Specialties That Would Choose Their Field Again

Best Nursing Specialties

Healthcare careers keep to offer unprecedented growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% increase in healthcare employment, which translates to 2.four million positions through 2029 -- more than any other occupational category. The demand for healthcare services has ushered in an expansion of specialized nursing careers for registered nurses (RNs) and advanced exercise registered nurses (APRNs).

These nursing careers provide fulfilling piece of work experiences and competitive salaries. The emergence of multiple specializations has enabled nurses to focus on a particular expanse of practice or patient population by gaining work experience and meeting certain educational and certification requirements. Nurses who pursue these in-demand specialized certifications benefit from employment possibilities with more responsibility and autonomy, higher levels of bounty, and opportunities for career advocacy.

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• 1. Neonatal Nurse

  Neonatal nurses work in intensive care units that treat infants at risk for complications and in demand of specialized care. These include premature newborns and those born with cardiac or other nativity defects, genetic atmospheric condition, or drug dependency. Neonatal nurses typically care for these infants until they leave the hospital but in some cases will provide care across the newborn stage.

  How to Become One: The basic requirements for a neonursing career include a valid RN license and at least an associate caste, although the more competitive positions require a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). All neonatal nurses must obtain the Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification. Most pursue other credentials such as the Depression Risk Neonatal Nursing and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing certifications.

  Salary: $70,582

• 2. Nurse Midwife

  Advanced do registered nurses who specialize in pregnancy, prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum recovery can earn certification as nurse midwives. Nurse midwives care for patients from labor through delivery and provide postpartum assistance. While primarily focused on pregnancy care, these nurses may also offering full general services for women, including gynecological reproductive and preventive healthcare.

  How to Become One: Nurse midwives can pursue several pathways to licensing. Prospective nurse midwives who already have their bachelor of scientific discipline in nursing and an RN license may enroll in a main of science plan or a md of nursing caste. Some MSN programs acknowledge RNs without a bachelor's degree. Direct-entry MSN programs admit students with non-nursing bachelor'south degrees. After completing their graduate grooming, nurses must earn the Certified Nurse Midwife credential administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

  Bacon: $105,030

• 3. Clinical Nurse

  This blazon of APRN needs a master's or doctor of nursing degree in a specialized area of nursing practice. Clinical nurses tin cull focus areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, critical or emergency intendance, specific disease care (such every bit diabetes or cardiovascular illness), rehabilitation, mental health, or hurting direction and wound intendance.

  How to Get Ane: Most clinical nurses enter an MSN plan afterward obtaining their RN license and some work experience. Similar other APRNs, clinical nurses may select from several educational paths depending on their previous degree and training. While the field does not require specialized certification to practise, many clinical nurses pursue specialized credentials to advance in their careers and earn higher salaries. The American Nurses Credentialing Middle offers several certifications in gerontology, cardiovascular affliction, oncology and other practise areas.

  Bacon: $90,616

• iv. Infection Control/Prevention Nurse

  Infection control and prevention nurses identify, surveil, and manage infections, diseases, and viruses. Typically registered nurses, these professionals accept filled a critical role during the COVID-nineteen pandemic, every bit healthcare systems demand specialized workers to focus on patient example reporting and widespread infection prevention. They work at hospitals, clinics, and customs health centers.

  How to Become One: To pursue this specialty, candidates demand to obtain the Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. The CIC credential requires an associate or bachelor's caste in nursing, at to the lowest degree two years of RN experience, and sufficient experience -- near ii years -- working with infectious diseases.

  Salary: $71,222

• 5. School Nurse

  School nurses piece of work in elementary, middle, and high schools in a crucial but underserved function. Among many other duties, they treat and requite offset aid for sick or injured students. School nurses also provide astute care, collect health information, administer health screenings, and help students with chronic diseases.

  How to Go One: School nurses need RN licensure before they can work in schools. Although they can earn this qualification with an associate degree, the National Association of School Nurses recommends they obtain a BSN instead. Although schoolhouse nurses don't necessarily need specialty certification, they can earn credentials from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses to raise their qualifications.

  Salary: $48,509

• half-dozen. Dialysis Nurse

  Dialysis refers to the medical process of cleaning the claret of patients who suffer from kidney-related diseases. These disorders inhibit their kidneys from filtering out unwanted waste and fluids from their blood. Dialysis nurses operate the equipment that cleans a patient'southward claret, appraise the vital signs of patients before and afterward the dialysis procedure, and provide education about medications and aftercare.

  How to Become One: Dialysis nurses must hold a nursing diploma, associate, or bachelor's caste in nursing and an RN license. Dialysis nurses who earn an MSN degree may motion into meliorate-paid APRN positions. Obtaining certifications in nephrology, which is the field of kidney function, disease, and treatment, may also advance career opportunities. RNs may acquire either the Certified Nephrology Nurse or the Certified Dialysis Nurse credential offered past the Nephrology Nursing Certification Committee.

  Bacon: $70,806

• seven. Family unit Nurse Practitioner

  Family unit Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) work with patients from babyhood to machismo in clinical and family practice settings. Over 65% of nurse practitioners hold FNP certification, making it the most popular of all APRN categories. FNPs examine, diagnose, and care for patients throughout the lifespan from childhood to erstwhile age, with a particular focus on preventive care.

  How to Become I: An MSN serves every bit the minimum educational requirement for FNPs. While near nurse practitioner programs, including those offered online, require a BSN, some schools acknowledge students without a bachelor's degree. Prospective FNPs may enter span programs with associate degrees in nursing or straight-entry programs designed for holders of non-nursing bachelor'south degrees. Later on finishing their graduate training, FNPs pursue family practice certifications from various nurse practitioner certification boards.

  Family Nurse Practitioner Salary: $114,000

• viii. Public Health Nurse

  Public health nurses piece of work with detail populations or communities, educating people on health and safety issues and assisting them with access to healthcare. Rather than providing individual patient care, they focus on prevention. They place wellness concerns and prioritize safety issues within communities, prepare and implement prophylactic plans, and serve as healthcare advocates.

  How to Become One: Public health nurses need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam in order to acquire their RN license and acquire piece of work feel in community or public wellness nursing. The only certification bachelor to public health nurses, the Certified Public Health credential, requires a bachelor's degree, at least v years of public health experience, and successful completion of an examination administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

  Bacon: $59,430

• 9. Informatics Nurse

  Many organizations, including hospitals, nursing homes, insurance agencies, and public wellness agencies, use the services of informatics nurses to manage healthcare data and communications. These nursing specialists, trained in computer science, information engineering science, and nursing, manage data integration among all healthcare providers to aid these organizations increase efficiency and improve patient intendance.

  How to Become One: These specialists typically enter the field after earning a BSN degree and receiving their RN license. Afterward completing a BSN, RNs interested in nursing computer science sometimes earn a general MSN degree or an MSN in health informatics. Some RNs larn graduate degrees in informatics or informatics. While non required by all employers, obtaining specialized certification in nurse information science through the American Nurses Credentialing Center can heighten career prospects.

  Salary: $78,672

• ten. Nurse Anesthetist

  These APRNs administer anesthesia and pain medication, observe vital signs, make adjustments, and monitor patients during surgical procedures and in recovery. Nurse anesthetists work with patients of all ages in scheduled surgical operations or emergency procedures. Prior to surgery, they tape patient histories and provide information about the types of anesthesia used in the process.

  How to Become I: This field requires a BSN degree, an RN license, and at least an MSN caste with a specialization in nurse anesthesiology. Nurse anesthetists must hold specialized certification to practice. Requirements for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist credential include over 3,000 hours of clinical experience and a passing score on the national test administered through the National Boards of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. They must besides apply for state licensure as ARPNs with prescriptive authority.

  Salary: $174,790

• xi. Nurse Educator

  Nurse educators are registered nurses who accept completed advanced graduate grooming preparing them to teach nursing students in bookish institutions or hospital nurse training settings. In addition to pedagogy nurses enrolled in diploma or caste programs, they also offering continuing education and refresher courses for nursing professionals. Other duties include advising students, creating and evaluating nursing curriculum, conducting inquiry, and writing grants.

  How to Become One: Like all nursing career paths, becoming a nurse educator involves completing several educational requirements, showtime with a passing score on the NCLEX-RN. And so, candidates must complete an MSN and gain additional clinical feel in an APRN practice area. Nursing schools increasingly prefer to hire nurse educators who have earned either a doctor of nursing exercise degree or a Ph.D. in nursing. These specialized nurses must besides pass the National League of Nursing test to receive the required Certified Nurse Educator certification.

  Bacon: $79,319

• 12. Nurse Advocate

  Nurse advocates provide assessment, didactics, and representation for patients, coordinating betwixt patients and their doctors. They review patient concerns and consult with doctors to ensure quality and cost-constructive healthcare. Their roles consist of educating patients virtually their conditions, treatments, and available healthcare procedures and representing patients past communicating their preferences and mediating conflicts with their doctors.

  How to Become One: Nurse advocates begin their training by earning a BSN degree and successfully passing the NCLEX-RN exam to receive RN licensure. While working equally RNs, prospective nurse advocates should take advantage of continuing instruction courses and piece of work experiences that betrayal them to advancement methods. Although nursing advocacy certifications do not currently exist, organizations such as the Patient Advocate Certification Lath offer credentials for healthcare professionals working in this area.

  Salary: $71,756

• 13. Nurse Researcher

  These highly specialized nursing professionals conduct scientific studies, clarify data, and report their findings about illnesses and improving healthcare. They work in a variety of settings including hospitals and research laboratories. While nurse researchers do not provide direct nursing care to patients, they perform important healthcare functions, focusing on topics that impact the field of nursing and save peoples' lives.

  How to Become One: Almost nurse researchers have completed a bachelor's and master's degree and hold a valid RN license. A growing number of nurse researcher positions crave doctoral level training. While nurse researchers practise non need specialized certifications, they can boost their career potential by earning the Certified Clinical Inquiry Professional certification through the Society for Clinical Research Assembly or pursuing other research credentials administered through the Clan of Clinical Research Professionals.

  Salary: $81,500

• 14. Psychiatric Mental Wellness Nurse

  These APRN nurses assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental disorders. Psychiatric mental health nurses offer services to people who have mood disorders, phobias, depression, or dementia, equally well as those struggling with substance abuse issues or other addictions. In addition to administering medication and therapy, their duties include crisis intervention, mental health assessment and evaluation, and patient assist.

  How to Go One: These nurses must have at least an MSN and a valid RN license to qualify for APRN licensure. Aspiring nurse practitioners (NPs) can follow several pathways to a graduate degree, including RN-to-MSN programs for RNs with associate degrees and direct entry MSN programs for holders of non-nursing bachelor'south degrees. Graduates of an NP program with a psychiatric mental health population focus seeking land licensure must obtain the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification bachelor through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

  Salary: $119,000

• fifteen. Trauma Nurse

  While working in emergency rooms, critical care units, or as part of emergency medical response teams, trauma nurses aid take care of patients in critical, unstable, and life-threatening conditions. These RNs have received specialized preparation to work with physicians to stabilize and treat traumatized patients. They administer wound care, emergency medications, and Iv fluids or blood transfusions; operate life-saving equipment such every bit defibrillators, and monitor vital signs.

  How to Become One: Trauma nurses usually begin their careers by acquiring an associate or BSN degree, and passing the NCLEX-RN test. Nursing students should take advantage of field experiences or internship opportunities in trauma-related areas. Later ii years of work feel as an RN, these nurses need to pursue Certified Emergency Nurse credentials or other related trauma certifications through the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing.

  Salary: $65,852

• 16. Travel Nurse

  These RNs travel from ane healthcare facility to some other across the country, and sometimes internationally, to make full staffing needs for varying periods of fourth dimension. Travel nurses may specialize in a particular practise area or perform the gamut of general RN duties such equally recording patient histories, assessing symptoms, making diagnosis, and administering treatment and medicine. Whether self-employed or placed through an agency, travel nurses have contracts anywhere from one month to two years.

  How to Go I: The minimum educational requirement for travel nurses consist of an associate or BSN degree and a electric current RN license. Most employers and agencies that rent travel nurses look for approximately two years of nursing experience. While national certification does non currently exist for travel nurses, sure RN specialties tin meliorate employment prospects. The well-nigh normally sought-later on certifications include Certified Pediatric, Certified Critical Intendance, and Certified Emergency Nurse credentials.

  Salary: $79,791

• 17. Pediatric Nurse

  This pop nursing specialty focuses on the healthcare needs of children from birth through adolescence. Depending on their level of training, pediatric nurses provide both principal and preventive healthcare, behave physical exams, manage chronic and acute illnesses, perform diagnostic tests, and provide treatment plans. help children in a variety of settings. They likewise provide healthcare education to patients and families.

  How to Go Ane: Pediatric nurses can begin their careers with an RN license and certification. While nearly nurses enter the field with an acquaintance or BSN degree, APRNs with a pediatric focus who have their MSN or doctor of nursing degree will find the highest demand for their services. The American Nurses Credential Heart administers the pediatric nursing certification program. RNs may qualify for this national examination later completing two years of piece of work experience with a minimum of 2,000 hours in pediatric nursing.

  Salary: $61,816

• eighteen. Geriatric Nurse

  Equally the baby boomer population ages, the demand for geriatric nurses has expanded. These RNs must complete broadly focused preparation to understand and treat the needs of the elderly population. They work closely with principal care physicians, social workers, families, and other caretakers to manage the healthcare problems of their patients and too help to educate them nearly their conditions and treatment options.

  How to Go One: An RN without an avant-garde graduate degree can become a geriatric nurse, although APRNs with advanced grooming in a geriatric specialty at the master's or doctoral level will experience improve employment prospects. RNs who hold APRN licenses may obtain the APRN Gerontological Specialist - Certified (GS-C) through the Gerontology Nursing Certification Commission.

  Salary: $57,500

• 19. Acute Care Nurse

  Acute intendance nurses provide treatment to patients in need of firsthand assistance for severe or life-threatening issues, such as heart attacks or sudden complications from chronic illnesses like diabetes. This highly versatile nursing specialization offers 15 certifications in fields ranging from neonatal and pediatric astute intendance to adult cardiac and gerontology acute care.

  How to Become I: A valid RN license and an MSN or doctoral degree that leads to licensure equally an acute care nurse practitioner opens up the best paying career opportunities. Although certification requirements vary by country, acute care NPs must obtain specialty certifications based on their exercise expanse. The American Association of Disquisitional-Care Nurses offers certifications with varying clinical practice, licensure, and caste requirements for both RNs and APRNs.

  Salary: $67,690

• twenty. Oncology Nurse

  Oncology nurses intendance for patients receiving treatment for various stages of cancer. They typically specialize in subfields such as pediatric cancer, geriatric cancer, breast cancer, or hematology. These nurses administer chemotherapy, identify symptoms, and monitor progress. Oncology nurses also play a crucial role in creating a comfortable and supportive environment for cancer patients.

  How to Become One: Educational requirements include an RN license and an associate or BSN degree. A graduate caste from an NP program that offers an oncology specialization will prepare nurses for advanced clinical roles and better paying career opportunities. Although not all states crave these nurses to obtain oncology certification, this credential and graduate grooming tin can provide a competitive edge. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation offers the Oncological Certified Nurse credential and several specialized certifications.

  Salary: $72,846

Reviewed By:

Whende Thousand. Carroll, MSN, RN-BC

Whende M. Carroll, MSN, RN-BC, is the founder of Nurse Evolution, a resources eye established to educate all nurses on how to expertly utilize engineering science, data, and innovation strategies to advance the profession. Carroll graduated from Walden Academy with a chief of science in nursing with a nursing computer science focus, and holds lath certification in information science nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Heart. She is currently a senior editor at the Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI), for which she regularly writes near big data-enabled emerging technologies.

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Source: https://nursejournal.org/articles/best-nursing-specialities-for-the-future/

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