big numbers.

3. Emergency Room Nursing - Have you been to an emergency room lately? You have a few doctors that see patients, but the majority of the staff is comprised of nurses. Nurses assess the patients and triage them according to injuries. They monitor them while they wait for a doctor or transfer to another department in the hospital. Emergency room nursing is a fast-paced and stressful atmosphere that satisfies the adventure junky in some of us. Nurses that think fast on their feet would get quite a bit of enjoyment from this area of nursing. There is no shortage of accidents on the road, in the home, and in the air. The job of these nurses is critical to the survival of patients that are hanging on by the thinnest thread.

4. Floor Nursing - There is a wide variety of options in this area. Floor nurses have the options of maternity, critical care, orthopedics, telemetry, surgical, geriatric, and pediatrics. Within these general categories are also oncology and burn units. A nurse can gain lots of experience working within one or several of these areas during their nursing careers. Floor nurses are responsible for a certain number of patients each shift. Patients have the comfort of getting to know their nursing staff and the staff has the pleasure of taking care of them.

5. Operating Room Nursing - Nurses work in the surgical area as well. Nurses can pursue careers as a circulating nurse in the operating room suite, surgical first assistant to the surgeon, and nurse anesthesia care. Nurses that provide anesthesia have at least two years of critical care experience and have attended a nurse anesthesia school for training. Circulating nurses are responsible for everyone in their operating room that day. They function as patient advocates--making sure that the patient being operated on is the correct patient and that the doctor is performing the correct procedure.

Nurses have many career paths available to them. They can pursue any of these five areas or another that they feel drawn to follow.

Jeff Craft has experience working in the healthcare industry as a nurse and writes about medical careers and nursing jobs for HealthCareJobs411. Craft provides first-hand knowledge to job seekers who need advice on how to pursue a healthcare job. Learn about traveling nurse jobs as well as many other popular positions in the profession.

Top 10 Nursing Careers on the Rise

These days, opportunities in nursing have increased and become much more varied.

Along with this is the continued demand for more qualified nurses as the health care field is becoming more complex with specialized fields expanding and the large population of retiring nurses leaving the workplace.

Nurses are now able to find careers that can be more rewarding and specialized outside of the hospital setup.

For anyone who has a desire to help to others, has a keen interest in high quality medicine, or who is into the exploration of new places and people, here are the top 10 nursing careers rise.

Travel Nursing

Currently, there are many towns and cities in the country and the world that are in desperate need of qualified nurses. In response to the growing nursing shortage, the travel nurse industry has quickly become a lucrative career for qualified nurses.

Travel nursing is an exciting career where nurses travel to work temporary short-term positions in different locations and in various capacities. The role offers higher pay than typical stationary positions, professional growth and development, and personal adventure.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation can range from $24 to $42 per hour. Nurses with an RN nursing degree will have the easiest time qualifying for travel nursing positions across the United States as the degree requires a national board exam. LPN's will need to check licensing requirements for each state and apply for temporary licenses when needed.

Military Nursing

Here you will be working with the military forces both at home and overseas. When you work in the Armed Services, opportunities for further education, travel, and career enhancement will be available to you. Your pay can be up to $45,000 annually, and you may be able to receive a loan to repay your nursing school fees.

Forensic Nursing

Forensic Nurses work with law enforcement to collect evidence at crime and accident scenes. They are trained to identify injuries and/or death and their causes, preserve and document the chain of custody, and refer victims for appropriate follow-up care.

As a Forensic Nurse, you can pursue a wide array of exciting nursing career opportunities, including positions in medical examiners' offices, law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, and specialized hospital units. Salaries start around $35 per hour and can go up to $100 per hour.

This career is gaining popularity as online forensic nursing certification programs become more accessible for busy nurses who do not have time for traditional classroom training.

Legal Nurse Consultant

Certified legal nurse consultants typically work with private attorneys and corporate lawyers. LNCs not wanting to work in the court system find work outside the courtroom in hospitals and clinics, insurance companies, and government agencies. Many are hired to help provide quality assurance at pharmaceutical firms and chemical companies.

Jobs in the profession are on the rise as more and more companies introduce medications and devices that are federally approved, reviewed, or contested in the courtroom or by government agencies.

Like Forensic Nursing, a Legal Nurse Consultant certification can be gained through online nursing degree programs making it a very attractive opportunity for working nurses.

Surgical Nursing

Surgical nurses give assistance to doctors when there are serious surgical procedures to be done such as organ transplants and neurosurgery. You will also be getting patients prepared for surgery and giving assistance during surgery.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is beneficial to move forward in this profession, and RN-to-BSN programs are offered at many colleges and universities.

Salaries in this profession can exceed $80,000 per year.

Certified RN Anesthetist (CRNA)

A Nurse Anesthetist, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is trained to provide the same anesthesia services as an anesthesiologist (MD). This role is exceptionally rewarding for many nurses as you are responsible for the patient's well-being before, during and after the treatment that required anesthesia.

CRNAs are one of the highest paid nursing positions with a reported average annual salary of approximately $165,000.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is beneficial to explore this profession.

Nurse Practitioner

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner is a great career path. Quality nursing care is in serious demand, and the pay is exceptional. A Nurse practitioners serves as primary and specialty care providers, providing a blend of nursing and health care services to patients and families.

The most common specialty areas for nurse practitioners are family practice, adult practice, women's health, pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics. There are also a variety of other specialties that nurse practitioners can choose, including neonatology and mental health.

Nurse Practitioners have completed advanced educational degrees beyond a Bachelor Degree. Typically, a Nurse Practitioner will complete either a Master's Degree or a Doctorate Degree. This advanced and specialized training allows the Nurse Practitioner to administer many different types of health care services to patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

CNSs are uniquely prepared to assume the role of case manager-one who organizes and coordinates services and resources, and who works to control costs. This makes CNSs central players in the growth of managed care, and they serve to manage the complexities and interdependencies of different parts of health care practice.

Clinical Nurse Specialists are clinical experts in the diagnosis and treatment of illness. They are advanced practice nurses with training and experience to take on the role of case manager in their area of specialty.

This profession is a great next step for RNs to further explore a specific area of interest and become an leader in the treatment and advanced care for it.

Clinical nurse specialist earn an average salary of close to $80,000 annually.

Staff Nurse

A Staff Nurse has a very important role in the health care industry. He or she must be able to make decisions based on scientific knowledge, health care procedures and standardized care plants. As a Staff Nurse becomes more advanced, they move on to client cases that are more complex in nature.

The median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse in the United States is $62,089 and the role requires an RN certification at minimum.

Flight Nurse

A flight nurse is involved in both emergency and non-emergency transportation of patients. Inter facility transport and "scene calls" are also a part of this career. Salaries for this intense career are generally over $60,000 a year.

My Nursing Degree Online provides articles and resources for nurses looking for continuing education online. Find more information about earning your nursing degree online at MyNursingDegree.com

Nursing Careers - Three Types of Nursing Jobs in Canada For Advanced Nursing Practice

Nursing careers offer many opportunities for employment in nursing. Nursing careers are some of the most challenging and rewarding careers in health care.  Typically when one thinks of nursing as a career there is a mental image of working at the bedside of a hospitalized patient.  However, advanced practice nursing provides interesting and challenging work for nurses who want to add to their basic education. Such nursing practice does not necessarily occur at the bedside.

Three different types of nursing that are considered advanced practice nursing jobs in Canada are the clinical nurse specialist, the nurse practitioner and the occupational health nurse.  Each of these career specialities could occur in a variety of settings such as a hospital, a community, or even in industry.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

The role of the clinical nurse specialist can vary greatly depending on the needs of the community and the employer.  The clinical nurse specialist may be directly involved with patients and families and often provides leadership to the nursing staff in a hospital or a community setting.

 A clinical nurse specialist is a registered nurse with a master's degree who is specialized in a particular aspect of nursing  with a specialized client group such as pediatrics or gerontology.  The clinical nurse specialist may also be specialized within a particular clinical area such as oncology,cardiology, or critical care. 

The role of a clinical nurse specialist falls within the legally defined scope of nursing practice for a registered nurse.

Occupational Health Nurse

The occupational health nurse (OHN) works in settings not typically associated with the nursing profession. Uniforms, nursing caps. and shoes have been traded for overalls, steel toe boots, and a hard hat.  Patients are not in hospital beds but are able bodied workers in factories, paper mills, and chemical plants.

According to the Canadian Association of Occupational HealthNurses the scope of nursing practice for an Occupational Health Nurse includes:

"...managing and administering an occupational health service within legal and professional parameters; conducting health examinations; assessing the work environment; providing primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies; providing health education programs; providing health promotion programs; providing counseling interventions and programs; managing the information system; conducting health surveillance programs; monitoring injury/illness trends; as well as program planning, policy development, and cost-containment strategies."

The main focus of the occupational health nurse is promoting and maintaining the health of workers in their work environment.  Nursing practice in this specialty requires a strong knowledge base of :

case management
counselling and crisis intervention
health promotion and risk reduction
legal and regulatory requirements for worker safety
occupational hazard detection and reduction including ergonomic risks

 The occupational health nurse works within the same nursing scope of practice as the bedside nurse or the clinical nurse specialist and is responsible for maintaining the same practice standards as any other nurse registered with the regulatory nursing organization.

 Nurse Practitioner

The nurse practitioner has been a legally defined part of nursing practice in the United states for many years but it is one of the newer  types of nursing jobs in Canada.  The nurse practitioner is still not a legally defined type of nursing in all provinces.   British Columbia is one of the provinces that most recently made the move to include the category of nurse practitioner as one of the types of nursing regulated by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia.

Because a nurse practitioner practices in an advanced role as a registered nurse, an advanced education is necessary.  Typically this requires a university degree plus two additional years of nurse practitioner education resulting in a educational qualification equivalent to a master's degree.

Specific competencies for the nurse practitioner must be in place.  Within a legally defined scope of practice a nurse practitioner can engage in activities that may be outside the legal scope of practice of a registered nurse or even a clinical nurse specialist. Such activities include prescribing certain medications and treatments for specified medical problems and ordering diagnostic tests.

The clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, and occupational health nurse are three different types of nursing careers in Canada.  The clinical nurse specialist and the occupational health nurse practice within  the same nursing scope of practice but the nurse practitioner practices outside of this scope of practice and therefore legislation must be in place that defines and regulates this type of nursing practice.  Not all provinces have this in place so the nurse practitioner is not a legally defined type of nursing career in all provinces in Canada.

All nursing jobs in Canada provide for challenge, but these three types of nursing careers have diversity and challenge that goes beyond that typically associated with the bedside nurse in a hospital setting.  However, all these three types of nursing careers are regulated in the public interest and nursing practice in each specialty must adhere to the nursing practice standards set by the regulatory organizations.

Beverly Hansen OMalley is a registered nurse who is passionate about the nursing profession in Canada. http://www.registered-nurse-canada.com explores the uniqueness of the nursing profession in Canada including comparison of the nursing entrance tests for the US and Canada, comparison of registered nurse salaries across the country and how to become a nurse in Canada.