Nursing graduates: find the right nursing specialty

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Nurses are in high demand and professionals can benefit from a vast choice of career paths.

In a 2009 survey, it was revealed that only 1% of nursing graduates went on to further study, with around 85% going straight into full-time employment.

A college degree in nursing however gives you the perfect opportunity for personal growth and professional development in the medical sector. Choosing the right advanced nursing speciality after your degree is relatively easy if you have a clear vision of your professional future: it’s all about finding the nursing job you love and make sure you earn as good a salary you can get.

So whether you’re a student looking to specialise yourself after graduation, or a working individual simply looking for a new challenge, check out our top 3 career opportunities accessible to all individuals with a nursing degree.

Cosmetic Dermatology nurse

Nurses are in high demand in the booming sector of cosmetic dermatology. After a general nursing degree, you will need to access further training in the cosmetics field before landing a job in a dermatology clinic.

There are plenty of different areas to specialise yourself in: dermal fillers courses, training in lip augmentation or chemical peel training. A certificate in such specific fields delivered by an online or local university will give you a better chance to find your first experience as a nurse aesthetician.

For all those looking to work in the beauty sector, this is a very varied and rewarding position with an average salary of £35K.

Neonatal–Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal nurses care for premature and sick newborns. It’s a vital and very interesting role that requires strong interpersonal skills as you will have to advise and reassure parents who are likely to be under a lot of stress.

To become a neonatal nurse in the UK, you will need to be registered and have a minimum of 6 months prior experience before you can undertake further specialised training in the field and earn another qualification through your employer or an online or local university.

For a position with the NHS, expect to earn between £21K and £28K.

Nurse anaesthetist

In the UK, anaesthetic nurses assist the anaesthetist without being directly in charge of the operations. They are responsible for caring for the patients before, during and after the operation until the recovery room.

This is a very critical position for those who can handle an intense working environment in hospitals. To become a nurse anaesthetist, you will need a few years of nursing practice under your belt. You will then have to enroll on a nine-month course to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist. Salaries range from £40K to £60K excluding annual bonuses.

Tags: nursing

Category: College and Careers, Health