Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: How does one obtain a nursing specialty?

  1. #1

    Question How does one obtain a nursing specialty?

    See, I'd like to be an operating room nurse. I may start out as a scrub nurse then work my way up to first assistant or supervising nurse.

    Do I have to go to graduate school to really obtain a specialty? I'm interested in surgery and pediatrics. They shouldn't be too hard to combine. I don't really want to go farther than a BSN in one setting. Sure, I may go to graduate school, maybe even med school, later in life, but do I HAVE to get a MSN or become a Nurse Practioner to get a specialty?

    I'd also like to become a legal nurse consultant, but there are certificates for that.

  2. #2
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    1,409
    Most people are hired into an area and consider that their specialty after they have worked there for any given length of time. They may, or may not, get higher education pertinent to that area or they may become certified, once they have decided to invest themselves.

  3. #3
    Member Extraordinaire hppygr8ful's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    1,273
    The BON in most states also have programs for some nursing specialties - Each board will list the specific requirements to be recognized as a Clinical Specialist - For example I consider myself a Clinical Specialist in Acute Psych but I have not tested with the BON in my state to get the Clin I title so I cannot advertise myself as that. But as far as I know you don't have to be an NP or have a Master's degree to work inspecialty areas. Check with hospital's that are hiring and see if they have in-house programs to train you. My first Job out of nursing school was as a Labor and delivery nurse and the hospital that hired me paid for all my additional training - but I did have to agree to work for them for Two years

    Peace and Namaste

    Hppy

  4. #4
    Ricu
    Guest
    Hi Unknown,

    Nursing specialty organizations offer certification exams. I have CCRN and TNCC certifications for critical care and trauma and hold memberships in both organizations, the AACN and ENA. Become a member of the AORN and you will learn what you need to know about obtaining certification. This means preparing for and sitting for the exam. From the college perspective, you will not need additional education to be eligible.

    Good luck,

    R

Similar Threads

  1. How does one obtain a job in ICU?
    By Kelly_mcandrew in forum Questions and Answers for NURSES
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-02-2009, 01:56 AM
  2. Is rural nursing a specialty?
    By birdboy in forum Travel Nurses Talk Travel Nursing
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-11-2008, 12:32 PM
  3. Can you obtain an ASN or BSN On line??
    By C3marchi in forum Student Nurses Lounge
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-21-2007, 10:25 AM
  4. Nursing Specialty
    By LTC LPN 2006 in forum Wound-Ostomy Nurses
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-07-2007, 06:52 AM
  5. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-03-2005, 10:59 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •