The rapid growth in the healthcare system is opening up many new nursing professions and opportunities. The educational system is adapting by creating courses and degrees to meet the challenges. To help meet the social needs and take part new and advanced career opportunities, continuing your education is a necessity.

With the healthcare industry, government, and social impetus behind solving the nursing crisis and getting more nurses educated, career opportunities for nurses are on the rise. Working a a nurse is enormously satisfying, and there are hundreds of career avenues for nurses, but here are five career paths that show an especially high social need and can offer nurses both financial and career satisfaction.

Home Healthcare Services Nurse

The average income for a home health nurse is about $35,000 for this nursing position.

Where Do You Start? You need to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). You can attend a community college or vocational schools for about a year. The need for geriatric care is projected to drive up the demand for LPNs and should offer you good job prospects.

School Nurse

Where Do You Start? Generally, you should already be a Registered Nurse (RN), and ideally, you should also hold a bachelor's degree in nursing. Furthering a career in this field, a master's degree in nursing or a MBA in health care will provide you career mobility and offers of policy-level positions. Many school nurses hold not only a Nurse Practitioner (NP) certification, but an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification.

Forensic Nurse

Where Do You Start? You must hold a current RN certification, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Further course work or a degree in law enforcement or criminal justice will offer you an added edge for forensic nurse job openings. Specialized forensic nursing certifications are available online.

Legal Nurse Consultant

Where Do You Start? Probably the quickest path into this profession is to earn a legal nurse consulting certificate. Otherwise an RN certification, or ideally a bachelor of science degree in nursing, and a solid educational background in the legal system is necessary to become a legal nurse consultant. Earning a criminal justice degree combined with a degree in nursing will open the doors to employment in the nurse consulting field. If you haven't already gotten a bachelor's in nursing, there are accelerated RN-to-BSN program.