2026 Career Planning Guide
NURSING SPECIALITIES KEY: n Minimum Education required n Certifications required n Experience needed n Certification credential n Possible employment n Professional Organization n References / Resources
Diabetes Educator
Diabetes nurses are advanced in their career path and have the knowledge and skills to educate patients with diabetes to man- age their disease to live a healthy life. They provide education and behavioral intervention directed toward helping individuals achieve identified self-management goals such as monitoring, healthy eating, reducing risks, etc. Collaboration and com- munication with patients, families, physicians, and insurance companies is required to achieve goals and maximize health- care resources.
n RN, MSN n Certification Examination, Advanced Diabetes Management
n 1,000 hours providing diabetes care and education( DCE) earned within the 5 years prior to the application date,( with a minimum of 20 % of those hours( 200 hours) accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
n CDCES, BC-ADM n Hospitals, non-hospital outpatient, physicians’ offices, community health agency, private practice, schools n Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education( www. cbdce. org)
Emergency Nurse
A fast-paced career that requires rapid assessment of patients of all ages and populations, including those experiencing a wide range of diseases, as well as those in need of injury prevention, lifesaving and limb-saving care. Patients may require immediate interventions but stay in an ED on a short-term basis.
n ASN / ADN or BSN n Certified Emergency Nurse and Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse credentials
n 2 years recommended in the emergency department for CEN but not required; 1,000 hours in pediatric emergency nursing practice CPEN n CEN, CPEN. Recommended that emergency nurses take the Trauma Nursing Core Course and Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course during the first year. Certification in emergency nursing is strongly encouraged after practicing two years.
n Hospitals( acute care settings), military service, community health settings, schools, retail clinics, correctional facilities, emergency department, free-standing EDs, emergency medical services, flight nursing, poison control centers, emergent care and crisis intervention centers, businesses and corporations, federal and state government agencies, research institutions
n Emergency Nurses Association( www. ena. org)
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