In addition to Adult, Children’s, Mental Health, and Learning Disabilities Nursing, there are other specialisms that are generally pursued after completing a degree in one of the main branches of nursing:
Neonatal Nursing
Neonatal nurses care for newborns, particularly premature infants or those born with health complications. They work primarily in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), providing specialised medical care and support to both babies and their families during a critical period.
District Nursing (Community Nursing)
District nurses provide care to patients in community settings, such as their own homes or residential care facilities. They often work with elderly patients, those with chronic conditions, or individuals needing palliative care, allowing patients to remain at home while receiving necessary medical support.
Palliative Care Nursing
Palliative care nurses work with patients who have terminal or life-limiting illnesses. They focus on managing symptoms, providing comfort, and supporting patients and families emotionally through end-of-life care. Palliative care nursing can take place in hospitals, hospices, or patients’ homes.
Theatre Nursing (Perioperative Nursing)
Theatre nurses, also known as perioperative or scrub nurses, work in surgical settings. They assist surgeons during operations, prepare the operating theatre, and care for patients before, during, and after surgery. They often specialise further, for example, in orthopaedic or cardiac surgery.
Public Health Nursing
Public health nurses, or health visitors, focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and improving community health. They work with individuals, families, and communities to educate on health topics, provide immunisations, and support healthy lifestyles, often addressing social health issues like access to healthcare.
School Nursing
School nurses work within schools to support the health and well-being of students. They provide preventive care, conduct health assessments, deliver health education, and manage any long-term health conditions among students.
Intensive Care Nursing (Critical Care Nursing)
Intensive care nurses work with critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). These patients often have life-threatening conditions or severe injuries, requiring continuous monitoring and highly specialised care. Intensive care nurses are skilled in managing advanced medical equipment and handling medical emergencies.
Oncology Nursing
Oncology nurses specialise in caring for patients with cancer. They work in hospitals, cancer centres, and outpatient clinics, providing treatments such as chemotherapy, managing symptoms, and offering emotional support to patients and families throughout their cancer journey.
Cardiac Nursing
Cardiac nurses, or cardiovascular nurses, specialise in the care of patients with heart conditions. They work in cardiac care units, monitoring heart health, supporting patients with heart disease, and assisting with procedures such as cardiac catheterisation.
Practice Nursing
Practice nurses work in GP surgeries, providing routine and preventive healthcare services such as vaccinations, health checks, wound care, and management of chronic conditions. They play a crucial role in primary care and patient education.
Prison Nursing
Prison nurses work in correctional facilities, providing healthcare to prisoners. They manage a range of physical and mental health issues, often working with patients who have complex health and social needs.
For these specialisms, nurses usually start in a general nursing role (often in their chosen branch of adult, children’s, mental health, or learning disabilities nursing) and then specialise through post-registration training. This can involve:
- In-House Training: Many NHS trusts provide training and development programmes that allow registered nurses to gain specialisms while working.
- Postgraduate Qualifications: Universities and training institutions offer postgraduate certificates, diplomas, and Master’s degrees in areas like neonatal care, critical care, or cardiac nursing, often funded or supported by employers.
Specialist Courses and Certifications
Some specialisms have specific certification requirements or short courses that can be undertaken after registration. For example:
- Intensive Care Nursing: Often involves additional qualifications, such as a critical care course, which may be a mix of practical and academic learning.
- Public Health Nursing/Health Visiting: Requires a specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN) qualification, usually a postgraduate course.
- School Nursing and Practice Nursing: These also typically require additional training through post-registration certificates or diplomas in community health.