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The healthcare industry has grown rapidly in recent times, leading to a high demand for nurses. This surge is a result of an increase in the older population and the rise of chronic diseases, among other factors. Due to this, more people are pursuing careers in the nursing field.
Changes in the healthcare system have led to an expansion in the nursing scope. Hence, there are diverse roles across different specialties. Modern nurses can now specialize in their preferred fields, which align with their patient care goals and skills. Let’s discuss the major in-demand nursing practice areas with rewarding opportunities for professionals.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
Nurse practitioners are trained nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and also the equivalent of a master’s degree. If you’re switching careers, you can register for online ABSN programs, become a licensed nurse, undergo clinical practice, and then get a graduate degree.
A certification exam and state licensing are the final steps to becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). With this level of formal and professional training, NPs can perform consultations, give diagnoses, and prescribe drugs. NPs also oversee patient care, which makes them useful in regions where primary care physicians are scarce.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
The work of a CRNA is highly technical. It requires focus and precision as they handle anesthesia and administer it to patients undergoing surgery. They help patients manage pain and monitor their recovery process. CRNAs also assist doctors in the operating room, especially in labor and delivery. They plan epidurals and help doctors manage any complications that may arise.
Critical Care Nurses
Critical care nurses attend to patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They play a critical role in the health sector, assisting those in delicate, life-threatening conditions. They care for people with intense organ damage or failure, support those recovering from complex procedures like chest surgeries, and manage patients in a coma.
Working in the ICU requires knowledge of how to handle advanced hospital equipment used to assist those on life support. For example, they use ventilators to control breathing, interpret data from cardiac monitors, and operate infusion pumps. Critical care nurses are constantly alert and on standby to render help.
Geriatric Nurses
The Census Bureau’s report shows that as of 2024, elderly Americans have outnumbered children, hence the growing need for geriatric nurses. They work in hospitals and elder care facilities, attending to senior citizens over the age of 65.
Geriatric nurses provide treatment for conditions like acute arthritis that limit movement, heart diseases, and other ailments that develop with age. Through their roles, they help older adults participate in empowerment programs and enjoy a better quality of life.
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurses
Due to a growing shortage of mental health professionals, there is an increase in the demand for nurses who specialize in this field. Psychiatric nurses provide emotional and therapeutic assistance, counseling services for those struggling with mental disorders.
Through rehabilitation services, mental health nurses aid the recovery of individuals suffering from conditions that affect the way they think, act, and socialize. They also provide therapy for individuals who suffer from substance abuse, offering guidance to improve their coping skills.
Endnote
There is a great need for nurses across specialties as the health sector expands. Hospitals and medical facilities need nurse practitioners to stand in for doctors and CRNAs to manage patient pain. There’s also a constant demand for critical care, geriatric, and mental health nurses who render support to patients in life-threatening challenges, aging, and psychological conditions.
