The modern-day nursing workforce is primarily led by the importance of the work of caring for a variety of patients.
The field of nursing is expected to grow as the US population increases and as new technological advances happen in our society, particularly as we continue to learn more about inflammation and chronic disease from a clinical perspective.
Incorporating Technology into the Modern-Day Nursing Workforce
To remain competitive in today’s changing environment, it is important that nurses understand their role within the healthcare industry.
In order to remain relevant, many changes are taking place in how nurses interact with one another, their patients, and physicians.
Picking the Right Job Could Be a Matter of Delving into What You Enjoy
To find the right career, especially in a very competitive area such as healthcare, it is important to take into consideration the traits that you possess and the opportunities that are available to you. For example, your ability to work under stress and pressure.
The healthcare industry has evolved from being a physician-centered model to one in which nurses take on primary responsibility for patient care.
As evidenced by the growth in the educational preparation of nurses and their increasing proportion of the workforce, many nurses also have become leaders in their fields.
Nurses can study in a variety of different ways, too, from accelerated BSN online programs to in-person hospital-led education.
Choose Which Career Option Is Best for You
Thanks to an expansion in nurse education, there are now many specialized career paths open to nurses that were not around a few decades ago.
Some of these options are listed below.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
A pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse with specialist training in pediatric health.
The education, laboratory, and clinic experience of a PNP is typically more comprehensive than that of a primary care nurse, but the focus is on managing more complex health problems and treating children only.
The job title may seem to be a bit confusing. This is because PNP has different meanings depending on whether the person who holds it is an RN or not. A pediatric nurse practitioner can either be an advanced level RN or a primary care nurse with additional training in pediatrics.
Nurse Educator
As the term suggests, nurse educators are people who teach others.
They work with students and physicians in hospitals, nursing schools, and other facilities to help them learn about healthcare.
Their task is to be an expert in the field of training and education, which is a very important role in a facility that offers more than one major specialty.
Another vital part of their job is to provide information on health care trends so that the facility can adapt to them and offer quality care.
Certified Nurse-Midwife
A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a healthcare professional with additional training to optimize midwifery care for pregnant women and their babies.
As a result, CNMs are able to provide high-quality care to patients, regardless of whether they are experiencing complications during pregnancy or not.
They can perform high-risk deliveries as well as postpartum visits in addition to prenatal care.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have based their qualifications on clinical training in various specialty areas, including pediatrics, family practice, internal medicine, and community healthcare.
They have the same licensure as a physician, which means they can practice independently in any healthcare setting.
Nurse practitioners are capable of practicing autonomously in their field, but they also take on roles in which they collaborate with physicians as partners.
While schools and states may have slightly different definitions of a nurse practitioner, all certified nurse practitioners (CNPs) are qualified to provide education and counseling to patients.
Nurse Leader (or Nurse Executive)
The typical role of the nurse leader is ever-expanding as the nursing profession grows and more nurses continue to enter management positions.
A nurse leader is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and has passed the national certification exam.
You can find a list of the requirements for nurse leaders here.
Besides holding a leadership position in a nursing facility, leaders also teach continuing education programs, conduct research on topics of interest to nurses at large, and work with healthcare institutions to prepare them for future changes.
Patient Care Technician (or Patient Care Aide)
These are registered nurses who have additional training to provide patient care, like administering medication.
They can take care of patients who are not able to take care of themselves or when a nurse is busy with other patients.
Patient care technicians (PCTs) typically work in hospitals and nursing homes and are there to support the nurse by performing minor medical tasks or taking medical histories, readings, blood pressure, and temperature.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
A psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) is a registered nurse who has acquired additional education and training in the treatment of mental illness.
They can offer medication management and psychotherapy to patients who struggle with emotional or behavioral issues.
As opposed to psychiatrists, PNPs are not able to prescribe medications on their own.
Respiratory Therapist
A respiratory therapist also works in an area of healthcare that is crucial to life but can be overlooked by many people: respiratory therapy.
These professionals provide care for people who have breathing difficulties or are recovering from lung diseases like asthma or COPD.
Speech-Language Pathologist
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a highly trained member of the healthcare team who addresses communication disorders by using techniques such as audiology or therapy.
They are able to diagnose and treat speech, language, and literacy disorders.
They work closely with the patient’s family members to help them understand and improve their prognosis for recovery.
Women’s Health Nurse
Some registered nurses choose to work in an area that is specific to women’s health.
A women’s health nurse (WHN) remains focused on issues related to women’s health, from sexual health to chronic pain and birthing.
They can make diagnoses, assess the need for different treatments, and provide education and counseling based on the patient’s needs.
