Most Popular Types of Nurses in 2020

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.*

1. Registered Nurse

Required education: ADN or BSN(preferred)

Best For: High demand

Income: $71,730 per year

Job Postings: 189,271

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.)

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.

Find out more information about how to become a nurse educator.

10. Travel Nurse

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.

23. Nurse Informatics Specialist

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Best For: More likely to grow

Income: $88,740

Job listings: 251

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.

Ready to take your career further? Enroll in our BSN program!

June 26, 2020/by The College For The People

Alumni, Career Advice

How to Negotiate a Salary

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.

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ3r8a__Fy4
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqzPlpFfzsE

June 25, 2020/by The College For The People

Alumni, Career Advice

Major Tips for your Next Job Interview

June 23, 2020/by The College For The People

Career Advice, RN to BSN Guides

Work-From-Home Nursing Jobs: What Are the Best Options and How to Get Them?

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.

Find out more about what it takes to become a Nurse Educator.

Legal Nurse Consultant

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 your BSN should be tailored to your necessities. Find out more about the differences between online, on-campus, and hybrid programs and which option suits you best.

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!

May 26, 2020/by The College For The People

Career Advice, MSN

Nurse Educator Salaries in the U.S.: What Is the Average Income in Every State?

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.

Find out more about how much Registered Nurses make in every state.

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:

Nurse Educator average salaries in every state, per the Bureau of Labour Statistics

Alabama: $66,670

Alaska: $79,210

Arizona: $81,110

Arkansas: $54,920

California: $101,320

Colorado: $62,720

Connecticut: $101,760

District of Columbia: $153,830

Georgia: $71,470

Hawaii: $79,560

Idaho: $71,680

Illinois: $69,310

Indiana: $76,280

Iowa: $80,490

Kansas: $63,640

Kentucky: $73,170

Louisiana: $72,010

Maine: $60,810

Maryland: $92,980

Massachusetts: $87,970

Michigan: $81,230

Mississippi: $73,840

Missouri: $77,540

Montana: $71,830

Nebraska: $71,400

Nevada: $76,120

New Hampshire: $77,290

New Jersey: $89,950

New Mexico: $64,660

New York: $91,900

North Carolina: $68,710

North Dakota: $75,650

Ohio: $71,950

Oklahoma: $59,070

Oregon: $76,090

Pennsylvania: $78,810

Rhode Island: $78,450

South Carolina: $67,430

South Dakota: $67,410

Tennessee: $75,300

Texas: $71,780

Utah: $78,360

Virginia: $70,540

Washington: $77,540

West Virginia: $58,530

Wisconsin: $58,530

Wyoming: $69,720

Ready to advance your career and become a Nurse Educator? Enroll in our MSNEd Program!

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.

The highest paying industries for this profession are:

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.

Find out more about what an MSN Degree can mean to your career.

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:

Nurse anesthetist – $174,790
Nurse practitioner – $110,030
Nurse midwife – $106,910

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!

March 26, 2020/by The College For The People

Career Advice, Latest Announcements, MSN

How to Become a Nurse Educator?

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. Aside from simply applying to a 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!

March 19, 2020/by The College For The People

Career Advice

15 Hot Nursing Specialties for 2020 and Beyond

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.

January 9, 2020/by The College For The People

Academic Resources, Career Advice, Latest Announcements, Nightingale College Announcement, Prospective Learners

Getting a Master’s Degree in Nursing: What Does an MSN Degree Mean to Your Career?

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

December 3, 2019/by The College For The People

Career Advice

What to wear to a nursing interview

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:

June 17, 2019/by The College For The People

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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.

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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.

Have a glance at our RN to BSN Program!

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Levels of Nursing

Most Popular Career Tracks for Nurses:

1. Registered Nurse

2. Pediatric Nurse

3. Nurse Practitioner

4. Oncology Nurse

5. Emergency Room Nurse

6. Clinical Nurse Specialist

7. Nurse Case Manager

8. Intensive Care Unit Nurse (ICU Nurse)

9. Nurse Educator

10. Travel Nurse

11. Certified Dialysis Nurse

12. Operating Room Nurse (Perioperative Nurse)

13. Surgical Nurse Practitioner

14. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

15. Cardiac Nurse

16. Nurse Researcher

17. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse (PACU Nurse)

18. Home Health Nurse

19. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

20. Certified Nurse Midwife

21. Gerontological Nurse

22. Public Health Nurse

23. Nurse Informatics Specialist

24. Radiology Nurse

25. Orthopedic Nurse

Closing Thoughts

Nursing Careers That Can Be Done Remotely

Telehealth Nurse

Case Management Nurse

Nurse Educator

Legal Nurse Consultant

Nursing Informatics

Insurance Claim Nurse

Freelance Nurse Writers

Healthcare Recruiter

How to Secure a Work-from-Home Nursing Job?

What’s the Solution? Online Learning

Is There Demand for Nursing Educators?

How Much Do Nurse Educators Earn?

Nurse Educator average salaries in every state, per the Bureau of Labour Statistics

What Else Can MSN Educated Nurses do?

How Well Compensated Are MSN Nurses?

What Are the Steps to Becoming a Nurse Educator?

What Can You Do as a Nurse Educator?

Where Can You Work as a Nurse Educator?

What Are Your Main Responsibilities as a Nurse Educator?

Responsibilities of Nurse Educators Working In Academic Settings:

Responsibilities of Nurse Educators Working in Hospital Settings:

So, Why Will You Become a Nurse Educator?

Nurse Educator Salaries

Enroll in our MSN Ed degree and become one of the educators who will shape the future of our healthcare system!

Author Bio

Hospital vs. Long Term Care Interview Dress Standards

Long Term Care Nursing Interview Dress Standards

Hospital Nursing Interview Dress Standards

Frequently Asked Questions

Are scrubs appropriate?

Do I cover up my tattoos for a nursing interview?

Can I wear jewelry to a nursing interview?

Should I wear cologne / perfume to a nursing interview?

Additional Tips

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