Madison
Nursing is a difficult profession in itself. Specialization within the nursing profession allows for learning more specific knowledge about a certain area. Since there are so many to choose from, how will you know what you want to do? Below are descriptions of some of the most well-known specialties within nursing. Hopefully these will give you a minor look into what that specialty is like, so you can make your choice a little bit easier.
Cardiac
Working as a cardiac nurse can be very interesting. Cardiac nurses can assist with surgeries, or create patient care plans for people with specific cardiac issues. It is a specialty in high demand, since heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. If you love learning about specific areas of the body and how they function, cardiac may be the place for you!
Emergency
In the emergency department, nurses will be put to the test! If you are an adrenaline junkie, this specialty may be perfect for you. In this specialty, nurses move from patient to patient, and can endure high pressure situations that vary in nature. If you like a fast-paced environment where there is always something new going on, the ER is for you.
Geriatric
Not a fan of high pressure situations? Would you rather get to build rapport and a professional relationship with your patients? Geriatric nursing may be your calling! Geriatric nursing focuses on a more wholistic caring experience, helping the aging population with basic needs and medicinal caregiving.
ICU
Are you the kind of person who loves every detail of a project? If so, ICU may be right for you. Here, you will be working with patients with life-threatening illnesses or conditions. Many patients in the ICU are on many different machines and medications, so knowing your specifics is key. Close monitoring of these patients is essential to this form of work, so you better be on your A-game! Depending on the facility, ICU nurses may also be specialized into different sections, such as cardiac or post-operative.
Med-Surg
The medical-surgical, or Med-Surg unit, is a great starting point for new nurses. Without as many high-pressure situations, this specialty allows nurses to experience a little bit of everything. Med-Surg nurses are more of an all-around kind of specialty, since they take care of patients with varying illnesses and conditions. If you are unsure about which specialty is for you, Med-Surg is a wonderful place to get a taste of other specialties.
NICU
Do you think babies are the cutest things on the planet? The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may be perfect for you! NICU nurses care for sick or premature babies, and are a liaison and source of comfort for scared parents. NICU nurses care and monitor babies for days, weeks, or months until they are healthy enough to go home. They also become a form of support for mothers and fathers going through a rough time. So, if you love babies and want to comfort parents who are going through a rough time, NICU may be for you.
OB
So maybe taking care of sick babies is not your forte. However, you would still love to work with babies and expecting mothers. Obstetric (OB) nursing may be the place to go! OB nurses work with expecting mothers during the labor and delivery process. They may also take vitals and preliminary monitoring of a newborn, or monitor the mother after birth. OB nurses get to help expecting mothers from when they enter the hospital to when they are discharged.
Oncology
Do you want to foster an ongoing relationship with patients? Do you want to help families cope and grieve, while providing education and comfort? Oncology may be right for you. Oncology nurses work with patients with cancer, and they educate patients and their families about treatment options and outcomes. Although it may seem like a tough specialty, may people feel that oncology nursing is very rewarding.
Pediatrics
Working in pediatrics is something a little different compared to the other specialties. This specialty involves caring for children from infancy into their teenage years. If you love working with children, pediatrics may be where you want to go! Pediatric nurses provide basic medical care to children and teenagers, as well as track growth and development over the years.
Wow! There are so many specialties to learn about and choose from. Although this is not an exhaustive list of nursing specialties, this will hopefully help you learn more about each and help make your decision about a specialty that much easier!
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