Today’s complex healthcare system is strained. Patients require more individualized care, healthcare costs continue to rise and the healthcare worker shortage grows larger with each passing year. To help resolve these pressing challenges, healthcare leaders and educational institutions are expanding nursing education pathways in order to attract new nurses to the profession — particularly those who are interested in nursing specializations.
Why Specialized Nursing Roles Are in High Demand
Demand for compassionate and skilled nurses is on the rise at the same time that a significant portion of the current nursing workforce is nearing retirement age. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), a variety of factors are fueling the demand for specialized nurses, such as:
Rising Patient Acuity and Workforce Shortages
The population is aging, and patients’ needs are becoming more complex, requiring a rising number of people to seek care from specialty providers. Simultaneously, the nursing workforce is facing a shortage crisis, which has significantly increased the demand for nurses with high-level knowledge and specialized skills.
Better Outcomes Through Focused Expertise
Medical research has shown that focused expertise and patient-centered care can lead to improved patient outcomes, a key goal of healthcare providers. According to Sigma Nursing, evidence-based nursing practice elevates not only patient outcomes but also patient safety and quality of care overall.
Career Advancement and Salary Potential
Specialized nursing positions allow nurses to build upon their clinical foundation and explore the areas of healthcare that interest them most. In many cases, these career advancement opportunities increase their earning potential throughout their careers.
Core Competencies Gained in an Accelerated BSN
The number of accelerated nursing programs available has increased in recent years in an effort to attract more individuals to the nursing profession. These undergraduate degree programs can often be completed in less than two years, and they allow students to apply existing credits to their accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree in order to focus primarily on nursing coursework and clinical experiences.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the core competencies emphasized within the ABSN include:
Evidence-Based Practice and Clinical Judgment
While individuals with an associate degree are able to become licensed to practice as registered nurses, BSN-prepared nurses tend to be more qualified for specialized roles, due to their better understanding of how to implement evidence-based practice in clinical settings. The advanced coursework of the ABSN degree as well as the clinical experiences required as part of the curriculum allow graduates to develop intuitive clinical judgment and decision-making skills.
Advanced Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
The ABSN curriculum requires students to complete coursework in pharmacology and pathophysiology, equipping them with the advanced knowledge to work in specialized healthcare settings.
Interprofessional Communication and Leadership
In addition to advanced clinical skill development, accelerated nursing programs focus on the soft skills needed to pursue specialized and leadership positions in nursing. Interprofessional communication and leadership skills are developed throughout the coursework and during the clinical experiences and residencies that students complete.
From Generalist to Specialist: The Transition Path
Associate-prepared RNs will find that the transition from generalist to specialist is streamlined when they complete accelerated BSN programs. You can expedite the transition to specialized nursing careers by:
Leveraging Capstone Projects and Senior Practicums
Capstone projects and senior practicums provide nursing students with the opportunity to benefit from supervised, hands-on learning in clinical environments. If you are interested in a specialty role, consider choosing capstone projects and practicums in the areas on which you are focused.
Networking With Preceptors in Specialty Units
Preceptors are responsible for supervising nursing students as they complete their clinical requirements. Networking with your preceptors can enable you to create lasting relationships with professionals in the specialty units that appeal to you.
Mapping Post-Licensure Certification Requirements
Preparing for specialty roles in nursing begins during your degree program. As you continue to complete your coursework, you will also want to identify any post-licensure certification requirements for the specialty area you are most interested in.
Spotlight on Pediatric Nursing
Pediatric nurses provide care for children from birth until the age of 18, giving them the chance to play a pivotal part in their growth and development.
Family-Centered Care Principles Learned in ABSN Pediatrics Rotation
According to the Italian Journal of Pediatrics, the family-centered care nursing principles emphasized in an ABSN pediatrics rotation include:
- Respecting the child and their family.
- Honoring diversity and respecting cultural differences.
- Recognizing the strengths of the pediatric patient.
- Supporting the choices that families and caregivers make for their child.
- Communicating honest and accurate information to families as they make decisions.
Recommended Certifications
The recommended pediatric nurse certification programs are:
Typical Career Paths and Work Settings
Pediatric nurses may work in hospitals or physicians’ offices, with some nurses advancing into specialty areas such as oncology or critical care nursing.
Spotlight on Critical Care Nursing
According to Johnson & Johnson, critical care nursing is a nursing specialty focused on providing patient-centered care to those suffering from a serious illness or life-threatening condition.
The ABSN program prepares students for this specialty through:
High-Fidelity Simulation Labs for Rapid-Response Skills
Prior to beginning clinical training, nursing students may work in simulation labs to practice rapid-response skills in real time. These simulation labs mimic real-world experiences, giving nursing students the ability to develop their confidence and improve their proficiency in a safe environment.
Transition Programs and Nurse Residency Options
Nursing students interested in this specialty may choose to pursue a critical care nurse residency — a structured program that allows registered nurses to transition into the critical care nursing specialty area.
Certifications Such as CCRN and TNCC
Two certifications that critical care nurses may consider include:
Spotlight on Oncology Nursing
Oncology nursing is a specialty area that entails caring for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer or are undergoing cancer treatment. Oncology nurses rely on their expertise and experience in order to implement innovative, evidence-based practices into their care.
Oncology Content Embedded in Adult Health Coursework
The coursework required as part of the accelerated BSN programs includes content about the oncology specialty and best practices for caring for patients diagnosed with cancer, uniquely preparing graduates to transition into this specialty area.
Chemotherapy Safety Training and OCN® Certification
Nurses who are interested in oncology nursing may have to complete chemotherapy safety training. In addition, they should consider pursuing the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) certification.
Roles in Inpatient Units, Infusion Centers, and Research Trials
To develop the specialized skills necessary for oncology nursing, ABSN students should consider taking roles in inpatient cancer treatment units, infusion centers and research trials. These specialized settings will allow them to develop a well-rounded understanding of the needs and experiences of cancer patients.
Clinical Rotations That Shape Specialty Readiness
The clinical rotations required for accelerated nursing programs enable nursing students to experience different clinical settings and explore various specialty areas.
Selecting Elective Placements Aligned With Career Goals
You may have the ability to select preferences for elective placements in clinical rotations. If so, be sure to thoughtfully consider elective options and choose placements that best align with your nursing career goals.
Reflective Journaling to Identify Passion Areas
Throughout your clinical rotations, use reflective journaling as a tool to monitor your progress and identify your passions in nursing. This intentional journaling process can help you become more self-aware and tailor your clinical experiences to best meet your goals.
Preceptorship Tips for Building Specialty References
According to the American Nurse Journal, you can create a positive relationship with your preceptor and build specialty references by:
- Talking to your preceptor in advance about the best clinical skills to use in their unit. Focus on developing and showcasing those skills.
- Asking thoughtful questions. It’s better to ask than to guess and get it wrong, particularly in clinical rotations when you are working directly with patients.
- Showing initiative and asking for extra practice if you need it. Building clinical skills requires muscle memory, so the practice will be worthwhile.
Continuing Education and Advanced Degrees
After earning your ABSN and transitioning into a specialty area, you may need to continue prioritizing your education throughout your nursing career.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates and Micro-Credentials
Post-baccalaureate certificates and certification programs that prove you have specialized credentials are highly valuable, especially in nursing specialties. In fact, some nursing specialty areas require nurses to have further certifications or credentials.
Pathways to MSN, NP, or DNP Specialization
Earning your ABSN degree gives you the ability to explore advanced nursing education pathways. For example, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees allow you to pursue higher-level nursing roles, such as those in advanced nursing practice.
Employer Tuition Assistance and Loan Forgiveness Programs
As healthcare organizations seek to attract new nurses to the field and reduce the impact of the nursing shortage crisis, they are beginning to offer more tuition assistance and loan forgiveness for nurses — thereby allowing an increasing number of nurses to pursue advanced nursing education pathways.
Navigating the Specialized Nursing Job Market
Demand for specialized nurses is high, but nurses still need to know how to promote themselves in this competitive job market.
Crafting Resumes That Highlight ABSN Rigor and Specialty Exposure
As you update your resume, be sure to highlight the academic rigor of your ABSN degree. If you are pursuing a specialty position, emphasize any clinical exposure you have had within that specialty area.
Interview Strategies — STAR Stories From Clinical Rotations
During job interviews, you will likely need to provide anecdotal evidence of your nursing expertise. As you share stories from your clinical rotations, rely on the STAR method:
- Situation – Briefly explain the circumstances.
- Task – Identify your responsibilities in the situation.
- Action – Share what you did during that moment.
- Result – Clearly state the outcomes.
Leveraging Professional Organizations and Conferences
As you begin you look for a nursing specialty position, consider joining professional nursing organizations, particularly those focused on the specialty area you are most interested in. Professional nursing organizations offer training programs, seminars and conferences that allow you to develop niche expertise.
Earn Your ABSN at Marymount University
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (ABSN) at Marymount University empowers individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another field to quickly pivot and redirect their careers. This 16-month program combines online and in-person coursework as well as clinical experiences in order to equip graduates with the practical, technical and clinical skills required for nursing career advancement and nursing specializations.
As one of the leading nursing education pathways, accelerated BSN programs are designed to meet the demand for skilled, qualified and compassionate healthcare professionals. Learn more about our majors and programs at Marymount University, and apply today. Prospective graduate students are invited to meet with us to learn more about our advanced degree programs.
Sources
https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage
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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2691736/
https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/ccrn-peds
https://www.pncb.org/cpn-certification-steps
https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty/critical-care-nurse
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