5 Rewarding Careers in Nursing

5 Rewarding Nursing Careers

  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  • General Nurse Practitioner
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Nurse Case Manager
  • Pain Management Nurse

Nursing is a growing field that offers many rewarding careers. In addition to offering various nursing specializations, it also offers the opportunity to earn excellent wages while helping others. An individual can become a registered nurse (RN) by completing a 2-year associate’s degree program or a 4-year bachelor’s degree program. Earning a master’s degree in nursing opens many doors to RNs and allows them to choose from a variety of nursing careers. Here are five rewarding careers in nursing.

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Anyone who has ever had surgery recognizes the services providing by certified registered nurse anesthetists because they are the nursing professionals who prepare and administer anesthesia before and after surgical procedures. They work alongside anesthesiologists, surgeons, dentists and similar healthcare professionals. Nurse.org ranks certified registered nurse anesthetist is ranked as the top nursing career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that these healthcare professionals earned an average annual wage of $174,790 in 2018. Upon obtaining a nursing license and certification as a nurse anesthetist, this individual can seek work in almost any healthcare setting.

2. General Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner is one of a few different advanced practice registered nurse areas of specialization. Nurse practitioners do much of the same work as doctors without actually being a doctor. They may work in a clinic, hospital, private practice or various healthcare settings. An individual wishing to work as a nurse practitioner may work as a general nurse practitioner or specialize in a certain area. Nurse practitioners are expected to see excellent job growth during the 2018-2028 decade. A master’s degree in nursing and certification as a nurse practitioner is the requirement to work as a nurse practitioner. Licensure requirements vary by state.

3. Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses are licensed RNs who specialize in public health nursing, which is working with the public and residents of the community. A large part of their day consists of researching disease and health trends in the community and educating the community on healthcare management and promoting good health. They often work in schools speaking with and educating students. To become a public health nurse requires at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In most cases, the RN pursues a master’s degree in nursing with a certification in public health nursing.

4. Nurse Case Manager

Nurse case managers are generally RNs who have several years of experience working with patients and their medical care team on a long-term basis. An example might be a patient that has been suffering from a long-term illness. Nurse case managers develop professional relationships with their patients and help them coordinate medical appointments, surgeries and similar activities. They also educate patients, family members and caregivers on the recommended treatment plants. Nurse case managers typically have a master’s degree in nursing as well as a couple of years of experience working in case management. They may work in hospitals, clinics, outpatient clinics and nursing facilities.

5. Pain Management Nurse

Pain management nurses are very valuable in any healthcare setting because they help post-surgery patients and patients with chronic pain manage their pain. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to learn the cause of the pain and the best possible treatment plan. They also educate the patients on dealing with the pain without becoming dependent or addicted to prescription pain medications. Pain management nurses are highly in demand, and their training allows them to work in various healthcare facilities. To become a pain management nurse usually requires several years of experience as an RN. Pain management specialist is an area of certification for nurse practitioners.

Related Resource: Top 10 Christian College Nursing Programs

Once an RN has completed training in a specialized area of nursing, he or she can pursue high-paying jobs that are stimulating, rewarding and very lucrative. One of the great things about master’s degree nurse training programs is that they prepare nursing students to take certification exams for different nursing areas, and these areas provide RNs with the knowledge and skill to pursue not just one career but several careers.

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