The Top 5 Most Popular Nursing Specialties To Pursue In The Philippines
Can't pick which nursing path to go on? We share five nursing specialties to consider.
In the world we live in today, healthcare is a universal demand. Deloitte shares that the expectation of global health spending to rise is highly possible. Specifically, they predict a compound annual growth rate of 3.9%. How did this figure come to be? Well, there are several metrics that factor here.
Count the ongoing pandemic and the global sentiment to recover from what it has brought about.
As such, sectors in this industry continue to be in search of new recruits. Current data shows that the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has the most nurses. In fact, there are 14.8 nurses per 1,000 people. Aside from these, the country continues to produce nurses, doctors, and physicians alike every year.
With this information in mind, it is also important to note the evolution of nursing. Roles have expanded beyond the four walls of a company or hospital. Professionals belonging to this area have since become versatile.
This is due to the ever-changing community needs. Since then, nurses have upskilled and acquired transferable skills to thrive in any work setting. You have individuals pursuing many fields to name a few. This is a sneak peek of what the different nursing specialties have to offer.
What is nursing?
Nursing is a profession that is not only essential but critical to the medical world. Think of them as a partner in health. They run the day to day administration in hospitals or clinics and can function almost anywhere. From monitoring vital signs to conducting diagnostic exams, they put the "care" in healthcare.
Their main roles are to educate and empathize. Aside from reviewing their patients' lifestyle choices, they also make recommendations for improvement. Not only that, but they also ensure that their patients understand why.
Further to these, nurses provide ease and empathy to their patients. Most procedures come with different levels of physical, emotional, and mental challenges, and are not easy to come around. Nurses respond to this by being present with their patients throughout the whole journey.
Having all of these in mind, what path is best for you?
What nursing specialties are available?
Patient care is universal, but the methods to go about it are different. Nurses can either be in operating rooms, reception desks, or with the patient as a caregiver. Like doctors, you can also divert your path but it depends on the practice you want to focus on.
But what each of these nursing specialties shares in common is the licensure process. Prior to nurses receiving their license, they must be able to pass the Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE). Citizenship requirements aside, professionals who want to pursue this path must have graduated with a nursing degree.
With these, let us take a look at five of the most common nursing paths you can pursue:
Registered Nurse
Average Annual Salary: Php 399,700
Tasks:
- Promotes good health practices through educational methods
- Handles medications
- Performs physical examinations
- Monitors patients' physical conditions
- Devises care plans in partnership with physicians
Dubbed the backbone of the medical workforce, these individuals handle it all. They are in charge of administering critical health care to their assigned patients. The goal of a registered nurse is to restore a patient's well-being to normal. This also includes sharing methods that can prevent future maladies.Â
If you are a registered nurse with a master's degree, you can consider yourself an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Professionals in this field usually pursue further studies. You can describe them as professionals with basic knowledge but with more experience and expertise. APRNs usually do community fieldwork and can administer anesthesia in surgery.Â
Licensed Practical Nurse
Average Annual Salary: Php 262,005
Tasks:
- Collects samples during physical exam tests
- Provides personal and attentive care to patients
- Documents medical histories
- Draws up care plans with RNs
- Changes dressings and catheters
Also known as vocational nurses, they are the caregivers of the field. They usually work in nursing homes, rehab centers, and correctional facilities. Aside from these, the role itself is highly specialized.
Company Nurse
Average Annual Salary: Php 188,437
Tasks:
- Provides medical care for company employees
- Applies first aid methods and treat injuries
- Develops health and safety programs
- Identifies hazards in the workplace
- Part of the healthcare core of the organization
As part of employee benefits, companies have a roster of healthcare initiatives. Having a clinic open is just one of them. Company nurses occupy these. But what do they do in particular? Aside from being the go-to person, they also assist in lessening overall healthcare costs.Â
You can find company nurses working alongside the Human Resources department for employee-wide medical concerns. Examples of these include annual physical exams, blood drives, and CSR health-related initiatives.
Doctors also accompany company nurses in the clinic on a per-shift basis. Both professionals care and diagnose their patients accordingly.
Legal Nurse Consultant
Average Annual Salary: Php 389,046
Tasks:
- Identifies and organizes opinions for the case
- Evaluates medical evidence
- Consults with lawmaking bodies
- Summarizes and documents healthcare law cases
- Serves as a possible witness in court
Have a heart for healing and a thirst for justice? You can have both when you pursue this specialty. They are in charge of assisting and engaging with lawyers regarding medical malpractice cases. Aside from this, they also involve themselves in court proceedings, especially duty calls.
The good thing about this path is that you can diversify your career growth. If you wish to focus on law, you can opt to become a paralegal. On the other hand, you can focus on nursing should you be more inclined towards healthcare.
Nurse-Midwife
Average Annual Salary: Php 354,000
Tasks
- Cares for mothers throughout the entire childbirth process
- Tends to newborns for the first 28 days
- Conducts prenatal and postnatal examinations
- Educates and prepares new parents
- Provides emotional support when needed
The journey of birth differs. Such factors include pain tolerance, the parent's state of health, and the current state of the fetus itself. But what all mothers have in common is the option not to go through this alone. They can count on a nurse-midwife to help out along the way. Such professionals are certified to take you through the passage of labor with ease.
What does the labor passage include? It can go as far as conception, but they are mostly present for the pregnancy journey and the labor process in the emergency room. Their services also extend postpartum, where they also provide care to the newborns.
Such assistance also eases the burdens and the overwhelming feelings that follow after the process is done.
These nursing specialties are very challenging careers to pursue. But its vocational nature makes the journey all the more fulfilling. This profession opens many doors for you too. Whether you choose to stay as a nurse or move forward as a doctor, the possibilities are endless.
But in order to find success here, there is a factor that you need to consider. When diving deep into this profession, having the heart to serve is crucial. If you have medical knowledge but lack the passion, it may be difficult to move forward.
It is of utmost importance to find your purpose in this field in whatever way you see fit. But make sure that at the end of the day, care and compassion take lead. With these principles, you are sure to not only find financial growth but personal growth as well.
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