The World of Nursing – It’s Not What It Used to Be

When nursing comes to mind, we can’t help but think of a profession dominated by women who wear white dresses and tend after patients in a hospital. However, that typical notion is far from accurate in the world of nursing today. For one, it is not at all uncommon to encounter a male nurse, and the number of males becoming nurses is constantly increasing. Also, the days of nurses in dresses are long gone. Today, nurses wear scrubs and tennis shoes designed with comfort in mind. Gone, too, with the old culture of nursing are the limitations of what nurses can do. In fact, nurses today are becoming more and more specialized, and thus can assist doctors and treat patients better than ever before. As a result, salaries for nurses have increased, and the profession has become much more sought after. Below, we will explore a few of the most in-demand modern-day nursing specialties. Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners Chances are, you’ve come into contact with an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) before. You probably didn’t know it at the time, and maybe you didn’t even know what an ARNP was at the time, but expect to see them increasingly in hospitals and medical offices in the future. The scope of what ARNPs are allowed to practice is governed state-by-state, and realm of practice can vary significantly between states. However, nurse practitioners are generally known for diagnosing common illnesses, prescribing medications for acute and chronic illnesses, and performing medical imaging scans, such as X-rays and CT scans. Nurse Anesthetists Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are very highly educated nurses who specialize in sedating patients with anesthesia prior to and during surgical procedures. Though these types of nurses have been around for over 100 years, the credentials of CRNAs have only recently become standardized. Today, CRNAs must obtain a master’s degree and be certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). However, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has issued a statement urging for the entry-level requirement of CRNAs to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree, in hopes of raising the standard of a critical nursing field. Surgical Nurses As the name suggests, surgical nurses are those who assist doctors in surgery. Surgeries are rarely a one-person procedure, and surgeons need highly skilled and intelligent nurses to assist them and help the process go as smoothly as possible. Before surgeries, these nurses are tasked with preparing patients, ensuring all instruments are clean, and that all other aspects of the surgery are in order. During surgery, surgical nurses monitor patients and act as a right hand man or woman for the surgeon. When surgery is complete, these nurses help patients in the initial recovery process, checking for signs of pain, shock, or nausea. Legal Nurse Consultants A legal nurse consultant (LNC) is a registered nurse who uses expertise in the field of nursing to apply practical knowledge to the law. More often than not, LNCs do not actually work for hospitals or private-practice medical offices, but rather work for attorneys, government offices, and insurance agencies, providing insight into nursing and medicinal specifics in a world where more and more legal issues and court cases are arising from the realm of medicine. LNCs help attorneys screen cases for legitimacy and sort through often complex medical jargon. Also, an LNC may assist in trial discovery or even serve as an expert witness if a case goes to trial.