Discover Florida BSN Careers
Begin your nursing profession in the Sunshine State:
From those seeking to enter the healthcare field to experienced professionals ready to enhance their nursing credentials for leadership roles, there is tremendous opportunity in this field for you to transform your career with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Nursing is rapidly expanding, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is growing at a rate of 6 percent a year, faster than the average of most careers. From pediatric patients and critical care to patient advocacy and community health, plus many other areas that a nursing career can encompass, there is room for you on a Florida healthcare team.
Continuing Education Excellence
Someone interested in a nursing career must be committed to ongoing professional development. For licensure, continuing education is mandatory, but there are also constant medical advances and best practices that you will need to stay current with through additional training, professional seminars, and networking.
Diverse Nursing Opportunities
The wonderful thing about a career in nursing is that there are paths for every personality type. From introverted to extroverted individuals, those wanting direct patient interaction or healthcare system leadership, hands-on clinical work or educational roles, you can find your niche in the field of nursing.
Interdisciplinary Healthcare Teams
There are usually multiple people involved in managing patient care that comes through a healthcare facility. If you are a Registered Nurse, then you may work with physicians and specialists. If you work in Hospital Settings, then you may work with therapists, social workers, patients and even family members. In larger metropolitan areas you may have multiple departments and care coordinators within the same hospital, while in rural areas you may handle more diverse responsibilities on your own. A job in the nursing field is varied, challenging, and vital to communities and families.
Creating Positive Health Outcomes
A career in nursing can bring you into contact with a wide cross-section of any Florida community. As a registered nurse, you are a key part of many essential functions of hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, homes, and communities. You’ll provide critical support to people who need it the most. This guide will explore many specific nursing careers and help you decide on which is the best fit for you.
Discover your Florida Nursing specialization
Working with newborns to ensure healthy beginnings, assisting elderly patients to maintain quality of life, serving in emergency rooms or providing home healthcare – these represent just some of the areas you can enter as a licensed registered nurse to make an impact. Your course of study will vary based on how you want to work in nursing – this includes direct patient care, administrative roles, and specialized practice areas.
Registered Nurse
A registered nurse provides direct patient care and helps individuals and families navigate healthcare challenges. They may work in various healthcare settings throughout Florida.
Pediatric Nurse
A pediatric nurse specializes in providing healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents in various healthcare settings, focusing on the unique medical needs of young patients.
Critical Care Nurse
A critical care nurse works in intensive care units and emergency departments with patients who require immediate and complex medical attention in life-threatening situations.
Surgical Nurse
A surgical nurse assists during surgical procedures and provides pre-operative and post-operative care to patients undergoing surgery in operating rooms and surgical units.
Nurse Educator
A nurse educator teaches nursing students and provides continuing education to practicing nurses to advance the profession and improve patient care standards.
School Nurse
A school nurse provides healthcare services in educational settings, managing student health needs, administering medications, and responding to medical emergencies on campus.
Nurse Manager
A nurse manager oversees nursing staff and operations in healthcare facilities, ensuring quality patient care delivery and efficient workflow management.
Home Health Nurse
A home health nurse provides medical care to patients in their homes, allowing them to recover in familiar surroundings while receiving professional healthcare services.
Travel Nurse
A travel nurse works temporary assignments in different healthcare facilities across Florida and beyond, providing flexible staffing solutions while gaining diverse clinical experience.
ICU Nurse
An ICU nurse specializes in caring for critically ill patients in intensive care units, monitoring vital signs and providing life-saving interventions around the clock.
Labor and Delivery Nurse
A labor and delivery nurse assists mothers during childbirth and provides care to newborns, supporting families through one of life’s most important moments.
Psychiatric Nurse
A psychiatric nurse specializes in mental health care, working with patients who have psychological disorders and providing therapeutic support and medication management.
Degree Requirements
The foundation of a nursing career starts with proper education. In fact, you cannot become a registered nurse in Florida without licensure, clinical training, and education. If you are just starting out, there are significant benefits to earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, though some already have a bachelor’s in a different field and pursue accelerated BSN programs.
Florida Licensure and Certification
Florida requires you obtain and maintain a license to practice as a registered nurse. This will require the appropriate level of education for the license you want to get, passing the NCLEX-RN exam and continuing education to stay current on best practices to maintain your license. You can check out the specific requirements for Florida in our guide.
Launching Your Nursing Career
After you complete your education and obtain your Florida license, you’ll still need to secure employment and formally start your career. Professional networking, joining nursing organizations and finding a mentor can help you gain the essential knowledge you need to land a job early on.