Medical Update May 2024

Medical Guide, May 2024— 13 Nurses serve in a variety of roles N urses are invaluable professionals within the medical community. Whether they work in hospital set- tings, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, doctor’s o ffi ces, or elsewhere, nurses provide vital services to individ- uals in need every day. Nurses wear many hats, and that’s evidenced by the di ff erent types of nurses making a di ff erence each day. Individuals considering a career in nursing should know that talented nurses are in high demand and career opportunities in the fi eld are expected to grow in the years to come. For ex- ample, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis- tics estimates that employment of reg- istered nurses will grow by 6 percent between 2022 and 2032. That growth rate exceeds the average expected rate for all occupations. Whether individ- uals want to become a nurse or gain a greater understanding of the many ways nurses contribute each day, this rundown of the various types of nurses can shed light on these unsung heroes of the medical community. • Pediatric nurse: Pediatric nurses make a strong impression be- cause they are the fi rst nursing profes- sionals many people recall interacting with, and those interactions may last from early childhood through adoles- cence. Pediatric nurses performa range of tasks, including the administration of medication; monitoring of vitals like temperature, pulse and blood pressure; health evaluations to identify symp- toms; and even speak with parents to calm any nerves or anxieties they may have. Pediatric nurses typically work in doctor’s o ffi ces or hospital settings. • Geriatric nurse: Geriatric nurses fi gure to be in especially high de- mand in the coming years, as an anal- ysis from the Bipartisan Policy Center indicates more than four million indi- viduals in the United States will turn 65 in 2024. AARP has characterized that surge in the over-65 population as a “silver tsunami,” and geriatric nurses will play pivotal roles in ensuring the aging population gets the care it needs in the decades to come. • Family nurse practitioner: The American Association of Nurse Practitioners notes family nurse prac- titioners (FNPs) provide a wide range of family-focused health care services to patients of all ages. FNPs perform physical exams; order or perform diag- nostic tests; prescribe medications; de- velop treatment plans; and treat acute and chronic illnesses. If that sounds like a role played by physicians, it’s not far o ff , making this among the most challenging jobs within the nursing profession. • Emergency room nurse: In- dividuals who think a fast-paced work environment is for them may want to consider a career as an emergency room nurse. ER nurses treat patients of all ages from all walks of life. No two emergency room patients are the same, so ER nurses will rarely, if ever, have the same day on the job more than once. Accurate assessment skills are vital for ER nurses, who also must be skilled communicators, as emergency room patients are often in distress. Nursing is an expansive profession with a host of opportunities for aspir- ing professionals who want to work in the medical community.