Some Career Choices for the Nursing Student

CAREERS WITH AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

Cardiology Nurse - Cardiology nurses keep busy caring for patients by giving medications, assisting with activities of daily living, and helping with pulmonary therapy. In attending to patients, nurses assess vital signs and monitor cardiac changes. Sometimes, patients may be sedated or on life support.

Critical Care Nurse - Critical care nurses must be prepared to respond to sudden changes in a patient's conditions; therefore, they have to think critically and responsibly. Frequently, nurses are in charge of the units; and they may care for the same patient for several days. There can be a great deal of engagement with the patients and family of the patient. Nurses assess the patient for changes, monitor vital signs and readings from the equipment, and ensure that appropriate treatments and medications are administered.

Forensic Nurse - Because forensic medicine is the sciences concerned with relations between medicine and the law, forensic nurses are known for investigations in deaths. Also, the can engage with live victims of abuse. They collaborate with sociology, psychology, social work, political science, medicine, law enforcement, and the judicial system. In addition to domestic violence and sexual assault, forensic nurses deal with food and drug tampering, non-medically supervised abortions, inappropriate medication administration, traumatic injuries and suicide.

Geriatric Nurse - Geriatric nurses evaluate older adults for changes in mental status, functional status and financial status for the purpose of providing and making recommendations for social support.

Neonatal Nurse - Neonatal nurses manage the NICU room but also oversee the delivery room. They attend all high risk deliveries, including cesarean sections. They also help transport infants for specialized care when necessary. Nurses assess and monitor their tiny patients and attend to the infants' every need. Also, they support the parents and teach them how to take care of their little one.

Occupational Health Nurse - An occupational health nurse conducts health screenings, reviews employees for immunizations, administers flu shots, does blood pressure screenings, test workers for eye and hearing examinations, and provides pre-placement evaluations of employees.

Oncology Nurse - Oncology nurses infuse chemotherapeutic drugs through IVs, draw blood, and teach patients about possible side effects of the medications. They support and attend to patients who are experiencing side effects. Also, they celebrate favorable results with patients and families who survive cancer.

Palliative Care/Hospice Nurse - The focus of the hospice nurse's practice is pain and symptom management for the dying patient, rather than cures and procedures. Palliative and hospice care may be delivered in the patients
 homes.

Pediatric Nurse - Pediatric nurses care for children who undergo various surgeries and procedures such as cleft lip repair, cardiac tests, tonsillectomy, or bowel and bladder surgery. In addition, nurses also administer medications and treatments for sick children. They teach good hygiene and hand washing techniques to children and help them understand illnesses to the best of their ability.

Psychiatric Nurse - Psychiatric nurses focus on assisting individuals who are experiencing mental illnesses. In collaboration with social workers or addiction counselors, nurses sometimes lead outpatient group sessions of clients recovering from overuse of alcohol or drugs. Psychiatric nurses facilitate group sessions.

Rehabilitation Nurse - Rehabilitation nurses work with a team of psychologists, social services practitioners, recreational therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists to help patients who may have been injured or suffered strokes to reach their potential.

CAREERS WITH A GRADUATE DEGREE

Nurse Anesthetist - Nurse anesthetists administer general, regional or local anesthesia or sedation before and during surgery or obstetrical procedures. They constantly monitor important body functions and vital signs, changing medication to maximize the safety and comfort of the patient during and after surgical procedures.

Nurse Educator - Nurse educators teach nursing students principles of nursing in the classroom as well as in clinical areas. A day may consist of advising students, teaching in the classroom or clinical area, meeting with other faculty to plan and evaluate curriculum, preparing for new courses, conducting research, writing for publications, and serving on college committees.

Nurse Midwife - The nurse midwife forms healthy relationships with the entire family. They perform routine prenatal exams, such as testing using for protein, testing glucose, blood pressure, measuring the fungus, and fetal heart sounds. Also, midwives attend to patients with obstetrical and gynecological problems. Midwives consult for annual gynecologist exams, pap smears, birth control, hormone replacement and infertility problems. Not only do midwives work in the home, but also in freestanding birth centers and hospitals.

Nurse Practitioner - The census on the cardiology service in a hospital ranges from 20-30 patients per day and includes patients diagnosed with a variety of cardiovascular disease. A nurse practitioner's day begins by conducting physical assessments, following up on laboratory and diagnostic tests, and collaborating with other members of the health care team to plan and provide care for patients.