Nursing is undeniably a tremendously fulfilling career. You play a direct role in helping people and saving lives – it doesn’t get more meaningful than that. But in addition to that, nursing is a field that’s brimming with options and possibilities – you can choose a nursing specialization tailored to your passions. From informatics to working with children, you can choose the career track that’s best for you.
You can become a registered nurse by earning your Associate’s degree. However, advancing your studies and getting a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing not only will grant you a wider pool of career opportunities to choose from, but it is also your path to receiving higher pay. Granted, the salary is largely dependent on your level of education, years of experience, your area, and other factors. But as a BSN trained nurse, you’ll have a higher chance of securing a job that you love and that is compensated fairly well.
Read on to discover some of the highest paying nursing jobs for RNs who hold a Bachelor’s Degree, the states where BSN trained nurses to earn the highest wages, as well as the numerous other benefits that come hand in hand with getting your Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
What are Some of the Best Paid BSN Jobs?
A 2019 study by Medscape highlights the difference in pay between nurses who hold a Bachelor’s degree and those who do not. Therefore, the study shows that the median income of a BSN nurse is around $80,000 a year, while RNs with an Associate’s Degree earn on average $75,000 annually. Let’s dive into some of the best nursing jobs available for BSN holders and see how well-compensated they are.
1. Informatics Nurse – $88,740
If technology interests you but you don’t want to sacrifice your love for nursing, you should pick a career that combines both your passions. As a nurse informaticist, you are the bridge between the hospital staff and the IT staff, as your responsibilities include analyzing data to improve patient care, evaluating and supporting healthcare technology, both software and hardware. All in all, the use of technology is critical for any health institution, so informatics nurses are generously remunerated – they make over $88,000 annually.
2. Pharmaceutical Nurse – $86,400
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing opens a lot of doors for jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. You could pursue a career as a sales representative, or you could become a technical writer, writing articles in publications focused on the pharma industry. You can even pursue a career as a trainer/educator, offering guidance for pharmaceutical industries on how to use new drugs, therapies, or machines. The pharmaceutical industry is a rather lucrative field, making for one of the highest-paid specializations for nurses – on average RNs who work in this industry make around $86,400 a year.
3. Travel Nurse – $78,604
Travel nursing is nursing with a twist: you can provide medical assistance all over the country (or even abroad). As a travel RN, you can generally choose the location and the specialty you would like to pursue during your assignment. Partly because of the added unpredictability of the job, travel nurses typically earn slightly more than regular RNs, over $78,500 per year.
4. Legal Nurse Consultant – $78,046
The main responsibility of a legal nurse consultant is to provide invaluable consultation and expertise to attorneys regarding medical matters, such as the delivery of nursing and other healthcare services or the nature and cause of certain injuries. Legal nurse consultants need a strong educational and experiential foundation, but the fact that their mean wage is around $78,000 makes the effort worthwhile.
OR nurses work with patients right before they undergo surgery. They can also manage communication with the patient’s families. As a part of the surgery team, perioperative nurses assist the surgeon and make sure the procedure is happening in a secure, sterile, ready-to-go environment. Nurses who enjoy direct patient care can pursue this specialization and earn more than $74,000 per year.
6. Critical Care Nurse – $73,549
As a critical care nurse, you will treat patients suffering from extremely serious, even life-threatening illnesses. The job can get rather stressful, so critical care nurses must always be alert even after long hours of intensive work. According to the AACN, critical care nurses make up for about 37% of the RNs who work in hospitals. This is one of the highest-paid nursing jobs, with CCNs making around $74,600 yearly.
Find out more about the experience of a Nightingale College graduate who works as a Critical Care Nurse and is currently on the frontlines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Nurse Case Manager – $72,076
Case management nurses are in charge of long-term care plans for their patients, so, generally, they work with patients who require ongoing medical attention, such as geriatrics, HIV, or cancer patients. Nurse case managers earn over $72,000 a year.
8. Oncology Nurse – $70,273
Caring for people diagnosed with cancer is definitely a sensitive area of practice. Oncology nurses help patients deal with the cruelness of the disease, their main goal being to help cancer patients become cancer survivors. The annual salary of a BSN trained oncology nurse is over $70,200.
9. Dialysis Nurse – $69,506
Dialysis nurses’ main focus is treating patients suffering from kidney failure and helping return their kidneys to a functioning state. Although dialysis nurses’ salaries vary on account of different factors, such as institution size or experience level, on average they earn around $69,000.
10. Emergency Room Nurse – $67,434
ER nurses are in charge of treating patients who come to the emergency departments of a hospital. One of the main characteristics of this job is its unpredictability: running through the doors of the ER could be people with various symptoms, from having had a heart attack, to being shot or in a terrible accident. Emergency room nurses have mean wages starting from $67,400 per year.
11. Hospice Nurse – $65,997
As a hospice nurse, you will be taking care of patients at the end of their lives. This specialization isn’t focused as much on curing or fixing a patient, but rather helping ensure their quality of life during their remaining days. In addition to helping the patient live with the least amount of pain possible, hospice nurses provide the emotional support that is tremendously needed both by the patient and their family. Typically, they work at the patient’s home or in a hospice center, and on average they earn close to $66,000 a year.
12. Cardiac Care Unit Nurse – $65,000
Cardiac care unit nurses work closely with cardiologists providing care to patients suffering from various heart maladies. They are directly involved in diagnosing, treating, and controlling conditions that affect the complex cardiac system. In addition, they can also be involved in a patient’s process of cardiac rehabilitation by guiding them towards the lifestyle change that would prevent the aggravation of the disease. Cardiac care unit nurses take home a salary of around $65,000 yearly.
13. ICU Nurse – $64,471
ICU nurses, or intensive care unit nurses, care for patients who are usually in critical conditions and demand incredibly structured and regulated settings. Their patients might be intubated, ventilated, or could require potentially saving medication drips that need to be administered with clockwork regularity. ICU nurses also work more structured shifts and enjoy a more disciplined work life. Their salary on average starts from $64,500.
14. Pediatric Nurse – $60,695
The job description of a pediatric nurse ranges from working with toddlers to treating teenagers. As a pediatric nurse, you also have to educate the parents on how to provide the best care for their children and how to make sure they grow healthy and unharmed. Pediatrics is a very gratifying career to pursue as a nurse, especially if you love children. The median salary for pediatric nurses is about $60,700 per year.
15. Surgical Nurse – $58,238
Surgical nurses are the health professionals that assist surgeons both during routine and more complex surgical procedures. As a surgical nurse, your responsibilities range from prepping the patient for surgery, monitoring the patient’s vitals and handing instruments to the surgeon during the surgery and making sure post-surgical care is up to the highest standards. In this position, you will earn over $58,200 a year.
*Data regarding the average salaries for each nursing specialization was gathered using PayScale.
What Are the States Where BSN Nurses Have the Highest Wages?
According to official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, the average salary of a registered nurse was $77,460.
The highest paying state for Registered Nurses in 2019 is in California, with an annual median wage for RNs of $113,240. In Hawaii, nurses make on average $104,060 yearly, while in the District of Columbia, they earn around $94,820 per year. However, you must keep in mind that while these states do offer the highest mean salaries, they also come with a high cost of living.
Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing goes beyond higher pay. As numerous studies show, BSN trained nurses are linked to better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and lower mortality rates.
Also, earning your BSN might become a requirement. In 2010 the Institute of Medicine called for an increase in the percentage of the BSN educated nursing workforce to 80% by 2020. More and more hospitals are falling in line with this recommendation. According to a 2019 AACN survey, 43.2% of hospitals and other healthcare settings are requiring new hires to have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, while 82.1% of employers are expressing a strong preference for BSN program graduates.
Therefore, earning a BSN degree is an important stepping stone to a more fulfilling career which offers higher pay, better benefits, more flexibility, and more opportunities. But advancing your education is a serious commitment that requires time, money, and energy, so, in the end, it’s up to you to decide if this is the right next step for you and your career.
If you’re driven by a desire to do good, help others, and impact change then most likely at one point you found yourself asking a question: Should I be a nurse or a teacher? Both careers are meaningful, rewarding, and fall right into line with your core values.
If you chose to follow the nursing path, that doesn’t mean you need to give up on your dream of becoming a teacher. On the contrary, you can combine your two passions by becoming a nurse educator. That is your chance to get the best of both worlds: your academic experience will help shape the future of nursing, while the ties to clinical practice will keep you grounded and fully aware of your responsibility as a teacher.
Read on to find out what teaching and nursing have in common, what makes them different, and how you can connect them. In the midst of the side-by-side comparison of these meaningful professions, you might discover if pursuing a career in education is the right move for you.
What Are the Job Duties of Nurses and Teachers?
Although the main motivation behind both nursing and teaching is improving people’s lives, when it comes to day-to-day duties, the job of a nurse and the job of a teacher come with very different responsibilities.
A registered nurse works as part of a medical team, alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals with the common goal of providing the best quality of care to patients. In doing so, nurses have a myriad of duties ranging from administering medication and monitoring vital signs, to educating individuals about how to manage their maladies and how to lead healthy lives. An RN’s duties might vary on their chosen specialization: for instance, pediatric nurses and surgical nurses generally have very different responsibilities, one works with children, the other assists surgeons during operations. But all in all, the duties of a nurse come down to treating patients and saving lives.
Teachers, on the other hand, have one main goal: preparing and educating students for the world and helping them become the best professionals they can be. From developing lesson plans and holding classes or lectures, to grading papers and guiding students to learn and improve, it is a teacher’s fundamental responsibility to teach their students basic life (and academic) skills, to inspire them, and to sow the seed of knowledge in their hearts.
How Do Work Environments Differ?
Contrary to popular belief, registered nurses are not restricted to working in hospital settings, although the largest number of RNs work in medical institutions. However, nurses can also find employment in clinics, schools, assisted living facilities, or even patient homes.
Teachers generally work in academic settings, such as schools, universities, colleges. Although these are the most popular, there are still other options out there. For instance, nurse educators can also find employment in teaching hospitals, laboratories, and clinical settings, alongside the traditional university route.
What Skills do Nurses and Teachers Need in Order to Succeed?
The jobs in themselves might be different, but the skills that make a successful nurse and teacher are very similar.
Patience
Whether it’s students who have trouble following the material or patients who are non-compliant, you’ll need to be patient, calm, and understanding to solve any unexpected conflict.
Communication Skills
You must be able to speak clearly to your students, patients, and fellow colleagues. Effective communication skills will make your patients feel more at ease or your students more comfortable and confident.
Instruction Skills
When it comes to students, on a daily basis, you will have to explain unfamiliar concepts and help them understand from scratch. That is also relevant if you’re a nurse. You might have to teach a patient the home management of diabetes, you might have to instruct a patient on how to use their heart monitor, or you might have to show first-time parents the right way to give their newborn baby a bath. Knowing how to help people navigate this uncharted territory is a valuable skill in both careers.
Problem-Solving Skills
Obstacles may arise in any given situation and you must be equipped with the skills to solve them. Is the WiFi down and you had all your lecture materials stored in Google Drive? Is your patient refusing to take his medication? You’ll have to figure out creative, efficient solutions.
Dedication to life-long learning
Both nursing and teaching rely on continuous learning. You need to constantly stay informed in order to be at the forefront of your field.
Education: How Long Does It Take to Achieve Your Goal?
In order to become a Registered Nurse, you have to earn an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. You get your license by passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Depending on the route you choose to take, the length of your studies will vary.
An ADN generally takes around 20 months to complete, the BSN can be completed in around 32 months, or, if you are already a nurse and want to advance your studies, you can do so by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN bridge fast track program, which can be completed in as few as 12 months.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding which path to take in order to become a nurse: it must be tailored to your time, preferences, and responsibilities. However, with more career options and higher salaries, BSN nurses hold a significant advantage over ADN trained nurses.
If you want to shift your focus from nursing to education, you need to be aware that the process is lengthier, more time-consuming, and more expensive compared to becoming an RN. Typically, nurse educators must hold more advanced degrees, such as a Master’s or a Doctoral degree in Nursing. For BSN nurses, an MSNEd program can be completed in 20 months. Also, generally, a few years of hands-on clinical experience are required in order to become a teacher.
Registered nurses have great job prospects, as the employment of RNs is projected to grow by 12% by 2028, at a much faster rate than other occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be about 210,400 job openings for registered nurses every year over the course of the decade. Not only is the job outlook great for RNs, but they’re also compensated fairly well. Per the BLS, in 2019, nurses earned on average $77,460 a year.
Meanwhile, nursing instructors and teachers make on average $83,160 per year. In D.C., nurse educators can even earn a median wage of $157,560, in Florida, salaries can go as high as $122,050, and in California teachers of nursing can earn up to $101,930.
Not only are the salaries for nurse educators significantly higher, but there is also growing demand. The shortage of nursing faculty is affecting the entire healthcare ecosystem. With more than ⅓ of the current nursing teachers expected to retire by 2025, there is now a pressing need for more educators, which will only become more severe in the years to come.
Nursing vs Teaching: Challenges and Benefits
Each of the professions has its own benefits and challenges. You just need to weigh them and decide which holds more power in your book.
As an RN, you might get a fairly flexible schedule as most hospitals condone the practice of the three-day workweek: you work three 12-hour shifts a week and have four days off, which is a great way to spend more time with your family. On the downside, these long shifts can take their toll. They’re tiring and stressful, and the long hours spent standing can lead to exhaustion. Another challenge is the fact that while you do have some flexibility over your schedule, you might still have to work nights, weekends, or during holidays. Also, as a nurse, you risk more exposure to work-related dangers and the overall stress of the job might lead to burnout. But you directly help people through difficult and scary times in their lives and that is an invaluable experience.
Meanwhile, teaching offers a more structured schedule. Not only do you have weekends and holidays off, but you work more reasonable hours in less stressful conditions.
Some benefits are applicable to both professions: the jobs are in demand, they offer higher salaries than average, you can choose from a variety of workplaces and both careers are very reputable and respected.
Questions You Might Ask Yourself
Being an RN I’m directly helping people. Will I still make a difference if I switch to teaching?
It is true that as a nurse you can witness the direct impact of your care: you can see patients getting better under your watch and to some extent you can quantify the impact of your care. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that you saved a life or helped treat a patient.
But when it comes to teaching, the impact not only is still there but, arguably, it’s even on a higher level. Granted, as opposed to nursing, you don’t see the results of your work immediately. However, by educating the future generations of nurses not only do you contribute to saving lives, but you get the added satisfaction of knowing that you help move the profession forward. So, by preparing aspiring nurses to the best of your ability, you play a decisive role in more lives being saved, more patients being treated to the highest standards of professionalism. You may not be in the ER, but your teachings go far beyond university classrooms.
What if I can’t handle it? Working with one patient at a time is one thing, but a whole class?
Before going into teaching, you need to assess your strengths and weaknesses. As a nurse educator, you will need strong communication skills, advanced knowledge of nursing (and, more specifically, of the field you choose to specialize in) as well as the skills to transfer the knowledge to your students. The comprehensive curriculum of the MSNEd program will help you transition into the nurse educator role, and the hands-on clinical experience will prove invaluable. So, one patient at a time is just the stepping stone you need to lead a whole class.
Also, keep in mind that nursing is teaching. You spend your days as an RN teaching your patients how to deal with their maladies, you explain to the families everything they need to know about their loved ones’ conditions, you share knowledge with your fellow nurses in order to become a better professional. By becoming a nurse educator you do the same thing, only on a larger, more advanced, more professional level.
What if you don’t want to change the hospital for a classroom, but you still want to follow your teaching passion?
Luckily, among many options, the MSNEd program also offers you the chance to work as a Nursing Professional Development specialist. You’ll work directly in the hospital, helping novice nurses transition into true professionals or constantly updating nurses’ competencies. You’ll still be teaching, but you’ll do it in the environment you’re most comfortable in.
Taking Advantage of the Best of Both Worlds
Obviously, the choice comes down to each individual, but if your love for teaching intersects your passion for helping others, becoming a nursing instructor is the perfect middle ground. By teaching nursing, you always have your finger on the pulse of the healthcare industry and you help shape its future. The responsibility is great, but so is the reward. Elevating the level of nursing and ensuring people are getting the highest quality care is no small accomplishment.
Take the first step towards your career as a nurse educator. Enroll in our MSNEd program today!
A lot of nurses have a love-hate relationship with their job. On the one hand, nursing is a fulfilling career: you are directly involved in saving people’s lives, you care for patients, and make their road to recovery less painful. You are making an impact on others’ wellbeing. Also, there’s the added benefit of nursing being a secure career choice as the job outlook is excellent, the salaries are growing, and the need for nurses is not going away anytime soon. What’s not to love?
But life as a Registered Nurse is a lot more nuanced. There is no denying that nursing is a hectic and fast-paced job. While some people might enjoy this, others find it frustrating. Then there’s the additional stress of being responsible for people’s lives. So, some of the things that make nursing such a desirable profession, also make it one of the most stressful career choices.
What Makes Nursing Jobs So Stressful?
Nursing is, unquestionably, a very high-stress environment. Although most nurses know right off the bat what they’re getting themselves into and are aware that nursing has its challenges, sometimes just how stressful being an RN can get takes a lot of professionals by surprise.
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the stressful nature of the job.
Long hours. 12-hour shifts are not uncommon among RNs. The extended shifts and the scarce breaks (especially if you work in a busy ER) can definitely take their toll and drive you to the edge of exhaustion.
Time pressure. Nursing is a fast-paced environment, and as an RN you must make sure you always keep up, which can sometimes have you feeling like you don’t even have time to catch a breath.
Inflexible schedules. Nurses can work day, night, weekend, and even holiday shifts, which makes it harder to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Physical labor. The job implies a lot of lifting (equipment, patients) that can sometimes result in injuries. Also, nurses spend long hours on their feet with little break, and that is very tiring.
Exposure to work-related dangers. Nurses have high exposure to infectious diseases; they use sharp equipment and handle chemical substances and potentially dangerous medication.
Inadequate staffing. Due to the significant nursing shortage in the US, a lot of RN positions remained unfilled, which leaves a lot more work on the shoulders of not enough nurses.
High nurse-to-patient ratios. Because of inadequate staffing, nurses have to care for more patients. This often results in less qualitative patient care, as well as higher levels of exhaustion for the nurses.
Violence in the workplace. Sometimes it’s testy physicians, fellow colleagues, but most often it’s the patients. Sometimes they can be mean or aggressive, and even the family members can exhibit aggressive behaviors towards the nurses due to being worried and stressed.
Due to a combination of some (or all) of these factors, many registered nurses end up experiencing burnout and feeling unengaged at work, which is neither good for the nurse, nor for the healthcare system in general.
If the above experiences seem familiar to you, and, as a result, you are contemplating a career change, then we have some good news for you. Because nursing is such a diverse and vast field, it is possible to get the fulfillment that comes with the job and still work in a less stressful environment.
However, bear in mind that no nursing position is entirely stress-free, as nursing is a demanding field in all of its forms. Also, stress is a subjective concept. For instance, some nurses could find working with babies the most peaceful career path, while for others, this would be the most trying and nerve-racking job – it all depends on how much you love babies. So, when choosing a low-stress career, it all comes down to your preferences and your expectations.
But sometimes, a great way to help you decide if a job is the right fit for you is to learn from other people’s experiences. The story of this Nightingale College graduate will help you navigate the stresses and responsibilities of working as a nurse in times of crisis.
There are lots of people who fear that low-stress levels might equal dull, monotonous jobs. That is definitely not applicable to nursing. In this field, regardless of where you work: at a hospital, a physician’s office, or at a university, you will always find something to keep you on your toes and keep you challenged.
If you’re looking for the career shift that would allow you to spend more time with your family, still make a reasonably high salary, and give you the satisfaction of feeling fulfilled at work, look no further. We compiled a list of 10 nursing careers that are generally lower stress positions, to help you navigate the stormy waters of finding the nursing job that’s perfect for you.
Low-Stress Nursing Careers
Overall, a nursing job that brings no stress is a myth. But certain positions involve fewer high-risk situations and have better-defined schedules, which generally result in less stressful jobs.
1. Nurse Educator
This is one of the least stressful nursing jobs available. While the responsibility of educating the future generations of nurses is indeed tremendous, the work environment is definitely a lot more low-pressure, and the hours are reasonable. Nurse educators typically work in universities, colleges, and hospitals. Their main task revolves around providing training and knowledge to aspiring nurses, based on their own clinical experience. The salary of a nurse educator is higher compared to that of an RN. According to 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for nursing instructors was $81,350. So, if you have a passion for teaching and are looking for a less stressful job, you should consider getting your MSN degree, as one of the prerequisites of becoming a nurse educator is holding an advanced degree: MSN or higher. Now is an especially good time to become a nurse educator as the nursing faculty shortage is one of the main catalysts for the severe current U.S. nursing shortage, so there are thousands of educators needed.
Your dream of becoming a nurse educator is now more achievable than ever before! Enroll in our MSNEd program and take your career one step further.
2. School Nurse/Summer Camp Nurse
If you love children, this might be the perfect opportunity for you. Schools must always have a medically trained professional on staff, and they usually hire registered nurses to fill these positions. Their main responsibility is providing basic care, such as first aid care for minor injuries and administering daily medication. One of the major benefits of being a school nurse is the fact that you enjoy all the perks of working in an educational setting. Hence, this job comes with lengthy vacation time and stable working hours. It is worth mentioning that ordinarily, schools only hire one nurse, so most likely, you will be working alone. Summer camp nurses have the exact same tasks as school nurses, with the only difference being the work environment. Lots of children enroll in summer camps, and for the sake of their wellbeing, nurses are there to oversee that summer vacation goes without health-threatening incidents.
3. Nurse Administrator
Leadership roles typically come with a higher level of independence and more flexibility. Nurse administrators still work in hospital settings; however, they are spared the daily stress of dealing with patients and providing bedside care. Their job focuses on the administrative side of running a hospital, such as organizing patient and employee records, coordinating medical services, creating schedules, conducting performance reviews, and planning budgets. Usually, nurse administrator positions are filled by nurses with prior clinical experience since dictating nursing policy and procedures requires thorough inside knowledge. For sure, assuming this kind of leadership role is not without its challenges, but if you’re looking for a change of pace, this might be an optimal career track for you.
4. Public Health Nurse
This is another great opportunity for nurses who find themselves overly stressed in hospital settings and want to avoid as much as possible the hustle that defines direct patient care. Public health nurses care for communities and entire populations rather than just specific individuals. Their main goal is to improve the community’s health and to assure access to care. As a public health care nurse, your professional duties would consist of informing and educating people on the spread, prevention, and treatment of diseases, designing and implementing health education campaigns, as well as monitoring health trends and pinpointing health risk factors specific to individual communities. Although under significantly less stress compared to their fellow RNs, public health nurses still hold a vital role. They don’t wait for the patient to come to them. Instead, public health nurses go to their patients in an attempt to treat the cause, not the symptom.
5. Nurse Researcher
If you would trade your career as a registered nurse for one focused on academics and research, then maybe your calling is to be a nurse researcher. Nurse researchers typically work in universities, colleges, or research facilities, so their job implies limited patient interaction. If you go down this career path, your main goal will be to improve the state of the healthcare system by studying diseases, healthy lifestyles, and different outcomes of medical treatments. Research is by no means an easy career, but it is less stressful than the alternative. Also, studying aspects of health, illness, and healthcare and advancing patient care is a good reason to get to work in the morning.
6. Nurse Informaticist
Nurses who find dealing with patients stressful and dealing with computers a lot more stress-free couldn’t have asked for a better position. As a nurse informaticist, your main goal will be to improve patient outcomes by maintaining and developing medical data and systems. You will be the bridge between IT professionals and nurses, and a big part of your job is going to be incorporating analytics to impact patients in the long term. This role requires high levels of technical skill, but, ultimately, your efforts will help improve the quality, as well as the speed of care.
7. Case Management Nurse
This is the job for nurses who don’t want to leave patient care altogether but would like a more focused and individualized approach to the assistance they offer. Case management nurses are the professionals who work with patients over more extended periods, overseeing the long term care plans for their patients. In this role, you will manage people who require ongoing medical attention (such as HIV/AIDS or cancer patients). While the job still involves direct patient care, it takes out the unpredictability as you get to know your patients and get accustomed to the subtleties of their disease. Also, the fact that case manager nurses focus on a limited number of patients instead of treating as many people as possible in a short amount of time is a welcome change of pace.
8. Home Health Nurse
If working with patients isn’t what you find stressful, but rather it’s the hospital environment that you would like to change, then you might want to transition from being an RN to being a home health nurse. This job typically implies providing care to patients in their homes, and the duties of a home health nurse vary from administering medication and monitoring vital signs to assisting with daily activities, such as bathing or shaving. In this role, registered nurses get to focus their attention on a single (or very few) patients, so the quality of care is up to the highest standards.
9. Clinic Nurse
The main difference between traditional RNs and clinic nurses is the fact that the latter work in clinics as opposed to a hospital. Clinics are smaller and normally work on an appointment basis, which makes the nurse’s job less stressful, as the flow of patients is mostly steady, so they can offer care to one patient at a time in an orderly manner. Also, nurses who work in clinics, in generalist physician’s offices, pediatric offices, and so on have a general idea of the workload they expect on a day to day basis. Since clinics do not hold patients overnight, nurses enjoy more stable working hours. As a clinic nurse, you’ll have to be an expert at multitasking since your job description will include a range of activities, from assessing patients to administering medical tests, but also addressing messages from patients, performing telephone triage, and educating patients on various health topics (healthy diet, diabetic living, etc.)
10. Occupational Health Nurse
This is yet another excellent opportunity for nurses who want a less stressful job away from the hospital or clinic settings, as well as a flexible work schedule. Occupational health nurses oversee business settings and focus on developing business health and safety programs. Educating employees on living healthier lifestyles and avoiding job-related injuries is another essential task for occupational health nurses. They also observe workers who have been injured on-the-job, assist with their rehabilitation, and provide emergency care to injured employees who are on the clock. Aside from introducing employees to the rules of a safe working environment, in this position, you will be expected to find ways to lower the costs of disability claims or other related expenses for the company you work for.
Find out what are the most sought out nursing careers in 2020!
Final thoughts
If your job as a registered nurse is getting too stressful and overwhelming, it may be time for a change. Lucky for you, the nursing field offers a myriad of career opportunities and, with the right amount of research, you can definitely find something that fits your interests and doesn’t leave you exhausted, stressed, and unengaged at the end of the day.
You don’t have to choose to be a registered nurse to the detriment of your personal or family life. With these lower stress career options, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can do the job you love and help people while also having time to spend time with your family and enjoying a balanced schedule.
Truthfully, none of these options are entirely stress-free (no job ever really is). You just need to find the stress level that is just right for you.
Having a BSN degree significantly improves your chances of getting a less stressful nursing job. Get your degree and start loving what you do again!
There has never been a better time to be a nurse in the United States of America. Salaries are going up, working conditions are improving, nurses are gaining more independence, job security is high, and, generally, nurses enjoy great employment opportunities right after graduation.
So, naturally, a career in nursing sure sounds appealing, especially if you have a soft spot for the wellbeing of others. Hence, you decide it might just be the path for you to follow, only to discover the nursing field is one of the most diversified out there. Which naturally props some questions. What nursing specialties are most in-demand? Which are better paid? What level of education do you need to complete to start working in your desired field?
Lucky for you, we compiled a list of the most popular types of nurses. These are the specialties that are sought after by most hospitals, especially in the conditions of the nursing shortage looming ever so intense over the United States.
To make the process of choosing a career path more manageable for you, we also touched upon the academic requirements each career imposes – that is, what level of nursing you ought to accomplish to pursue a particular profession.
Levels of Nursing
Before we dive into what are the best and the most popular career choices for nurses, we must take a moment to highlight the fact that different career opportunities require different levels of nursing education.
Every different level of nursing comes with its own opportunities. You just have to choose the academic track that falls most in line with your career aspirations. Is being a registered nurse enough for you, or do you want to climb higher and higher up the professional ladder? The choice is yours. We are simply here to help you navigate the confusing waters of nursing, credentials, degrees, and careers.
Thus, let’s start by examining the main levels of nursing.
Nursing aid or assistant: This position doesn’t technically make you a nurse since you do not hold a nursing license, but it is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into what a nursing career can bring.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): The CNA must hold a certification to be able to work in this position. Their duties typically revolve around helping patients with daily living, such as cleaning and bathing patients, helping them eat, or taking their vitals. Because of the limited training, their work mostly unfolds under the supervision of an RN.
Licensed Professional Nurse or Licenced Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN): LPNs usually serve as the link between the patient and the medical staff. Their duties may include basic tasks, such as collecting patient records, administering injections, and preparing surgical procedures. Depending on state regulations, LPNs can even commence small procedures, like starting an intravenous drip or administering medication. LPNs or LVNs work under the supervision of an RN or a doctor.
Registered Nurse (RN): Registered nurses are what most people envision when thinking of “nurses” in general. Their education is more advanced compared to the other categories, and they have passed a nursing exam and have received licensure. They provide and coordinate direct patient care, they can also consult and make recommendations to doctors and offer training to CNAs and LPNs. Most registered nurses work as part of a team with physicians and other healthcare specialists. You can become a registered nurse in one of two ways: by getting an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or by completing a BSN program.
Registered Nurse with a BSN: In addition to having gained the RN licensure, an RN with a BSN has also completed a Bachelor of Science in nursing. This allows them to take on more responsibilities and increases their chances of getting management positions. Also, most hospitals make it a requirement that RNs hold a Bachelor’s degree, so more nurses choose to go back to school and receive their BSN, typically through an online RN-to-BSN program.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN): Obtaining a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) changes your job description from RN to APRN. APRNs undergo additional training and specific clinical practice and can choose from an even wider variety of roles compared to BSN prepared nurses.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): A doctorate is as high as you can go on the levels of nursing scale. The DNP degree offers nurses the skills to make diagnoses in certain situations and even to set up a course of treatment.
Hopefully, having a clearer idea of the different levels of nursing can get you closer to deciding which career track is right for you. And because there is more to nursing than meets the eye, we have put together a list to help you choose between the most popular and in-demand nursing specialties.
Most Popular Career Tracks for Nurses:
Nursing is a field that offers a plethora of options as far as career choices go. Each job comes with its distinct set of responsibilities and has particular attributes: some pay better, others are less stressful, while some have the highest growth potential. To make the most out of your nursing career, you must decide which aspects are more relevant to you and pursue the position that best fits your aspirations. One thing is for sure – regardless of the direction in which you choose to take your career, nursing is always going to be one of the most meaningful fields to work in.
To give you a comprehensive list of viable options we made an in-depth analysis of the nursing landscape, and we scoured several job sites in order to get a feel for the most in-demand nursing positions, as well as their respective average salaries.*
Description: RNs already make up the largest category of nurses, yet the job outlook for this profession is excellent. According to the BLS, the need for RNs is expected to grow by 12% by 2028. So, now might be the best time to join the RN club. You will work closely with physicians and other healthcare specialists, and some of your main duties will include assessing and observing the patients, performing diagnostic tests, operating and monitoring medical equipment, and administering patients’ medicine and treatments. (If you’re an RN looking for either a career change or a more in-depth specialization, rest assured, you’ll find something that makes you tick in this list we’ve put together.)
Discover the sroty of a Nightingale College graduate who shares her experience of becoming a Registered Nurse as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds.
2. Pediatric Nurse
Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred)
Best For: High demand
Income: $60,814
Job postings: 40,814
Description: If you love children and find working with them gratifying, a career in pediatric nursing may be just what the doctor ordered. This job spans from working with toddlers to treating teenagers. However, caring for young patients and assisting in curing their diseases and illnesses is only part of the job. Another significant chunk of it consists of educating the parents on how to provide the best care for their children and how to make sure they grow healthy and unharmed.
3. Nurse Practitioner
Required Education: MSN
Best For: High Pay
Income: $110,030 per year
Job Postings: 18,574
Description: This is one of the most popular career choices for nurses who get a Master’s degree in Nursing. Some of the NPs duties include examining patients, prescribing certain drugs, diagnosing diseases, and recommending courses of treatment. In some states, as a nurse practitioner, you can even open your own practice and provide care independently without physician oversight. The demand for nurse practitioners is also huge. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 26% growth in the demand for NPs by 2028, much higher compared to other jobs.
4. Oncology Nurse
Required Education: ADN/BSN
Best For: High Demand
Income: $71,489
Job postings: 16,895
Description: Caring for people diagnosed with cancer is definitely a sensitive area of practice. Oncology nurses stand by the patients and help them face the cruelness of the disease. Helping people through their cancer journey might prove a difficult task, but helping cancer patients become cancer survivors is a powerful push for nurses who choose this career.
5. Emergency Room Nurse
Required Education: ADN or BSN
Best For:High demand
Income: $67,097
Job postings: 16,737
Description:ER nurses are in charge of treating patients who come to the emergency department of a hospital. Their job is always unpredictable, and they never know what to expect from the people coming through the Emergency Room doors. It could be people who’ve experienced a heart attack, who’ve been shot or who were in a car accident. So, if you are quick to think on your feet, if you don’t mind the pressure and the unpredictability, this career path might be right for you. One thing is sure. You will not get bored on a shift-to-shift basis.
6. Clinical Nurse Specialist
Required Education: MSN
Income: $89,676
Job Postings: 16,339
Description: Clinical nurse specialists usually work in specialized units, and typically they focus in particular areas of medicine. Clinical nurse specialists are viewed as experts in their field, so if you think you would enjoy a more focused approach to one particular area of nursing, this career will grant you the possibility to specialize in what you find most helpful. Often, your focus would fall on education, research, and consulting.
7. Nurse Case Manager
Required Education:BSN or MSN (preferred)
Income:$71,772
Job Postings: 14,538
Description:This is the perfect job for nurses who want to nurture long-term relationships with patients and offer continuing support. Nurse case managers usually work with people who require ongoing medical support, such as HIV or cancer patients. Your job as a nurse case manager will imply creating and applying long term care plans and making sure the patient gets the best medical support they need throughout their illness/treatment.
8. Intensive Care Unit Nurse (ICU Nurse)
Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred)
Income: $65,142
Job listings: 11,006
Description:If your attention to detail is off the charts, if you thrive in a planned and organized environment, then the ICU nurse’s life might be for you. ICU nurses care for patients who are usually in critical conditions and demand incredibly structured and regulated settings. Their patients might be intubated, ventilated, or could require potentially saving medication drips that need to be administered with clockwork regularity. ICU nurses also work more structured shifts and enjoy a more disciplined work life. Therefore, if meticulousness and rigor are some of the qualities you possess, then an intensive care unit might be a suitable work environment for you.
9. Nurse Educator
Required education: MSN
Best For: Least stressful, Most searched for
Income: $81,350 per year
Job Postings: 11,004
Description: Nurse educators are in charge of educating future generations of nurses. They are in charge of creating educational programs for students. They teach, advise, mentor, and support learners in their clinical practice. If the idea of leaving your mark on the healthcare system and shaping the nursing professionals of tomorrow has crossed your mind, you should give nurse education a shot. Especially now, as the need for nurse educators is more acute than ever, given the severe nursing faculty shortage the US is going through.
Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred) + 1-year experience
Income: >$71,730 per year, depending on assignment
Job Postings:8,765
Description: Travel nurses generally have the same duties as a regular RN, with the one significant difference: they provide medical assistance on (usually) short-term assignments which can occur all over the country. They can choose the location and the specialty they’d like to pursue during the assignment. Typically, an agency helps them find the perfect job opportunity based on their preferences. So, if your passion for travel is as strong as your love for nursing combining the two might be the dream solution for you.
11. Certified Dialysis Nurse
Required Education: ADN or BSN
Income: $65,870
Job Postings: 7,718
Description: Dialysis nurses (also known as nephrology nurses) work in clinics and are in charge of treating patients who suffer from kidney failure. They are responsible for the entire dialysis process, which entails removing waste products from the body as the kidneys no longer work properly due to the disease. If you’re looking for a rewarding and convenient nursing job, you’ve found it! This job is both: dialysis actually prolongs the patient’s life, so you’ll have a sense of fulfillment, but the position also offers regular working hours, which is a plus if you don’t enjoy the hectic life of an RN.
12. Operating Room Nurse (Perioperative Nurse)
Required Education: ADN or BSN
Income: $71,077
Job listings: 4,548
Description: OR nurses work with patients right before they undergo surgery. They can also manage communication with the patient’s families. As a part of the surgery team, perioperative nurses assist the surgeon and make sure the procedure is happening in a secure, sterile, ready-to-go environment. Nurses who enjoy direct patient care will feel right at home in this specialization.
13. Surgical Nurse Practitioner
Required Education: ADN or BSN
Income: $67,779
Job Postings: 2,817
Description: Surgical Nurse Practitioners are one of the most demanding career paths for a nurse. They provide medication, assess healing, consult patients before and after operations, and help them set recovery steps. SNPs are the largest body in the nurse practitioner group. Should you decide to follow this career path, you may choose to specialize in a certain field, such as cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, or many others. Depending on your chosen specialization, your nursing experience will vary greatly, as surgical nurse practitioners may be involved in something as dangerous as removing tumors or something as trivial as a rhinoplasty. Overall, this a field as rewarding as it is demanding, for, customarily, SNPs assist with life-saving operations.
14. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Required Education: MSN
Income: $99,238
Job postings: 2,652
Description: If a blend of psychology, psychiatry, and nursing is something that interests you, becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner might be the way to go. The core of the job is treating patients diagnosed with mental illness. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners work closely with psychiatrists and other physicians. Providing counseling, helping patients with everyday tasks, and prescribing medication are some of the responsibilities that come with this career.
15. Cardiac Nurse
Required Education: BSN or MSN
Income: $98,935
Job postings: 1,963
Description: Cardiac (or cardiovascular) nurses work side by side with cardiologists and other healthcare specialists to assure the best possible care for patients with a vast array of heart maladies. They are directly involved in diagnosing, treating, and controlling conditions that affect the complex cardiac system. If you want a career in tackling the problems of the heart (quite literally), it helps to know some of the cardiovascular nurses’ duties. They oversee and care for ill patients, but they can also concentrate on cardiac rehabilitation (guiding patients on a path of a lifestyle change that would hinder the aggravation of the disease.)
16. Nurse Researcher
Required education: MSN
Income: $81,500
Job Postings: 1,722
Description: Nurse researchers conduct research at the nursing level. They design and implement scientific studies that are further published in medical journals and nursing publications. As a nurse researcher, your main goal is improving the healthcare system, the processes, and the outcomes of patient care, so conducting studies is the means towards accomplishing this goal.
17. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse (PACU Nurse)
Required Education: ADN or BSN
Income: $77,000
Job listings: 1,496
Description: The job description is rather straightforward: PACU nurses provide care to patients who have undergone procedures/operations requiring anesthesia. Main responsibilities include examining and treating postoperative patients, so monitoring vital signs and level of consciousness is a big part of the job. PACU nurses work in the recovery room and are the first person patients see after the operation. They must make sure patients don’t experience side effects from anesthesia and are regaining consciousness at an appropriate speed.
18. Home Health Nurse
Required Education: ADN
Income:$62,086
Job listings: 1,488
Description: Home health nurses provide care for patients in their homes. They can administer medication, care for wounds, perform physical assessments, help with everyday tasks, and develop and implement a care plan (under a physician’s supervision). Home health nursing allows you to provide very individualized, family-centric care. So, if you want to stay as far away from the hospital environment as possible, this might be a satisfactory job for you.
19. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Required education: MSN
Best For: Paid the most
Income: $174,790 per year
Job Postings: 1,413
Description: Becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) is a top choice for many APRNs because of the sizable paychecks and high job security. As a CRNA, you will work side by side with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and other specialized healthcare specialists. Prescribing and administering anesthesia to patients during medical procedures, providing pain management, and overseeing patient recovery will be some of the tasks you come across daily if you follow the certified registered nurse anesthetist path.
20. Certified Nurse Midwife
Required education: MSN
Best For: High Pay
Income: $106,910
Job postings: 819
Description: If you think babies are the miracle of life and bringing them into the world is the most rewarding career path you can think of, then becoming a nurse-midwife is the way for you to go. Your main job will be delivering babies and providing pre- and post-natal care to mothers. However, you can also perform medical exams, give counseling, and write prescriptions. It is a career that is perfect for sensitive nurses displaying a high interest in women’s reproductive health and childbirth.
21. Gerontological Nurse
Required Education: MSN
Best For:More likely to grow
Income:$94,831
Job Postings: 532
Description: Gerontological nurses turn their focus to the older patients, as aging brings with itself the need for more specialized care. Nurses who choose this career path have extended choices over their work environments because they can find employment in nursing homes, patient’s homes, private practices, hospitals, or they can even open their own practice. If a greater level of independence is something you treasure, you might contemplate this choice.
Some of your duties will include prescribing drugs, ordering diagnostic tests, and developing and implementing treatment plans for patients.
22. Public Health Nurse
Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred)
Best For:Least stressful
Income: $58,977
Job listings: 646
Description: Public health nurses work with communities rather than just individuals, and they play a big role in preventing, educating, advocating, and assessing public health issues. They educate communities on how to prevent diseases and how to generally improve the health of larger groups of people. As a public health nurse, you will not be confined to hospital care. Instead, you will be able to work in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community health centers, and other organizations.
Description: RNs who are interested in technology, in addition to nursing, may consider a path in nursing informatics. As a nurse informaticist, you would analyze data to improve patient care, and to reduce the number of errors, you would evaluate and support healthcare technology, both software, and hardware. In this position, you are basically the bridge between the hospital staff and the IT staff. All in all, the use of technology is critical for any health institution, so interest in this position is growing.
24. Radiology Nurse
Required Education:ADN or BSN
Income: $65,002
Job listings: 189
Description: A radiology nurse focuses on patients who are getting ready for imaging and diagnostic procedures, such as x rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs. These nurses have an essential task of making sure the patient is comfortable during the procedures. Also, they must ensure that accurate images are being taken in order to diagnose illness or potential injuries.
25. Orthopedic Nurse
Required Education: LPN or ADN
Income:$63,840
Job listings: 79
Description: Orthopedic nurses assist in treating muscle and skeletal diseases and disorders, such as arthritis, broken bones, joint replacements, and so on. They are familiar with casts, mobility devices, and painful experiences. Orthopedic nurses help with a patient’s recovery, ensuring minimum complications occur in the process while also helping them gain/increase mobility. If empathetic towards other people’s pain, encouraging, and a good communicator are adjectives that describe you, you might want to consider specializing in this area.
*We used indeed.com to determine the number of job listings as of February 2020 and payscale.com to find out the average salaries per each occupation (unless there was available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. )
Closing Thoughts
Nursing is a very vast field, and it’s got a little something for everyone. If you’re at the very beginning of the road – rejoice – there are plenty of options for you to choose from as you embark on this wonderful, people-helping journey.
If you’ve been an RN for a while now and you’re wondering what’s next in store for you – rest assured, in nursing, you can always make a career change and still end up with a meaningful and rewarding career.
Nursing doesn’t have to mean only hospital beds and catheters if you don’t want it to. You can be a nurse and choose to focus on something close to your heart, be it babies, education, travel, or older people.
But keep in mind, the easiest way to advance in your career is to move further your education. By earning a BSN or an MSN degree, you increase your chances of securing that dream job exponentially. Not only will you become a better specialist in your field, but you will also notice an increase in salary and in the number of job opportunities to choose from. Put in the effort today so that you can reap the fruits of your success tomorrow.
Negotiating a salary for an entry-level position can be tricky, but not impossible. It’s all about showing the employer the value you can bring to their organization. Watch the videos linked below for great pointers on negotiating a salary if you are just finishing college versus if you are a seasoned professional.
The COVID-19 outbreak that is shaking the world to its core is putting enormous pressure on the healthcare workforce. As a result, nurses have to work longer shifts in increasingly understaffed hospitals, and their emotional wellbeing is daily put to the test due to the overall anxiety and suffering that they encounter. All these factors are bound to overwhelm and stress out nurses to the point in which they experience burnout.
If you find yourself in a similar position – if the long hours, the understaffing, the constant stress that comes with being an RN in the time of a pandemic have taken their toll – you could opt for a career change and find a nursing job that allows for better work-life balance, is less stressful, more flexible, and on top of everything else, gives you the possibility to work from home.
Lucky for you, there are plenty of career opportunities that will tick all the boxes from the above. With these at-home jobs, you’ll never sacrifice the fulfillment that nursing brings. Win-win. Find out what nursing careers can be done remotely and how to ensure you qualify for them.
Nursing Careers That Can Be Done Remotely
Do you want to take a break from the constant anxiety of the ER or do you want to reinvent your career entirely? These jobs might be exactly what you were looking for.
Telehealth Nurse
The concept of telehealth nursing is rather straightforward: patients who aren’t feeling well want a professional opinion prior to going to a hospital, so nurses are there to answer their health-related questions over the phone and help guide them further.
Telehealth nurses have a broad range of responsibilities: sometimes they might help worried new parents who call because their child is displaying sickness symptoms, other times they assist with ambulance dispatch in life-threatening situations. Telehealth nurses can also guide patients to the Emergency Department, clarify appropriate treatment options, educate callers about self-help at home, and assist with appointment scheduling. What makes telehealth nurses particularly important to the healthcare ecosystem is the fact that they can be reached over the phone during almost any time interval (around the clock and even during weekends). Also, this job brings a unique opportunity to assist with patient retention and decrease on-call hours for healthcare providers.
In order to be a telehealth nurse there is a specific set of skills you must master. Critical thinking will allow you to sort objectively through a rampant quantity of information. Knowing when to ask for additional information about bruises, rashes or any other symptoms the caller might be worried about will lead to better, faster decision making and improved suggestions on your side.
Being a good listener and a visual thinker is also helpful. This way nurses will be able to paint a mental picture based on the caller’s concerns and will be able to provide better care.
Undoubtedly, listening and communication skills are essential since the very premise of the job relies on talking to patients over the phone and making prompt decisions. In-depth clinical knowledge, refined technical skills, and the ability to navigate computer-generated guidelines are paramount for telehealth nurses in order to be able to reach a final clinical decision and prioritize care.
Telehealth nursing is a job that doesn’t require the nurses’ physical presence on the clinical site, so it can be easily done from a home environment. It also allows for more flexibility in work hours and it is less stressful than a typical RN job.
Prospective telehealth nurses must first earn an ADN or BSN degree (preferred). At least two years of hands-on clinical experience is mandatory before you can actually opt for a career in this field.
Case Management Nurse
From tackling tasks such as assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care, a case management nurse’s main umbrella task is to coordinate treatment plans for their patients. They also coordinate funding and make sure resources are used appropriately in the process of treating a patient. Excellent communication skills, being thoroughly organized, and creative are important abilities for aspiring case managers.
As a case management nurse, you can expect to work with patients who are moving from or to assisted living facilities or nursing homes; you can also work with accident victims or people who struggle with substance abuse and/or mental health problems. This job will simply provide care in hospitals and communities, as well as work closely with social workers to ensure services for patients who need long term care or home care.
Indeed, case management is a largely collaborative field and parts of the job do require the nurse to work with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other medical and non-medical professionals. However, skilled and experienced nurses who are very familiar with the healthcare industry can easily do most of their work over the phone or via email, so they enjoy the privilege of working from home.
To become a case manager nurse you must be at the very least a registered nurse. Hence holding an ADN or a BSN degree in nursing is a prerequisite. Lately, more healthcare facilities also make it a requirement that their case management nurses hold an MSN degree.
Nurse Educator
Nurse education is not your typical work-from-home position, however, it is a rather versatile field that can adjust based on necessity. For example, in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak, with schools and universities closed nationwide, educational institutions are turning their focus to online teaching. And nursing educators are no exception. Instructors have the possibility to move their classes to the digital realm and keep on offering high-quality education.
Nurse educators ensure the quality of the nursing workforce by teaching and training future generations of nurses and guiding them on a path of professionalism, compassion, and excellent patient care. Their main tasks include everything from developing curriculum to advising, evaluating, and teaching students.
Both educators who work at online colleges and those who offer on-site education, even some private companies offer their instructors the possibility of working from home. With access to technology and a strong internet connection, nurse educators can easily practice their job from their home office and still get the fulfillment of shaping the future of nursing.
In order to become a nurse educator you must undergo a lengthier educational path, as earning a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) is mandatory if you wish to pursue an academic career. Having an MSN will allow you to work in most educational environments, however, if you want to teach nursing at higher university levels you might need to consider getting a doctoral degree.
Are you also interested in the legal field in addition to nursing? If so, a perfect job for you could be legal nurse consulting. Legal nurse consultants work closely with law professionals and assist them in a variety of circumstances, such as malpractice cases, insurance fraud cases, personal injury cares, worker’s compensation, and even criminal cases.
You might be asked to evaluate health care and medical insurance claims, conduct medical research, and use your knowledge of both the legal and nursing fields to make recommendations and select medical expert witnesses. You might have to manage and interpret medical records and conduct certain medical exams for clients. By bringing to the table clinical experience and thorough medical education, you will serve as a bridge between the medical and legal fields.
Significant parts of the job can be done via phone, so from that perspective, legal consulting is a flexible field. Normally, a BSN degree is required for a job as a legal nurse consultant, although some employers ask for MSN degrees. Several years of clinical practice are also expected.
Nursing Informatics
IT jobs normally allow the employees to work from home and nursing informatics also fits the pattern. However, before you can start working remotely you are required to gain experience by working in an office, so that the transition to working from home is smoother.
Nurses who find dealing with patients stressful and dealing with computers a lot more stress-free couldn’t have asked for a better position. As a nurse informaticist, your main goal will be to improve patient outcomes by maintaining and developing medical data and systems. You will be the bridge between IT professionals and nurses, and a big part of your job is going to be incorporating analytics to impact patients in the long term. This role requires high levels of technical skill, but, ultimately, your efforts will help improve the quality, as well as the speed of care.
Generally, a BSN will land you a career in nursing informatics.
Insurance Claim Nurse
Insurance companies often employ specialists who are responsible for reviewing medical insurance claims and making decisions regarding the coverage (and amount thereof) of certain procedures. The duties of an insurance claim investigator vary from processing routine claims to investigating pending claims and resolving discrepancies.
Companies usually search for nurses to fill the medical insurance claim positions because their background in working within the healthcare system helps them make informed, thorough decisions that are in the best interest of all the parties involved: patients, medical providers, and insurance companies.
Since much of the work of an insurance claim nurse is done via the phone they can typically work remotely. The job is rather flexible and stress-free, so it’s a great option if you’re contemplating a career shift.
If an insurance claim is something you might consider doing you need an ADN or BSN degree under your belt.
Freelance Nurse Writers
If you enjoy writing and nursing equally – why not combine the two? Medical writing is surely demanding, hence an extensive and thorough knowledge of the field, including medical terminology and procedures is of utmost importance.
But knowledge has to come hand in hand with strong writing skills. As a freelance nurse writer, you could write anything from promotional materials, journal articles, press releases, and online news stories. In doing so, you must make sure to bridge the gap between the intricate medical field and the general public, so your writing has to be accessible and easy to understand while still being informative and accurate. Some of the topics you might be asked to cover include (but are not limited to) theories of nursing, nursing ethics, nurse prescribing, inter-professional health, and nursing research.
The job is very flexible and can be done basically anywhere. You just have to make sure you have access to the internet and word processing software. Experienced medical writers are important to the success of any medical website, the facility of drug manufacturers, hence, the demand for them is not going anywhere any time soon.
While a BSN degree is solid ground for a career as a freelance nurse writer, advancing your studies further by getting an MSN will help you become a better professional and will, assuredly, make you particularly sought after in your field.
Healthcare Recruiter
Healthcare recruiters help an institution pick the right candidates from a large pool of applicants. Because the nursing field is so specific and it requires such a high level of expertise, it is only natural that the best-suited people for overseeing the recruitment process are nurses. RNs have a deep understanding of the nursing field so they can, therefore, easily pick the best-qualified candidates from a crowd.
As a healthcare recruiter, your job will consist mainly of reviewing CVs and resumes and then interviewing over the phone the candidates who seem most qualified on paper. Some of the main skills for a healthcare recruiter (aside from in-depth knowledge of the field) are persuasiveness, great communication skills and some degree of administrative abilities (since they have to email candidates, post jobs, check background and references, etc.)
Part of the job can definitely be done from home, but most likely you won’t be able to work remotely 100% of the time. Still, it’s less stressful than the alternative RN career and it’s definitely more flexible.
How to Secure a Work-from-Home Nursing Job?
The nursing field is increasingly shaped by an accentuated need for BSN Educated nurses. In 2010 the Institute of Medicine asked for an increase in the number of BSN-prepared nurses in the workforce to 80% in 2020. Heeding the call to action, the percentage of registered nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science degree is at an all-time high (although not nearly yet at 80%) with 56% of nurses holding a BSN in 2017, compared to 49% in 2010. Hence, the nursing field is getting more competitive as more nurses choose to advance their education.
The best way to be competitive in the field and stay ahead of the game is by getting a BSN degree, or, should you want a more advanced nursing career, an MSN degree.
BSN educated nurses have a significantly larger pool of career options to choose from. Also, with higher education come better benefits: the possibility of pursuing more advanced roles, increased pay, more flexible work hours, a better work-life balance, and even the prospect of working-from-home.
What’s the Solution? Online Learning
With the growing need for BSN educated nurses, you might find yourself wondering what is the best way to obtain your Bachelor’s degree. One option, particularly adapted to today’s time and age, is online learning.
Online or distance learning options are:
More flexible and career friendly (you can still learn while working full time)
Not limited by geographic boundaries
A way to learn real-world experiences with the help of technology.
Becoming a nurse requires a hands-on clinical experience. However, there are plenty of accredited programs that combine online nursing core courses and interactive training with on-ground learning at local medical institutions. Normally known as blended distance programs, they prepare aspiring nurses by intertwining online didactic instruction with local experiential learning.
If you are interested in pursuing an online BSN degree, these are your best options:
Blended-distance BSN programs. They are great if you have no prior nursing experience. You will engage in online coursework which is combined with learning activities close to home or in your community. This type of program takes as few as 32 months to complete. However, you also have the option of studying at an accelerated pace and completing the program faster.
Online RN-to-BSN programs. This is a program dedicated to RNs who are already working in the field. It takes up to 12 months to graduate, but you can also opt for an online RN-to-BSN program with an accelerated timeline, which can be completed in just 8 months.
Keep in mind that getting your BSN fully online is not possible as most online programs have an offline component that requires you to complete a lab in order to get hands-on experience.
The Nightingale blended distance BSN programs allow you to pursue a fast-tracked degree with a structured yet flexible schedule while also providing the hands-on job experience adopted to modern healthcare settings.
Getting a BSN degree will definitely make a difference in your career. Avoid the burnout, but keep the meaningfulness and fulfillment of the job. Enroll in a BSN program today!
A nurse educator is an advanced practice nurse who combines a career in clinical expertise with a passion for teaching. This job lets you work firsthand with nursing students, making sure that aspiring nurses receive quality healthcare education in the nursing discipline that would prepare them for a successful nursing career.
Nurses who turn to a career in education all have their own motivation, be it professional, personal or financial. Regardless of the reason, it is certain that this career advancement comes with its benefits. Some of these advantages will be discussed below, but the main focus will be drawn to the financial aspect of deciding to switch careers. Is it wise to change career paths and leap into a whole new field? How much will you make as a nurse educator? What are the best states to practice this job in, in terms of how much money you will make?
Read on to find out.
If you are considering changing careers and becoming a nurse educator it is probably because of one, or o combination of these reasons:
You have a genuine passion for teaching and becoming a nurse educator will allow you to make the best out of both worlds.
You want a less stressful working environment. It’s no secret that RNs have extremely demanding professional lives. 12-hour shifts, troublesome patients, and burnout are, unfortunately, a reality among nurses.
You want more control over your working hours.
You want a job that is still fulfilling but doesn’t imply direct patient care.
You want the financial benefits that come hand in hand with being an MSN educated nurse.
As a nurse educator you will likely work in academic environments, such as colleges or universities, but you also find employment in teaching hospitals, laboratories and even in clinical settings.
Your daily tasks will include (but will not be limited to) developing curricula, advising, evaluating and teaching aspiring nurses. You will mentor and advise your students and you will serve as their source of inspiration.
The responsibility that lays on your shoulders is heavy.
You must make an informed decision when you consider switching careers. Will you be able to find a job or is the job market for nurse educators already saturated?
Get your MSNEd degree and help shape the future of the healthcare system!
Is There Demand for Nursing Educators?
One of the many reasons why this profession is so enticing, especially now, is because of the high demand for nursing educators. One of the catalysts of the nationwide nursing shortage is the shortage of nursing faculty: many institutions have admitted to denying admission to qualified applicants simply due to the insufficiency of educators to teach higher numbers of aspiring nurses.
The expected retirement of over one-third of the current nursing faculty by 2025, is going to aggravate even further the educational ecosystem, making the need for new, capable professionals more severe than ever.
Therefore, this is the best time for aspiring educators to get their advanced degree and embark on a career in nursing education. The educator job openings are there – waiting to be filled with qualified teachers and professors.
How Much Do Nurse Educators Earn?
When considering a switch in careers one of the most important things you normally consider is the possibility of earning more, of being a better provider for yourself and your family. Typically, higher education levels are closely followed by increased financial opportunities, so getting your MSN degree will set you on the path of making more money compared to what you would normally get as a BSN nurse.
Because they hold an advanced degree, nurse educators are compensated reasonably well. Of course, depending on the chosen specialization, on the location, the employer, the prior experience and other factors, the salaries may differ. Another factor that may influence the salary is the amount of clinical experience a registered nurse has prior to switching to an educational career. It is typically expected nurse educators have at least 3 years of experience in a clinical setting before taking on teaching.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses of all specializations brought in a median salary of $75,510 per year.
Meanwhile, the median wage for nursing instructors and teachers is $81,350, per the BLS.
As a nursing educator in the District of Columbia you will earn a higher income compared to anywhere else in the U.S. – an average yearly salary of $153,830. Connecticut is a (not so close) second – with an yearly median wage of around $101,760, followed by the Golden State, California, where nurse educators make on about $101,320 per year.
The least desirable state in terms of how much money you will make as a nurse educator is Arkansas, where you will earn on average $54,920; In Wisconsin and West Virginia you would make slightly more, but you would still take home significantly less than the national average – $58,530.
If your train of thought when planning a career change includes questioning how much you could potentially earn depending on the state where you live, we’ve got you. We compiled a list of most of the states of the USA and their specific median wage for nurse educators:
As an aspiring nurse educator you have the highest chances of being employed by a hospital or by an academic institution. According to the BLS, the industries with the highest level of employment for nurse educators are the general medical and surgical hospitals, followed by colleges, universities and professional schools.
General medical and surgical hospitals, where nurse educators earn on average $123,760
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals – with salaries of about $94,380
State government (excluding schools and hospitals) – $80,790
Colleges, universities and professional schools – where the average salary of a nursing educator professional is $80,380.
Making the leap of faith and using your skills and knowledge towards educating future nurses is an important decision. However, should you decide to actually do it, you can rest assured that the job outlook is excellent and the opportunity for salary growth (at least compared to your RN position) is definitely present.
What Else Can MSN Educated Nurses do?
Being in demand now more than ever, nurses enjoy quite competitive salaries. Evidently, nurses’ wages become even more competitive as you further your studies. One sure way of securing that enhanced paycheck is by getting a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN). Granted, it takes longer, and the financial aspects should be taken under consideration, but in the long run, you will find that MSNs are worth the investment.
Nurse educator is one of the most fulfilling options you could pursue as an MSN educated nurse. However, it is only one in a very diverse pool of options. If teaching doesn’t entice you, there are other career choices to consider. MSN degrees allow the professionals to assume more advanced clinical roles, or even to enter management, leadership and research roles.
How Well Compensated Are MSN Nurses?
An immediate increase in salary is one of the main benefits of getting an MSN degree, along with more career options to choose from. The top 3 highest paid jobs you could have as a nurse with an MSN are nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, and nurse-midwife. According to 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, per year, they make:
All things considered, advancing your studies is a great way to reach the personal and professional development you’ve been craving, as well as upgrade your paycheck. Getting your MSN Degree will get you one step closer to having a powerful impact on the healthcare system, on your community and it will, for sure, give you the chance to practice a job you love and find fulfilling.
Are you ready to channel your passion for teaching and become a nursing educator? Enroll in our MSN Ed Degree and get the best of both worlds!
If a career that blends teaching and nursing sounds appealing, you might consider becoming a nurse educator. A nurse educator is a specialist qualified to educate future nurses and guide them on a path of professionalism, compassion and qualitative patient care. They are Registered Nurses who have advanced degrees, typically a Master’s or a Doctoral degree in Nursing and they use their clinical experience to train learners and instruct them on the latest developments in the nursing field. As you probably realize, becoming a nursing educator is no easy feat. It takes a great deal of dedication, it takes time and effort, but taking that leap of faith and switching from a career in patient care to a career in education is just as meaningful. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a nurse educator, keep on reading to find out everything you wanted to know about planning this career change.
In this piece, we’ll explore what makes the nursing educator such a significant, as well as desirable profession, what it takes to become a teacher of nursing, and what this job actually implies, from exploring working environments to highlighting the main responsibilities of a nurse educator.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Nurse Educator?
Right off the bat, it is clear that becoming a nurse educator requires passion and commitment. Aspiring nurses who wish to enter the educational field have to undergo a lengthier, more time consuming and more expensive academic path, but the result – significantly higher compensation, a less stressful working environment, career options that don’t involve direct patient care – make it all worth it.
Here is a list of the steps you need to take in order to become a nurse educator:
Get your high school diploma or your GED diploma. Unsurprisingly, but knowledge in elementary subjects such as Math, English, Science are mandatory before starting a BSN
Apply to an accredited BSN program.Earning a BSN is the first step towards getting into this profession. Make sure the college you choose to attend is accredited if you want to avoid unnecessary challenges during job interviews.Find out everything you need to know about national and regional accreditation and ensure that the institution you choose is properly accredited.
Aside from simply applying to an accredited program, you must actually complete its requirements, which will lead you to the next step
Apply for RN licensure and take the NCLEX-RN® exam.
Get some years of hands-on clinical experience.Admittedly, nurse educators focus on teaching, however, having at least 3 years of prior hands-on experience in clinical settings is expected.
Apply for and complete an MSN Degree. Aspiring nurse educators must have a Master’s of Science in Nursing under their belt in order to actually get the job.
Consider getting a Doctoral degree. Although having an MSN will allow you to work in most educational environments, if you want to pursue work in more advanced academic settings, like higher university levels, you might encounter the need of actually having a doctoral degree in nursing, such as a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) or a PdD (Doctor of Nursing Philosophy).
You can find MSN programs that prepare educators in both online and classroom settings. As an aspiring nurse educator, these programs will help you gain competencies in community nursing and global health trends, health promotion, disease prevention, leadership, policy, ethics, informatics, statistics, pharmacology, and other key nursing educator concepts. MSN programs typically take into account the busy lives of nursing professionals, making career advancement more attainable for the RNs.
At Nightingale College, you can choose the Master of Science in Nursing for Educators (MSN Ed) Program, designed for BSN-prepared nurses who have a profound passion for teaching. This educational path is recommended for the busy professionals and nurses who have to tackle numerous responsibilities, be it job or family-related. This online MSN Program uses full-distance delivery of instruction, where learners engage in online didactic and Capstone experiences in diverse fields. You can find out more about the MSN Ed Program here.
This is your chance to have a real impact on the next wave of associate and bachelor degree nurses. Moreover, this career track will allow you to work in various settings like hospitals, community agencies, schools, industry, and businesses, depending on your preferred environment.
What Can You Do as a Nurse Educator?
A nurse educator’s main goal is educating the future generations of nurses. Generally, as a nurse educator you can choose whether to teach general nursing classes or specialize in specific areas of nursing, such as pediatric nursing, geriatric nursing or informatics. Regardless, nurse educators must have a thorough knowledge of all nursing fields and a drive for life-long learning, as nursing is in constant evolution.
In addition, you can also choose to specialize in specific student levels: students who pursue their ADN, BSN, or MSN degree. Granted, for training more advanced students, such as learners pursuing a Master’s Degree, you will most likely have to get a Doctoral Degree, such as a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) or PdD (Doctor of Nursing Philosophy).
Where Can You Work as a Nurse Educator?
As a nurse educator your main focus will be teaching. Usually, you will be able to work in academic environments, but you can also find plenty of career opportunities in other spaces that won’t necessarily bind you to a classroom.
If, when you become a nurse educator, you want to follow a more traditional employment path you might find a job in:
Universities
Colleges
Community colleges
Technical and vocational schools
If you are not set on leaving the healthcare ecosystem, you might make a living out of working in:
Teaching hospitals
Laboratories
Clinical settings
One thing is for sure: working in either of these environments as a nurse educator will likely be less stressful than your current role as a hospital, BSN prepared nurse. You will gain more flexibility without sacrificing the meaningfulness of the career. Being a nurse educator you will discover that nursing careers can be as fulfilling even if you don’t work with patients on a day to day basis.
What Are Your Main Responsibilities as a Nurse Educator?
Probably by now you already imagined what your day as a nurse educator could look like. From holding lectures to helping a nervous student insert a catheter for the first time, it will all involve a set of responsibilities – some that you might already have as a BSN prepared nurse, and some, completely new.
While the core of your job as a nurse educator is guaranteeing students receive quality healthcare education in the nursing discipline, in order to do so, your tasks will range from developing curricula to advising, evaluating and teaching students, either through lectures or via lab and clinical work.
Let’s dive into what some of the most important nurse educator responsibilities are:
Responsibilities of Nurse Educators Working In Academic Settings:
Create educational programs for students
Not too different from teachers in other fields, they must develop, evaluate and revise educational programs and classes, hence, always staying at the top of the game and being informed regarding the latest developments, trends, methods, and technologies that are available in the nursing field is of particular importance.
Teach and advise students
After having built and improved a curriculum, comes the real hands-on part of the job. As a nurse educator you must share the knowledge you’ve gained through your academic training and through your actual experience as an RN with your students. You will also be in charge of assessing their educational outcomes, sparking debates and conversations and tailoring teaching techniques so that your students get the best possible learning experience.
Guide learners in their clinical practice.
Overseeing the learners’ clinical practice also falls under the responsibility of a nurse educator. In this position you should make sure to provide regular and constructive feedback and recommendations as to help your students improve their skills and become the most qualified nurses they can be.
Engage in scholarly work
Aside from the classroom part of the job, nurse educators are also encouraged to engage in scholarly work, such as writing peer reviews and doing research which will be presented at nursing conferences
Take leadership roles in the academic community
This is not mandatory, however, some educator nurses can choose to take on leadership roles as a natural progression in their careers. You have the potential of becoming Dean of Nursing at the institution you’re working at. Although this position comes with additional responsibilities, you will enjoy having more influence in assuring relevant and meaningful education for aspiring nurses.
Become a mentor
More often than not nurse educators end up becoming their students’ mentors or advisors and, generally, a source of inspiration regarding good practice in the nursing career.
Responsibilities of Nurse Educators Working in Hospital Settings:
While the responsibilities of instructors in academic settings are rather straightforward, nurse educators can also be found in hospital settings, where their role is equally important, because they directly contribute the the strengthening of a skilled and capable workforce
Continually educate other nurses
Nurse educators help hospital staff develop and maintain their abilities and constantly advance their professional nursing practice. Continuous nursing education is the baseline for nurses to provide quality healthcare, so, as a nurse instructor you will educate fellow nurses to adopt new practices and to gain the competencies that improve patient outcomes by conducting training sessions.
Perform evaluations and provide guidance
Part of your job will be assessing the competencies of nurses working in an institution, and based on these evaluations, you will provide training and support meant to improve nurses’ abilities and advance patient care.
Mentor. Motivate. Lead.
In your position as a nurse educator, other nurses will look up to you as mentors, as motivators, as leaders. You will be perceived as an example of good practice and as a role model so you might be involved in making ethical decisions. Overall, this career path sets you out to improve the quality of the staff, which is beneficial to the hospital in the long run.
It’s no secret that nursing educators, regardless of where they work, have a vast array of responsibilities. But in pursuing this career and in doing your job well you will have the greatest satisfaction of all – the knowledge that the nursing workforce is more prepared, more competent, and more confident and that is partly because of you.
So, Why Will You Become a Nurse Educator?
Whatever your “Why?” is for wanting a career in education (everybody has their own motivation), the lucky thing is teaching nursing is an extremely meaningful field to work in. However, making a leap of faith and investing time and money into becoming an MSN prepared nurse educator has some very pragmatic benefits:
You will be part of fixing a national nursing shortage – both at the nurse and faculty level.
The demand for nursing educators is particularly high due to the serious nursing faculty shortage. The insufficient number of teachers and instructors is one of the reasons that allowed the nationwide nursing shortage to advance to such a degree. According to a report from the American Association of Critical Care nurses, more than 75,000 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs were turned away in 2018, due to faculty shortage and not enough clinical sites, classroom space, and budget.
You will be the breath of fresh air the nursing education system desperately needs.
The education field is also bound to suffer due to the foreseen retirement of over 1 million nurses (according to the HRSA study in 2017). Hence, growing numbers of learners who wish to pursue nursing careers will be unable to do so because of the faculty shortage. According to an article on Retirements and Succession of Nursing Faculty in 2016-2025, one-third of the current nursing faculty workforce is expected to retire by 2025, leaving a huge gap in nursing education supply and demand.
Nurse educators have more flexibility in their jobs and increased control over their working hours.
Being a nurse educator surely allows for more flexibility compared to other nursing specializations. Since the 12-hour shifts and the stressful life that come with an RN career can take their toll, a career shift would be the solution for the professionals who still want the fulfillment of the nursing career without the stressfulness of working in a bed-side, clinical environment. Nurse educators work in universities, technical schools, or hospital-based nursing programs. Becoming a nurse educator is also one of the top choices for nurses who want a career change.
You will be pursuing a career that is unquestionably meaningful and fulfilling.
This profession grants you the satisfaction of directly impacting the healthcare system by training future specialists and leading them on a pass of empathy and expertise. You will make your mark by teaching aspiring nurses the technical skills, the refined skills, as well as the depth of knowledge needed to succeed in a nursing career.
Nurse Educator Salaries
Of course, part of wanting to change and upgrade your career nursing path has to do with your compensation and being able to provide more for you and your family. Besides less stress from working with patients, an MSN degree will also put you in a position of earning more.
Because they hold an advanced degree, nurse educators are compensated fairly well. Of course, depending on the chosen specialization, on the location, the employer, the prior experience and a variety of other factors, the salaries may differ.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for nursing instructors and teachers is $81,350. Some of the highest paying states that you could live in and practice this profession in are the District of Columbia, with salaries up to $153,830, Connecticut – $101,760 and California, where the average wage for a nurse educator is $101,320.
On the other side of the spectrum are Arkansas, with a yearly salary of $54,920 and Wisconsin and West Virginia, where nurse educators take home $58,530, less than the national average.
Certainly, nursing education is more of a career rather than a job. If you possess the leadership skills, the charisma, the drive for continuous learning and if you have a passion for teaching and want to share your expertise with other aspiring nurses, this may be the perfect career track for you.
Enroll in our MSN Ed degree and become one of the educators who will shape the future of our healthcare system!
With the year coming to a close, it’s time to start making new goals for 2020. Maybe you’d like to pursue additional education. Perhaps you’re looking to change careers. Maybe you’re just hoping to hone in on your skills and find your specialty.
There are a number of nursing niches on the horizon for the new year. If you’re looking for something different and “off the beaten path,” take a look at these 15 nursing specialties.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Many Registered Nurses go on to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) because of the benefits, prestige and meaningful contribution to patient care. CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who administer anesthesia and other medications. If you’re willing to get your Master’s degree and pass a certification exam, you could be one of the highest paid RNs in the industry.
Nephrology Nurse
Nephrology is the branch of medicine that focuses on kidney health. Since there are a number of factors that contribute to this, Nephrology Nurses often work with a wide range of ages and demographics. There is also plenty of diversity for nurses in this field. You’ll assess kidney health, administer kidney disease treatments, and educate patients on their renal medications or kidney disease diet.
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
If you’d rather spend time in a physician’s office or at a clinic, consider becoming an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner. In this specialty, you’ll work with patients who suffer from a range of musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis, joint replacements or muscle ailments. These nurses oversee patients’ care, exams and medical notes from the time of injury to discharge.
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
One area that is often overlooked is the mental health field. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) provide comprehensive care to those suffering from behavioral and mental health disorders. With an emphasis on diagnosis, treatment and overall wellness, these nurses implement both medication and therapeutic methods to ensure quality care.
Gerontology Nurse
If you have a passion for patients, consider becoming a Gerontology Nurse. These nurses work directly with older adults to ensure a high quality of life, which is only growing in demand. In this field, you could work in a private practice, a personal home or a nursing home. Like most specialties, you will need to invest in additional certification.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is the perfect option for those with a strong interest in women’s health and prenatal/postnatal care. You’ll help mothers deliver their babies safely and naturally, and provide family planning support and gynecological care. It’s also worth noting that midwives differ from labor and delivery nurses, who are trained to monitor vital signs and care for patients during the labor process. Midwives see their patients all the way through delivery.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Speaking of women’s health, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP) are also growing in popularity. Differing from a CNM, these nurses provide care that spans the patient’s entire lifetime. Rather than focusing on childbearing, WHMPs also gear their work toward gynecology and other health-related issues that are specific to women. Some even split time between an office setting and academic research.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Nurses who have a soft spot for babies and children should consider work as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). You’ll be able to provide preventative health care to children from birth to young adult, assisting with growth and development, as well as managing illnesses. This field is vital not only for children, but for parents as well, as these nurses are the ones who will educate and reassure people as they navigate the unknowns of parenting.
Nurse Researcher
If you are an introvert who prefers to be behind the scenes, consider becoming a Nurse Researcher. Nurse Researchers are scientists who pose questions, conduct studies, analyze data and report their findings in various aspects of health and illness. Many Nurse Researchers also teach in academic and clinical settings, write for medical journals and partner with other industries in research projects. The possibilities are endless in this field – perfect for those who want to contribute knowledge and innovation to the healthcare system, perhaps without as much patient interaction.
Informatics Nurse
Another less traditional route is that of nursing informatics. This field is dedicated to improving patient care by providing efficient communication, systems and technology. An Informatics Nurse may analyze trends, monitor for errors and implement new protocols within a practice. These specialists must be able to incorporate knowledge of nursing, computer science and technology in order to impact the daily work of health care providers. If you’re a tech-wizard in the nursing field, consider informatics as a way to utilize all of your strengths.
Diabetes Nurse
A Diabetes Nurse specializes in treating and educating patients and their families on how to manage the symptoms of diabetes through nutrition, medication and lifestyle. If you’re a great communicator, this specialty may be perfect for you, as you’ll deliver information between patients, families and doctors.
Medical Surgical Nurse
For those who are more interested in the hospital setting, consider becoming a Medical Surgical Nurse. These professionals provide care to patients admitted for both nonsurgical and surgical conditions. You’ll be expected to make judgment calls based on your scientific knowledge. This is a field with plenty of room for growth, particularly in developing individualized health care plans.
Endoscopy Nurse
Also known as Gastroenterology Nurses, Endoscopy Nurses assist in procedures that involve the screening and diagnosis of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. Endoscopy Nurses prepare patients, assist during the procedure and answer any questions the patient or family may have about the findings.
Pain Management Nurse
One of the most prevalent needs in the health care industry is that of Pain Management Nurses. In this field, you’ll care for patients that suffer from chronic, sometimes debilitating pain, offering techniques and pain management skills, in addition to assessing conditions and administering medication. With the rise in opioid addiction, there is an increased need for Pain Management Nurses to find alternative solutions to chronic pain.
Forensic Nurse
If you’re interested in combining your knowledge of nursing with another field like, say, criminology, forensic nursing could be a great fit for you. You’ll provide compassionate care for crime victims, gather medical evidence to support law enforcement, or assist coroners in determining causes of death. This niche field can be one of the most rewarding because of its simultaneous contribution to both the justice and healthcare systems.
As 2020 approaches, consider taking a leap into a new specialty that will further your nursing career and ensure you’re always learning.
Author Bio
Jenny Hart is a health and wellness writer with a passion for travel, cycling and books. Her focus is topics related to the affects of aging on health and she is interested in research that can help people age better. When she isn’t writing or travelling, she’s traversing NYC with her two dogs Poochie and Ramone.
Is nursing the dream career for you? You chose well. Health care professionals have some of the top jobs of the future, and there’s a high demand for registered nurse roles all around the world (the employment of RNs is expected to grow by 15% from 2016 to 2026). But an RN career is not the only one on the rise.
Healthcare is a much richer and more diverse landscape than people think, and it’s worth knowing that employment for nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives is expected to grow by 31% between 2014 to 2024. These are just some of the fantastic roles (and the highest-paying occupations in this field) for nurses with an advanced degree like a master’s degree in nursing.
Whether you’re an experienced nurse wanting more managing roles, or you plan to have a meaningful leadership role in educating future nurses – or merely curious about it, it’s important to explore everything about an MSN before moving forward with a degree.Read more
Are you looking for a new job or your first nursing position, and wondering what to wear to a nursing interview? You’ve come to the right place. Interviews can be tricky, and when you want to make the right impression, it’s important to not overdress or underdress and avoid things that could be potential red flags for a recruiter.
We’ve collected responses from Utah-based HR personnel at our health care partner facilities who conduct nursing interviews every day. We asked them about dress expectations for their candidates. Here’s their thoughts on what to wear to a nursing interview:
Cleanliness and personal grooming is a priority
The number one factor that recruiters and HR directors mentioned was that they want their candidates to appear clean and well groomed for the interview. Clothing, they said, is secondary to having personal grooming and hygiene to a professional standard. So trim your beard, comb your hair, brush your teeth, so that your effort and enthusiasm for the position shines through. Sarah Davis, Human Resources Business Partner at Ogden Regional Medical Center said, “I would say when they go out of their way to look presentable, that tells me they would go out of their way in their work.”
Business casual and above is usually appropriate
For most facilities, business casual and above is the norm, although this varies by facility. Do you need some examples of business casual? Here’s a guide from The Balance Careers. Long-term care facilities tend to be more casual than larger hospitals. Here’s some examples for contrast:
Hospital vs. Long Term Care Interview Dress Standards
Long Term Care Nursing Interview Dress Standards
Scott Hoffman, Director of HR at Sunshine Terrace Assisted Living, said, “Business casual is fine for us. Scrubs are fine if they want to come in scrubs but most people come in business casual. A full suit is certainly overkill for us.”
Jennifer Munn, an HR Representative for Harrison Pointe Healthcare said, “Really what we look for is that they’re clean cut. Jeans are fine as long as they are nice and clean with no holes. To me, when I do an interview, I don’t necessarily pay too much attention to dress as long as they don’t come in shorts or sweatpants, it’s just an overall look of being clean and presentable.”
Hospital Nursing Interview Dress Standards
Julie, a Recruiter in Talent Acquisition for McKay Dee Hospital, said, “Professional business casual or professional. Stay away from jeans or scrubs, think of a more professional dress code. A shirt and tie would be appropriate.”
Sarah Davis, Human Resources Business Partner at Ogden Regional Medical Center, said, “Business casual is great. Appearance and hygiene is extremely important for the interview, so a shirt and tie, slacks, dress clothes, that’s what we’re looking for. There’s no need for an entire suit, but just professional.”
Tonya King, New Grad Recruiter for Intermountain Healthcare, wrote in an email, “We prefer business casual or business professional. No scrubs, jeans, or t-shirts.”
We hope this helps provide some overarching guidelines for what to wear to a nursing interview at a hospital or a long-term care center.
You may have more specific questions for your interviews, as well. Below are some additional frequently asked questions for appropriate attire for nursing interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do candidates for LPN positions have different standards of dress than RNs?
All the facilities we contacted said that their standards are the same for RNs and LPNs.
Are scrubs appropriate?
For some long-term care facilities, scrubs may be acceptable as long as scrubs are clean, well-kept, and you are otherwise well-groomed and presentable. However, this was not true for all facilities, so to be safe, we recommend dressing in business casual attire.
Do I cover up my tattoos for a nursing interview?
Facilities vary on whether tattoos should be covered, so it is best to cover your tattoos for the first interview until you are briefed on the facility’s policy.
Can I wear jewelry to a nursing interview?
Most companies recommend avoiding excessive or loud jewelry for the interview process, but small items are acceptable. ZipRecruiter recommends keeping jewelry to a minimum for RN interviews.
Should I wear cologne / perfume to a nursing interview?
You should avoid wearing perfume or cologne in an interview. Sarah Davis, from Ogden Regional, said she finds smelling strong perfume or cologne overwhelming and unpleasant.
Additional Tips
If you’re on the hunt for a job, one thing that can really boost your resume is having your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN Program is 12 months and fully online. Talk with Admissions today by clicking here.
Here’s more nursing interview tips from now-retired Director of Nursing Susan Jero:
Choosing a career in nursing is not an easy decision. No big career decision in life comes without a bit of research about the opportunities that a certain job might provide.
Globally, 75% of people put job security above all else when choosing a new position, according to studies. This makes job security as important, or even more important in some cases, than salary or benefits.
Being successful in the health care industry means committing to constantly learn and improve your skills and education. A nursing career is full of stepping stones and the key is to find out which steps are better choices for your career.
This is why both beginner and experienced nurses are looking for a way to advance in their careers and find out the degree that would get them the jobs they desire. For many, this means a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Others might think that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the best option. The decision is personal and depends on your individual circumstances, so there is a number of factors and circumstances that need to be taken into account. Continue reading to find out which degree path might be the right route depending on your background and circumstances.
Sarah Davis, Human Resources Business Partner at Ogden Regional Medical Center, said, “Business casual is great. Appearance and hygiene is extremely important for the interview, so a shirt and tie, slacks, dress clothes, that’s what we’re looking for. There’s no need for an entire suit, but just professional.”
