There are a number of specialties that a nurse can go into. These specialties allow nurses to work in various sections of the hospital, doing different tasks. Each of the specialties pays differently, and has different structures. Every nurse will go through the same general and basic training, as well as internship before going out into the field of nursing.

However, to have a specialty in nursing, extra training and classes are needed for that particular field of nursing. A lot of times, nurses choose specialties that interest them and they would like to work more in such as obstetrics or critical care. There are many different specialties out there for nurses to advance their nursing careers in, choosing the best one to work in is essential.

Critical Care

Critical Care nurses are one of the largest known specialties to nurses. Not only is this specialty exciting to be a part of, but it is fast paced. They are responsible for giving the one on one care to any critically ill patient and their families. The types of work that critical care nurses do are usually complex and very intense. This line of work requires a high level of advocacy and vigilance.

Surgical Nurses

Surgical nurses are next on the list. They are the ones who are on top of the complex care and treatments for patients who have illnesses that are more serious, and need surgery for their illness. They help the patient transition from surgery to recovery and help recover their health to the fullest before being let out of the hospital.

Oncology Nurses

Oncology nurses are another specialty that hits the top of the list of specialties. They help and educate patients who have or may be at risk for any type of cancer. They can give health care, counsel, and even educate patients on screening, detection, and prevention of many different types of cancer while also being able to give support.

Cardiac Nurses

Cardiac nurses are the ones who help patients who may or do have heart problems. They share their advanced knowledge about the heart, how it works, and how any specialized treatment will be given to a patient. Some of these treatments include: heart pumps, mechanical assist devices, and transplants.

Orthopedic Nurses

Orthopedic nurses are those that specialize in treating any and all musculoskeletal issues that patients might have. They work in many different areas, and can help patients with treatments, rehabilitation, and even educate them more on their condition.

Psychiatric Health Nurses

Psychiatric health nurses are common because of the line of work that they are in. This is an interesting type of specialty, and you can be sure to meet someone new every day. They help with assessing, planning, diagnosing, implementing, and evaluating many different people’s mental health issues. They work closely with families, groups, individuals, and communities in their area.

Addiction Nurses

Addiction nurses are those who work with patients that suffer from any addictions such as alcoholism or drug abuse. They can help the patient with detoxification, therapy, assessment, and monitoring. Not only can they help the patients improve their mental health, but they can also help improve relationships, behavior, and many other aspects of their life as a whole.

Correctional Nurses

Correctional nurses are those that provide treatment for jail and prison inmates. They serve as the clinical care providers of the area, and have a specialized knowledge of how to deal with and conduct many different dangerous patients or many patients who might be suffering because of prison life. The nurse who chooses this specialty has to be quick on their feet, and quick with their actions.

Hospice Nurses

Hospice nurses are one of the most known nurses out there. They are the nurses who mostly focus on the end of life care for any and all terminally ill patients. Normally they work in the home of the patient. They help both the patients and their families come to terms with death and illness, and provide care for the symptoms using the best medical treatment possible for the specific patient. They support and care for both the patient and the family of the patient.

Neonatal Nurses

Neonatal nurses are also well known in the medical field because of the large part they play in tiny infant’s lives. These nurses work with the newborn babies and their mothers from the time of birth until around 28 days of age. They have a lot of specialized knowledge about how to care for the new infants and their mothers.

Geriatric Nurses

Geriatric nurses are those nurses that provide medical care for any elderly person. They are specialized in the issues of aging and the end of life process. They can serve as supporters and advocates for elderly people and their families as well. This is one specialty that is currently high in demand since the U.S. population is continuing to age.

School Nurses

School nurses are another big part of the nursing field. They help students in their schools to learn about health and safety in their school and their home. They can provide health services, coordinate any health related programs, treat student’s wounds, and educate populations of schools about many wellness issues.

Finding an Area to Specialize

Finding an area to specialize in if you’re a nurse might seem like something that is hard to do. There are nursing programs out there that aid you in the process of finding a specialty. There are many online nursing programs that can be taken through the internet. If you would like to advance in your nursing career, and take on a specialty than there are many ways for you to do so when looking into nursing schools. Find out more information about the nursing specialties out there through various informational links:

• American Board of Nursing Specialties
• CERTIFICATIONS RECOGNIZED BY LSBN AS MEETING CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
• Areas of Nursing Specialties
• Neonatal and Developmental Medicine
• Research in Neurosurgical Services
• Health and Nursing Career Resources