Fields in Nursing and How they Differ

It’s easy to think of “nursing” as one big career field, but in reality the nursing career is an umbrella that covers many, many specific fields of nursing. Each of those specialties has its own particulars and differences from other fields in nursing. If you are considering a career in nursing, there are literally dozens of career paths that you could choose to pursue.

In addition, there are many different ways to differentiate one field of nursing from another. One of the easier ways to sort out the differences in nursing fields is to sort them by where the job is practiced. Here’s an overview of some of the many environments in which nurses work and how the job of a nurse is different in each one.

Hospital Nursing

 

When most people think of nursing, they think of nurses in a hospital. It may surprise you to know that hospital nursing is actually expected to grow less than any other segment of the nursing field in the next ten years. Nurses in hospitals will still be a major part of the nursing profession, however, and most nurses will get their training by working in a hospital setting.

Even within a hospital, nurses do many different things. Floor nurses are generally responsible for hands-on patient care under a doctor’s direction. Charge nurses are in charge of managing other nurses and nurses’ aides during a shift. Head nurses are responsible for managing patient care as well as managing the nurses who deliver that care. Nurses in a hospital may work in the operating room assisting doctors, though more and more of those positions now require special training.

Since hospitals are open around the clock, hospital nurses may be required to work overnight shifts on occasions. Other nurses in hospitals, particularly those working in management positions, may work regular Monday to Friday work weeks.

Doctor’s Assistant

 

Many nurses will work in a clinic or doctor’s office setting. Unlike hospital nurses, who are generally responsible for personal and medical care for patients, nurses in these settings often split their responsibilities between managing patient traffic – making appointments and setting up referrals, for instance – with managing patients themselves – getting patient histories, recording vital signs and getting patients settled in examination rooms.

Doctor’s offices and clinics are only open for specified hours, so nurses who work in those settings seldom have to work rotating or other stressful schedules. In addition, the work is more likely to be routine than working in a hospital setting.

Nursing Home and Chronic Care Nursing

Nurses who work in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and chronic care centers typically work with a group of patients on a mid-to-long term basis. Unlike nurses in hospitals, who usually only work with patients in acute situations, nursing home nurses often work with people who are essentially “well” or who are recovering from illness or surgery. In addition to doing regular personal care, nurses in these settings follow orders from doctors, therapists and dieticians in caring for their patients.

While nursing homes and rehab hospitals are staffed around the clock like hospitals, there is a far bigger differentiation between day and night shifts in nursing homes than there is in hospitals. Due to this discrepancy, it is not uncommon for nurses on night shifts in a nursing home to work that shift long term rather than rotating through it as many hospital nurses do.

Home Health Care and Community Nursing

 

Home health and community nursing is the one area of the health care industry that is expected to grow faster than any other segment, about 55% by 2016, with an additional 1.6 million jobs. Home health care nurses may work specifically with one patient on a long-term basis, but more often, they visit several patients a day on a schedule that changes from week to week.

Nurses who work in community nursing or in the home health care industry often have far greater flexibility in scheduling than other nursing professions. They may get to pick and choose their patients, or specify which type of patients with whom they prefer to work. Like nurses in other settings, they typically follow a treatment plan written by a doctor or management team, and are responsible for taking vital stats, and performing medical procedures like IV medications, changing dressings and checking wounds for progress.

School Nursing

 

School nurses typically are responsible for overseeing the health of students in one or more schools. Their job duties often include delivering medications that are prescribed by doctors and doing first aid for students who are injured during the day. In addition, school nurses are sometimes called upon to teach students about basic health and nutrition.

School nurses and other nurses who work for businesses generally have a regular Monday through Friday schedule. In many communities, school nurses split their time among several schools rather than spending their full day at one school.

About the Author

Arianna Jordan is a freelance writer who writes about the nursing profession, often writing about specific items used in nursing such as scrubs

How Lifestyle Affects the Aging Process

Our busy lives expose us to skin stressors and accelerate the aging process.  Fine lines and wrinkles are a major cosmetic concern for many women, and some men.  Though there are a number of products on the market claiming to combat aging, the best offense is always a good defense.  There are several factors affecting the health of our skin, and many are beyond our control.  However, there are a few things we can do to maintain our youthful countenance.

Adequate Hydration

In elementary science, we learn that the human body is composed of 50% to 70% water. Water is the base fluid in blood, urine, sweat, and a number of other bodily excretions.  Every day, we lose water through urination and perspiration, among other processes.  It is important to replace this lost fluid in order to keep our skin hydrated and healthy.  Experts recommend consuming at least eight glasses of water (48 ounces) daily.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Many of our wrinkles and other unwanted facial anomalies can be attributed to poor sleep habits.  Again, from our early education, we know the adult human requires 6 to 8 hours of sleep to function properly.  Too many late nights coupled with use of stimulant products to boost alertness can wreak havoc on our skin.  Inadequate rest leads to puffiness and under-eye sagging and discoloration.  Over-consumption of caffeine—a mild diuretic—in coffee or sodas can potentiate dehydration, which further affects skin's appearance.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Perhaps the most important skin care practice is the use of adequate sunscreen during hours of sunlight exposure.  Sunlight contains harmful ultra-violet rays that can have devastating effects, leading to premature aging and wrinkling, or "leathering," of skin.  Unchecked sun exposure is also a known cause of skin cancer.  Even persons with darker complexions should employ a sunscreen as part of their daily skin routine.

Curb the Bad Habits

When your mother said, "You are what you eat," she was right.  Our diets are reflected in our complexions.  Diets high in fat and preservatives can cause irritated, lackluster skin.  But a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and water helps skin flourish. 

Other harmful substances include alcohol and tobacco.  Among many unwanted effects, alcohol consumption promotes dehydration.  Tobacco delivers a double-punch in that nicotine promotes water loss and directly damages skin by contact.  Smoking is a primary cause of the dehydration, yellowing, and premature aging of skin. 

A regular exercise routine can also promote young, healthy skin.  Regular physical activity increases blood flow to the skin's surface and helps firm and tone areas of loose skin.

Have a Skin Care Regimen

Routine use of a mild cleanser and greaseless moisturizer can greatly improve skin health.  Regular cleansing promotes exfoliation of dead skin cells, and moisturizing replaces fluids stripped from skin by sun, wind, heat, and cold.  Daily use of an antioxidant product may also slow the aging process and brighten skin's appearance.

Beautiful skin is something we all aspire toward, and it develops from the inside out.  The keys to maintaining healthy, youthful skin are overall health and wellbeing.  Hydration is critical, sunscreen use is mandatory, and a healthy diet is essential to the maintenance of younger looking skin.

About the Author

anti-aging skincare at SkinBeautyMall.com and DrSkinSpa.com, where all wrinkle treatment products are assessed based upon their scientific ingredients.