What are all the different Nursing Specializations/Courses?

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Everytime I take a gander at a post in this forum, every post is filled with acronyms:

ALS

BLS

ACLS

etc

etc

etc

And while a simple google search reveals what each one is-- where can I find more information on these different specialization/courses, and which one would be the most prospective to me as a future nurse.

Sorry-- I just got into the Nursing program at my school, and dont know much.

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Maybe try "medical abbreviation list" and see what happens..... I COULD look this up for you, but you need to get used to finding things :) You could post it here, and save the next soul looking for the same thing :) And congrats on school :)

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Specializes in LTC.

It would take a thousand years to list them all!

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Maybe try "medical abbreviation list" and see what happens..... I COULD look this up for you, but you need to get used to finding things :) You could post it here, and save the next soul looking for the same thing :) And congrats on school :)

Well, i was just wondering how anyone new to nursing would find out about the different things they can do with being a RN. The general category of what these things even are, would be just as helpful. (For instance-- are they called specializations, or courses or what?)

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I know exactly what you mean! I'm in nursing school as well and regardless of all the years I volunteered in the ER I still don't know much. I also did this search many times and since there are so many certifications related to many specialization I think this is a pretty good site to give a general idea: http://www.nursezone.com/Edu-Prof-Development/certification.aspx

I hope this helps...

Kika

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Well, i was just wondering how anyone new to nursing would find out about the different things they can do with being a RN. The general category of what these things even are, would be just as helpful. (For instance-- are they called specializations, or courses or what?)

OK- I thought you were talking about the abbreviations- there are TONS- and not all mean the same thing at different places.

You go through nursing school and get your RN (whether ADN, BSN- just get the RN for the sake of the rest of this :))

Then, usually a nurse works on a floor or nursing home- but there are MD offices, insurance places, blood banks, schools, factories, and others I can't think of- but there are a lot of options. When working in a hospital, generally different body system problems are put on different floors- heart stuff, brain stuff, stomach and intestinal stuff, kidney and bladder stuff, cancer, pregnant women and those who are/have given birth, kids, premature babies- those are some of the common ones (in larger hospitals- in some rural, small hospitals, they may combine surgery patients, and put medical (people who aren't having surgery) on another floor; ICU is it's own specialty that can be broken down into medical, trauma, surgical, neuro, pediatric, cardiac....and the Emergency Department/Room (room is sort of an older term) LOTS of ways to divide folks up.

If you look at the section at the top of this page that says "Specialty", that might give you a better idea- I'm sure I'm forgetting MANY. But good questions :) With any of these, the need for a BSN depends on where you live. A lot of smaller places, especially in the south (I worked in TX and found this) will gladly accept an ADN, and work with you :)

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Maybe this list will help.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

For every medical specialty usually there is a corresponding nursing specialty.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

At the top of the allnurses webpage, there is a tab called "Specialties." If you click it, you can find both general specialties and critical care specialties. It also has the abbreviations from those specialties and if you click on the link you can browse a little bit about what the speciality is all about.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

ACLS- Advanced Cardiac Life Support: It is a step up from basic life support. You get to learn to zap people with this course. Some hospitals and specialities require it for employment.

BLS- Basic Life Support. The pump and breath stuff.

PALS- Pediatric Life Support: The pediatric version of ACLS

PEARS- Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization: The less advanced class then PALS. Usually for providers that don't do a lot of kids and prefer it that way.:lol2:

BSN- Bachelors of Science of Nursing: 4 yr degree RN

ASN/ADN: Associate of Science or Associate Degree/Nursing. 2 yr RN

LPN/LVN: :Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse: Usually a year program

Disclaimer: All of these time frames are approximate.

Of course every speciality has their own slang words that are not always appropriate, like

Gomer: Get Out My Emergency Room. I'm sure everyone here have a few they can add.;)

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Specializes in family practice.

To add to what has already been written

Once you become and Rn, you would need your BLS. If you work ICU and Tele it is important to take the ACLS because you would be responding to codes., although Med-surg nurses take it. Also if you are in ER or Trauma you can take the ENCC and TNCC. Every Specialty has their own certification.

You would have to know where you desire to work and take the courses, but before you take them note that some hospitals and employers pay for you to take these courses (as they are offered in their facilities)

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Specializes in Home Health, Long-Term Care.
http://www.discovernursing.com has a nice long list of nursing specialties to get into, depends on what area you want.
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