Specialized Tracks & Concentrations Within BSN Programs

The modern economy is a data-driven enterprise, and healthcare is no exception to this. Informatics nurses spend most of their time managing and analyzing the data produced by the healthcare system.

Informatics nurses combine nursing skills with data analytics, healthcare administration, software development, and medical technology.

Informatics nurses provide a crucial link between the everyday needs of practitioners and the development and implementation of the advanced software and technology that allows the healthcare system to function.

This specialization may be a good choice for students who have an interest in data analysis, software and computer science, administration, and logistics.

A bachelor's degree and a nursing license are key qualifications needed to become board certified as an informatics nurse.

Health issues are not confined to national borders. A concentration in global health can train nurses to see the big picture of many crucial healthcare issues.

Global health nurses will often study social and cultural factors in health, access to healthcare, human rights in health, healthcare policy, and globalization.

Specializing in global health can often involve taking classes such as sociology, anthropology, health policy, and political science along with traditional nursing topics.

Global health may be a good concentration for nurses who have a desire to understand large-scale patterns and contribute to health and wellbeing in a diverse range of populations.

People spend a large proportion of their time at work, so the conditions in which people work have a significant effect on the health of the population.

Occupational health nurses promote health and safety in the workplace and often advocate for improved working conditions through hazard detection, risk reduction, and policy reform.

Occupational nurses blend a comprehensive understanding of human health with a strong grasp of the legal system and public policy.

Nurses with qualifications in occupational health can be employed in a range of organizations such as government, non-profit, and corporate.

Another important area of nursing that students can choose to concentrate on is psychiatric mental health nursing (PMH).

Psychiatric nurses deal with the complex web of factors influencing mental health. PMH concentrations typically involve additional study in areas such as neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and risk factors in mental health.

Students who enjoy building relationships, assessing complex cases, and planning holistic interventions may be well-suited to a psychiatric nursing specialization.

A concentration in psychiatric nursing can be followed by further education, clinical experience and ultimately licensure as a certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).

Pediatric nurses specialize in the care of children from birth to 18 years old. Children bring additional considerations to nursing due to the range of developmental processes that their bodies are undergoing.

Pediatric nurses are trained to understand the unique factors impacting children's health and work with families and care providers to develop personalized prevention or treatment plans.

Pediatric nurses may also assess children in cases of abuse or neglect and often function as important advocates for children.

A BSN with a focus on pediatric nursing may be a good fit for students who are patient, empathetic, and passionate about young people.

After gaining a nursing license and clinical experience nurses can sit for board certification exams and become a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP).

Geriatric nurses can help older adults deal with the specific healthcare needs that emerge later in life. Gerontology is an especially relevant area of nursing right now due to the large portion of the population that is entering this portion of the lifespan.

Qualified geriatric nurses often deal with chronic health issues such as pain, postural instability, cognitive decline, and other issues related to aging.

Geriatric nurses will also often work with families and caregivers to assess risk factors, design treatment plans, and help the elderly maintain a high quality of life.

Nurse midwives have the special responsibility of helping new life come into the world by providing care during pregnancy and childbirth.

Nurse midwives often deliver screenings and health assessments, work with fertility and reproductive health issues, as well as provide prenatal and postpartum healthcare.

After graduating from a BSN degree students will need to gain a nursing license and complete a graduate degree before they can take the nurse midwife certification exam.

While a BSN degree will typically prepare graduates to pass the NCLEX exam and gain employment in a clinical setting, there are additional opportunities for nurses with special training.

Choosing a specialized track or concentration within your BSN program can put students on the path toward areas of nursing that are in high demand and offer competitive compensation.

Employment of advanced nurses, such as nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, is expected to increase by 40% over the next decade. The median salary for nurses with these qualifications is $123,780.

Learning about one of these areas at an undergraduate level may give nursing students a head start and enable them to progress through the additional qualifications needed to fill these critical roles.

A BSN is the gateway to a successful career in healthcare. Find a nursing program that offers a specialized track or concentration in your area of interest and begin your journey today.