Nursing Careers - Four Desirable Nursing Positions For Advanced Practice
Nurse Case ManagerA nurse case manager organizes and coordinates services and resources for a group of patients, responding to the needs or illness particular to that group. Case management is typically targeted or directed towards a client population such as elderly clients or transplant patients, and the models may vary depending on the context, setting, and type of client. The goals of the nurse care manager include fostering patient self-managed care, centering services on the patient, and maximizing healthcare resources. The nurse care manager must focus on the quality of the patient care at the same time being cost-efficient. He or she is also responsible for utilizing clinical pathways in monitoring and assessing clients as well as healthcare delivery. To be a good nurse case manager, one must have adequate financial management skills, as well as effective skills in negotiating, managing, delegating, and teaching. A good background in the clinical aspects of care and clinical resources is invaluable. One must also be able to collaborate with multidisciplinary groups.
Certified Nurse Midwife
A certified nurse midwife cares for childbearing women during labor and delivery, as well as during preconception and until postpartum periods. A nurse midwife provides counseling in family-planning, reproductive education, and gynecological care. For low-risk and uncomplicated patients, the nurse midwife may provide a more natural alternative to childbearing. Part of the job is also to encourage active participation of the family during pregnancy and childbirth. Lastly, a midwife nurse also provides continuous care and even primary care for the heath needs or women. A good midwife nurse is sensitive, compassionate, flexible, committed to holistic practice, has excellent assessment skills and sound clinical judgment.
Nurse Director
A nurse director, administrator, or CEO carries an executive position and is responsible for establishing department strategies and directions. The director also plans programs and budgets, making sure that the facility"s or institution"s overall goals are met. In addition, the director has to develop structures and set policies for operating units and assume an organizational perspective, representing the organization to the constituents. This role is attractive to those who desire the power, prestige, recognition, and economic gain. It requires strong leadership, management and people skills, acute decision-making skills, and excellent communication skills, as well as being able to deal with multidisciplinary networks.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
A clinical nurse specialist has advanced expertise and knowledge in a specific practice area of nursing. Some examples of practice areas include rehabilitation, critical care, psychiatric, geriatric, pediatric, and emergency/trauma. The role of the nurse specialist is to observe, analyze, and diagnose complex health problems that may be clinical or nonclinical. The specialist has to consider various theories to understand the complications and determine options for treatment. In addition, it also includes research, education, consultation, and clinical practice. The needed skills for this position include technical and conceptual skills, critical thinking, and problem solving.