Top 4 Nursing Careers

by Alex A. Kecskes

In the old days, a nurse was simply a person who took your pulse and gave you the meds your doctor ordered. Today, nursing is highly specialized with some nurses taking on the responsibilities of a physician and earning almost as much in pay. Who are these specialized health care professionals? A brief rundown of the top four:

Nurse Anesthetist. Among the highest paid nurses in healthcare, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are licensed RNs with at least a year of experience in acute-care, plus two years in an anesthesia education program. In addition to having a four-year nursing degree, they must pass a rigorous certification exam. CRNAs administer 30 million anesthetics to patients annually. And they practice in surgical suites, dental offices and plastic surgery centers.

Certified Nurse Midwife. These healthcare specialists are RNs who have been midwife certified and typically hold a master’s degree in midwife studies. Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) attend an estimated 300,000 births per year in hospitals as well as homes. CNMs also provide a variety of services to female patients--like family planning, as well as prenatal and postnatal care. CNMs often work with OB/GYNs to provide many gynecological services.

Nurse Practitioner. Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) usually need a master's degree in a specialty area. While most states require nurse practitioners (NPs) to work under the supervision of a physician, some states allow NPs to open their own clinics. Nurse practitioners provide a wide range of health services--including women’s health or pediatrics, nursing home care and private practice. The highest salaries go to ER and pediatric NPs. In some states, NPs will even diagnose and treat acute illnesses, injuries and infections.

Clinical Nurse Specialist. Typically requiring a master’s degree and five years experience, clinical nurse specialists (CNS) often engage in research and evaluate data arising from that research. These specialized nurses may also evaluate a hospital’s procedures, processes and personnel. They're typically involved in patient/family care, nursing personnel/practice and system/network organization.

For more information, check out The American Nurses Association (ANA).

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/