The Highest-Demand Nursing Specialties
If you’ve been thinking about getting into the nursing field, there is no better time than now. The entire nursing industry has been on an aggressive upward trajectory in recent years, and is projected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The trend stems from an aging U.S. population that requires more intensive care as they progress through their retirement and later years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be a nearly 20% demand increase by 2022, with even greater growth possible for some specialties.
Here are the most popular nursing specialties that are expected to grow rapidly in coming years:
Neonatal Nurse
Babies who are born prematurely commonly experience a variety of health issues early on, and this is where a neonatal nurse comes in. They work with premature babies – often in the NICU – to ensure their needs are met until they mature enough to go home with their parents.
Positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field, and some positions even require a master’s level education. Additionally, prospective neonatal nurses will need prior experience working with neonates.
This field is expected to grow 17% by 2022, and the current average salary is $65,000.
Clinical Nurse
The primary goal of a clinical nurse is to provide a high standard of care to patients suffering from advanced or serious health conditions like chronic illness, heart disease, or cancer. Clinical nurses typically work in hospital or clinic settings.
This position requires you to be an advanced practice registered nurse with both bachelor’s and master’s levels of education in nursing.
This field is expecting a 20% growth by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $67,000.
Dialysis Nurse
When a person’s kidneys no longer function well enough to filter waste from their blood due to old age or another condition, dialysis is required to do the filtration for them. Dialysis nurses work with these patients who make routine trips to the dialysis center for treatment, and deal in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Dialysis nurses are required to have a bachelor’s level education in nursing, and should enroll in courses that focus on dialysis specifically.
This field is expecting a growth of 19% by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $64,000.
Nurse Practitioner
Due to the shortage of doctors in the United States, nurse practitioners are becoming one of the most in-demand nursing jobs in the industry. They typically work under the supervision of a doctor, administering tests, prescribing medications, and diagnosing certain types of ailments. In some areas however, practitioners are able to have their own standalone practices.
Nurse practitioners are required to hold bachelor’s and master’s level degrees in nursing, as well as pass a licensing examination.
This field is expecting an astonishing 25% growth by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $94,000.
Nurse Advocate
This is a unique position in the nursing field. As opposed to being focused on providing care directly to patients, a nurse advocate helps to represent the interests of a patient’s family in a care setting. They are a crucial part of the relationship between the patient and involved medical professionals, and help clarify exactly what is going on in terms of care, billing, treatments, and more.
Nurse advocates are required to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and become a Registered Nurse. After accumulating experience as a RN, nurse advocate positions become available.
This field is expecting 19% growth by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $57,000.
If you’re a healthcare professional looking for your next step in the industry, join our talent network today and take a step in the right direction. We strive to find every candidate the perfect position. Call us today at 407-478-0332 to learn more about what HealthCare Support can do for you!