FACTS

• Nurses care for individuals who are healthy and ill, of all ages and cultural backgrounds, and who have physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, social, and spiritual needs.
• Nursing is a profession that combines physical science, social science, nursing theory, and technology in the care of others.
• Nurses provide complex patient care monitoring and evaluation.
• Nurses are the coordinators of patient care.
• Nurses provide patient education.
• Nurses apply research in practice.

CAREER PATHS - Individual nursing practice is determined by the career path selected and is dependent upon education, experience, work setting and geographical location.

Clinician / Clinical Staff Nurse - Provides scientific, psychological, and technological knowledge in the care of patients and families. (Starting Range: $40,000-50,000/yr)

Advanced Practice Nurse - Provides primary care and specialized advanced nursing services to patients and families. Includes; Clinical Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife. (Starting Range: $60,000-88,000/yr)

Educator - Utilizes educational methodologies to present current information in patient care settings, universities, and communities. (Starting Range: $40,000-90,000/yr)

Researcher - Utilizes statistical methodologies to discover or establish facts, principles or relationships. (Starting Range: $60,000-90,000/yr)

Administrator - Coordinates the use of human, financial, and technological resources to provide patient care. (Starting Range: $60,000-120,000/yr)

CAREER DIVERSITY - Nurses may follow their personal and professional interests by working with any group of people, in any setting, at any time. The settings in which nurses work are reflective of the specialties in nursing.There is no profession which offers as many opportunities for diversified roles as does nursing.

ROLES

• Clinician
  • Clinical Staff Nurse
  • Advanced Practice Nurse
    • Clinical Specialist
    • Nurse Practitioner
    • Nurse Anesthetist
    • Nurse Midwife
• Educator
  • Clinical Instructor
  • College/University Professor
  • Staff Development Specialist
  • Patient Education Specialist
• Manager/Administrator
• Researcher

HOSPITAL SETTINGS

• Critical Care
• Emergency
• Maternal/Child Care
• Medical
  • Cardiology
  • Diabetes
  • Gastroenterology
  • Gerontology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Pulmonary
  • Rehabilitation
  • Renal
  • Rheumatology
  • Urology
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatric/Mental Health
• Operating Room/Recovery Room
• Surgical
  • Burn
  • Cardiovascular
  • Ear/Nose/Throat
  • Gastroenterology
  • Orthopedics
  • Plastic/Reconstructive
  • Transplant

NON-HOSPITAL SETTINGS

• Public/Community Health
• Mental Health Agencies
• Home Health Care
• Physician's Office
• Insurance
• Occupational Health
• Research Centers
• Extended Care Facilities
• Clinics/Health Centers
• Outpatient Surgery Centers
• Hospices
• Community Schools
• Day Care Centers
• Military Branches
• Independent Practice, Consultants
• Schools of Nursing
• Senior Centers, Shelters, Churches

In addition, some nurses have combined two careers (i.e. nurse attorney). Others have served as consultants to businesses, schools, and health care institutions. Some are combining the field of nursing and computer technology (informatics specialist).