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What are some high level nurse careers?
Hello! I am a rising junior in high school. I think I am interested in going into nursing. #nursing #nurse #medicine #medical
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Doc’s Answer
With so many nursing specialties Athena, it can be hard to decide what type of nurses would be a good fit for you. From an Orthopedic Nurse to a Pediatric Nurse, below are five types of different types of nurses and descriptions.
FOUR TYPES OF NURSING SPECIALTIES
1.) REGISTERED NURSE – Registered nurses (RNs) work in many different healthcare environments and perform a large variety of healthcare tasks that are pivotal to patient care and recovery. They can administer medicine, set up patient care plans, and use important medical equipment. They might work at hospitals, physician offices, nursing care facilities, schools, or health clinics, among other places of employment. RNs usually spend most of their shifts on their feet and may need to work overnight hours at many facilities. Registered nurses work alongside physicians in hospitals or other medical settings to treat patients in need of medical assistance. Education for this career is obtained by completing an associate's or bachelor's degree program. The final requirement to become a registered nurse is passing a licensing examination.
• Education Requirements for Registered Nurses – Aspiring RNs can choose to pursue an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor's degree in nursing. Some educational programs can be interwoven; an individual who has earned an associate's degree, for instance, may pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at any point in their careers by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN program. Individuals who have completed an ADN program and have obtained licensure as a registered nurse are equipped to work in the field. However, a BSN is required if a nurse wants to advance in the profession. Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree may lead to career advancement opportunities, such as clinical nurse specialist, anesthetist nurse, midwife nurse and nurse practitioner.
• Employment Locations: Hospitals, residential care facilities
• Relevant Certifications: State Nursing License
• Median Salary Range: $70,300 annually
2.) PEDIATRIC NURSE – A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in the care of infants, children and adolescents. These nurses must be licensed by the state after having completed a minimum of an associate's degree in nursing and passing a national licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. Many pediatric nurses are employed by hospitals, community centers and clinics. The overall job market in nursing is strong, and pediatric nurses may choose to obtain optional certification to better their job prospects. Pediatric nurses work in hospital and clinical settings with pediatricians, monitoring and providing care to children and infants. To become a pediatric nurse, an associate's degree or higher in nursing is required. Students interested in pediatric nursing can focus their education on pediatric related programs and electives in order to prepare for their career choice. In order to get a job as a pediatric nurse, professionals must pass the National Registered Nurse licensing examination.
• Education Requirements for a Pediatric Nurse – Aspiring pediatric nurses may also complete a 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Like nursing diploma programs, these degree programs offer classroom education combined with clinical experience. Coursework may include nursing ethics, health assessments and patient management. Students hoping to work as pediatric nurses may be able to enroll in pediatric-related electives or focus on pediatric care during their clinical education.
• Employment Locations: Doctor’s Offices, Hospitals
• Relevant Certifications: State Nursing License
• Median Salary Range: $76,800 annually
3.) CRITICAL CARE NURSE – Within hospitals, critical care nurses work in a variety of settings, including ICUs, emergency rooms and cardiac care units. They provide continuous, high-level care for critically ill patients and their families. Some, who have a sub-specialty in adult, pediatric or neonatal nursing, serve a specific population. In general, critical care nurses work with fewer patients than those who work with less acutely ill patients; however, the needs of these patients are far greater and require constant monitoring and assessment. Critical care nurses are responsible for monitoring life support equipment, attending to wounds, responding to changing patient conditions and providing advanced life support. They document all these patient interactions to give the physician an accurate picture of the patient's status.
• Education Requirements for a Critical Care Nurse – The first step to becoming a critical care nurse is to earn an RN credential. Some hospitals offer a diploma in nursing. Other routes to becoming an RN are getting an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a community college or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at a 4-year institution. Candidates must also pass a national licensing exam to become an RN, the NCLEX-RN. Many nurse education programs offer courses in critical care that help prepare nurses for the specialty, but most training in the field is provided by hospitals after a nurse has been hired to work in critical care. Many critical care nurses pursue certification in the specialty. Certification is not mandatory, but many employers prefer nurses who have this credential because it verifies they've met professional standards. Experience in critical care, passing a rigorous exam and continuing education are necessary to earn certification in critical care through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Certified critical care nurses often earn higher salaries than their counterparts who have not obtained certification.
• Employment Locations: Hospitals and Doctor’s Offices
• Relevant Certifications: Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Median Salary Range: $81,600 annually
4.) CERTIFIED EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE – Emergency room nurses work directly under doctors in hospital emergency room or urgent care settings and are responsible for attending patients with serious illness or injuries. Duties might include patient assessment and diagnosis, tending to wounds and injuries, monitoring temperature and blood pressure, taking vital signs and setting up IVs. The majority of certified emergency room nurses work in hospitals, however, these nurses can also work in urgent care facilities, government offices, poison control departments, helicopters and ambulances, sporting events, cruise ships, prisons and other establishments. Certified emergency room nurses are registered nurses who specialize in providing immediate care to patients with acute injuries, critical illnesses and other potentially life-threatening conditions. These nurses must efficiently respond to a variety of medical situations, including respiratory, cardiovascular and other trauma emergencies. They need a nursing diploma or degree and a state license. They can earn optional professional certification as an emergency room nurse by passing examinations.
• Education Requirements for a Certified Emergency Room Nurse – At minimum, a certified emergency room nurse must have a registered nursing credential, which requires completion of a nursing program, usually taking 2-4 years. There are three ways to complete a registered nursing program, including earning an associate's degree, bachelor's degree or a diploma from an approved nursing school. Though bachelor's degree programs usually offer students more clinical practice, all registered nursing programs prepare students with classroom instruction on important components of nursing, including classes on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, statistics, microbiology, ethics and client assessment. Through clinical practice, potential nurses learn to work with a variety of patients, including infants, adults and medical health patients.
• Employment Locations: Hospitals
• Relevant Certifications: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
• Median Salary Range: $85,700 annually
Hope this was Helpful Athena
FOUR TYPES OF NURSING SPECIALTIES
1.) REGISTERED NURSE – Registered nurses (RNs) work in many different healthcare environments and perform a large variety of healthcare tasks that are pivotal to patient care and recovery. They can administer medicine, set up patient care plans, and use important medical equipment. They might work at hospitals, physician offices, nursing care facilities, schools, or health clinics, among other places of employment. RNs usually spend most of their shifts on their feet and may need to work overnight hours at many facilities. Registered nurses work alongside physicians in hospitals or other medical settings to treat patients in need of medical assistance. Education for this career is obtained by completing an associate's or bachelor's degree program. The final requirement to become a registered nurse is passing a licensing examination.
• Education Requirements for Registered Nurses – Aspiring RNs can choose to pursue an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor's degree in nursing. Some educational programs can be interwoven; an individual who has earned an associate's degree, for instance, may pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at any point in their careers by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN program. Individuals who have completed an ADN program and have obtained licensure as a registered nurse are equipped to work in the field. However, a BSN is required if a nurse wants to advance in the profession. Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree may lead to career advancement opportunities, such as clinical nurse specialist, anesthetist nurse, midwife nurse and nurse practitioner.
• Employment Locations: Hospitals, residential care facilities
• Relevant Certifications: State Nursing License
• Median Salary Range: $70,300 annually
2.) PEDIATRIC NURSE – A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in the care of infants, children and adolescents. These nurses must be licensed by the state after having completed a minimum of an associate's degree in nursing and passing a national licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. Many pediatric nurses are employed by hospitals, community centers and clinics. The overall job market in nursing is strong, and pediatric nurses may choose to obtain optional certification to better their job prospects. Pediatric nurses work in hospital and clinical settings with pediatricians, monitoring and providing care to children and infants. To become a pediatric nurse, an associate's degree or higher in nursing is required. Students interested in pediatric nursing can focus their education on pediatric related programs and electives in order to prepare for their career choice. In order to get a job as a pediatric nurse, professionals must pass the National Registered Nurse licensing examination.
• Education Requirements for a Pediatric Nurse – Aspiring pediatric nurses may also complete a 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Like nursing diploma programs, these degree programs offer classroom education combined with clinical experience. Coursework may include nursing ethics, health assessments and patient management. Students hoping to work as pediatric nurses may be able to enroll in pediatric-related electives or focus on pediatric care during their clinical education.
• Employment Locations: Doctor’s Offices, Hospitals
• Relevant Certifications: State Nursing License
• Median Salary Range: $76,800 annually
3.) CRITICAL CARE NURSE – Within hospitals, critical care nurses work in a variety of settings, including ICUs, emergency rooms and cardiac care units. They provide continuous, high-level care for critically ill patients and their families. Some, who have a sub-specialty in adult, pediatric or neonatal nursing, serve a specific population. In general, critical care nurses work with fewer patients than those who work with less acutely ill patients; however, the needs of these patients are far greater and require constant monitoring and assessment. Critical care nurses are responsible for monitoring life support equipment, attending to wounds, responding to changing patient conditions and providing advanced life support. They document all these patient interactions to give the physician an accurate picture of the patient's status.
• Education Requirements for a Critical Care Nurse – The first step to becoming a critical care nurse is to earn an RN credential. Some hospitals offer a diploma in nursing. Other routes to becoming an RN are getting an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a community college or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at a 4-year institution. Candidates must also pass a national licensing exam to become an RN, the NCLEX-RN. Many nurse education programs offer courses in critical care that help prepare nurses for the specialty, but most training in the field is provided by hospitals after a nurse has been hired to work in critical care. Many critical care nurses pursue certification in the specialty. Certification is not mandatory, but many employers prefer nurses who have this credential because it verifies they've met professional standards. Experience in critical care, passing a rigorous exam and continuing education are necessary to earn certification in critical care through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Certified critical care nurses often earn higher salaries than their counterparts who have not obtained certification.
• Employment Locations: Hospitals and Doctor’s Offices
• Relevant Certifications: Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Median Salary Range: $81,600 annually
4.) CERTIFIED EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE – Emergency room nurses work directly under doctors in hospital emergency room or urgent care settings and are responsible for attending patients with serious illness or injuries. Duties might include patient assessment and diagnosis, tending to wounds and injuries, monitoring temperature and blood pressure, taking vital signs and setting up IVs. The majority of certified emergency room nurses work in hospitals, however, these nurses can also work in urgent care facilities, government offices, poison control departments, helicopters and ambulances, sporting events, cruise ships, prisons and other establishments. Certified emergency room nurses are registered nurses who specialize in providing immediate care to patients with acute injuries, critical illnesses and other potentially life-threatening conditions. These nurses must efficiently respond to a variety of medical situations, including respiratory, cardiovascular and other trauma emergencies. They need a nursing diploma or degree and a state license. They can earn optional professional certification as an emergency room nurse by passing examinations.
• Education Requirements for a Certified Emergency Room Nurse – At minimum, a certified emergency room nurse must have a registered nursing credential, which requires completion of a nursing program, usually taking 2-4 years. There are three ways to complete a registered nursing program, including earning an associate's degree, bachelor's degree or a diploma from an approved nursing school. Though bachelor's degree programs usually offer students more clinical practice, all registered nursing programs prepare students with classroom instruction on important components of nursing, including classes on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, statistics, microbiology, ethics and client assessment. Through clinical practice, potential nurses learn to work with a variety of patients, including infants, adults and medical health patients.
• Employment Locations: Hospitals
• Relevant Certifications: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
• Median Salary Range: $85,700 annually
Hope this was Helpful Athena
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Another option is to work in Clinical Research. There are opportunities within institutions where you can be a study coordinator. Sometimes you can take on this role while being a nurse at a hospital. Also, nursing skills are a great asset for working in research at medical device or pharma companies. For example, a clinical research monitor will travel to multiple hospitals to review records and talk with hospital staff. Their job is to ensure the hospital staff are following the proper protocols, regulations, and documenting elements of the study properly. The clinical research monitor is supporting advancements in science, but most importantly, ensuring the safety of all patients. There are dozens of other jobs within clinical research that have similar paths with nursing, so there is a variety of possibilities if one job does not seem right for you. Clinical research is a very rewarding career.
Thank you for your response! I will definitely look into this.
Athena
Updated
Phyllis’s Answer
There are so many different ways to utilize your nursing degree. I have been a Clinical Specialist for medical device companies, and also a Medical Science Liaison. Most of these jobs require that you have some basic experience as a nurse to begin with. Your opportunities are endless with a nursing degree. You can work in Clinical Research, you can become a nursing instructor, or simply enjoy practicing nursing in a clinical setting.
Updated
Stacie’s Answer
Good day Athena,
There are no limitations in nursing. You could work in a corporate office, a physicians office, become a bedside nurse or even work in the Operating room. It just depends on what you want to do. Any of these areas could consist of the equivalents of being a high level nursing. I for one started working in the nursing industry as a pediatric nurse.. I then moved to adult critical care in a hospital doing bedside care. For the past 13 years I moved to the corporate side of nursing working for a wonderful medical device company. The sky is the limit! I recommend sometime in the next year or two seeing if you can find people that you know in these industries to maybe shadow to see what peeks your interest the best.
There are no limitations in nursing. You could work in a corporate office, a physicians office, become a bedside nurse or even work in the Operating room. It just depends on what you want to do. Any of these areas could consist of the equivalents of being a high level nursing. I for one started working in the nursing industry as a pediatric nurse.. I then moved to adult critical care in a hospital doing bedside care. For the past 13 years I moved to the corporate side of nursing working for a wonderful medical device company. The sky is the limit! I recommend sometime in the next year or two seeing if you can find people that you know in these industries to maybe shadow to see what peeks your interest the best.
Thanks for your response! Nursing sounds like a great field to be in.
Athena
Updated
Holly’s Answer
Hi Athena,
The sky is the limit with nursing! You can work with individuals of all ages and if you are more interested in using your knowledge than working directly with patients, there are positions with insurance companies and even corporate America!
The sky is the limit with nursing! You can work with individuals of all ages and if you are more interested in using your knowledge than working directly with patients, there are positions with insurance companies and even corporate America!
thank you for your response !
Athena
Updated
Jemima A.’s Answer
In addition to John Frick's detailed answer.
FERTILITY NURSE is another as infertility is globally increasing
FERTILITY NURSE is another as infertility is globally increasing
Updated
Su’s Answer
Hi Athena!
In addition to specialized nursing area, you can also think about if you want to be a people manager of nurses or use your nursing experience to teach nurses, write policies, etc. For example if you are interested in managing people, you can move up the management ladder from staff nurse to lead nurse (for a station or shift) to Director of Nursing. If you are interested in combining teaching and nursing, every organization (clinics, hospitals) need nurses to teach new nurses or teach new policies or new skills. There are so many ways to use your nursing skills!
Best of luck to you!
In addition to specialized nursing area, you can also think about if you want to be a people manager of nurses or use your nursing experience to teach nurses, write policies, etc. For example if you are interested in managing people, you can move up the management ladder from staff nurse to lead nurse (for a station or shift) to Director of Nursing. If you are interested in combining teaching and nursing, every organization (clinics, hospitals) need nurses to teach new nurses or teach new policies or new skills. There are so many ways to use your nursing skills!
Best of luck to you!
Thank you for your response!
Athena
Updated
Iris’s Answer
Athena, you can find so many nursing specialties, for me to be a good nurse you need to ask your self why you like that career. To find what type of nurses would be a good fit for you need to know with what people you want to work or help as a nurse (third age people, babies, adults). You need to ask yourself not only why you want to be a nurse but more important to whom you want to help.
Thank you for your response!
Athena
Updated
Linda’s Answer
Depends on what you mean by high level and what you want for yourself. Salary? Degree? Both? Entry-level nurse hourly pay varies from state to state, region to region. Google what it is in your area compared to higher-paying states like California and New York. You will start out at entry-level pay which is relatively low, but I remember being very happy with it when I compared it to my PCA (nursing aide) rate in the check just prior to my first RN check. Higher-paying nurse jobs will be in management/leadership roles, utilization review, etc. If you Google it, you will find a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is the highest-paid nurse role. Other high-paid nurses are in the advanced practice arena like APN/APRN, Medical Science Liason, etc. Those will need an MSN degree and extensive clinical experience.
Updated
Phyllis’s Answer
There are so many different ways to utilize your nursing degree. I have been a Clinical Specialist for medical device companies, and also a Medical Science Liaison. Most of these jobs require that you have some basic experience as a nurse to begin with. Your opportunities are endless with a nursing degree. You can work in Clinical Research, you can become a nursing instructor, or simply enjoy practicing nursing in a clinical setting. You could also become a RNFA, this is a Registered Nurse, First Assistant. You will assist the surgeon in the Operating Room during various procedures. Some are employed by the hospital, but most have their own business and work with numerous different surgeons at many different hospitals.
Thanks for your response!
Athena
Ashley Anders
Labor and Delivery/Postpartum/Stable Newborn/Gynecology Registered Nurse
15
Answers
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Hey! I love nursing. It opens so many options up for you as there are so many different paths that can be taken. I am not sure what you mean by higher level of nursing but I assume you are referring to a Nurse Practitioner or a CRNA. Both of which require extra schooling on top of your Bachelors in Nursing.