Nursing is one of the various healthcare professions, and it is mostly concerned with patient/client care. Professional nurses are charged with the responsibilities of caring for communities, families, and individuals. Nursing itself is often defined as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Some examples of fields within the nursing profession include pediatrics, psychiatrists, and geriatrics, among others. A career in nursing requires a substantial level of education and enhanced professional skills. This essay explores the specialties in the nursing profession, among other requirements.
Pediatric nurses are examples of some of the professionals who are found within the nursing profession. A pediatric nurse focuses on childcare from infancy until the children are on their late teens. In order for an individual to become a pediatric nurse, he/she has to complete an advanced training course in pediatrics on top of being a registered nurse.
The requirements of a registered nurse (RN) are “a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at an accredited four-year college, or an associates’ degree or diploma after which one must pass a national licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN” (American Dental Education Association 1). Individuals specializing in the pediatrics field have to collaborate with other healthcare professionals who deal with children.
Pediatric nurses have the ability to perform basic nursing duties, such as performing physical examinations and taking medical samples from patients. The extra skills that are required in a pediatric nurse include the ability to develop connections with children. A pediatric nurse spends between four and six years in training and earns an average salary of fifty-eight thousand dollars a year, depending on his/her level of expertise (Randle 396).
The opportunities that are available to a pediatric nurse include the possibility of attaining specialist status and the ability to accumulate earnings that are commensurate with levels of experience. Pediatric nurses can be found in clinics, surgical centers, doctors’ offices, and hospitals.
Geriatric nurses focus their careers in caring for the elderly. Geriatric professionals take up most of the human resources in the nursing profession due to the high level of demand in geriatrics. A geriatric nurse has to enjoy working with elderly patients on top of having qualified as a registered nurse. The skills that are pertinent to geriatric nursing are excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of a patient’s individual needs, and resourcefulness.
Geriatric nurses are found in nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, retirement communities, and senior centers. A geriatric nurse earns an average salary of fifty thousand dollars annually and undergoes four to six years of training before acquiring certification. A geriatric nurse has the opportunity to advance his/her career within a short period. Currently, there is a huge demand for geriatric nurses, and the future of this field is very bright.
Psychiatric nursing focuses on the treatment of patients who have been diagnosed with mental conditions. A psychiatric nurse requires to have attained basic RN qualifications as well as additional training in psychology. The most prominent role in psychiatric nursing is helping patients with mental conditions such as bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and depression deal with their conditions (National Institutes of Health).
A psychiatric nurse will be required to examine, assess, and diagnose patients with mental disorders. Furthermore, these nurses educate the patients’ families on how to deal with mental conditions (Sanko 1). A psychiatric nurse earns between forty-one and fifty-five thousand dollars annually. The opportunities in psychiatric nursing include the ability to attract custom pay and the acquisition of medical and financial benefits.
Nursing is both a satisfying and rewarding career. In addition, the career has good global prospects due to its increasing demand across the world. The profession attracts annual average salaries of about fifty thousand dollars after a four to six years training period. Consequently, success in the nursing profession requires dedication, necessary skills, and self-discipline.
Works Cited
American Dental Education Association. Pediatric Nurse. 2014. Web.
National Institutes of Health. The National Institute of Mental Health, 2014. Web.
Randle, Jacqueline. “The nursing profession.” Journal of Advanced Nursing 43.4 (2010): 395-401. Print.
Sanko, Fatmata. Personal interview. 2014. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Web.