What Area of Nursing is Best for Student Nurses Student nurses most often attend school with the idea of being a registered nurse. The fact is, as you attend school, you have the option of working toward a specialty area. You may take additional courses, or attend seminars and trainings in an area of interest to you. Specialty Fields Oncology This is a field that works with cancer patients. You may check with your school to determine if classes are available specifically related to this field of nursing. If not, there may be online classes, or trainings that you can attend. You may also request to do an internship at an oncologist office where you could gain valuable experience. Surgical Nurse This position will take some specialized training. A nurse working with a surgeon must be able to identify what each surgical instrument is. They must also be very quick responding and delivering instruments to the surgeon as requested. This also takes a person that is not bothered by the surgical room and procedures. Related:
Nursing off Duty - International Nurses Association
Pediatric Nurse Nurses that love to work with children may love this position. Many nurses find it difficult to work with children, it can take a toll on a sensitive person that cannot tolerate giving an injection to a two-year-old. Geriatric Nurse This field of nursing does not always require specialized training. Once you have worked with geriatric patients for some time, you may earn a regular position working with geriatric patients, and specialize in that field. This can be a very rewarding career, elderly patients often have an abundance to offer, and may just need someone to help them excel. Geriatric nurses may also study conditions such as dementia as this is common within this age range. Obstetrics
Some obstetricians require a nurse that has training in this filed, however most do not. You will certainly gain expertise in the field, and become familiar with obstetrics. Working in an obstetrician’s office would offer a possible career placement, and if you enjoy the company of babies, you can enjoy your job.
Mental Health Nurse This particular area of nursing usually does not require specialized training; however you can receive valuable training on the job. Mental Health Nurses work for psychiatrist, psychologists, and in mental health departments of hospitals or facilities. Emergency Room Nurse While you may not need specialized training to work in an emergency room, it can certainly help. In this department, you must be a very fast thinker, and able to react quickly. It also takes some knowledge with prioritizing patient needs to properly evaluate who needs treatment first. Volunteering to cover open shifts in an emergency department is one way to determine if emergency nursing is right for you. Related: Family Interactions of Terminal Patients Intensive Care Nursing This area of nursing requires specialized training, as patients are in critical condition. Some nurses may take courses during school that specialize in critical care, however in most circumstances this department prefers experience, even if in general nursing. A desire to work in a particular field of nursing is a goal that is attainable, it may just take some planning. In some case’s you may need to work as a registered nurse to gain some experience prior to moving into a specialized field. Many hospitals will cover education costs after you are employed, and returning to school for additional training can be done as you work, many courses are available online. Another option is to volunteer in areas when they are short staffed, most often the shortages mean they will accept someone with less experience. Learning as you work can be a good experience, and an introduction into the field of interest.
Many new nurses may find it in their best interest to work in various departments within the hospital to determine which field is most appealing to them. Once you have decided, consult with human resources to determine the best means to get adequate training to be in the position you desire. Related: Leading Registered Nurse, Linda K. Tilley, RN, will be Announced in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter