It comes as no surprise that the demand for healthcare professionals is now more than ever. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this industry’s jobs would grow by 15% from 2019 to 2029. The trend emerges because of the aging population’s increase and advanced research on physical and mental health issues. Thus, now is the best time for the students to consider making a career in the healthcare industry.
Like any other occupation in this field, there is a fast-growing demand for nurses today. There are lots of opening for case management nurse jobs. With a range of exciting specialties, it must be quite challenging to choose what best fits an individual. However, if any student isn’t pursuing an in-demand field of nursing specialization, they may miss many lucrative opportunities.
So, read on the following five most in-demand nursing specialty to step up the game and advance in your nursing career:
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1Public Health Nurses
Public health nurses work with communities and not just with an individual patient. They are responsible for advocating and providing prevention techniques to health issues. These specialists don’t only work in a hospital setting; they can find employment at community health centers, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. The typical duties of public health nurses include:
- Monitoring and updating patients’ data
- Provide direct healthcare services by visiting patients at their homes
- Devising treatment plans for their patients
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to educate communities about medical problems and services available
- Studying and keeping up-to-date with the latest medical advancements to provide quality care
Individuals wondering how to become a public health nurse must earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and get an RN license to gain experience. It’s also advisable to take additional medical courses that will help you acquire your certificate in ACLS online. Due to this profession’s extreme demand, public health nurses’ average salary is $59,400 per year.
2Nurse Anesthetist
As the name suggests, these nurses provide anesthesia before and after medical operations and assist patients with the surgeries. They work closely with doctors, dentists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other health professionals. Nurse anesthetists work in various settings, such as clinics, physician offices, ambulances, etc. Some of their everyday tasks include:
- Assessing patient’s condition before giving anesthesia
- Train patients for surgery and educate them about surgery procedures
- Look after the patient during the post-anesthesia recovery process
- Devise pain management plans and create anesthesia accordingly
For an individual to be a part of the most lucrative nursing career, a master’s degree in an accredited nursing anesthesia program is necessary. Gaining a license can progress these individuals into a more advanced role and qualify for certified registered nurse anesthetists. The median salary of $157,564 makes these nursing professionals stand out in their profession. It is because nurse anesthetists can be a subject of judicial proceedings if anything goes wrong. Therefore, nurses should take extreme care and proper training before pursuing this role.
3Nurse Midwife
Those individuals who enjoy bringing new lives in the world and like to assist mothers during the delivery process can go for a nurse-midwife profession. It would be an understatement to say that the job of a nurse-midwife is easy. Administering females with their labor pains, taking care of their health, and providing emotional care takes a lot of effort. These nurses have unique tiers with their patients as they stay with females at every point of their pregnancy and help them with reproductive system health. Their typical job responsibilities are:
- Care for infants and monitor fetus growth
- Give support to mothers during the postneonatal period
- Prescribe medicines and train mothers with breastfeeding
- Provide family planning education
Nursing students who are sensitive by nature and are fond of babies should first pursue a bachelor’s degree in science. Upon completing the undergraduate degree, they need to apply for a license to become a registered nurse. After this, a master’s degree in science is a must-have to become eligible for this position. According to payscale, these hardworking nurses’ average salary is $95,897, demonstrating the high demand in today’s world.
4Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Students passionate about developing a relationship with their patients on a deeper level other than just assessing the physical health can pursue this field. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) deal with their patients’ emotional and mental health issues. These professionals can work in various settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other psychiatric facilities. The day-to-day work responsibilities for PMHNP include:
- Evaluate and provide patients’ with quality care showing emotional and behavioral changes by working together with other healthcare staff
- Orders diagnostic and therapeutic tests to the patients as necessary
- Review, interpret and explain test results to the patient and their family
- Prescribe medication and prepare treatment plan accordingly
- Record patients’ medical history that would be helpful for research purposes and smooth follow-ups
Students should have a master’s degree in the psychiatric or related field and an RN license to pursue a career in this profession. According to the payscale, the median salary for PMNHP is $99,238 per year.
5Oncology Nurse
With the advancement in cancer research, it is no wonder that oncology nurses’ demand would also grow in medical centers. They usually work together with the surgeon and other healthcare professionals to provide patients with the utmost care dealing with various stages of cancer. These professionals can find a job in sensitive areas such as hospitals or cancer treatment centers. The typical duties of oncology nurses are:
- Monitor the overall health of a patient, including physical, nutritional, mental health
- Devise a treatment plan for their patients’ under the supervision of physician and surgeons
- Administers chemotherapy and radiation procedures
- Educate patients’ and their families on disease and its treatment techniques
- Record and assess patients’ progress before and after the treatment
Students must have a bachelor’s or associate degree to become an oncology nurse. In addition to it, acquiring a certification from Oncology Nursing Certification Cooperation (ONCC) can advance their career. An oncology nurse earns approximately $33.49 per hour on average.
Conclusion
The field of nursing is exceptionally versatile, and it includes many more specializations other than these. If you are on the first step of this ladder and don’t know where to head, don’t worry. You have got a plethora of options to choose from, and each of them has many benefits to offer. Your nursing job doesn’t always have to be around hospital beds; you can either go for the education side, infants, or anything that piques your interest. Like many other parts of life, all it takes is merely a step.
