Five Unique Careers in Nursing

All jobs in nursing aren’t the same. In fact, nurses come in a variety of careers and specialties that more than blow the lid off of outdated nursing stereotypes.

Nurses have a number of career paths to choose from, specializing in all sorts of areas such as primary care, management, information and even forensics.

To illustrate, here is a look at five unique careers in nursing — one or more of which might be in your future:

1. Forensic nurses

Forensic nurses provide specialized care for patients who are victims or perpetrators of crimes. While caring for patients comes first and foremost, these nurses are responsible for collecting evidence, providing medical testimony in court and consulting with legal authorities. Forensic nurses have specialized legal knowledge and skills to identify injuries, conduct evaluations of patients and provide necessary legal documentation.

2. Nurse navigators

Nurse navigators follow patients through transitional care, enhancing communication by serving as the single point of contact between patients, physicians and caregivers. These nurses help patients navigate clinical and supportive care services within a health system and in the community. Also referred to as patient navigators, these nurses  coordinate patient appointments and work to eliminate barriers to timely and effective care. Nurse navigators also provide health education to patients before and after they receive care.

3. Informatics nurses

Informatics nurses manage electronic medical records required at healthcare facilities. These nurses work to improve information management and communication in nursing to increase efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the quality of patient care. Nursing informatics is a specialty that combines nursing science, computer science and information science. Nurses in informatics support patients, nurses and other providers in their decision-making throughout the care process.

4. eICU nurses

eICU nurses are experienced in intensive care and facilitate electronic monitoring of ICU patients from a distant site. eICU nurses work with cutting edge technology that allows them to effectively monitor critical care patients. These nurses provide support to critical care physicians and nurses on the ground at the ICU, helping them to improve response times and intervene before a patient’s condition deteriorates.

5. Family nurse practitioners

Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses that are prepared to provide primary care to patients. These nurses are trained to diagnose and manage acute and chronic illnesses for patients of all ages in non-hospital settings. Family nurse practitioners are especially needed in rural areas of the country where healthcare facilities and primary care physicians are sparse. Nebraska Methodist College’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares students for careers as family nurse practitioners. Classes for Nebraska Methodist College’s BSN to DNP program will begin in August.

In addition to offering undergrad and graduate degrees in nursing, Nebraska Methodist College also offers professional development courses for healthcare providers. With year-round courses including CPR, cardiac and pediatric life support and other seasonal courses, we’re committed to the development of the healthcare profession. In the rapidly changing field of nursing, choosing your degree is just the beginning.