Nursing Beyond The Hospital Ward
Just like doctors, almost every aspect of medicine has a relevant specialisation. With a nursing degree you could find yourself working as a cardiac nurse, an orthopaedic nurse or a mental health nurse; jobsrelevant to the type of treatment, as well as the circumstances surrounding the treatment, are a staple of the modern system.The chances are this isn"t all that surprising to hear. You"ve probably managed to piece together the fact that nurses do different things from other nurses depending on where their working yourself; if you"ve ever visited a nursing home, you"ll have seen a role far different from that of the men and women you"ve seen in the A&E ward. Still, the chances are that you"d be surprised at the sheer range of roles out there.
To illustrate the point here are two specialist roles that the chances are you never imagined existed. Both offer a very different experience to the typical conception of working as a nurse:
Telenursing
One of the most modern additions to the armoury of technology used by the health care profession is telecommunications. On the face of it the internet and broadband seem vastly disconnected from medical diagnosis and treatment - but in truth it could well be the most significant utilisation of the technology. "Telehealth" - literally, health from a distance - is the growing field where health care services can connect to patients from a remote distance via IT and communications infrastructure.
Effectively, staff can offer advice or manage treatment from a remote location, using real-time high speed communication to interact with patients and staff on the ground. It allows limited numbers of trained staff to use their expertise to a wider area of patients, cuts down on travel time and reduces the need for patients to visit hospitals. Aside from treatment, telenurses can also offer training and advice to others from afar.
Flight Nursing
Slightly more exciting perhaps is the role of a flight nurse. These nurses provide comprehensive pre-hospital and emergency care to all patients who are being transported aboard aircraft - such as during rescue operations or aeromedical evacuations (known as medivac in the army - transporting patients from the "frontline" to treatment, or from facility to facility"). Their job is to evaluate the patient"s status in-flight, providing doctors on the ground with as much information as possible when the plane lands. Often these patients can be in critical condition so they"re also often called upon to administer appropriate medication and providing emergency treatment.