For individuals considering a career as a nurse practitioner, it’s likely that they are in the process of mapping out their journey to a successful time in the role. A big part of that process for these individuals is deciding how, or even just if, they will specialize. Specialization is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, it can make or break a career, or at least be a contributing factor when it comes to dictating how the work-life balance is likely to pan out.
And while the choices made can indeed be changed in the future as the career moves on and develops, it is ideal to get right from the start. This article explores what the options are when it comes to nurse practitioner specialization, and help interested individuals make a firm decision about which direction to go in.
Nurse anesthetist
A nurse practitioner is someone who, among other things, dispenses medication to help ensure that pain is manageable. Nurses interested in this role may specialize in nurse anesthetics. This is the practice of managing or preventing pain and sensory reactions in the context of surgeries, procedures, and operations. This type of specialization is full of interesting twists and turns: nurses are likely to find themselves looking at vital data about the patient while they are undergoing their procedure, for example. It is also a very responsible job, as it includes handling anesthetic medicine which is very potent for the individuals who take it.
It is also worth noting that this is one of the highest paid nurse practitioner specializations, at least by some metrics. Programs such as those from Carson-Newman provide the important knowledge and skills needed to excel in a nursing career, offering accredited programs which explore the processes and treatments for certain specialisms which offer a good wage in the future. This may not be important for everyone entering the profession, but for those who value financial remuneration then it certainly is. Either way, it offers a career path that is both enriching and rewarding and offers the chance to develop some real leadership responsibilities.
Women’s health
Another possible route for those who are looking to make a career for themselves in the nurse specialization world is women’s health. This is such a broad area that specialization can even occur again in the form of a sub-specialization. One such route might be as a reproductive care practitioner, which could involve helping a woman find the right type of contraception. Another might be to work in the OB-GYN field, which could involve helping to screen women for issues such as cervical cancer.
This is a path that women themselves might want to take, not least because they may have lived through some of the health conditions that other women are now experiencing. It is also likely to be the case that this overlapping experience will help them to build an authentic connection with the patients they help, and to assist patients in feeling comfortable with what can often be a difficult and potentially embarrassing part of their healthcare journey.
Mental health
Another increasingly common option for people entering the field is to specialize in mental health care. According to one study, the prevalence of mental health conditions in the US stands at around one in five people. So, it is no surprise that there is now an increased push towards improved mental healthcare to cater to people who are experiencing problems in this regard.
For a mental health care specialist nurses, it is likely that they will find themselves working on tasks such as providing information about the patient’s condition. This will require a lot of patience and dedication to do this job successfully, and at times it may be hard – not least because the patients they see may be in a state of distress. For that reason, nurses must ensure that they have the right training at a good institution and the right support network for supervision.
Is specialization necessary?
Finally, it is also worth exploring the question of whether specialization is necessary as a nurse practitioner. Some people may not want to specialize as they may consider it restrictive, for example, they may only see certain types of patients once specialized. Fortunately, it is possible to not be a specialist in the nurse practitioner world. Instead, nurses could choose to be a generalist nurse practitioner. In this role, a nurse practitioner is likely to be doing many generic medical tasks, including providing medication for treatment and in some cases diagnosing illnesses.
So, while it is not strictly necessary to specialize when becoming a nurse practitioner, not specializing is in itself a decision that could have career consequences later. Individuals who want to pursue a general path, should consider it equally alongside other options for specialization. While this route may in some cases mean that nurses are trading off a chance to become an expert in a particular field, it can also allow them to keep your options open.
MetaTouch Body Balance: Step Up Your Game During Men’s Health Month(Opens in a new browser tab)
Conclusion
In summary, anyone who is considering becoming a nurse practitioner – or who is thinking about their next steps in this regard – ought to consider their specialization route. Whether they decide to become a nurse anesthetist, a mental health nurse, or even to remain a general, non-specialist nurse practitioner, it is an important decision to make as part of career planning.
Discussion about this post