Nursing
AREAS
STAFF NURSING
-
Hospital Specialties Include: Pediatrics, Surgical, Emergency, Critical Care, Maternity, Women's Health, Newborn Intensive Care, Cancer Treatment, Psychiatric/Mental Health, Operating Room/Recovery Room, Various Others
Occupational or Industrial Health
EMPLOYERS
- Hospitals
- Clinics and medical centers
- Physicians' offices and medical groups
- Outpatient surgery centers
- Home health agencies
- Extended care facilities: Nursing homes, Rehabilitation centers, Hospices
- Psychiatric hospitals and mental health agencies
- Educational institutions
- Large corporations
STRATEGIES
- Gain experience through externship or internship programs.
- Work or volunteer in healthcare and medical settings during summers and breaks.
- Take electives
in areas such as wellness, holistic health, medical ethics, and death and dying.
- Develop good organizational skills and the ability to handle stress.
- Develop patience, ability to work with both patients and families for long periods, and good listening skills.
- Be prepared to work nights, weekends, and holidays in a hospital setting.
- Obtain a master's degree for positions such as nurse practitioner, clinical specialist, or nurse administrator.
- Cultivate managerial skills for head nurse or other supervisory positions.
AREAS
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
- Home Health
- Rural Nursing
- Health Education
EMPLOYERS
- Public and private schools
- Daycare centers
- Mental health facilities
- State and local health departments
- Home healthcare agencies
- Senior centers
- Nurse-run clinics
- Religious organizations
- Social service agencies
STRATEGIES
- Develop knowledge and skills in management, decision-making, mediation, teaching, counseling, speaking, and writing.
- Gain experience in the ability to handle emergencies, work independently, and be flexible.
- Develop expertise in first aid procedures.
- Expand knowledge of health issues related to age, cultures, religions, ethics, and government policies.
- Obtain a master's degree for nurse practitioner positions.
AREAS
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
- Temporary Staffing
- Travel Nursing
- Personal Services Contracting
- Private Duty
- Midwifery
EMPLOYERS
- Healthcare staffing agencies
- Travel companies
- Businesses and organizations with temporary needs
- Private households
STRATEGIES
- Gained the required years of experience.
- Learn to work autonomously and make decisions independently.
- Be prepared to move frequently to various locations either locally or abroad.
- Become flexible and adaptable.
AREAS
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
- Staff Nursing
- Administration
- Policy Development
- Research
EMPLOYERS
- Government health agencies including: Public Health Service, Indian Health Service,
Veterans Administration, Peace Corps, VISTA
- Armed services
- Prisons
STRATEGIES
- Define an area of interest since government work offers a variety of practices.
- Plan on graduate study in teaching, research, or administration for advancement.
- Become familiar with other cultures, languages, health systems and beliefs.
- Be prepared for combat nursing in armed services.
AREAS
EDUCATION
- Teaching
- Educational Administration
EMPLOYERS
- Teaching hospitals
- Colleges and universities
- Schools of nursing
- Wellness centers
- Public school systems
- Community education programs
STRATEGIES
- Develop patience, sensitivity to the needs of young adults as well as patients, and the ability to accept responsibility for the actions of others.
- Take courses in the principles and practices of teaching.
- Earn an advanced degree to teach at the college or university level.
- Gain experience in public speaking.
AREAS
NURSING RESEARCH
EMPLOYERS
- Large hospitals and medical centers
- Colleges and universities
- Centers for nursing research
- National Institute for Nursing
- Pharmaceutical companies
STRATEGIES
- Gain experience with research through supervised independent study or class projects.
- Develop curiosity, analytical thinking, attention to detail, persistence, good writing skills, and an understanding of statistics.
- Obtain a Ph.D.
AREAS
TELEHEALTH
EMPLOYERS
- Call centers
- Private Offices
- Clinics
- HMO's
- Hospitals
STRATEGIES
- Work in other practices for five to ten years to gain the necessary experience.
- Develop good communication skills and the ability to make important decisions quickly.
AREAS
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
EMPLOYERS
- Embassies
- Military bases
- National or international government agencies
- Private voluntary organizations
- Church-related mission services
- World Health Organization
STRATEGIES
- Consider advanced education as a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner to be more marketable.
- Learn a foreign language and an appreciation for other cultures.
- Inquire about the need for additional preparation in religious studies or similar courses.
- Research nursing requirements in other countries.
AREAS
OTHER AREAS
Insurance:
- Underwriting and Claims
- Sales
- Product Management
- Quality Assurance
- Writing
- Law
- Healthcare Administration
- Information Management
- Patient Advocacy
- Forensic Nursing
EMPLOYERS
- Insurance companies
- Hospitals
- HMO's
- Business and industry: Pharmaceutical, Medical equipment and supplies, Medical
marketing companies
- Law firms
- Medical and health publications
- Healthcare websites
- Healthcare advertising agencies
- Public relations firms
- Professional associations
STRATEGIES
- Combine interest nursing and healthcare with another field by earning appropriate graduate degrees or gaining relevant experience.
- Minor in business or communications as an undergraduate.
- Develop strong computer skills and an understanding of business practices.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Nursing is the largest healthcare field.
- Three out of five nurses work in hospitals.
- Many nurses work part-time.
- Nursing combines science and technology with the desire to help people.
- One must enjoy helping people of all types and backgrounds.
- Nursing requires both physical stamina and emotional stability.
- Nurses must be able to follow orders and direct others.
- Earn a master's degree to prepare for advanced practice nursing including: clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, and administration.
- Earn a doctoral degree for research or teaching at a university.
- All states regulate nursing by requiring licensure.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University
of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA Title IX/504/ADA/ADEA Employer
