Which branch of nursing?
Having decided upon
nursing as a career, you then need to spend a little time
considering which branch of the profession is the right one for
you.
Adult
Your place of work may be a hospital ward or
specialist clinic. Or it could be out in the community, where
nurses are playing an increasingly prominent role in the provision
of healthcare. At the same time, other nurses are at the forefront
in very specialist areas such as intensive care, theatre and
recovery, cancer care and care of the elderly. What makes adult
nursing such a challenge is the sheer diversity of situations you
will have to respond to.
Child
Children are not just mini adults. Their
bodies, and minds, work in different ways. The onset of symptoms
can be sudden and extreme. Because children are still growing, the
impact of the illness or injury on their development has to be
taken into account and, because they are young, they may be more
scared or confused by what is happening to them. That is why they
need nurses who understand their particular needs.
Mental Health
Mental Health Nurses are at the front line in
providing support, dealing with people of all ages and from a wide
range of backgrounds. You will have to be able to identify if and
when a person may be at risk of harming themselves or others, so
one of the skills you will learn is spotting the build up of
tension and ways of defusing it. Mental Health Nurses are also the
most likely to be responsible for co-ordinating the patients’ care
in the community, liaising professionally with a wide range of
other service providers.