Increase Nursing Responsibilities

• Registered nurses usually begin as staff nurses, but their level of responsibility may increase with experience and good work. Continuing education, which is required to keep a nursing license current, also can help nurses move into positions with greater authority or requiring advanced skills. Nurses who reach the management level can become unit managers or head nurses. Some may move into administrative roles and eventually become chief nurse.Nurses with a two-year degree might consider completing a bachelor's degree to be considered for management positions.
  
  

Learn a Specialty

• Nurses with an interest in a particular area can become nursing specialists. Nurses can specialize by type of treatment or by age group, such as pediatric nurses. Specific conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, can be a specialty. Nurses also can specialize in a particular part of the body, or organ, such as dermatology nurses. Specialties can be learned through practice, but also through continuing education courses.
  
  

Careers Outside of Traditional Nursing

• There are a number of career advancement opportunities outside of traditional nursing. Nurses can become legal nurse consultants, assisting lawyers with medical-related cases. They provide information to lawyers on medical issues. Similarly, forensic nurses assist in criminal investigations dealing with medical issues. Another option is the field of education. Nurses are needed to teach student nurses in training programs.
  
  

Advanced Practice Nursing

• Advanced practice nursing, such as clinical nurse specialists or nurse anesthetists, have more advanced and specialized skills. These professions require additional education. A master's degree and clinical experience are necessary. Nurse practitioners may specialize in adult or family practice, women's health, pediatrics, acute care or geriatrics. They often serve at the primary care provider for patients in a role just short of a physician.
  
  

Health Care Administration

• Administration is another career option for advancing nurses. Nurse administrators perform duties such as scheduling nurses, supervising staff, creating department budgets and maintaining medical supply inventories, as well as other resources. Nurses can go back to school for their business degree, or complete health care administration programs and advance into positions in hospital management.