Nursing Career Options

nursing career options pros and cons

The world of nursing holds many career path options available within and outside  of patient care for both males and female nurses. The general divisions of careers for patient care are Acute Care, Long-term Care, Psychology, Clinic, Home Care and Research.  The general career paths that are outside of patient care involve Insurance, Non-profit, Grant Writing, Governmental,  and Community.

Male nursing career options and female nursing career options have almost no line of division based on the sex of the nurse. A nurse can do anything within the scope of his or her practice and state guidelines do not differentiate between the sex of a nurse.  There are however a few areas where preference to one sex verses the other sex is sometimes given.  OBGYN nursing is almost always a female nursing role and in  Emergency nursing victims of rape almost always require the need of a female nurse over a male nurse.  Patient sensitivity can also play a role in favoring one sex verse the other sex of nurses.

Patient care nursing requires several choices to be made early in a nurses career.  Obstacles exist in nursing that are difficult to overcome.  Work experience plays an important part in determining how many career doors and options are open to nurses.  Choosing wisely in the beginning of a nursing career can be a great benefit to the nurse throughout his or her career.  Nurses are not created equal but the creation of a nurse is based in part on experience and education.  An RN, for example is not qualified to work in all positions that require an RN.  It would be inappropriate to take an RN from a long-term care environment and place him or her in an ICU position without compensating for his or her lack of experience.  This is not to say that a long-term care RN could not learn to be an ICU nurse.  The same is true of placing an ICU RN in an long-term care position.  The worlds of ICU and long-term care are vastly different and each involve different types of policy, regulations and equipment.

The Gateways:

Within patient care there exist several unseen gateways that impede nurses from reaching certain career goals.  These gateways are not impassable and under some circumstances may not be encountered at all.  The hindrance to advancement is part education, part experience and the rest is left up to opportunity circumstance.

MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING:

Medical surgical nursing is a pivotal gateway that can lead to every other single department of nursing.  Due to the very mechanism that connects a medical surgical department to the rest of an acute care hospital nurses with medical surgical experience gather bits of experience from all of the other departments.  These bits of experience when coupled with continuing education can become and key that opens doors for nurses.  If the goal is to become and ICU nurse but the opportunity is not available then medical surgical nursing is a way for the potential ICU nurse to advance.  Certification of skills such as Telemetry or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) are educational tools that can help nurses realize their career options.  Being able to take advantage of opportunity is another way to advance the career options of nurses.  Within every hospital exist the opportunities to “help out” other units.  When those opportunities are available having the educational tools required to step up and say I can help will provide experience that may allow the nurse to advance.

Attitude:

The world of nursing is full of attitudes both positive and negative.  Mastering attitude not only makes the working environment more tolerable but provides the nurse with an exceptional resource.  Sadly, hospitals can be complex political machines.  Staying out of the politics is one of the best tools a nurse can do to promote his or her career.   When you are for something then someone is against you.  Choosing battles wisely and how you approach opportunities of change are two leadership skills that will open doors for nurses.

Non-Patient Care Roles:

These roles almost always require extensive nursing experience. The world of nursing and health care in general connects to almost every kind of industry one can imagine.  Choosing a career outside of patient care can be just as satisfying as being a patient care provider.  Experience is the key to these jobs.  Check with current industry employers to see what the experience requirements are.  They very greatly  from job to job.

Staying in neutral territory, advancing education and experience are the tools that nurses need to have to fully realize career options.

Dealing With Nurse Staffing Agencies

You can survive and even profit from the staffing agency. If you are a nurse and just out of college, then you are looking for a job.  Alternatively, you may be an independent nurse or someone who was laid off due to an institution’s financial woes.  If work is hard to find, then you may consider turning to one of the nursing staffing agencies.  This is a situation where a third party employs you then sends you to various clients according to your credentials and reputation.  This means switching between institutions; a term may last for months and years, or you may simply be temporary labor.

In a sense you are turning your life over to an outside interest who cares as much about their dollar and reputation as your own.  The process can invade your privacy and direct you towards places that may turn out to be a nightmare filled with scrounging rats.  Nurse staffing agencies tend to be protective of their resources and methods, and you can never be sure what type of deal you are getting.  On the other hand, agencies know sources of labor you may never find on your own, and when work is tight they can save your bank account from extinction.  They line you up according to what you are suited for as well as what suits them; their experience at such matters might actually provide you with a positive experience.

It all depends on your needs and what is available in the market.  Anyone who is reading this in order to consider for nursing career, should not be lead to think that nurse staffing agencies are the major solution.  Nurses are in high demand; it should be easy to find work in a hospital, retirement home, or special needs facility as soon as you graduate.  Staffing agencies are an outlet if you are not immediately finding an opportunity, are wanting a second job, or are looking for a broad experience.  If experience is what you want, then working with a staff agency might actually be an intelligent investment in order to expand your professional portfolio.

The most important step after considering your own needs is to research the agency.  Read their web page or walk inside and ask questions.  Ask other sources in order to find out what type of reputation they have.  If they seem credible and established, set up an interview.  Always keep in mind they are a business with their own selfish interests; if you hurt their business by being rude or casual or less than top performance, your relationship with them will deteriorate, and they may step around you even though you remain theoretically employed by them.  That said, successful businesses take care of their assets, and as long as you are professional, the two of you should enjoy each others company.   If they seem selfish or unscrupulous, just remember that you are in demand; look for work elsewhere, even if it means moving out of town.