Few careers offer such a wide range of jobs. Those who have a nursing degree may find that choosing a nursing career that fits one’s personality can greatly increase job satisfaction and lead to a win-win job placement.
Nurses Who Like to Develop a Close Relationship with Clients
Many people choose a nursing career because they care about others. They like to get to know the people for whom they are caring. They want to develop a trusting relationship over time and have a genuine interest in the client and wish to see the same clients on a regular basis.
Several nursing careers lend themselves well to those who wish to develop an ongoing nurse-client relationship. Many residents in a long-term care facility may live at the site for years. Nurses often get a chance to know much about clients and their families as they provide needed care.
Certain home care services pair a nurse with one or just a few clients. The nurse may provide in-depth in-home care and provide education for family caregivers. Hospice nurses often provide a variety of services to terminally ill clients in the client’s home, at a hospice house, or in another facility.
Other examples of nursing careers that may offer the ability to see clients on a regular basis might include specializing in certain chronic illnesses. For example, a nurse who administers chemotherapy may care for the same patients throughout the course of their treatments. Nurses who specialize in pain control, ALS, or diabetes may offer a variety of services to clients who may seek regular check-ups.
Nurses Who Want a Fast Pace and a Constantly Changing Environment
Nurses in a teaching hospital often are challenged to apply the latest research and state-of-the-art equipment to their practice, whether in an emergency department, intensive care, intermediate care, labor and delivery, or medical-surgical units, etc. The time from admission to discharge has tended to get shorter and shorter as care tends to shift back to the patient and/or his or her family much quicker than in years past.
Some departments may offer services to inpatient and outpatient clients, such as special procedure labs, psychiatry, and endoscopy or dialysis departments. These departments may also travel throughout the hospital to provide services to patients who are unable to be safely moved.
Many primary care nurses may find themselves constantly challenged to learn about various preventive measures and treatments for chronic and acute illnesses. Nurses who work in schools and industries often have a large clientele and may deal with a variety of health issues, from ADHD to alcoholism, from food allergies to repetitive motion injuries.
RNs who become supervisors are often challenged to create a work environment that meets the needs of clients at any given time while ensuring that all employees are well-trained and providing excellent customer service. Nursing administrators may integrate ideas from within and from other nurses, professions, and facilities to maintain care that is cutting edge.
Nurses Who Enjoy Teaching and are Interested in Education
Some nurses have a passion for education. Many RNs offer education at the bedside in preparation for discharge. For example, a nurse who specializes in central lines may teach a patient how to flush a PICC, while a nurse who specializes in ostomy care may teach a client how to empty and change a colostomy bag. Nurses may also offer education over the telephone or online using a facility protocol.
Nurses may offer formal education, such as at a community college, university, or in a facility. Nurses may teach in a traditional classroom, serve as a preceptor in a clinical setting, or provide online instruction. Other nurses, such as parish nurses or those who offer services to a gym, may provide specific educational classes for the community, such as programs to promote an active lifestyle or to recognize early symptoms of certain illnesses.
Nurses Who Love to Travel
Some nurses enjoy traveling, and nursing offers a nice mix of opportunities for those who are willing to move. Agencies can help place nurses in areas in which there is a shortage of staff. Some of those assignments might last days to weeks to months. Many facilities also cross-train staff to work in a variety of environments rather than in a single unit. For example, a hospital might train nurses to work in all pediatric units or all ICUs so that staffing shortages may be minimized.
Military nurses may find themselves deployed to a wide range of areas. Flight nurses take their expertise to the skies, while other nurses may ride in an ambulance while providing emergency care.
Mission trips may offer nurses the chance to travel to another area of the country or abroad in order to provide much needed care to those who are experiencing challenges from a natural disaster or challenging living conditions with few resources. Nurses may choose mission trips that last from days to years.
Some travel agencies also hire nurses. For example, a cruise ship may hire a dialysis nurse to provide treatments to their clients who are in end stage renal failure. A camp for children with disabilities may need a nurse with expertise on site.
Nursing Offers Careers for Many Different Personalities
Those who are considering a nursing career may be surprised to learn of the wide variety of nursing opportunities available, from jobs that encourage one-on-one care on a set basis to a constantly changing environment with new clients at every turn. People who dislike their first nursing job or may have changing needs due to family dynamics may find that a change of pace or scenery may provide a welcome relief and a better fit for that stage of life. These are only a few examples of the many opportunities in a nursing career.
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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