Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions in Canada. Did you know that there is a nursing shortage around the world? It’s true. A large aging baby boomer population has fueled the demand for more and more people to enter the profession worldwide. This has created opportunities for all kinds of nurses.

Nursing is a diverse profession that offers a variety of specialties to choose from. Explore some of the nursing careers and learn more about the kind of training involved with this list of the some of the many types of nursing specialties.

1. Registered nurses (RN)

Easily identified by their bright and colourful scrubs, these types of nurses are the most commonly recognized. Registered nurses make up a broad category of nursing very much in demand as a basic professional nursing position. RNs are responsible for a variety of tasks, as they assist doctors in hospitals and many other medical facilities. RNs are generally responsible for patient care, managing and following up with cases and planning treatment.

RNs are also able to further specialize and develop their career. Most RN jobs require an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There are many career-focused programmes available from Canadian college that offer ADNs in as little as 12-24 months.

2. Licensed practical nurses (LPN)

For many, becoming an LPN can be an excellent starting point for the world of nursing. Requiring a diploma in practical nursing, a licensed practical nurse is a popular and accessible career path. PNs work closely with patients, focusing on day-to-day care in nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

LPNs operates under the supervision of an RN or doctor to perform basic healthcare tasks like checking vital signs, changing dressings, and assisting patients with basic care like bathing and get dressed.

3. Nurse practitioner (NP)

Nurse practitioners represent a specialized and increasingly important nursing profession. NPs must have a graduate degree and often have specialized certifications specific to the type of work that they do. With this extra training comes extra responsibility and significant independence.

While some NPs are supervised by physicians, changes in the healthcare system have made the profession more and more autonomous. For these types of nursing specialties, NSs typically perform tasks like diagnosing diseases, prescribing medicines and beginning treatment programmes for patients.

4. Emergency room nurses

Emergency room nurses work in hospital emergency rooms, treating patients for trauma, injury, and acute symptoms like severe allergic reactions.  The ER can be chaotic, and the position is best suited to people who function well in fast-paced, high-stress environments. Working in these types of nursing specialties will require an ADN or BSN and often also require a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification.

5. Operating room (OR) nurses

Operating room nurses are responsible for a patient’s care surrounding surgery. Also called scrub or perioperative nurses, OR nurses work with patients, their families, and serve as part of the operating room team. OR nurses evaluate the patient and plan aspects of preparation for surgery and postoperative care.

Empathy is an asset in this field.  An OR nurse must have some bedside experience as well as an RN license with an ADN or BSN. Specific additional roles in the OR also require additional certifications.

6. Critical care nurses

The intensive care unit is for patients with very serious or life-threatening medical conditions or injuries that require complex and sensitive care. RNs in this field are called critical care nurses or ICU RNs. Critical care nurses might specialize with a specific type of patient, like children or the elderly. Educational requirements include a BSN with a special Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) certification. Some hospitals require additional unit-specific training programs or credentials.

7. Home health nurses

For candidates who enjoy variety and are not specifically interested in working inside a hospital, home health nursing is a great option. Home health nurses care for patients inside the patient’s homes. Patients typically are elderly or have specific developmental issues or limited mobility. The specific education requirements for home health nursing vary, but a nursing diploma, ADN or BSN is generally a prerequisite.

8. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)

Nursing assistants are very much in demand. The position can also serve as an entry-level nursing job. CNAs operate under the supervision of nursing staff and work directly with patients. They provide basic patient care, helping patients with bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, eating, and other essential personal care.

This is an extremely social position in which friendly, outgoing people excel. Nursing assistants must have a high school diploma and a specific CNA certification is generally required.

9. School nurses

School nurses are extremely important to schools and other educational institution. In addition to taking care of school children and students when they are sick or injured at school, these nurses contribute to the education of students about health, safety and illness.  School nurses help implement general health plans and specific health and education campaigns.  A school nurse has to have an ADN or BSN plus a National Certified School Nurse (NCSN) certification.

This list represents some of the most popular nursing specializations available, and it is by no means comprehensive. Other popular nursing specialties include cardiac nursing, community health nursing, correctional nursing, faith community nursing, forensic nursing, hospice and palliative care nursing, legal nurse consultant, neonatal nursing, midwifery, oncology nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, public health nursing, telephone triage nursing, and much more.  Other opportunities exist for administrative nursing roles and research. If you are interested in a nursing career, learn more about the nursing training and degree programs available in your area.

Nursing is certainly varied field, and individual nurses invariably touch our lives at some point.  This may explain why the contribution that all nurses make to society is recognized by a special holiday known as International Nurses Day.  It is observed worldwide on the twelfth of May each year, honouring the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday.