Nursing Specialties

The health care industry has a rich and diverse array of specialties, from the podiatric to the pediatric. Many bachelor of science in nursing and master of science in nursing programs include specialties that help set nurses apart within the vast expanses of health care, allowing for better career opportunities in a specific branch of expertise.

Here are examples of some of the nursing specialties available to RNs or fresh college students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing or master of science in nursing:

Nursing Management

Management is a specialty that manages to come even in the form of subspecialties, such as case management and management and organizational leadership. As an example, a nurse that specializes in case management facilitates the cases within a nursing team. This managerial role demands an understanding in quality improvement, patient outcome, and client planning. Nurses that specialize in case management will learn about the financial and ethical aspects of patient health care the requirements needed to take on a leadership role within a hospital or other health care setting.
It’s common for master of science in nursing programs to include a management focus.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Centers for Disease Prevention Control and Prevention claim that approximately two million patients a year acquire infections when they are hospitalized, resulting in 44,000 to 98,000 deaths and a loss of $17 billion to $29 billion a year. With this kind of staggering issue at the forefront of health care, infection prevention and control specialty nurses are in high demand as they facilitate a cleaner environment for patients across the nation. These nurses focus on environmental analysis and infection control in hospitals and other medical settings.

Nursing Informatics

Nurses that specialize in informatics receive the training necessary for information systems critical to health care data and records. These nurses know the ins and outs of clinical and administrative systems, data mining, and data management for the successful hospital environment. They are equipped with the understanding of security and sensitive data, such as patient records and financial reporting.

These are three of dozens of specialties available to nurses at the bachelor and master degree level. Some associate degree programs even offer the opportunities for specialization.

Prospective students and RNs that pursue educational training in a nursing specialty should be aware that while it opens doors to new opportunities within that special niche, it closes the doors on general nursing opportunities; every specialty’s demand should be evaluated carefully before enrolling in a program.

Learn More

To learn more about master of science in nursing programs or bachelor of science in nursing programs, fill out the form below. Alternatively, check out information about RN to BSN degrees, RN to MSN degrees, or ADN degrees.