Types of Nursing Career Specialties

Nursing is a second career for me, and I still don't know "exactly" what kind of nursing I want to do. I have been looking for a list like this for a long time. I hope it will help others out also. Nurses Career Support Article Video

Updated:  

Agency Nurses

Agency Nursing is essentially where a nurse will register or sign up with an agency or similar group and tell them what hours they are available to work. The nurses are then contacted and offered work on a shift to shift basis.

Agency Nurses are now in high demand, particularly, in the case of nurses with specialized training or experience. See also: travel nursing

2018 Median Salary: $46,240 year / $22.23 hour
Education Needed: BSN, ADN

Source onetonline.org

More Reading:
Agency Nurses

Ambulatory Care Nurses

Ambulatory Care Nurses care for patients whose stay in the hospital or other facility will last for less than 24 hours. Ambulatory care nursing covers a broad range of specialties in the out-patient setting.

Ambulatory Care Nurses care for individuals, families, and groups in a variety of settings outside the hospital. Ambulatory care nursing is a nursing specialty with its own professional society, standards of practice, certification, performance measurement criteria, and body of literature for evidence-based practice.

With patients living longer with chronic diseases, complications, and comorbidities, patient care is shifting to the outpatient setting, bringing sicker patients into the ambulatory care arena. Hospital stays are shorter today with follow up care being handled in ambulatory care settings. The need for more and better prepared RNs has never been greater. As a result of these changes, RNs have more opportunities for a variety of roles in a broad array of settings.

Education Needed: BSN, ADN, RN

More Reading:
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
Ambulatatory Care Questions and Articles

Nurse Anesthesia

Nurse Anesthetists work with surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, anesthesiologists, and other doctors to provide anesthesia to patients before, during, and after surgery or childbirth.

2018 Median Salary: $167,950 year / $80.75 hour
Education Needed: MSN, BSN, ADN

Source onetonline.org

More Reading:
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Questions and Articles

Cardiac Care Nurses

The Cardiac Care Nurse works with other members of the medical staff in assessing, intervening, and implementing nursing care for the cardiac patient.

2019 Median Salary: $88,425 year
Overtime Compensation: $10,250 year
Education Needed: BSN, ADN, RN

Source indeed.com

More Reading:
American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine

Case Management Nurses

Case Management is a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual's health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes.

American Case Management Association

Critical Care Nurses

Critical Care nurses provide care for patients and families who are experiencing actual or potential life-threatening illness. More specific fields that fit into the critical care category include cardiac care, intensive care, and neurological and cardiac surgical intensive care.

2018 Median Salary: $71,730 year / $34.48 hour
Education Needed: BSN, ADN

Source onetonline.org

More Reading:
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Critical Care Nurses

Watch Nursing Specialties with the Best Work and Life Balance (as selected by allnurses.com members) video...

Emergency Nurses

Emergency Nurses assess patients, provide interventions and evaluate care in a time limited and sometimes hectic environment. Emergency Nurses work independently and interdependently with various health professionals in an attempt to support patients and their families as they experience illness, injury or crisis.

Emergency Nurses Association

Forensics Nurses

Forensic Nurses provide medical care to victims of crime, collect evidence after crimes occur, and provide medical care to patients within the prison system.

International Association of Forensic Nurses

Gastroenterology Nurses

Gastroenterology (GI) Nurses provide care to patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal problems who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic treatment and/or procedures. GI Nurses practice in physician offices, inpatient and outpatient endoscopy departments, ambulatory endoscopy centers and inpatient hospital units.

Society of Gastroenterology Nurses Association

Geriatrics Nurses

Geriatric Nurses care for elderly patients in a number of settings which include the patients home, nursing homes, and hospitals. Geriatric Nurses face constant challenges because their patients are often very ill, very complex, and very dependent on the nurses skills.

American Geriatrics Society

Holistic Nurses

Holistic Nurses provide medical care for patients while honoring the individual's subjective opinions about health, health beliefs, and values. Holistic nursing requires nurses to integrate self-care, self-responsibility, spirituality, and reflection into their daily nursing care.

American Holistic Nurses Association

HIV/AIDS Nurses

HIV/AIDS Nurses provide healthcare for patients who are HIV or AIDS positive. These nurses usually have specialized training in HIV/AIDS.

Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

Informatics Nurses

Nursing Informatics is a broad field which combines nursing knowledge with the use of computers. Jobs in this field could range from the implementation of a new computer network within a hospital to the sales of computer systems to hospitals by an outside computer company.

American Nursing Informatics Association

Legal Nursing

Legal Nursing combines the use of the legal system with a thorough knowledge of the nursing field. Legal Nurses are usually seasoned veterans of the nursing field who work with attorneys to review medical documents and determine if medical negligence occurred.

American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants

Midwifery Nurses

Midwives are nurses that are specially trained to deal with childbirth and providing prenatal and postpartum care. The midwife is qualified to deliver babies by themselves unless there are extenuating circumstances which require the midwife to consult with a physician.

2018 Median Salary: $103,770 year / $49.89 hour
Education Needed: MSN, BSN

Source onetonline.org

More Reading:
American College of Nurse-Midwives
Certified Nurse-Midwives

Military Nurses

Military Nurses work in a variety of settings, ranging from family practice at a local military base to providing emergency care for the wounded during war times.

Neonatal Nurses

Neonatal Nurses provide care for newborns by assessing the patient to ensure good health, providing preventative care to prevent illness, and caring for the babies which are sick. The neonatal nurse is responsible for anticipating, preventing, diagnosing and minimizing illness of newborns.

National Association of Neonatal Nurses

Neuroscience Nurses

Neuroscience Nurses care for patients using new therapies and innovative technologies to treat diseases of the nervous system.

American Association of Neuroscience Nurses

Nurse Practitioner Nurses

Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice nurses who have obtained their masters degree and are qualified to prescribe medication, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests.

2018 Median Salary: $107,030 year / $51.46 hour
Education Needed: MSN, DNP

Source onetonline.org

More Reading:
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
American College of Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners / NP

Occupational Health Nurses

The Occupational Health Nursing is responsible for improving, protecting, maintaining and restoring the health of employees. by providing this care for employees, the occupational health nurse is able to influence the health of the organization.

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses

Oncology Nurses

Oncology Nurses provide health care for cancer patients at all stages of treatment and remission.

Oncology Nursing Society

Pediatric Nurses

Pediatric Nurses care for children in all aspects of health care. Pediatric nurses practice in a variety of settings which include hospitals, clinics, schools, and in the home.

Association of Pediatric oncology Nurses
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practioners

Perioperative Nurses

Perioperative Nurses work in operating rooms in tertiary care hospitals, community and rural hospitals, day care surgery units and specialized clinics. They often provide post-anesthetic care in rural hospitals or specialized units where nurses provide total patient care.

American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses
The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses

Psychiatric Nurses

Psychiatric Nurses provide care for patients and families with psychiatric and mental illnesses. these nurses practice in a variety of settings which include hospitals, and institutions.

International Society of Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurses

Research Nurses

Research Nurses perform clinical and basic research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span-from management of patients during illness and recovery to the reduction of risks for disease and disability, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, promoting quality of life in those with chronic illness, and care for individuals at the end of life.

National Institute of Nursing Research

School Nursing

School Nurses work with students and faculty of schools providing medical care and other support in an in-school environment.

National Association of School Nurses

Transplant Nurses

Transplant Nurses work in a variety of settings and function in various aspects of transplant procedures. They assist in the transplantation of various body parts which include, but are not limited to: liver, kidney, pancreas, small bowel, heart, and lungs.

International Transplant Nurses Society

Trauma Nurses

Trauma Nurses care for patients in an emergency or critical care setting. these nurses generally care for patients who have suffered severe trauma such as a car accident, gun shot wound, stabbing, assault, or other traumatic injury.

Trauma Nurse

Travel Nursing Nurses

Travel Nurses work for an agency that provides nurses to hospitals and other health care facilities across the country. Travel nurses usually get to choose which locations they are willing to travel to and are typically given assignments which last for 13 weeks or more. travel nurses usually make a very good salary, receive paid housing accommodations, sign-on bonuses, and other excellent benefits.

Travel Nurse

Urology Nurses

Urology Nurses care for patients in such specialties as oncology, male infertility, male sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, incontinence, and pediatrics. Urology nurses may also participate in such urological surgeries as surgery for cancer, general urology, plastic, infertility, brachytherapy, lithotrispy, and pediatric surgery.

American Nephrology Nurses Association
Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates

Women's Health Nurses

Women's Health Nurses participate in fields such as OB/GYN, mammography, reproductive health, and general women's health. These nurses practice in a variety of settings.

Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses

Wound/Ostomy/Continence Nursing

Wound ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing is a specialty involved with caring for patients with acute and chronic wounds (fistulas, vascular ulcers, pressure ulcers, neuropathic wounds, surgical wounds, lacerations), bowel or bladder diversional ostomies, or continence conditions involving skin care issues. WOC nurses provide a multidisciplinary approach to treatment across a continuum of care and in a number of settings.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)

Types-of-Nursing-Careers.pdf

Hi,

I'm a senior BSN nursing student and am considering OR nursing. Can anyone who practices is this field share with me your feelings about this type of nursing - pros and cons, etc. and what I should know before making this decision.

Thanks

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
debbiemonica said:
Hi,

I'm a senior BSN nursing student and am considering OR nursing. Can anyone who practices is this field share with me your feelings about this type of nursing - pros and cons, etc. and what I should know before making this decision.

Thanks

Check out the OR Nursing forum we have here at Allnurses. You'll get a feel for the field and you can ask specific questions there rather than in this thread. Good luck.

I have a question. I have a bachelors in healthcare administration and I am going back to school for my ADN is this wise or should I do a BSN? Can I get any management positions with an ADN and my bachelors in Healthcare Administration?

Specializes in Trauma/ Burns/Surgical ICU/some Neuro/ER.

Hi and good luck to all you students out there! I've worked in icus for 15 years. Started in surgical, moved to trauma/burn when they opened one. I loved it, still do, but there were some changes, i'm getting older, so i've gone back to school.

Here's my advice... Just pay attention when you do your clinicals and get a 'feel' for what you like and what you don't... Then precept anywhere and everywhere you can! That will help you get an idea of what's for you. If you can't precept in all the places you think you might like, see if you can just unofficially 'trail/hang out' with a nurse in whatever unit or area you are interested in. You might be surprised. As long as you are not doing patient care, (which would mean you'd have to be "official" or "approved") most nurses love to tell about their jobs.

Ask your instructors, ask nurses where you do clinicals, ask everyone; where you might do this and who with - we've had many students 'visit' our unit to get a feel for it. As a charge nurse, i never turned anyone down - again - as long as they stuck to just observing.

Also, sometimes it is easier to do this on night shift, where there are fewer administrators, fewer ancillary disciplines (physical therapy, dietary, occupational therapy, etc.) who have to see patients and may take up the nurses time - therefore a night shift nurse might be more willing to let you tag along or hang out for a while. I'm not saying you should do this at night, and 'sneak' around - definitely get approval from a charge nurse or manager - just that sometimes it is more likely to be allowed, or that you will find a willing nurse at night.

Also, when you get ready to work, and interview, ask for a tour of several units. You might just feel 'right' in one of them. I did. The sicu just felt right for me, for many reasons, and it stayed my home for 5 years.

Also remember! There is no shame in admitting a job simply is not right for you!! You may think you'll love something, then get part way thru your orientation and realize you hate it, or you are in over your head, or you're bored to death. Tell someone as soon as you realize this!! Very likely, the administration will be glad you spoke up, and will try to place you somewhere more suited to you. They'd rather do this than have you quit after a month and have wasted big $$ on your training!!

As for staying away from hospitals because they are too stressful... That may be very true for some, but some of us thrive on a little faster pace. Personally, i'd fall asleep (or become very lazy) without very sick patients to care for - but that's just me. We all have our niche, and somehow you'll all find yours.

Good luck to you all!

Specializes in Trauma/ Burns/Surgical ICU/some Neuro/ER.

In response to:

I have a question. I have a bachelors in healthcare administration and I am going back to school for my adn is this wise or should I do a BSN? Can I get any management positions with an adn and my bachelors in healthcare administration?

I'm not really sure, but I don't think the adn will give you any more opportunities than your bachelor's in HCA. I could be wrong, but I am returning to school because I found my opportunities somewhat limited by my adn. Don't get me wrong, I love bedside nursing, I'm just getting older, a little burnt out and needed a change. I worked for a university hospital, and found that most positions required a BSN or at least a bachelor's in some field. Why are you considering the ADN? Can you not find work with your current degree?

Unless you want to be a nurse - at the bedside - I really don't see what good this will do you. If you want a management position, I suggest a master's in your field or at least a BSN.

There are some programs that will allow an msn with an adn and a bs in another field - but most are like crna or something where you would need experience as a nurse also.

Hope this helps at all...

palkie said:

In response to:

I have a question. I have a bachelors in healthcare administration and I am going back to school for my adn is this wise or should I do a bsn? Can I get any management positions with an adn and my bachelors in healthcare administration?

I'm not really sure, but I don't think the adn will give you any more opportunities than your bachelor's in hca. I could be wrong, but I am returning to school because I found my opportunities somewhat limited by my adn. Don't get me wrong, I love bedside nursing, I'm just getting older, a little burnt out and needed a change. I worked for a university hospital, and found that most positions required a bsn or at least a bachelor's in some field. Why are you considering the adn? Can you not find work with your current degree?

Unless you want to be a nurse - at the bedside - I really don't see what good this will do you. If you want a management position, I suggest a master's in your field or at least a bsn.

There are some programs that will allow an msn with an adn and a bs in another field - but most are like crna or something where you would need experience as a nurse also.

Hope this helps at all...

I had always hoped to get into nursing to be able to help patients as well, since it was what I had hoped to do.

i am now looking in to hospice nursing, but currently i work on a mental health floor and i am not getting the experience i would like to have before i move to more of a direct patient care.:nurse:

Any advice on how to become a ARNP? Any online programs to take or should I go to a University? I have 2 yrs MedSurg. How many years of clinical practice do you recommend prior to enrolling for my MSN? thanks

thank you so much for the information, i have researched and did not come up with 1/2 the info you have given.

ladyjae

This was very helpful. I'm trying to get started in the med field throgh nursing and this was great.

Fabulous!

Thanks a lot.

I am a Nurse that develops his own activity in the Italian Air Force .

I have come at the end of the "Master of Management and Coordination" and I intended to develop the elaborate final on the particular condition of the Soldier Nurse.

I have demand to know the organization of the nurses in the other Armed Strengths, Europeans and U.S. If someone is it has knowledge and you/he/she can communicate it to me I would be pleased of it.

The career of the nurse interests above all me and naturally the dressed again degree.

I in advance thank you.

Nurse Marshal of the Italian A.F.

Animalunga,

Sorry for my english