This year, National Nurses Week falls on May 6th – 12th. Nurses Week celebrates the effort, dedication, and sacrifice nurses make daily.
Nurses play a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare. Most healthcare services will involve some form of care by nurses. Due to this heavy demand, it is no surprise that nursing is the 6th most common profession in the United States. There are over 4 million registered nurses in the US today, which is about 1 in every 100 people.
While all healthcare professions hold a pivotal role in patient care, nurses are usually those who continuously monitor patients during their entire healthcare journey. Nurses are often the first and last point of contact for patients and their loved ones. They will advocate for their patients, and work tirelessly to ensure they are comfortable throughout treatment.
From holding the hand of a frightened patient to comforting a grieving family member, nurses show an outstanding amount of empathy and kindness on top of their skilled medical knowledge and training.
What Types of Nurses Are there?
There are many varied roles and responsibilities in nursing. All nursing specialties will require some form of training. Even entry-level positions, such as medical assistants (which are seen as a ‘stepping stone’ to nursing), require a minimum of 6 months of training before being able to practice.
To become a registered nurse, you must hold a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program. The exact requirements will depend on the desired state of registration.
Most nurses will find themselves specializing in one field so they can commit to upskilling and advancing in their specialty. Some specialties will require additional training and/or working hours before qualifying for these roles.
Some examples of nursing specialties (in no particular order):
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Cardiac Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
- Orthopedic Nurse
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Critical Care Nurse
- ER Nurse
- Travel Nurse
During this Nurses Week, let us all take a moment to appreciate the compassion and dedication that nurses bring to their work. They are truly the unsung heroes of healthcare, and we thank them for all that they do to make our world a better place.
