Few industries cater to everyone’s needs. Nursing offers a variety of diverse areas in which you can work. Love kids? Why not specialize in pediatrics? Interested in teaching? Become a Teaching Nurse. As with many jobs in the healthcare industry, nurses have the option of finding out what interests them, and specializing in it. Although different areas require different levels of education and qualifications, hospitals and nurses schools facilitate an easy transition from nurse to specialty nurse, many offer education benefits and training.

For the following specialties you must first obtain a degree as a “general nurse.” To do this, you should have a high school diploma and then would need to attend nursing schools for roughly 2 ½ years, undertaking 30% practical training and learning theories which encompass the other 70%. After you have completed nursing school it is recommended that you work as a general nurse for a few months as you gain experience and decide where you would like to focus.

Here are a few areas you could specialize in:

Pediatric:

For this particular specialty you must first become a Registered Nurse or RN. The requirements for RNs vary by state, with some requiring 4 years Bachelor of Science in nursing, while others can acquire an associate’s degree or diploma program. Anyone who wishes to become a RN must pass examinations and pass a national licensing exam.

When you have these qualifications you must gain some experience. Take a job in a hospital with a pediatric ward and don’t be embarrassed to ask the doctors and pediatric nurses for advice. You can enroll in a pediatric internship program, if the hospital has one, and can spend 1 to 3 months shadowing a pediatric nurse.

When you have made the decision that you definitely want to pursue pediatrics you could take psychology classes and finally sit the Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam. When you have passed your exams you could join the Society for Pediatric Nurses

Psychiatric:

Psychiatric nurses are expected to have even more qualifications than a registered nurse. Again, every state is different but most will require psychiatric nurses to attend nursing school and obtain both their nursing license and a 4 year Bachelor’s degree. Most psychiatric nurses will advance even further and obtain a Master’s or Doctorate.

As psychiatric nursing occupies a different division to pediatrics or geriatric nursing the training can be quite intense. Psychiatric hospitals are usually separate to other hospitals and so require a specific type of nurse. Nurses are expected to have thorough psychiatric and psychological knowledge and be extremely qualified. For this profession internships and placements obtained through college are essential. Once you have qualified for this field there are other areas you can focus on, such as:

• Child psychiatry
• Substance abuse
• Adolescent psychiatry
• Forensic psychiatry

Obstetrics:

Obstetric nursing is a discipline that is concerned with the reproductive health of women from menstruation to menopause. Nurses in this profession often work closely with their patients and are often assigned to pregnant women for the duration of their pregnancy.

Again, a 4 year degree in nursing is required, with a focus on gynecology and obstetrics. After you have your degree and passed the Registered Nurse exams, a minimum of 1 year experience is required. Most college courses will require internships or work experience so you gain request to specialize in an obstetrics unit. Unlike psychiatry departments almost every hospital deals with obstetrics so you can apply for a job at any hospital. Apply for positions in the gynecology or obstetrics departments and remember to use sources like the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and the Nurses Career Center.

To specialize, nurses are mostly required to have a Bachelor’s degree as well as their nurse’s license. Nurses with specific skills are often paid very well and can advance even further if they desire. Here are other specialties:

• Cardiac nursing
• Emergency nursing
• Gastroenterology nursing
• Neuro-surgical nursing
• Nursing educator
• Plastic and reconstructive surgical nursing
• Radiology nursing
• Rehabilitation nursing
• Renal dialysis nursing