Nursing degree specializations are the different paths one can take to become a nurse. A person who wants to work in a hospital might want to specialize as an oncology nurse, while someone wanting to work in-home care may want to focus their studies on palliative nursing. There are many more types of specialization, and some nurses will even pursue multiple degrees over time. In this blog post, we’ll examine all of these options so that you can decide what is best for you!
Different types of nursing degrees:
Nurse practitioners
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with master’s degrees. They can diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medications, order medical testing and interpret results in collaboration with physicians. Nurse Practitioners work as part of the interdisciplinary health care team to coordinate patient care and provide quality nursing care services for people of all ages.
Masters of nursing degree
Masters of nursing degree holders are nurses with a master’s degree. They usually go on to work in clinical or administrative settings, and they can be found across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is an advanced nursing practice certification that requires doctoral study beyond the baccalaureate level in nursing. One can earn a DNP degree in nursing from an accredited university. Doctoral programs are usually five to six years, but this may vary depending on the graduate school and individual needs.
Nurse Case Managers
Nurse Case Managers provide direct patient care by coordinating services with other members of the health team. They pair patients with appropriate resources such as community agencies and medical professionals based on their specific needs.
Doctorate of Nursing Science (DrNS)
Doctorate of Nursing Science (DrNS) is a doctoral credential that requires at least three or more years of study beyond the master’s level for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field; it also includes clinical practice time, which equals about four months per year during each academic year over one or two additional years after completing advanced preparation.
Types of nursing degree specializations:
- Nurse practitioner (NP) degree
- Acute care nurse (ACN) degree program
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) degree program.
The NP, ACN, and CNA degrees are all nursing education programs that take up a two-year period to complete with a four-year apprenticeship or internship in the field of work-study prior to getting your license for practice as an RN. The only difference between these three is their specialty area: where they can specialize within the medical profession. This will be determined by what you would like to do after completing your studies, such as working primarily with children, old people, or patients suffering from chronic diseases. It should also be noted that while it’s possible to get either NP, ACN, or CNA degree separately, it’s also possible to get an NP-CNA hybrid program that includes courses in both topics.
The most popular course of study is the Acute Care Nurse (ACN) degree which teaches students how to work with patients suffering from chronic diseases like AIDS and cancer who need more than just a bedside nurse caring for them on a daily basis. The other two types are not as common but are still important: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) degrees teach people skills needed for working with children and old people while NPs can specialize in different specialties such as maternal health care or acute nursing care, among others besides their primary focus at general hospitals.
What are the benefits of specialization in your area of interest:
- A specialization in your area of interest can help you gain a competitive edge in the job market.
- With more specific knowledge, qualifications and training, nurses are considered specialists. This means they will be able to work with certain types of patients that other people cannot treat or manage differently from general practitioners.
- Specializing in an area like psychiatric nursing gives you expertise on how to care for mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia: this might include medication management, counseling sessions or therapy, etc.
You can also check out our other article on how to become a registered nurse here
How do you decide which specialization to pursue?
There are many different types of nursing degree specializations, and picking the right fit for you can be a challenge. Here is some information on what each specialization entails to help you make your decision.
• Licensed Practical Nurse Specialization – This type of specialization will teach skills for working in an acute care setting with patients who have had recent surgery or injuries that require more physical attention than most other people need. It typically takes two years before students graduate from this program.
• Nurse Anesthetist Specialization – Students enrolled in this program learn how to administer anesthesia and manage pain while also taking care of any medical issues during surgical procedures, such as monitoring blood pressure levels and giving oxygen treatments if needed. In addition to these skills, students also learn how to provide post-operative care.
• Nurse Midwife Specialization – Students who enroll in this program have the option of either pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree or a Master’s Degree. They will be taught about childbirth and other reproductive health issues while earning their nursing credentials as well.
• Pediatric Nurse Specialist – This type of specialization is for nurses with experience in general pediatrics but want to focus more on specific areas such as newborns, children with chronic illnesses or disabilities, child abuse victims, and so forth. Candidates may choose between an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) or Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). It typically takes two years before graduating from this program.
The importance of choosing an appropriate specialty for your personality and interests:
• People with a “holistic” personality tend to like holistic specialties, such as gerontology and palliative care.
• Those of an analytical mindset usually enjoy emergency nursing or inpatient psychiatry.
• Aspiring nurses who want more independence might find themselves drawn to advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
-Nurses who are compassionate can choose from fields that include general pediatric nursing, oncology (cancer) support and hospice/palliative care for adults living with chronic illness.” So it is important to know which type of specialty you prefer before choosing your degree program so that you will be satisfied after graduation! There are many different types of nursing degree specializations.
-The holistic specialties, such as gerontology and palliative care.
-Those of an analytical mindset usually enjoy emergency nursing or inpatient psychiatry.
-Aspiring nurses who want more independence might find themselves drawn to advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.