By Lots of people decide to get a nursing degree without knowing what specialty they want to practice. But our nursing specialty quiz has you covered!
American nurses have lots of options when it comes to how and where they work. For example, community health nurses typically work for the local, state, or federal government. They usually administer care in schools, churches, and other public areas. Clinical nurses are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) that focus on various aspects of the patient experience as it relates to a specific population. If you decide to become a travel nurse, you would get to work as a registered nurse in hospitals all over the world. A home care nurse travels door-to-door to provide care in people’s homes. A mental health nurse works with patients suffering from a range of mental health issues. As a nurse practitioner, you can work independently of a doctor and provide basic healthcare to areas that lack access to these services.
Choosing a specialty largely depends on where you want to live/work, how you want to interact with patients, and how much money you want to make. Each specialty comes with different licensing and educational requirements. In most cases, the more education you recieve, you more you stand to earn. Do you want to work as a team in a large facility or run your own community-based nursing practice?
Becoming a specialized nurse all starts with getting a bachelor’s degree in nursing. You will then need to become a registered nurse by passing the National Council Licensure Examination. You will need to gain up experience by working at a facility before choosing a speciality. Some nursing fields require additional education, so you may need to get a master’s of nursing (MSN) as well. You can then take the exam required for your preferred specialty and apply for licensing in the state in which you want to practice.
In addition to studying the human body, different nursing professions require different kinds of skills. You might be more outgoing and patient-centric or prefer to work with data instead. Take our Nursing Specialty Quiz to match your personality to the right career path.
