Nurse Jobs That Can Really Make A Difference

Today's nurses have a lot to consider, and not just in their day-to-day schedules. They are, after all, in charge of the health of people who can't take care of themselves! You may not know these things about nurses.
 
Nurses are in a position to see many different types of illness every day.
 
This gives them a unique perspective that can help doctors tailor treatments for patients with a specific ailment. This skill is also handy when you're dealing with an illness that's hard to diagnose or uncommonly occurring.
 
Nurses often make great team players because they're able to provide dispassionate insight that helps doctor-patient relationships thrive and succeed.

​What Do Nurses Do? 
Nurses are in a position to see many different types of illness every day. This gives them a unique perspective that can help doctors tailor treatments for patients with a specific ailment.
 
This skill is also handy when you're dealing with an illness that's hard to diagnose or uncommonly occurring.
 
Nurses often make great team players because they're able to provide dispassionate insight that helps doctor-patient relationships thrive and succeed.

Why Do They Matter? 
In today's world, nurses help some of the most vulnerable populations get better. Nurses help patients who cannot care for themselves, patients who may not be in the position to tell their doctors how they're feeling.
 
Nurses are also important contributors to public and community health, as they often work alongside those in need. For example, nurses help those with substance abuse problems find a healthy path to recovery.

Nurse Education - How to Get Into Nursing School 
Nursing school is not for the faint of heart. It's an intense, challenging four-year program and one that demands a lot from students.
 
It takes a special sort of person to be able to handle the pressure of nursing school.
 
The difficulty in finding funding for nursing programs has made it difficult for some students to successfully complete their programs and move on to work.
 
However, this is changing with more competitive programs that offer more scholarships and grants available than ever before.
 
Many schools have also begun offering tuition reimbursement as an incentive to encourage future nurses to choose their schools based on merit as well as cost savings.

Nursing Specialties - What They Are and What They Mean for Your Career
Nursing specialties can be a great career choice for those who like their work varied and challenging.
 
Some nurses enjoy the challenge of taking care of women who have just had babies. Others love to specialize in pediatrics, offering care to sick kids every day.
 
Others love taking care of older people, helping them recover or manage chronic diseases that cause them pain and make it difficult for them to live on their own.
 
These are just a few of the specialties that nursing offers.

Nurse Practitioner 
The role of a nurse practitioner is a very specialized one.
 
They help to treat and diagnose people with a wide range of illnesses and injuries, including those caused by drug abuse, ME/CFS, cancer, etc.
 
In addition to their advanced medical skills as nurses, nurse practitioners are able to prescribe medications for pharmaceutical treatment, order diagnostic studies, and perform procedures such as colonoscopies, blood draws, and mammograms.
 
The Nurse practitioner role isn't a basic career path, and transitioning into the role can be hard. It's also important to note that training as a nurse practitioner is not always an easy and straightforward process.
 
In some states, nurse practitioners must obtain additional post-graduate education, such as certification in cardiology, pediatrics, or other subspecialties.

Nurse Anesthetist 
Nurse anesthetists take care of patients who require complex anesthesia or anesthesia during procedures that involve pain.
 
They help to administer anesthesia or monitor its effects and have the ability to assist in surgical procedures, such as those for cardioversion and pacemakers.
 
In addition to these capabilities, nurse anesthetists are able to prescribe medications that are used during anesthesia as well as perform other tasks such as tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
 
Nurse Anesthetists are required to be board-certified. But certification depends on their state of residency.

Registered Nurse 
Registered nurses are the most common nurses in the United States.
 
They're responsible for providing first-line nursing care to patients both in and out of hospitals.
 
They're also often responsible for learning to take care of a patient's personal health needs, treating injuries and diseases as well as educating patients on how they can take care of their own health information.
 
Registered nurses are also able to tailor treatment plans based on each patient's needs so that no one person's needs suffer from the lack of attention by another nurse.

Advanced Practice Nurse 
Advanced practice nurses help to innovate and create treatment plans that fit the specific needs of each individual.
 
They may work as nurse practitioners, offering treatment and care to patients, or they may act as nurse specialists, helping others to learn how to handle specific illnesses and conditions. Advanced practice nurses work directly with doctors and, in some cases, train other nurses who are beginning their nursing careers.
 
Advanced practice nurses do require a nursing license in order to work. These licenses are typically obtained after gaining bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or doctoral degrees in nursing. Advanced practice nurses can also earn certification by passing oral and written exams given by the Commission on Nursing Certification (CNC).

Nurse Educator 
Nurse educators are often responsible for integrating nursing into the classroom setting, helping students understand how nursing roles fit into the healthcare system.
 
They may be required to teach courses as a part of their training and certification in order to receive their diplomas.
 
They can also offer counseling or guidance to students as they learn about nursing careers.
 
Nurse Educators are an important part of the healthcare system.
 
Their skills and knowledge are used to educate nurses who are just beginning their careers, as well as patients who may need guidance.
 
Nurse Educators must have completed a bachelor's degree in nursing as well as a master's degree before they can be considered for the nurse educator role. 
 
Nurse educators use their education and skills to educate nurses who are new to the field, as well as patients who need assistance with healthcare.
 
Nurse educators may also act as mentors or role models for new nurses.

Nurse Executive 
Nurse executives are responsible for managing their nursing teams.
 
They may be in charge of hiring, scheduling, and disciplining staff, as well as directing the workflow of those under their command. They are often the most influential nurses in a hospital or clinic setting.
 
Although nurse executives are not required to hold higher education degrees, many find that it's best to do so.
 
It's also important to note that they should also meet with their employer to obtain approval before taking on additional responsibilities such as managing administrative staff or working as a supervisor.

Clinical Nurse Specialist 
Clinical nurse specialists help to educate and treat people who have complex illnesses.
 
They help to develop treatment plans for patients with chronic illnesses, including those caused by drugs, as well as those that are related to cancer or neurological disorders.
 
After completing their education, clinical nurse specialists often go on to become certified nurse practitioners (CNSs) or certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAS).

Women's Health Nurse 
Women's health nurse practitioners help to educate pregnant women on topics such as childbirth and prenatal care. They also work to help mothers learn how to care for their babies after they're born.
 
When dealing with prenatal care, maternal child health nurse practitioners must address issues such as STDs, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance abuse when they occur.
 
During childbirth, women's health nurse practitioners can provide assistance during labor as well as delivery, helping to ensure that the mother and her baby are healthy and safe throughout the process.
 
It's also important to note that women's health nurse practitioners are often tasked with providing care to mothers who've just given birth, including postpartum care.

Nurse Consultant 
Nurse consultants work directly with doctors in order to help them develop treatment plans for each patient they treat.
 
They may be responsible for helping doctors evaluate and assess new cases, as well as coming up with a plan of care for each individual case.
 
They use their nursing and management skills to guide doctors through each step of the process, from making decisions to implementing solutions, and many nurse consultants will also work with doctors during surgeries and other procedures.

Nurse Manager 
Nurse managers are commonly responsible for managing the flow of patients through a clinic or hospital setting.
 
They're also responsible for establishing schedules and developing schedules for each position that staff members take on within their workplace.
 
They may be required to facilitate staffing meetings, which allow a team to plan how they can best provide care to patients while minimizing the work that needs to be done.

How Nursing Students Can Prepare For Their Career Pathway 
Nursing students who want to gain employment right after they graduate will need to decide which role works best for their future career path.
 
However, students should keep in mind that there are options for those who can't decide on just one role. For example, many nurses start out their careers as nursing assistants before moving on to other roles within the healthcare system.
 
Employers often look for candidates who have a variety of skills and experience, so they may feel more comfortable hiring them if they've already started out with a few years of experience in various roles.
 
Students can start preparing for their careers by researching each role and learning how it fits into the healthcare system.