Want to Be a Nurse in Malaysia? 20 Types of Nursing Specialties
Are you a nurse in Malaysia? If so, you should know that May 12 is International Nurses Day! Led by the International Council of Nurses, the day is celebrated to commemorate the hard work that nurses do to care for patients around the world. The date coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing.
How to become a nurse in Malaysia
The journey to becoming a nurse in Malaysia begins by enrolling in an accredited nursing programme. You can choose to complete a nursing diploma, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree.
After completing your degree, you must pass the Malaysian Nursing Board Exam. Then, you register with the Malaysian Nursing Board. From there, you get your Annual Practising Certificate (APC) from the Nursing Council. When you have completed these steps, you begin treating patients and learn more about the different jobs that nurses can pursue.
Nurses continue to be in demand, with company nurses being one of the most in-demand jobs for fresh graduates.
There are many tracks that a nurse in Malaysia can take. In honour of International Nurses Day, here are 20 types of nursing specialities that you can take on.
Want to be a nurse in Malaysia? 20 nursing specialities
1. Registered Nurse
Becoming a registered nurse (RN) is the basic requirement for any nursing specialisation. An RN handles providing patient care in different health settings. RNs work closely with physicians and other healthcare workers. From being an RN, you can take additional training or studies for more specialised roles.
2. Cardiac Nurse
Cardiac nurses work with patients who have heart-related problems. They are also present in cardiac centres such as catheterisation labs. A cardiac nurse may also assist in various medical procedures such as bypasses, angiograms, or pacemaker insertions.
If you are interested in heart care or tending to patients with cardiac problems, this role is for you. To become a cardiac nurse, you may have to take additional training in cardiovascular or heart care.
3. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) assists with administering anaesthesia in surgeries. You are part of the team that helps patients manage their pain before, during, and after surgical procedures.
If you want to help patients manage their pain, this job might be for you. To become a CRNA, you will need to have experience in an acute or intensive care setting. You may also pursue a master’s degree for this role.
4. Critical Care Nurse
A Critical Care Nurse is an RN but is trained for emergencies. They are also in charge of taking care of serious wounds and injuries and managing life support systems.
If you want to treat serious injuries or life-threatening illnesses, this is the job for you. You will need to take Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) course as additional training.
5. ER Nurse
An ER nurse is different from a critical care nurse. They are stationed in emergency rooms. They are also in charge of evaluating patients and caring for them inside the ER.
If you want to work in a high-pressure setting while treating patients, think about becoming an ER nurse. For this job, you may need to take an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Course.
6. Family Nurse Practitioner
A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) works in a primary healthcare setting such as doctor’s clinics or hospice facilities. An FNP diagnoses and treats illnesses, conducts physical exams, and may prescribe medicine.
If you want to provide more extensive treatment for patients of varying ages, this is the job for you. Aside from being a registered nurse, you will need to take a master’s degree in nursing for this position.
7. Geriatric Nurse
A geriatric nurse treats older patients. Treatment includes caring for injuries and illnesses. A geriatric nurse also helps patients have a good quality of life in their old age. They can also help care for patients who have long-term illnesses like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.
If you want to focus on caring for elderly patients, this is the job for you. To become a geriatric nurse, you may need to take additional post-graduate courses that focus on geriatric care.
8. Perioperative Nurse
A perioperative nurse or a surgical/operating room nurse is assigned to the operating room or surgical centre. Their focus is on pre- and post-operation patient care. This includes setting up a room for surgery, managing tools during surgeries, and other needed care for patients in the operating room.
If you want to treat patients in an operating room, this is the job you want. You will also need to get a Certified Nurse Operating Room accreditation for this.
9. Mental Health Nurse
A mental health nurse diagnoses and treats psychological or mental illnesses of patients. A mental health nurse also provides counselling help. Aside from hospitals, mental health nurses also work in rehabilitation centres and psychiatric facilities.
If helping patients with their mental and emotional help is what you want to do, this job is for you. Take note that you may need to complete a master’s degree in mental health nursing.
10. Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses help treat cancer patients. They guide patients on what kind of treatment can be done. They also monitor the treatment progress of patients. Oncology nurses can work in a hospital or cancer treatment centres.
If you want to care for patients with critical illnesses and help them weigh their treatment options, you might be interested to be an oncology nurse.
11. Orthopedic Nurse
Orthopaedic nurses help patients who have musculoskeletal problems or issues with their bones or muscles. These can include broken bones, back problems, joint replacements, or arthritis. Orthopaedic nurses can work in the rehabilitation department of a hospital or a separate rehabilitation centre.
If you want to help patients with broken bones recover or treat patients with muscle or bone problems, a job as an orthopaedic nurse might be for you.
12. Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses work with children, from infants to teenagers. Like other nurses, pediatric nurses can conduct physical examinations, and diagnoses illnesses. Their main patients are children of different ages.
If you like working with children of all ages, then perhaps you should look into a career as a pediatric nurse.
13. Nurse Midwife
A nurse-midwife takes care of pregnant women. They assist a woman when she goes into labour. A nurse-midwife can also be present in prenatal appointments. After a woman gives birth, a nurse-midwife advises mothers on life with a newborn baby.
If you want to work with pregnant women and help them, consider this job. There are advanced diplomas in midwifery if you want to be a nurse-midwife.
14. Public Health Nurse
A public health nurse goes to communities to teach them about health and safety information that is important to them. A public health nurse informs people about various treatment options and how to avoid illnesses. They can also help with medical care in a community.
If you want to help communities instead of focusing on one-on-one care for a patient, working as a public health nurse might interest you.
15. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who works with fellow nurses and other colleagues to improve the quality of care given to a patient. A CNS also educates and guides nursing staff. This is a leadership position. A CNS can work in a hospital, a doctor’s clinic, or other healthcare facilities.
If you want to take on a leadership position, this is the job for you. Graduate studies are required for this role.
16. Nurse Educator
A nurse educator teaches nursing students. They may teach general nursing lessons or focus on certain areas. They can work in hospitals or universities.
If you want to be a teacher in the industry, this is the job for you. To be a nurse educator in Malaysia, you will need to complete a master’s degree in nursing.
17. Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner is (NP) a primary or speciality care provider. This is a mid-level role for RNs who have a specific field of training. Some of the tasks of an NP include assessing patient needs and prescribing treatments.
If you want to advance and take on a more specific type of care, this is the role for you. To become an NP, you will need to complete a master’s degree and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
18. Nurse Manager
A nurse manager is an administrative role. Nurse managers are in charge of hiring new nurses and making shift schedules. They also handle the general management of nurses in a healthcare setting.
If you like taking charge and managing things, look into becoming a nurse manager.
19. Nursing Administrator
The role of a nursing administrator is similar to a nurse manager. The difference is that a nursing administrator manages bigger groups of nursing teams. It is the job of a nursing administrator to make sure that teams run smoothly and without too many problems.
Consider being a nursing administrator if you want to manage teams of nurses. This might also be the job for you if you want to do more organizational work.
20. Travel Nurse
Travel nurses are unique because they move from one place to another to treat patients. Their work is dependent on their contract terms. The work is what an RN would but in different settings. They could be working in a hospital then working in a doctor’s office.
If you want to gain more experience and work in different locations, the work of a travel nurse in Malaysia might interest you.
With so many options to pursue as a nurse in Malaysia, let the search for #JobsThatMatter begin. Update your profile at JobStreet and find work that will bring you passion and purpose.
Don’t forget to visit the Career Resources Hub for more expert tips and advice on building a career. If you want to become a nurse in Malaysia, start with finding out more information on your rights and benefits as an employee.
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