For many nurses, attaining true job satisfaction and earning a higher salary means getting the education and training necessary to specialize within the nursing field. Nurses who decide to specialize are typically required to obtain a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The BSN and MSN degrees can better prepare nurses for a professional role and open up greater career opportunities with salary options that are usually higher than those of a Registered Nurse (RN) with an associate’s degree.
Once certified in a specialty, nurses may work in various areas of the health care industry while commanding salaries that generally range from $50,000 to $100,000 or more.
With over 100 current nursing specialties to choose from, the rising stars are:
Informatics Nurse
Informatics Nurses aid in the management, interpretation and communication of vital medical data to help supplement and carry out the nursing care plan. Whether working in a hospital setting, doctor’s office, clinic or other medical facility, informatics nurses are trained in computer science and information technology as well as the traditional nursing sciences. For those nurses looking for leadership roles, informatics nurses often train others on the latest data mining systems and help to develop the medical technology as well.
Oncology Nurse
Oncology Nurses provide specialized care for cancer patients and those who are at a high risk for developing cancer. They administer chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, and also prescribe medication and monitor the overall physical condition of the patient. Often thought of as one of the most challenging fields in nursing, oncology is also very rewarding as each day brings new patients and new experiences.
Critical Care Nurse
These specialized nurses generally work in a traditional hospital setting, but can also work in nursing homes and outpatient facilities, and can choose whether to specialize in treating children, babies or adults. Critical Care Nurses provide intensive care for patients who are critically ill or injured. This means they must not only use their specialized knowledge of anatomy and physiology, but also keep up with the latest technology in their particular field.
Forensic Nurse
Forensic Nurses help investigate crimes like assault, both physical and sexual, as well as accidental deaths and possible homicide. These nurses are well trained in medical evidence collection as well as the criminal justice system as a whole. Nurses choosing this specialty must be very detail oriented. Much of the job will take place in hospital emergency rooms where data must be interpreted to find signs of possible foul play. Forensic Nurses will also be called to testify in court as a medical witness.
Perioperative Nurse
Also known as an O.R. nurse, or operating room nurse, perioperative nurses care for patients before, during and after surgery. Not only do these nurses work in tandem with the surgical team to ensure the patient is receiving the best possible medical care at all times, they also act as a go-between for the surgical team and the patient’s family. One primary responsibility of the perioperative nurse is to teach patients and their family proper at-home postoperative care.
Nurse Entrepreneur
Traditionally these two words were never seen together, but there is now a high demand within the healthcare industry for Nurse Entrepreneurs. These nurses obtain not only a traditional nursing education but one in business as well, and use their training to start ventures within the healthcare industry. Nurses may develop medical devices, computer software or other health-related products. These nursing specialists are not only business savvy but creative as well.
With the ongoing nursing shortages in most parts of the country, and the financial aid incentives for nursing students, now is a really great time to become a nursing specialist. With both traditional BSN degree options and accelerated RN to BSN online programs available, today’s nursing students can work toward a flexible, rewarding and lucrative career.
