Terry Said:

How many RN's wish they choose different careers and why?

We Answered:

I am a nurse, I don't hate my job. But I have complaints: it is stressful and frustrating dealing with unhappy patients/families, under staffing, etc. I know a couple a people I went to school with who have decided to go into other fields or that hate their jobs. Where I live, it is really tough to get a job as a new graduate, especially in a more desirable work environment like hospitals. I lot of them went into other work places like home health and long term care and hated it but couldn't get into their more preferred jobs due to lack of experience despite working as a CNA for years, even in hospitals. Other people I know simply got into nursing for the wrong reasons. If all you are looking for is a steady pay check and descent wages, you will most likely be unhappy.

Lorraine Said:

different nursing careers?

We Answered:

If you don't want to be hands on please don't become a nurse. For starters you will have to deal with patients(and blood) just to get through nursing school. If you want to be a nurse anesthetist you have to get a 4 year BSN and at least 2 years experience in critical care nursing before you can apply to a 3 year CRNA program. Why on earth do you think you would want to be a nurse if you don't want to take care of patients? Please pick another career for the patients sake if nothing else.

Janet Said:

If I get really bad anxiety in clinicals for nursing school, should i think about a different career?

We Answered:

There were times that I didn't want to go, especially when it was Med/Surg and Psych clinicals, but never so much that I had an anxiety attack or thought of quitting. It sounds like you might need to see your doctor or a counselor...not so much to consider going back to nursing school, but to get your panic attacks under control so you can function in daily life.

Best wishes for good health (mental health, too)!

Tonya Said:

Does anyone know of a website where i can look at different careers?

We Answered:

www.bls.gov would be a good website if you go into that you just go to index A-Z and you are there to see different types of careers.

Grace Said:

im a RN who wants to get her bachleors in a different field, that will beneift my nursing career, any ideas??

We Answered:

Respiratory Therapy

Erika Said:

Where can a I find info on a Nursing Career and nursing jobs all in one place?

We Answered:

Clackamas news has a great site if you are doing research on a nursing career and nursing jobs. I like that real people who know about the every day ins and outs give tips and resources -
http://nursingcareer.clackamasnews.com/

Regina Said:

What are some different kind of nursing careers?

We Answered:

For a comprehensive list of nursing careers, I recommend you take a look at the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook on the profession.

You can be either a licensed practical or vocational nurse, or a registered nurse, depending on educational options.

According to the OOH:
Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with 2.4 million jobs.

About 3 out of 5 jobs are in hospitals.

The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program.

Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations; job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough RNs.

RNs can specialize in one or more patient care specialties. The most common specialties can be divided into roughly four categories—by work setting or type of treatment; disease, ailment, or condition; organ or body system type; or population. RNs may combine specialties from more than one area—for example, pediatric oncology or cardiac emergency—depending on personal interest and employer needs.

RNs may specialize by work setting or by type of care provided. For example, ambulatory care nurses treat patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries on an outpatient basis, either in physicians’ offices or in clinics. Some ambulatory care nurses are involved in telehealth, providing care and advice through electronic communications media such as videoconferencing or the Internet. Critical care nurses work in critical or intensive care hospital units and provide care to patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or pulmonary failure. Emergency, or trauma, nurses work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks, and strokes. Some emergency nurses are flight nurses, who provide medical care to patients who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical facility. Holistic nurses provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback, which are meant to treat patients’ mental and spiritual health in addition to their physical health. Home health care nurses provide at-home care for patients who are recovering from surgery, accidents, and childbirth. Hospice and palliative care nurses provide care for, and help ease the pain of, terminally ill patients outside of hospitals. Infusion nurses administer medications, fluids, and blood to patients through injections into patients’ veins. Long- term care nurses provide medical services on a recurring basis to patients with chronic physical or mental disorders. Medical-surgical nurses provide basic medical care to a variety of patients in all health settings. Occupational health nurses provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses and help employers to detect workplace hazards and implement health and safety standards. Perianesthesia nurses provide preoperative and postoperative care to patients undergoing anesthesia during surgery. Perioperative nurses assist surgeons by selecting and handling instruments, controlling bleeding, and suturing incisions. Some of these nurses also can specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Psychiatric nurses treat patients with personality and mood disorders. Radiologic nurses provide care to patients undergoing diagnostic radiation procedures such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging. Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary and permanent disabilities. Transplant nurses care for both transplant recipients and living donors and monitor signs of organ rejection.

RNs specializing in a particular disease, ailment, or condition are employed in virtually all work settings, including physicians’ offices, outpatient treatment facilities, home health care agencies, and hospitals. For instance, addictions nurses treat patients seeking help with alcohol, drug, and tobacco addictions. Developmental disabilities nurses provide care for patients with physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities; care may include help with feeding, controlling bodily functions, and sitting or standing independently. Diabetes management nurses help diabetics to manage their disease by teaching them proper nutrition and showing them how to test blood sugar levels and administer insulin injections. Genetics nurses provide early detection screenings and treatment of patients with genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease. HIV/AIDS nurses care for patients diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. Oncology nurses care for patients with various types of cancer and may administer radiation and chemotherapies. Finally, wound, ostomy, and continence nurses treat patients with wounds caused by traumatic injury, ulcers, or arterial disease; provide postoperative care for patients with openings that allow for alternative methods of bodily waste elimination; and treat patients with urinary and fecal incontinence.

for more options, with educational requirements and salaries, please refer to the handbook.