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Nursing Careers: Career ChoicesNurses work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress, act on that assessment, advocate for patient needs, assist providers during surgeries, treatments, and examinations, administer medications, and help in convalescence and rehabilitation. Nurses work in diverse settings from the hospital to the office setting and have varied, interesting roles that adapt as education, skills, and talents advance. Some of the different nursing career opportunities are listed below. Common abbreviations used in this section:
ACUTE CARE NURSESAcute Care Nursing is one of the most popular types of nursing. Acute care nurses provide direct care to patients that require hospital level care. Acute care nurses are assigned to a particular department such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, emergency room, intensive care, oncology or the operating room. Some acute care nurses rotate among departments. OUTPATIENT CARE NURSESOutpatient Care Nurses care in physicians' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and emergency medical centers. They triage patient calls, prepare patients for examinations, assist with examinations, administer injections and medications, dress wounds and incisions, assist with minor surgery, coordinate care among multiple health care providers, and manage chronic conditions. Outpatient nurses may supervise staff including other registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical assistants and clerical support staff. HOME HEALTH NURSESHome Health Nurses provide nursing services to patients at home. The goal of the home health nurse is to provide support for the patient’s medical problems to allow them to stay in the home. Typical activities include assessing patients’ home environment, patient education, wound care, intravenous medication administration, medication review and management, coordination of care with multiple health care providers. Home Health Nurses care for a broad range of patients, such as those recovering from illnesses and accidents, cancer, and childbirth. They must be able to work independently and may supervise home health aides. LONG TERM CARE NURSESLong Term Care Nurses manage care for residents with conditions ranging from a fracture to Alzheimer's disease who reside in a nursing home. Long-term care nurses assess residents' health, develop treatment plans, coordinate care among the interdisciplinary team and health providers, manage and administer medications, provide wound care and supervise other health care staff. PUBLIC HEALTH/COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSESPublic Health Nurses/Community Health Nurses work in government and private agencies, including clinics, schools, retirement homes, and other community settings. They focus on populations, working with individuals, groups, and families to improve the overall health of communities — touching upon issues such as preventive care, nutrition, and control of infectious diseases. They arrange for immunizations, blood pressure testing, and other health screening. These nurses also work with community leaders, teachers, parents, and physicians in community health education. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSESOccupational Health Nurses provide nursing care at worksites to employees, customers, and others with injuries and illnesses. They deliver emergency care, prepare accident reports, and arrange for further care if necessary. They also offer health counseling, conduct health examinations and inoculations, and assess work environments to identify potential or actual health problems. NURSE FACULTY/EDUCATORSNurse Faculty/Educators prepare future generations of nurses. Nurse educators teach in the classroom or the clinical setting. Nurse educators are responsible for identifying course objectives, preparing course content, conducting lectures or other teaching activities and evaluating student performance. NURSE RESEARCHERSNurse Researchers conduct research to advance nursing knowledge. Nurse researchers work in a variety of settings such as universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and health care organizations. Nurse researchers propose new research, seek funding for research, conduct data collection, analyze results, publish findings, and mentor future nurse researchers. NURSE MANAGERSNurse Managers supervise nursing staff in a variety of settings. They hire new staff, evaluate current staff, plan work schedules, manage budgets, assign duties to nurses and aides, order equipment, provide or arrange staff training, and monitor quality performance data to ensure quality care. NURSE PRACTITIONERSNurse Practitioners provide primary health care to a variety of populations including family, children, women, geriatrics, and psychiatric. They diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries. They also manage chronic conditions. Nurse practitioners may have authority to prescribe and dispense medications within scope of practice from a formulary approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Some nurse practitioners may specialize in a particular type of medicine such as cardiology or oncology and provide primary health care in those settings. CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALISTSClinical Nurse Specialists provides advanced theory and research-based care to clients and populations, nurses and organizations. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides innovation in nursing practice, based upon clinical expertise, evidence-based decision making, and leadership skills. CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTSCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetists provide anesthetic management of a patient. Nurse Anesthetists have authority to select, order, obtain and administer drugs within their scope of practice. Nurse anesthetists work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and podiatric offices. |
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