Nurses work in various facilities, not just hospitals

Most people relate nurses to hospitals, but not all nurses are hospital bound. In fact, nearly 40 percent of nurses work outside hospital grounds in an array of settings. This is what makes nursing such a unique career: Employees can not only choose the specialty they would like to work in, they can also choose where they work.

Extended-stay facilities

These facilities include nursing homes, assisted living communities and rehabilitation centers and are generally occupied by the elderly or disabled. Job duties within these organizations include, caring for the daily needs of patients, administering medications, taking vital signs and tracking a patient's progress.

"Nurses work with all kinds of people of all ages worldwide," explains Joanne C. Langan, registered nurse and assistant professor at Saint Louis University's School of Nursing. "These populations of people include newborns, infants, children, adolescents, maternity, families, women, men, elders and hospice."

Home health care/hospice

The most important attribute of a nurse is arguably empathy. This is especially true for those who work in home health care and hospice settings as patients are typically nearing the end of their lives.

Job duties for home health nurses include administering prescribed medications, changing dressings and maintaining records of the patients care and progress.

Similarly, hospice workers take care of a patient's day-to-day needs. However, their goal is to make the patient's final days as comfortable as possible. These patients are typically in the last six months of their life and two-thirds of the population is over the age of 65, according to the American Hospice Foundation.

Being able to delicately and diplomatically handle worries and fears associated with the illness is also a major part of this job. Other responsibilities may include working with the patient and his or her family to develop a personalized care plan; respecting patients' wishes and relaying this information to loved ones; and offering bereavement services after the patient dies.

Public health offices and teaching

Many nurses choose to take a more educational role in their profession. Teaching is a great way to give back to your community by passing on your knowledge to those with similar career interests.

Though additional teaching certifications are needed, high schools and universities are always in need of qualified nursing instructors to educate the caregivers of tomorrow.

Others choose to take a broader approach to education. Working in a public health setting allows nurses to look after the health and safety of entire communities by promoting healthy lifestyles and educating the public on public health issues.

"They help tackle societal issues, such as homelessness, illiteracy and violence," says Langan. "Nurses in public health and in community settings may also be the first to notice unusual trends in illnesses that may be the hallmark of a bioterrorist attack."

Ambulatory care facilities

Ambulatory care services take place in clinics and other treatments environments outside the hospital. Just as the categories of nursing vary, the facilities in which nurses may work in vary just as widely.

Clinics are smaller versions of hospitals and generally are dedicated to just a few specialties. These may range from medical imaging to cancer treatment to diabetes treatment and so on.

"Nurses promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illness," adds Langan. "They work as patient advocates and provide health education for individuals, families and communities. They collaborate with all allied health professions, physicians, advanced practice nurses, and manage client care through nursing care plans."