Get on the front lines of healthcare with nursing.

In the healthcare profession, nurses are on the front lines of patient care. They are able to be the initial point of contact, set the tone for the rest of the visit, and actually see the fruits of their labor in real time.

If you want to help a variety of people, become a nurse.

That said, there is a major hurdle standing in the way between knowing you want to become a nurse and actually being one. Namely, deciding which type of nurse you want to be.

In this article, we explore the various subcategories of nursing and dive into why you may want to pursue each one.

Ambulatory Care

A good portion of hospital visits last less than 24 hours. These patients typically come in with common issues that can be addressed without further observation, or the patients are in the hospital for outpatient procedures. Either way, an ambulatory care nurse is responsible for their care.

Due to the nature of this position, nurses in this subcategory typically do not need to learn a specialty. Ambulatory care nurses see a variety of patients in a busy environment.

Case Management

When an illness or disease requires extensive care, case management nurses are called in. They often collaborate with other doctors and nurses to assess efficient treatment methods.

Once a plan is created, case management nurses monitor results as well. This is an optimal choice for medical students that want to be involved in a patient’s life on a long-term basis.

Nurse Practitioner

Medical students that opt to pursue this type of nursing position will be a step up from their peers. This is primarily due to the fact that they can make diagnoses and prescribe prescriptions without a physician.

Occupational Health

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals may get sick, usually by interacting with patients. When this occurs, occupational nurses are called in to ensure a quick recovery.

If you want to heal the healers, become an occupational health nurse in the healthcare field.

More In-Depth Positions

In addition to the nursing positions above, medical students can opt to pursue a specific specialty. We’ve listed a few of them below.

• Anesthetists: assist doctors with pain prevention
• Cardiac Care: observe heart functions and report irregularities
• Critical Care/Emergency/Trauma: adrenaline packed position where life and death decisions are constantly made
• Neonatal: clean and monitor newborns after birth
• Pediatric: provide care for children
• Oncology: give treatments to cancer patients
• Psychiatric: see patients with mental illnesses
• Transplant: work in operating room when infected organ is replaced with a donor's
• Urology: ensures patient's urethra area is functioning properly
• Gynecology: administer check-ups to women

These nursing subcategories are ideal for those that prefer to work in one niche over another. It may take some time for you to discover which specialty you prefer. Nevertheless, if you sincerely want to help others, a career in nursing may be the perfect occupation for you.