By Levi Leo
Nursing involves many different specialties that help provide a high level of care to patients of all ages and backgrounds. Here are a few of the most common specialties and the duties involved. There is a major demand for more healthcare professionals. Becoming a nurse means helping people work through challenges, trauma, substance abuse issues and physical issues. Nurses work at many different facilities, including hospitals, counseling centers, universities, schools and correctional facilities.
Mental health
Mental health nurses meet with patients and provide diagnosis, initial care, and referrals for counseling and other medical care and specialists. They work to form a treatment plan that addresses short-term and long-term mental health care needs.
Caring for mental health is important because it also has a direct role in physical health. Mental illness can lead to a lack of exercise, drug or alcohol abuse, and other unhealthy behaviors that may have lasting physical effects.
Gerontology
There is a large population of aging adults that are in need of a lot of medical care for chronic conditions. In addition, more adults are enjoying longer lifespans than in the past, but that also means there are more people living with medical issues for longer periods of time.
Nurses who specialize in the medical needs of older adults will continue to be in major demand. Typical duties for a nurse specializing in gerontology include preventive care visits and screenings, care for chronic conditions, primary diagnosis and referrals to specialists, and prescribing medications.
Monitoring patients to make sure medications are working as expected and adjusting dosages or changing out treatments over time is also very common due to the changing nature of chronic conditions as someone ages. Additional health issues can also alter treatment plans.
Pediatrics
Children and adolescents develop at a rapid rate. Their needs for care vary considerably but generally involve more checkups and treatment for minor problems. Developmental screenings, vaccinations, assessments for some mental and physical conditions and more are all common roles for a pediatric nurse.
Behavioral issues may be referred out to a specialist, but a pediatric nurse may provide a lot of the ongoing checkups and care. Minor injuries such as cuts, sprains, and some fractures may be treated by a pediatric nurse. At the same time, infant checkups and assessments are typically conducted by a pediatrician.
Family nurse practitioner
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) offers care to patients of all ages. They provide general checkups and health screenings, vaccinations, and care for minor to moderate conditions. FNPs provide diagnostic services and may refer their patients to specialists for further testing, diagnostics, and treatments. An FNP helps monitor ongoing conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. They can also provide wellness checks for children and infants, as well as write prescriptions for many conditions.
FNPs are in strong demand because they can help fill the gaps in primary care in the modern medical system. With a large population of aging adults and more people than ever before having access to excellent health insurance, more are seeking out preventive care. While this is a positive thing, it puts additional stress on a healthcare system that was already seeing a massive shortage of providers.
Earning an FNP degree requires far less time than training and qualifying as a medical doctor (MD). An FNP requires a total of six years of undergraduate and graduate education, whereas an MD takes up to 12 years to be fully qualified to practice when you consider that a residency is typically completed before MDs operate independently.
Hospice and palliative care
Those suffering from untreatable and chronic conditions may be treated by nurses who specialize in making patients as comfortable as possible throughout the rest of their illness. This may include offering pain management solutions, finding counselors and support for loved ones, and regular monitoring of a condition to treat what symptoms are possible.
Nurses specializing in hospice care help with transitions of care that occur as a terminal illness progresses. This often includes a patient moving from home to a facility or even back to their home if that is their wish at the end of a terminal diagnosis.
Women’s health
Nurses that specialize in women’s health provide services such as annual exams, pap smears and pre-and post-natal care for mothers and infants and may diagnose and treat any number of diseases and conditions specific to women. Birth control of any description may be provided by a nurse who specializes in women’s health.
Becoming a nurse practitioner
A nurse who currently has an RN license and is in good standing should strongly consider earning an advanced degree and earning their FNP credentials. Carson-Newman University offers a reputable and accredited Online Master of Science Nursing – Family Nursing Practitioner Degree program which ensures students graduate with deep knowledge of advanced health, pharmacology and primary nursing care methods for all adult age groups.
You may be wondering what exam do nurse practitioners take? Nurse practitioner exams vary based on a nurse’s chosen specialty. The FNP-C exam is suggested for those who want to focus on the clinical side of nursing, while the FNP-BC exam is more intensive and designed for those who wish to be involved in clinical management as well as diagnostics and nursing leadership roles. While the FNP-C exam is multiple choice, the FNP-BC is not.
The role of nurse practitioners going forward
By undertaking this program, students will learn the key skills and knowledge that will help them to become a certified family nurse practitioner.
Nurse practitioners will play a major role in the future of healthcare by helping more people gain the access they need to preventive care visits and routine screenings. Practicing RNs may find that taking on a more involved role and providing diagnostic care is just what their career needs. Earning an FNP certification increases earning potential and opportunities to practice in more locations.
