8 Nursing Specialties That Are in High Demand

The field of nursing is seeing unprecedented growth. Gone are the days when one nurse used to do everything. Today, the demand for specialist nurses is growing. Specialization in a narrow field of focus allows nurses to provide better, specialized care to their patients, which leads to better patient outcomes. Although the demand for nurses is growing overall, there are some nursing specialties whose demand is a lot higher than the rest. If you want to pursue a career in nursing or advance the one you already have and are wondering exactly which specialties are in high demand, keep reading!

Certified Nurse Midwife

Nurse midwives are responsible for delivering babies, but that is not the only thing they are responsible for. Nurse midwives are also advocates for various women’s health issues. For example, they can perform gynecological tests as well as educate women on reproductive health.

Nurse midwives must be patient, friendly, and compassionate because they often have to deal with a lot of personal issues. To become a nurse midwife, you need to complete an accredited program and earn your certification. After that, you can work in almost any healthcare facility that requires the services of a midwife. 

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric nurse practitioners work with patients suffering from various mental disorders and behavioral issues. They are responsible for providing education, therapy, and care for these patients. As with most other nurse specialties, they handle patient records, monitor their patient’s progress, work with physicians and psychiatrists, administer treatments and educate the patient’s families on their disorder as well as how to provide the best care once they are discharged.

This is a very demanding role that requires a lot of patience and compassion. Because of how challenging being a psychiatric nurse practitioner is, few nurses are working in this field and this is why the demand is so high.

Pediatric Nurses

Pediatric nurses are responsible for providing care to children and teens, coming up with treatment and specialized care plans, and letting their patients’ families know about these plans. They will also be responsible for monitoring patients, communicating with other pediatricians, recording statistics and patient symptoms, and administering medication.

Pediatric nurses should have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree as well as a Certified Pediatric Nursing Certification. Nurses who want to further their careers or handle whole pediatric units by getting into administration also need an advanced degree. To keep working while earning their advanced degree, these nurses should consider online pediatric nurse practitioner programs. These programs take 2-3 years to complete and open up lots of opportunities in pediatric primary and acute care.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses take care of and treat babies born prematurely. In some cases, they may also deal with babies who are too sick and therefore require the specialized care the NICU provides. NICU nurses are trained in comforting and soothing newborns, providing specialized care, administering treatments, and using specialized equipment to monitor the babies in their care.

NICU nurses need a nursing diploma or a Bachelor in Science in Nursing. Once they have their degrees and the necessary certifications, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurses can work in private or state hospitals, intensive care units, and clinics.

Certified Nurse Anesthetist

Certified Nurse Anesthetists handle the dosage, administration, and control of anesthesia during various medical procedures. Because of how important they are, they are often consulted by other medical practitioners. They also spend a few more years in school due to the accuracy and precision expected of them.

To become a Certified Nurse Anesthetist, you need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, A Masters in Nurse Anesthesia, as well as clinical training. Nurse Anesthetists assess risk, calculate doses, talk to patients about their procedures, and assess a patient’s responses to various anesthetic agents.

Nurse Practitioners

The one thing that makes nurse practitioners stand out among other nurses is that they can run medical practices without being supervised by physicians. Their roles usually overlap with those of physicians as they handle physical exams, manage patient’s histories, order different types of tests and assess the results, prescribe medication, teach chronic issues and diagnose medical conditions.

Nurse practitioners need a Master’s of Science in nursing which takes about 2-3 years to complete. Many nurses opt to earn their degrees online so they can keep working. Nurse practitioners can choose to specialize in several areas including family practice, pediatric, neonatal, oncology, or psychiatric care.

Home Healthcare Nurses

The number of seniors who need home-based care is increasing as the population ages. Many of these seniors live in nursing homes for longer as life expectancy has increased, and this has led to an increase in the demand for home healthcare nurses. Additionally, there is an increase in the number of parents taking care of infants who need specialized care at home.

Home healthcare nurses take care of these patients and offer their services to other groups including patients recovering from long hospital stays, disabled patients, or those who need assistance in managing and taking their medication.

This career option is a fulfilling one for nurses who do not want to be confined to working in a hospital setting. Home healthcare nurses need a degree in nursing and certification earned by passing a national exam. 

Nurse Instructors

Nursing students need nurses who have the requisite experience and knowledge to teach them about modern nursing practices. Nursing instructors help fill this gap. They will often work with other instructors and members of the facility to come up with curriculums, teaching plans, and assessment criteria for their students.

A bachelor’s degree in nursing is required, but some institutions prefer a master’s degree in nursing as well as some experience in a hospital setting. Nurses who want to follow this career path must love academia, have the necessary skills to handle students, as well as strong judgment and critical-thinking skills.

Although becoming a nurse is already fulfilling for a lot of nurses, some feel like they can do a lot more if they focus on one area of care. Fortunately, there are lots of specialties and options for nurses looking for niche opportunities, and most of these specialties are in high demand as healthcare needs and its provisions change and become increasingly complicated and personal.

Latoya Bond