Nursing Jobs >> Browse Articles >> Entering nursing

+2

Find a Nursing Specialty

Find a Nursing Specialty

ProNurse

From emergency-room and operating-room nursing to paediatric and orthopaedic nursing and beyond, there’s no shortage of specialties for today’s ambitious nurse.

Besides the traditional specialties – neurology, nurse anaesthetist and nurse practitioners – there are lesser-known subfields such as telephone-triage nursing, forensic nursing (the application of nursing science to public or legal proceedings) and prison nursing. While healthcare settings across the UK are currently managing to fill most nursing posts, nurses are in particularly high demand in some subfields that typically require higher levels of training, skills and experience.

So how can you zero in on the nursing specialty that will fulfil your career goals?

Nursing and Stress

One factor is your definition of stress. Some nurses find it more stressful to work in an operating room, where they are almost always on call. Others may find it stressful to work in the recovery room, which requires honed technical skills. Still others may find it stressful to work one-on-one with consultants on a medical/surgical floor.

Where do you feel comfortable? Do you enjoy independence, or do you crave the camaraderie of fellow nurses and staff? It helps to compare your personality with the working environment. People who can deal with high stress and juggling lots of balls in the air at the same time are well-suited to the emergency department. If you want a slower pace, then try a community hospital. You should also think about what you most enjoyed during training. If you have an affinity for children, you may want to specialise in paediatrics or maternity. If serving pensioners satisfies you, then geriatrics would be a logical choice.

Continuing Education

You also need to consider any special certifications and qualifications you need to enter into a particular subfield. General skills will be quite adequate on a medical/surgical floor, for example, but to advance to the emergency room, you will need further training in specific skills. If you want to work with cancer patients, then you may need special chemotherapy training.

If you are willing to continue education and further your skills you may be a candidate for intensive-care units and oncology units.

Once qualified, your Personal Development Plan will help you develop your skills in the best way to reach your goal. Once you reach that goal it’s time to make a new one!

+2

General Nursing IQ Test

Nurse_clipboard_black_background_cropped
  • 1.

    Where is the popliteal pulse?

More Quizzes

Have you Played The Game?

Excessive hysterical laughing is called:

Add a Question