Nursing Career Options Available in the Northeast Ohio Job Market
Nurses are important to the healthcare system, improving the quality of human life around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Nurses focus on how individuals and families respond to actual or potential health problems. Nurses are educated to anticipate and meet the needs of the whole person, beyond just the presenting health problem.
A nurse’s knowledge of disease and illness is blended with the most up-to-date technologies and a caring approach to restore and maintain the health of an individual or family. There are a variety of nursing career options available in the field of nursing.
APRNs hold at least a master’s degree in their area of practice and may work in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, health departments or a variety of other settings. There are four types of APRNs currently recognized in today’s healthcare system:
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Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are expert clinicians in a specialty area and may provide patient care, educate patients and families, consult with other members of the healthcare team and conduct research in their specialty practice area.
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are in high demand in healthcare delivery today. CRNAs keep patients pain free during surgical, medical, dental or childbirth procedures.
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Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) manage pregnancy-related care of women and newborns. The nurse midwife may also provide family planning and well-women gynecological care.
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Nurse Practitioners (NP) provide medical care to individuals and families. A nurse practitioner may diagnose, treat and manage many common and chronic health conditions. An NP may also perform physical examinations, order laboratory tests and procedures and prescribe medications.
Nurse Educators typically specialize in a clinical area and teach in programs at community, state, and private colleges that offer associate's, baccalaureate, or master’s degrees. Nursing faculty hold at least a master’s degree in nursing. Some of our best nursing schools must turn students away because there is no faculty to teach. The shortage of nursing school faculty worsens the nation’s already massive nursing shortage.
Nursing Assistants (NA) assist in the care of patients under the direct supervision of licensed health professionals. Typical nurse aide tasks may include bathing, dressing, or assisting with hygienic needs; serving meals and feeding patients; moving patients to and from treatment rooms or assisting them to walk; and observing patients’ physical, mental and emotional conditions and reporting changes to the nursing or medical staff.
Nursing is a challenging and rewarding career that takes a keen mind, determination and the desire to make a difference. Nursing also takes critical thinking, problem solving, interpersonal skills, flexibility and a strong background in mathematics and science. There are a variety of nursing career options available meet the needs of those looking to enter this in-demand career.