Armed with a Bachelor of Nursing in Science (BSN) degree, nurses are qualified for a number of roles in both the hospital and community care setting. However, having a BSN can also be a starting point for furthering nursing education into a nursing specialty. Obtaining a certificate in one of these nursing specialties allows nurses to fine-tune their interests, knowledge, and skills in particular areas of healthcare. Below are five types of nursing specialties where nurses can extend their nursing careers.
1. Emergency Nursing
Often known as suiting nurses who consider themselves “adrenaline junkies”, emergency room nursing allows nurses to work in fast-paced environments with a variety of hands-on clinical nursing skills.
For example, developing proficiency with IV starts is critical to provide IV medication quickly for pain, fluids, blood pressure management, and abnormal sugars. Emergency room nurses also require excellent head-to-toe assessment skills to triage priority patients for life-saving care, while also requiring strong interpersonal skills to work with patients and loved ones facing frightening scenarios.
Nurses working in emergency care need to be prepared for anything that may come through the doors. This can range all the way from critical gunshot wounds and motor vehicle accidents to benign, yet bothersome, ingrown toenails. Emergency rooms are often at, or beyond, capacity, filled with patients of all ages and healthcare needs. Each patient needs to be assessed proficiently to avoid missing critical care needs.
2. Intensive Care and Critical Care
Depending on the institution, a hospital may have an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or both an ICU and a Critical Care Unit (CCU), the latter often being for cardiac care needs. For both areas, nurses are required to have an eye for detail in order to detect slight changes in their patient’s status that can have serious repercussions. Nurses in this area also need to be adept with the technical side of patient monitoring in order to work with multiple IV medication pumps, ECG interpretation, ventilator care, feeding tube pumps, arterial blood gas monitoring, and more.
Nurses who thrive in this area enjoy working with a team of healthcare providers. For one patient, a team may consist of an intensivist, an admitting physician, a respiratory therapist, a pain specialist, an occupational therapist, a registered dietitian, a physiotherapist, and more. Nurses also need to be comfortable working with families experiencing one of the most stressful times of their lives, having a loved one critically ill.
3. Palliative Care
Nurses choosing to work in palliative care are often considered by the public as health care “angels”. Key aspects of palliative care include respecting patients’ perspectives on death and dying and, primarily, providing comfort. Being a patient advocate can be a large part of palliative care nursing, ensuring pain medication orders are available and appropriate. Strong communication skills with family, physicians, and other members of the health care team are important in order to be an effective advocate for the patient.
Providing comfort means more than pain medication. It may also include an adequately comfortable bed and support with mobility to prevent bed sores; mouth care to manage dryness and oral discomfort; and a bowel regimen to prevent constipation – a common side effect of narcotics used for pain management.
A related nursing specialty includes hospice nursing.
4. Pediatrics
Being a pediatric nurse opens up a whole new world of opportunities. Within the realm of pediatrics is every adult specialty, but with kids. While general pediatric nursing roles are available, many pediatric jobs are within specialty areas such as pediatric oncology, pediatric surgery, pediatric neurology, and so on.
One key concept in pediatric nursing includes family-centered care. Working in pediatrics is more than working with the patient. It means working with the parents, the siblings, the grandparents, and even the school and teachers. Helping to keep a child’s mental health in check while providing optimal patient care is a fine art of pediatric nursing. Critical pieces of being a successful pediatric nurse include methods of distraction and showing genuine care while performing uncomfortable or frightening procedures.
Pediatric nursing specialty courses focus on the unique features of both the pathophysiology of how children’s bodies differ from caring for adults, as well as focus on the ages and stages of childhood development. Knowing how to effectively approach and communicate with a toddler versus a ten-year-old versus a teen is paramount.
5. Perinatal and Obstetrical Care
Perinatal nursing is the term used for caring for patients throughout their pregnancy, as well as both the mom and newborn shortly after delivery. Obstetrical nursing is the term used for caring for patients during labor and the initial hours after delivery.
In smaller hospitals, this is often two roles in one. In larger hospitals, the two areas may be split into two different wards. However, nurses working in this area are typically required to have a deeper understanding of both areas in any case.
Nursing specialty courses in this area focus on the stages of pregnancy and include the following:
- growth and development
- optimizing health in pregnancy
- learning how to monitor fetal heart rates
- maternal growth and well-being
- screening for domestic violence
Nurses will learn how to assess, monitor, and support pregnant women through the stages of labor. This includes assessing for red flags that may indicate dangerous signs impeding healthy deliveries. Both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical pain management strategies are key features of learning.
Perinatal and obstetrical nurses will also, of course, learn about newborn care and assessments. The first few hours of a newborn’s life are critical. Monitoring for adequate nutritional intake and output, teaching and supporting breastfeeding, monitoring for signs of hypoglycemia, or possibly newborn drug with-drawl, are all important features of this area. Monitoring postpartum women for abnormal bleeding, stable blood pressure, and dehydration is critical. For the most part, this is a busy but positive environment to work in. However, nurses need to be prepared for early clinical signs of poor health outcomes for both the newborn and the mom.
Related nursing specialties include neonatal nursing and midwife nursing.
Are These Nursing Specialties For You?
Entering one of these specialty nursing specialties can provide nurses with highly rewarding careers. Often these in-demand nursing specialties are given the additional training required and, with that, comes opportunities for increased earnings.
Most specialty care programs can be completed within one year. These programs are typically offered on a part-time basis to accommodate a nurse’s busy work schedule. Additionally, courses are often offered online from a variety of nursing colleges for greater flexibility. These five specialty areas are just a few of the many areas of nursing to consider to keep your career in nursing fresh and challenging for many years to come.
Nursing Specialties FAQ
How Many Nursing Specialties Are There?
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, there are at least 35 general nursing specialties and sub-specialties. These include advanced practice nursing roles such as nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and clinical nurse specialist. Other specializations within the profession include gerontology, public/community health, forensic nursing, women’s health, and neonatal care. Some nurses also opt to specialize in functional areas such as advanced holistic care or patient education.
What Are The Best Nursing Specialties For New Grads?
For new nursing graduates, the best specialties to go into will depend on their own interests, skills, and passions. However, some of the most popular specialties are medical-surgical nursing, critical care nursing, gerontological nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, and labor & delivery/obstetrics. Additionally, many new graduates find jobs in long-term care settings or home health settings due to the growing demand for these specialties. The most important thing is to choose a specialty that you are passionate about so that you can give quality care to your patients while also having job satisfaction.
What Is the Highest Paid Nursing Specialty?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are currently the highest-paid nursing specialty. While salaries vary depending on experience and location, CRNAs earn a median salary of $203,686 a year. Additional factors that determine salary include the number of hours worked and working environment. That said, many CRNAs work in hospitals and establish long-term patient relationships for which they can receive additional compensation.
What Is the Easiest Nursing Speciality to Get Into?
Long-term care and geriatric nursing are some of the most accessible nursing specialties to enter. These fields require fewer years of specialized education, so they can be more quickly and easily pursued than other types of nursing. The good news is that there tend to be more job opportunities in these areas, as more experienced nurses usually opt for higher-level roles. Additionally, many long-term care facilities and hospices offer job security and competitive salaries compared to other specialties. All in all, long-term care or geriatric nursing is an excellent starting point for anybody interested in pursuing a career in nursing.