Registered nurses are able to take up a variety of different jobs in the nursing field. But before they can get a job of their choice they have to become a registered nurse and complete an accredited nursing program and should also pass the NCLEX-RN exam. After years of practice and working as a licensed nurse, one can take up specialty exams as well.
Jobs at the Hospitals
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, almost 50% of nursing jobs are available in the hospitals. Nurses are required in every division of the hospital system and needed at every level and various medical fields. They are required to work in the emergency rooms, neonatal, surgery department, ambulatory care, intensive care are some of them. Nurses are also required in the many of the outpatient facilities of the hospital like the outpatient surgery wards or the rehabilitation services. The large hospitals need nurses daily and for 24 hours a day, therefore, many hospital nurses have to work nights, or on holidays as well as weekends.
Nursing medical fields
You can find doctors who are specialized in some of the medical areas and work only in these fields, the same holds true for the registered nurse. It has been reported that there is to be an increased growth for the registered nurse in the physician’s office and can grow to 39 percent by 2016. The registered nurse also take up jobs at the private practices that include jobs at the specialist dealing with urology, ophthalmic diseases, gynecology, coronary diseases etc. the private practice jobs are more lucrative and attractive to the registered nurses as they offer limited work hours or regular work shifts, that consists of only day shifts and rarely on weekends and holidays.
Geriatrics and Hospice
The registered nurse can also work in geriatric and end-of-life nursing. Due to increase in the older population, it has been observed that there is a growing need for registered nurses who can take care of the older people. The nurses have to have an extensive knowledge about the patient care needed in rehabilitating and also taking care of the mental and the physical health of the older persons. Hospice nursing jobs are related in the medical field that concerns with the terminally ill patients of all ages.
Institutional nursing
There are many schools and other government facilities like the hospitals for the prisons, veteran’s hospitals, mentally ill or the disabled persons were the registered nurses are employed. The school nurses serve as the wellness educators or health educators at the school. The registered nurses also have to monitor patients and should report to staff physicians at the state facilities. Nurses are expected to deal with issues that are unique to military veterans, especially those who have fought in wars. The private prisons and state prisons also employ registered nurses to monitor the patient’s health and also have to provide emergency treatment to incarcerated individuals.
Nurses can also specialize in areas like certified nurse assistants, public health nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioner. One can further get education and become a nurse practitioner, educator or can opt for various other nursing areas. The types of jobs vary greatly, but the nursing method of looking after the patient always remains the same.
Emergency nurse
The emergency nurse works with all types of patients in various medical areas and sees the patients from toothaches to trauma.
Oncology nurse
Cancer patients have to be taken care of by the special registered nurse in this field. The patient may be from any stage of cancer or undergoing surgery or chemotherapy or even radiation. The nurse has to be very particular about the treatment given to him and has to see the cancer symptoms in the patient.
Labor and delivery nurse
The labor and delivery nurses are special nurses that are specialized in the labor field. They have to work with doctors and help them to help deliver babies and look after patients who have pregnancy complications. They also have to take care of the new born baby as well.
Neonatal nurse
In this medical field the neonatal nurse cares for the newborns that are in the intensive care units and need special care, which is often for 24 hours a day at the large hospitals.
Perioperative nurse
This nurse works in the operating room and cares for the patients constantly during surgery, and even before and after surgery. The nurse is a circulating nurse, scrub nurse or registered nurse first assist.
There are many other registered nurse jobs that are needed for the psychiatric, nephrology and orthopedic medical field.