Quiz: Find Your Nursing Niche
Answer 8 simple questions to learn which of the near 100 nursing specialties are right for you.
In nursing school, you got a taste of what’s out there. You had a week of surgical nursing, made your way through pediatrics, managed not to faint during obstetrics, and fumbled through critical care. These brief experiences gave you an idea of what nursing could be like in each area, but did you know there are nearly 100 more to choose from?
Being a nurse doesn’t mean doing just one thing, and a nursing degree affords you the education and training to enter all kinds of specialties. From sprawling metropolitan hospitals to small rural clinics, from working with children to tending to the elderly and advocating for victims of abuse, the opportunities for specialization in nursing are nearly endless. If you’re ready to begin your nursing career, but you’re not quite sure which path to take, this guide can help you match your education, skills, needs, and interests to the nursing specialty that’s right for you.
8 Questions to Narrow Your Search
Before you decide on a nursing specialization, it’s smart to understand the details of the job and how they align with what is most important to you. There are several major factors to consider as you contemplate all of the nursing roles out there. To help you narrow down your nursing specialty options, start by answering the following questions.
Question 1 / 8
Work Pace
Depending on the specialty area and location of your nursing job, you can encounter different types of workplaces and levels of intensity. While all nursing professions can be stressful at times, some specialty areas are more demanding because of the fast-paced environment. For example, ER nurses experience much faster paced work on a daily basis than home health nurses or diabetes nurses. Fast-paced roles are often best for those who perform well under pressure, can think and act quickly, and thrive in active environments.Depending on the specialty area and location of your nursing job, you can encounter different types of workplaces and levels of intensity. While all nursing professions can be stressful at times, some specialty areas are more demanding because of the fast-paced environment. For example, ER nurses experience much faster paced work on a daily basis than home health nurses or diabetes nurses. Fast-paced roles are often best for those who perform well under pressure, can think and act quickly, and thrive in active environments.
Do you want a nursing career with a fast pace?
AYes
BNo
Patient Interaction
Another factor to consider is how closely you would like to work with patients on a daily basis. While most nursing professions have a significant patient-facing component, not all nursing jobs will play out that way each day. For those who wish to work closely with their patients and develop a strong bedside manner, careers as home health nurses or domestic violence nurses can give you that opportunity. Specialties such as a nursing author or nurse researcher don’t require much patient involvement. In fact, some of these professionals rarely come in contact with patients if they are conducting research on their own or working remotely.
Do you want to work with patients regularly?
AYes
BNo
Environment
Where do you see yourself working on a daily basis? Nursing professions can take you to a variety of environments, from hospitals and clinics to out-of-hospital roles in specialists’ offices and patients’ homes. Hospitals, emergency rooms, operating rooms, and nursing homes, for example, all present different types of challenges. You could find yourself in an ambulatory role where you employ your nursing specialties on-the-go. Whatever the work environment, it can significantly affect your quality of life on a daily basis depending on your personal needs. It’s important to think critically about this aspect of your nursing career as you consider a specialty area.
Do you want a specialty that takes you outside of a traditional medical setting?
AYes
BNo
Salary & Compensation
For many professionals, nursing can be a lucrative career. Your salary and compensation will vary depending on several factors, including your level of education. According to studies by Medscape, Advisory Board reported that RNs with a master’s degree earned an average annual income of $88,000 in 2017, compared to associate degree- and bachelor’s degree-holders who made an average of $74,000 and $81,000, respectively.
You should also factor in the average cost of living in the region you plan to work. Medscape’s study reported that professionals in the Pacific northwest region earned the highest annual income at $102,000. The region with the lowest average income for RNs was the South East of the U.S. at $69,000, which included Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Is earning a high salary in nursing important to you?
AYes
BNo
Management & Leadership
Depending on your interests and strengths, a specialized career in nursing can also position you for management and leadership roles. Mid-level nursing management positions typically involve administrative duties, building budgets, hiring new nurses, and tracking facility inventory. With some work experience under your belt, you can move on to positions such as head nurse, patient care director, chief nursing officer, or even CEO of a hospital. Nurse administrators also handle many of these important management duties. They typically need some years of work experience and a Master of Science in nursing with a focus in administration. Nurses can also pursue additional certifications from institutions like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to bolster their credentials for management and leadership positions.
Do you want a nursing career with management or leadership potential?
AYes
BNo
Routine
Like many professional roles, nurses working in specialty areas will develop some kind of regular routine on the job. Discussing routines might seem like you’re going to be “stuck in a rut,” but there’s certainly some serious benefits to following a structured schedule. For one thing, routines and structured healthcare professionals maximize their organization’s efficiency. Depending on the person, some nurses really thrive in this type of environment. Some specialty nursing areas offer more of a routine or predictability than others. For example, a nurse who specializes in dermatology or diabetes may be able to maintain a more regular schedule and workload than an ambulatory or ER nurse. What seems like a good fit for you?
Do you thrive (or at least prefer) working in a more structured environment?
AYes
BNo
Independence
With some nursing specialties come high levels of independence. As a nursing author or educator, for example, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to deal with complex scheduling issues or cover shifts in a hospital setting. Additionally, while leadership and management positions can be stressful and time consuming, you would likely have more command of your daily schedule, or be able to make your own hours, than workers who are lower in the leadership hierarchy. Some nurses today even find ways to work from home and create their own schedules. Nurse advocates, for example, can help patients understand their treatment options, sort through insurance issues, and educate patients on their treatments remotely or in an on-call arrangement.
Do you want a nursing career that allows you to work more independently?
AYes
BNo
Research
There are several popular nursing specialties with a research component. Broadly speaking, research nurses work to improve and perfect current medications and treatments. They may also work on curing diseases through research, examining previous findings, and interacting with patients. A Ph.D. in nursing can also lead you to a research-heavy career path. Ph.D. programs give you the chance to become an expert in a particular area of the field and your required dissertation will give you a taste of the type of heavy research you’ll be doing on the job.
Do you want a nursing career where research is a significant component?
AYes
BNo
Nursing Careers to Explore
Click on each specialization to learn more
- Ambulatory Care Nurse
- Camp Nurse
- Flight Nurse
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Attorney
Nursing Specialty Breakdown
Ambulatory Care Nurse
Ambulatory nurses can work in several areas of the field, including pediatric nursing, geriatric nursing, and women’s health. Many of these professionals work outside of hospitals in urgent care facilities, telehealth programs, or home health settings directly with patients. This is a lesser-known career for nurses as many nursing schools do not cover ambulatory care as part of the main curriculum.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Burn Care Nurse
Burn care nurses specialize in taking care of patients suffering from burn injuries and related trauma. They typically treat minor burn wounds and play an essential role in helping patients deal with the psychological and emotional trauma that accompany these types of injuries. Professionals in this area should possess skills in pain management, trauma recovery, and life support.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Camp Nurse
Camp nurses usually work with younger patients in camp environments and related community facilities. They may serve as camp nurses for days or months at a time and can find themselves in work settings that are far from hospitals or clinics. Because of this, camp nurses are required to be resourceful leaders and should be able to deal with illnesses or injuries throughout their temporary tenure.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Cardiac Care Nurse
Cardiac care nurses focus on just about everything involving heart conditions or diseases. This can include anything from coronary artery diseases and heart attacks to bypass surgeries and stress evaluations. They usually work closely with cardiologists in hospitals to handle day-to-day stress test evaluations and urgent heart care matters.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse
Cardiac cath lab nurses perform specialized duties and typically work in large hospitals or clinics. They often work with cardiac interventionists to perform various procedures on patients with heart disease and other heart problems. They work closely with patients, administer medication, and play crucial roles in interventional and diagnostic procedures.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Case Management Nurse
Case management nurses handle long-term care plans for their patients. Working in hospitals, they often specialize in a specific area such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. They often work in teams with other medical professionals to craft personalized plans for each patient. Case management nurses may take on some research responsibilities as needed.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Certified Nurse Midwife
Specializing in women’s reproductive health and childbirth, certified nurse midwives can write prescriptions for patients, provide counseling, and perform related exams. These professionals can work in primary care facilities or assist with home births. Prospective certified nurse midwives usually need a master’s degree to pursue a career in this area.
Education required: MSN required
Clinical Nurse Leader
Clinical nurse leaders can find themselves working in virtually any setting where healthcare is provided. They primarily work in managerial roles to improve the delivery of care for individuals and families. These nurses are typically responsible for evaluating risks for patients when it comes to new technologies, therapies, and more.
Education required: MSN required
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical nurse specialists can pursue a variety of career paths and typically specialize in multiple areas such as women’s health, pain management, rehabilitation, oncology, and emergency care. They use evidence-based practices to help diagnose, assess, and treat patient illnesses in hospitals, outpatient facilities, or home care organizations.
Education required: MSN or PhD required
Correctional Facility Nurse
These professionals help take care of the underserved population of inmates and other detainees in prisons and jails across the country. Correctional facility nurses need to be prepared to perform both emergency and routine medical procedures inside the detainment facility. They may work at both government-operated and private detention centers. Correctional facility nurses may also work in temporary holding facilities or juvenile detention centers.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Critical Care Nurse
Critical care nurses work with a variety of patients with acute medical issues, including life threatening injuries. Critical care nurses find themselves in a variety of hospital departments, including intensive care units, pediatric care units, recovery rooms, and cardiac care units. They perform a variety of duties, from tracking life support equipment and heart monitors to administering medications and evaluating vital signs.
Education required: MSN required
Dermatology Nurse
Specializing in skin conditions, dermatology nurses work directly with patients to treat wounds, skin injuries, and skin disorders. These professionals can find themselves in hospital units, outpatient care clinics, doctors’ offices, and more. Some dermatology nurses work for private dermatology practices, plastic surgeons, or burn units.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Developmental Disability Nurse
These professionals work directly with patients who have developmental disabilities. Their patients can range from individuals of all ages with Down Syndrome, fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disorders. Developmental disability nurses can work in a variety of settings, including clinics, group homes, and schools.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Diabetes Nurse
Nurses specializing in diabetes management have a wide variety of duties, including educating patients, providing nutrition therapy for type 2 diabetics, and administering medication such as insulin. These nurses can also find themselves working with patients on behavioral management and psychosocial issues. They typically work in outpatient clinics and hospitals.
Education required: MSN required
Domestic Violence Nurse
Domestic violence nurses specialize in working with victims of domestic abuse. These resident nurses help patients with emotional, mental, and physical trauma that comes from domestic abuse and violence. They typically keep very detailed records on their patients, as the details often are used in court cases related to the violence. These professionals must be good listeners, have excellent communication skills, and know how to interact with doctors and law enforcement.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Emergency Nurse
These nurses typically work in medical clinics and hospitals. They often work in fast-paced environments, especially emergency rooms, treating patients for severe medical conditions and injuries. Emergency nurses must have quick decision-making skills and be able to work under a lot of stress while stabilizing patients as quickly as possible.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Family Nurse Practitioner
FNP professionals work in a variety of healthcare settings, including ambulatory care, outpatient care, home healthcare, and rural clinics. In general, FNPs diagnose and treat diseases and common illnesses, write prescriptions, refer patients to specialists, and evaluate laboratory results. They often work in tandem with physicians or independently.
Education required: MSN required
Flight Nurse
Flight nurses provide professional-level healthcare in transports such as helicopters and planes. They work to stabilize patients while in transit from one location to another and must be skilled emergency care workers. They may be employed by hospitals or trauma centers. Flight nurses can also obtain employment with branches of the United States military.
Education required: RN, ADN/ASN, Nursing Diploma or BS/BSN required
Forensic Nurse
Similar to domestic abuse specialists, forensic nurses specialize in working with victims of abuse, violence, and trauma. These workers have training in both nursing and criminal justice. They may have a specialty area, such as physical assault trauma, and can pursue specialized certifications if they wish. They typically work in hospitals or in community settings with local government agencies for medical examiners.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Gastroenterology Nurse
These professionals focus on patients with digestive issues and related illnesses. They typically work directly with patients and perform endoscopy procedures. These professionals need a comforting bedside manner to help patients deal with the stress and discomfort of endoscopy procedures and more. Gastroenterology nurses often work in hospitals or at a private specialist’s office.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Genetics Nurse
Genetics nurses are RNs who work with patients who are affected by a genetic disease or may be at risk for a genetic-related health issue. They typically work closely with patients to document their family histories and examine hereditary and non-hereditary genetic issues. Genetics nurses usually work in genetics labs, cancer centers, clinics, and hospitals.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Geriatric Nurse
Geriatric nurses provide special care for the elderly population. These nurses perform a variety of tasks, including administering medications, recording vital signs, transporting patients to appointments, and helping patients with daily needs such as dressing and bathing. Geriatric nurses can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including retirement centers, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, in-home care, and memory care centers.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
These professionals are primary care providers who work to help patients with the physical, social, and mental aspects of aging. In addition to dementia and mobility problems, these nurses often need to help patients who are depressed, dehydrated, and suffer from nutritional issues. Gerontological nurses usually work in specialty clinics and hospitals.
Education required: MSN required
Health Policy Nurse
Health policy nurses work in a variety of ways to ensure that public policies and healthcare laws have positive impacts on their patients. These professionals can serve as lobbyists for policy changes, conduct research on public health issues, advise policymakers, and evaluate healthcare policies. They are often employed by state, local, or federal government agencies or research firms.
Education required: MSN required
Hematology Nurse
Specializing in blood diseases and types of cancer, hematology nurses provide specialized care for patients with conditions such as hemophilia, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. The day-to-day duties of these nurses varies depending on the facility they work for. In most cases, hematology nurses help manage patient pain, assist doctors in developing treatment plans, conduct physical exams, and monitor patients in treatment. They may work in hospitals, blood disorder clinics, cancer patient treatment centers, and more.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
HIV/AIDS Nurse
These nurses work with patients from when they are first diagnosed with HIV/AIDS through the process of extended, long-term care. These specialized RNs care for patients whose immune systems are under attack, which includes assisting patients with the emotional and physical complications of this disease. HIV/AIDS nurses also provide emotional support for families of patients and educate communities about symptoms and treatments available for HIV/AIDS. They typically work in various divisions of public health or hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Holistic Nurse
Holistic nurses work in universities, hospitals, and private practices. They focus on treating patients as a whole and not only for specific symptoms they may have at the moment. They may offer complementary expertise in areas such as acupuncture, dietary advice, meditation therapy, and massage therapy in addition to traditional nursing practices.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Home Health Nurse
This RN specialty prepares nurses to care for patients in the patient’s residence. Home health nurses can specialize in a variety of areas, including mental health, pediatrics, public health, gerontology, and general medicine. Common tasks for these professionals include taking vital signs, administering medication, assisting patients with daily living activities, and developing plans of care for their patients with physicians.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Hospice Nurse
Hospice nurses—who generally work at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice centers, and nursing homes—specialize in helping patients who are terminally ill. These nurses are responsible for making patients comfortable by providing physical and emotional support, as well as helping families cope with the impending loss of their loved ones.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Independent Nurse Contractor
Nurses with an entrepreneurial spirit can use their health care knowledge by working as an independent nurse contractor. These nurses provide services for clients that include schools, hospitals, community health centers, and individual patients. These professionals generally specialize in a specific type of nursing or patient population—such as pediatric, oncology, or geriatric patients—and they provide the same care as they would if they were a regular employee of a health care facility.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Infection Control Nurse
Infection control nurses are experts in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. This work involves educating other medical professionals and the general public on ways to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria, assist with research on specific infectious diseases, and develop prevention plans that are used in medical facilities. These professionals generally find employment at public health agencies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and hospice centers.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Informatics Nurse
Informatics nurses combine an expertise in technology and health care in order to use data to improve the treatment of patients. They generally work for colleges, health care facilities and hospitals, where they assess the technology needs of a health provider, test different technologies to meet those needs, and educate staff members on how to use these systems.
Education required: BSN required
Infusion Nurse
Infusion nurses work for hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and ambulatory infusion centers. These professionals treat patients who need to receive medication and fluids through intravenous means and are responsible for inserting and starting intravenous lines; teaching other nurses how to administer IVs; and monitoring an insertion area to prevent infections.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
International Nurse
International nurses use their knowledge and skills in order to work in foreign countries around the world. They may work in a variety of settings, such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, and outpatient care clinics to provide general or specialized nursing services. As a result, these nurses may work with children, adolescents, adults, or the older population.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Labor and Delivery Nurse
A labor and delivery nurse has expertise in the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal stages of childbirth. These nurses—who generally work for hospitals, clinics, and birthing centers—are responsible for helping women during each stage of their delivery. Their specific duties include timing contractions, inducing labor, assisting with potential birth complications, and coaching patients as they give birth.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Lactation Consultant
As new mothers adapt to breastfeeding their babies, lactation consultants use their expertise to give them the assistance they need. These nurses may work for public health clinics, birth centers, and pediatric offices. Their specific duties may include providing instruction to mothers during breastfeeding sessions, troubleshooting problems and helping patients overcome them, and assisting mothers as they create feeding schedules.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Legal Nurse Consultant
A legal nurse consultant leverages health care knowledge and experience in order to consult with people in the legal profession about medical issues. These nurses may educate attorneys on a specific health care topic, evaluate medical records, and conduct reviews of medical literature. The types of cases legal nurse consultants contribute to include insurance fraud, medical malpractice, toxic tort, and worker’s compensation matters. They can be self-employed, or work for clinics, hospitals, and long-term care centers.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Long-Term Care Nurse
When patients are living with an illness or disability for an extended period of time, they can receive help from long-term care nurses, who are often employed by adult day care centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. The services they provide to patients include bathing, feeding, and wound care.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Managed Care Nurse
Managed care nurses work in concert with patients, health care facilities, insurance companies, and government agencies in order to keep the price of delivering care down. As they work in community health centers, clinics, and hospitals, they perform duties such as evaluating and making recommendations on patient care plans; conducting physical, emotional, and psychological assessments to patients; and educating the public and other health care professionals about preventive care and disease management.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Medical-Surgical Nurse
Medical-surgical nurses work in hospitals, where they assist in treating those with acute and chronic illnesses and injuries. Their duties include managing the care of multiple patients and prioritizing the delivery of that care; keeping abreast of the latest research and technologies in order to treat patients; and helping to create a discharge plan for patients to follow when they get home from the hospital.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Military Nurse
Military nurses work for all branches of the military to provide the same level of care to patients that they would if they worked in a civilian health care facility. These nurses are responsible for supporting servicemembers in the United States or abroad in military bases or hospitals and their duties may include providing patient assessments, administering medications, or helping to treat soldiers who have been wounded.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Missionary Nurse
Missionary nurses use their skills and expertise in order to deliver care to patients in developing countries that do not have the medical advancements most people take for granted. They may be employed by nonprofit organizations, churches, or humanitarian groups. When they are assisting the staff members of the healthcare facilities they visit, missionary nurses may be involved in providing vaccinations, dressing wounds, and educating patients about general hygiene and preventive care.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
Neonatal intensive care nurses provide help for infants who were born prematurely, as well as those with birth defects, infections, and cardiac problems. Employed by public and private hospitals, these nurses are responsible for monitoring vital signs, administering medication, and ensuring that parents are educated on how to care for their children when they get home.
Education required: MSN required
Nephrology Nurse
Nephrology nurses are experts on illnesses related to the kidneys. They generally work for home health care agencies, doctor’s offices, and hospitals, and their job duties include providing assessments for people to determine if they have a kidney condition, performing dialysis on patients, and educating the public about kidney disease.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Neuroscience Nurse
Neuroscience nurses work with patients who have a variety of conditions related to the brain, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, they work with those who have undergone a stroke and other brain injuries. Employed by hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation facilities, these professionals may administer tests, give medication to patients, and monitor the progress of those who have had brain surgery.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Nurse Advocate
Nurses who want to fight for patients’ rights and ensure that quality care is available may pursue a career as a nurse advocate, which involves teaching other professionals how to provide the highest quality care; reviewing and analyzing data to discover new best practices for treatments; helping patients understand insurance coverage; and assisting patients who have concerns about their care or grievances. Nurse advocates are generally employed by hospitals, outpatient care centers, and long-term care facilities.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist is responsible for administering anesthesia during surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures; monitoring vital signs as patients receive this care; and providing help for patients after they have gone through surgery. In addition, these professionals—who may work for mobile surgery centers, hospitals, and dentist offices—also provide preoperative training so that people know what to expect before their procedure.
Education required: MSN required
Nurse Attorney
Those who have both nursing and legal training can use their skills in both areas to work as a nurse attorney at government agencies, law firms, and hospitals. These professionals may represent healthcare facilities during malpractice lawsuits, testify as expert witnesses in court, review patient records in order to provide expertise in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, and conduct research that is published in medical or legal journals.
Education required: BSN or JD required
Nurse Educator
Nurses who want to use their expertise to train the next generation of professionals in the field may pursue a job as a nurse educator and work as a faculty member for a college or university, as well as a hospital or long-term care facility. Those who work in these positions develop lesson plans for nursing classes, provide lectures, and oversee hands-on training during simulations or clinicals. Nurse educators may train students to work in a specialty in the field or as a general practice nurse.
Education required: MSN required
Nurse Entrepreneur
Nurse entrepreneurs use their skills and knowledge to establish businesses that support the healthcare industry. They may provide a variety of services and products, whether they are developing a medical device that can treat patients, giving their professional opinions to healthcare providers as a consultant, or offering education to future nurses. These professionals are responsible for all of the day-to-day operations of their business, including hiring employees and marketing to potential customers.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Nurse Executive
Nurse executives play an administrative role at hospitals, nursing homes, home health facilities, healthcare organizations, and rehabilitation centers. They oversee how patient care is delivered by hiring and training new employees, developing the policies and procedures that other nurses are expected to adhere to when delivering care, teaching continuing education classes, and creating and managing facility budgets.
Education required: MSN required
Nurse Life Care Planner
Those who need long-term care and a strategy for managing a chronic illness or injury may receive help from a nurse life care planner. These case management nurses generally work for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, managed care organizations, and insurance companies. Their duties include consulting with patients and their family members in order to develop a plan, reviewing medical records to gain an understanding of their needs, and doing research on treatment options for different types of illnesses.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Nurse Manager
Nurse managers play a leadership role in the nursing departments of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Their responsibilities include recruiting and training nursing staff; working with other departments in a healthcare facility to ensure that quality care is delivered; managing medical health records; ensuring that budgets are created and adhered to; and helping families and patients when there is a concern about the services they are receiving.
Education required: MSN required
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners provide advanced care to patients, which includes doing assessments, diagnosing illnesses, and providing treatment that may include prescribing medication. These nurses may specialize in a particular area of the field, including women’s health, mental health, acute care, oncology, and gerontology. They may be employed at urgent care facilities, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Education required: MSN required
Nurse Writer, Author, or Historian
Nurse writer, author, historians are responsible for disseminating information that is used by other professionals. They use their nursing knowledge to write articles and educational materials. In addition, they may even write scripts that are used for television shows and movies about nursing to ensure that they’re accurate. These nurses are generally self-employed, but they may also work for nursing publications or hospitals.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Obstetrics Nurse
Obstetrics nurses provide care for women during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as other reproductive health services. They may work for hospitals, birthing centers, community clinics, or midwife practices. Their work includes assisting women during labor and delivery, giving recommendations about birth control, conducting pelvic exams, and monitoring infants after childbirth.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Occupational Health Nurse
Occupational health nurses specialize in the delivery of care to worker populations in various settings. They work closely with employers to promote healthy habits and educate people about safety, as well as assist with the prevention of workplace-related injuries and illnesses. In addition, they may also help to treat injuries, administer vision and hearing tests, and assess the hazards in a specific workplace. Occupational health nurses may work in medical centers, hospitals, government agencies, and manufacturing companies.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses provide care for those who are receiving cancer treatment. They may work for cancer centers, hospitals, doctor’s offices, or hospice centers. The job duties of an oncology nurse include conducting cancer screenings, administering chemotherapy, managing the side effects of cancer treatment, and providing emotional support and education to patients and families.
Education required: ADN or BSN required
Ophthalmic Nurse
Ophthalmic nurses work closely with eye care professionals to assess and treat patients who suffer from eye conditions or injuries. They might work with elderly patients who have specific problems, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma, or work in an office that sees a wide variety of patients with eye issues.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Orthopedic Nurse
These nurses work with patients who have musculoskeletal disorders, diseases, or injuries. They assess and treat arthritis, broken bones, joint replacements, osteoporosis, genetic malformations, and the like. They might work in hospitals, clinics, or offices of orthopedic doctors. They are very familiar with orthopedic treatments, surgeries, and pain relief.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
Also known as an ear, nose, and throat nurse (ENT nurse), these professionals help assess and treat both acute and chronic conditions, such as ear infections, laryngitis, allergies, sleep apnea, tonsillitis, and more. Though they might work with any age population, they tend to have more pediatric patients. They work in hospitals, clinics, and ENT offices.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Pain Management Nurse
These nurses are very well-versed in the treatment of pain from a variety of conditions and injuries. They work closely with doctors and other professionals to assess the patient’s pain and create a treatment plan, which might include medications and therapeutic methods of pain relief. Though they work with patients of any age, they are more likely to work with the seriously ill in hospitals, outpatient centers, or clinics.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Parish Nurse
Also known as faith community nurses, parish nurses are those who work with a religious population, offering a blend of evidence-based nursing care and holistic health practices that fit in with the ideals of that community. Parish nurses might work in a church building, or might be a traveling nurse who visits patients in their homes or community centers.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Patient Blood Management Nurse
These nurses work with patients who require a transfusion due to a variety of problems, from genetic anemia to severe injury. In addition to supervising the transfusion, these nurses will also work with the patient to optimize their red blood cell count and minimize further blood loss. They work closely with patients of all ages, and most of that work is done in hospitals.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse
Also known as a Ped Endo, these nurses work with infants through young adults to help them with various conditions related to the endocrine system, from early-onset diabetes to intersex disorders and growth delays. It’s vitally important to have a good rapport and understanding of the emotional needs of children. These nurses work directly with endocrinologists in hospitals and clinics.
Education required: BSN
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses work with children below the age of 18. Their work duties can be quite broad, depending upon their location and place of employment; however, they often attend to primary care of young patients, including checking vitals, administering immunizations and medicines, and working with parents to ensure good health at home. Most work in pediatric clinics or hospitals.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric nurse practitioners work with children up the age of 21. They provide primary care, including developmental screenings, immunizations, school physicals, well-child exams, treatment of illness, and more. They often work alongside doctors in clinics and hospitals, but in rural or underserved areas, they might be the sole primary care provider.
Education required: MSN
Perianesthesia Nurse
These nurses work with patients as they are undergoing or recovering from anesthesia. Also known as recovery room nurses or PACU nurses, these professionals monitor patients closely throughout the anesthesia process, and might have other duties depending upon their specialization in the area. They often work in hospitals or surgical centers.
Education required: MSN
Perinatal Nurse
A perinatal nurse cares for women through their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum months. They are powerful voices for educating parents, helping pregnant mothers stay comfortable, and assisting with questions or concerns during the first months of an infant’s life. They might work in labor and delivery units in hospitals, offices of obstetricians, and clinics that provide care in rural areas.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Perioperative Nurse
Also known as OR nurses, these professionals usually work with only one patient at a time, following them through surgical procedures. They provide care from the start of the prep for a procedure through the recovery period in the operating room. Their patients might be of any age, but this depends upon their specialization. They work in surgical departments in hospitals and surgical centers, as well as in offices of physicians.
Education required: MSN
Plastic Surgery Nurse
These nurses often work in the offices of plastic surgeons, where they help perform both invasive procedures – such as a tummy tuck – and non-invasive procedures, such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and some injections for improvement of a patient’s appearance or treatment of an underlying condition. Their patients are usually adults seeking improvement or treatment of skin and body issues.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Poison Information Specialist
Poison information specialist nurses work the phone lines at a poison control center, answering urgent questions about household poisons a person might have ingested or otherwise exposed to. These specialists walk patients through the problem and assist them in getting the help they need. They follow up with patients and sometimes serve as a resource for other medical professionals.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Psychiatric Nurse
Also known as mental health nurses, these professionals are well-versed in dealing with a variety of psychiatric issues, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and substance abuse, to name a few. They often work with children, teens, and adults in mental health clinics, hospitals, psychiatric wards, and offices that focus on mental health.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
These murses work closely with patients who have psychiatric disorders, no matter the age. Their work includes assessment and treatment of these issues, following up with patients, ensuring they get the proper care from hospitals or psychiatric clinics, and collaborating with other professionals to ensure the health and well-being of both individuals and populations.
Education required: MSN
Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses are tasked with caring for large populations, mostly through education and answering questions concerning common issues that affect the community. They work in offices of public health, sometimes as direct links to the community, and are especially prominent in times of worry or concern over pandemics, environmental issues, and the like.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Pulmonary Care Nurse
Individuals of any age suffering from lung conditions or respiratory problems will often be treated by a pulmonary care nurse. They treat common conditions like asthma and pneumonia, as well as less common conditions, like lung cancer. They work in hospitals, often in intensive care or pulmonary units, though they might also work in clinics or offices of physicians.
Education required: MSN
Quality Improvement Nurse
These nurses work closely with hospital administration to ensure the quality and improvement of facilities and patient care. They call on their management prowess to assess, evaluate, and formulate plans to increase the quality offered to patients at hospitals, clinics, offices, and the like. Their work is often in a business office, so they might not have direct contact with patients.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Radiology Nurse
A radiology nurse works with those who are receiving some sort of radiology testing, including x-rays, barium tests, and CT scans. The radiology nurse is tasked with helping patients adjust their stance or position to ensure the best pictures possible, taking those pictures and making sure they are appropriate for the doctor’s needs, and counseling the patient on what happens next. They often work in hospitals or clinics.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Rehabilitation Nurse
When someone has undergone a life-changing event, such as a traumatic brain injury, amputation, or stroke, the rehabilitation nurse can help them get back on their feet again – literally. These professionals work to design health plans that help patients attain better function and health, and help them adapt to a changed lifestyle. These nurses often work in long term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospital-based gyms, and hospitals.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Reproductive Nurse
In this research-oriented job, nurses provide treatment and advice to those seeking information on fertility, conception, and reproduction. They work closely with patients at what might be a difficult time, so they must be empathetic and compassionate. They might work in hospitals, egg donor centers, reproductive clinics, obstetrical offices, or counseling programs.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Research Nurse
These highly-trained nurses work in clinics and medical facilities to administer, record, and manage clinical trials. Though sometimes these nurses work directly with patients, often they are busy analyzing data, writing reports, presenting their findings, and figuring out how to tweak their trials and medications to better help those receiving the treatment.
Education required: MSN or PHD
Rheumatology Nurse
Patients of all ages with rheumatic diseases, such as fibromyalgia, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, turn to the care of a rheumatology nurse. These nurses work closely with other healthcare professionals to reduce pain and help patients manage the symptoms of their disease. Most work in hospitals, outpatient care centers or clinics, and doctor’s offices.
Education required: BSN
Rural Nurse
These professionals are well-versed in all sorts of nursing situations, and thus can handle working on their own in a community where access to healthcare might be extremely limited. The rural nurse often travels to see patients in their homes or meets them at designated community centers for wellness checks and other important screenings to determine whether more than the nurse’s primary care services are needed.
Education required: ADN or BSN
School Nurse
As the title suggests, a school nurse is present in a school building to work with the students there. They provide basic primary care, such as taking temperatures, assessing for illness, and providing basic medications for fever, headache, and wound treatment. They also work closely with athletics at the school to help ensure the safety and health of students.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Subacute Nurse
These nurses provide intense care for those who are in a serious medical situation, such as following a dire injury or illness. They continuously check vital signs, administer medications, provide pain relief, and work closely with other healthcare professionals on the next steps in care. Though anyone can be a patient of a subacute nurse, they will most commonly work with the elderly in hospitals or long term care facilities.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Substance Abuse Nurse
Substance abuse nurses work with teens and adults who are struggling with the abuse of drugs, alcohol, or other substances. Their work focuses on substance abuse, recovery, mental health, and physical health for those who are fighting to become clean and sober. They might work in clinics, hospitals, substance abuse centers, or counseling centers.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Supplemental Nurse
Also known as an agency nurse, these professionals “float” from one hospital or clinic to another when extra help is needed. They work independently under a freelancing contract to provide services, and might work in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations, depending upon their previous experience and expertise.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Telemetry Nurse
These nurses pay close attention to the vital signs and overall wellness of those who are suffering from heart issues, including heart disease, recent transplants (or waiting for a transplant), or recovery from heart attacks or surgery. They are well-versed in using a variety of ways to monitor the heart, including electrocardiograms or other measuring devices. They tend to work in hospitals, though might also work in clinics.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Telephone Triage Nurse
Patients sometimes need assistance but aren’t sure whether they should go to the doctor or emergency room to get that help. The telephone triage nurse answers the phone when these calls come in, assesses the situation over the phone, and instructs the patient on what to do next. These nurses often work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics, though they might work at phone banks where they handle patients calling from all over the country.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Toxicology Nurse
These nurses handle patients who come in with serious toxicology issues, such as those who overdosed on medications, swallowed poison, received a bite from a poisonous snake, or have allergies to bee or wasp stings, just to name a few potential cases. These nurses must act very quickly to help ensure the patient’s well-being and recovery. They often work in hospitals and emergency rooms.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Transcultural Nurse
These nurses work with patients in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and clinics to provide a culturally-sensitive approach to healthcare. Recognizing the various cultural differences, religious beliefs, and customs of families allows this nurse to work with other healthcare providers to offer a positive experience during a difficult time.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Transplant Nurse
Transplant nurses work closely with individuals who are waiting for or undergoing transplants, as well as those who have already had a transplant and are trying to stay healthy and avoid rejection of the organ. These nurses work in hospitals and surgical centers where transplants are common, and often directly assist physicians in the process.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Trauma Nurse
These professionals often work in hospitals with trauma units, where they are ready to hit the ground running (literally) when a trauma victim enters their doors. They work with all ages, and that work varies depending upon the trauma incident; they might deal with gunshot wounds, falls, the result of car accidents, and much more.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Travel Nurse
Travel nurses work directly with patients, often in rural settings, where they travel to meet with the patient at a home, community center, church, or other designated place. They might also travel from one area to another for a short period of time to treat patients in remote areas Their work might cover hundreds of miles in a particular area, where they provide primary care services to individuals of all ages.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Urology Nurse
Urology nurses work with patients who suffer from conditions related to the urinary system, such as kidney stones or bladder infections, or sexually transmitted diseases. They do a great deal of education for patients, instructing them on treatments and how to stay healthy. Most work in clinics, hospitals, and doctor’s offices.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Veterans Affairs Nurse
Veterans affairs nurses work specifically with those who have served in the U.S. Military. They might work in hospitals, VA hospitals, clinics, and even in the patient’s home. In addition to providing excellent nursing care, these professionals are also constantly aware of the psychological toll serving can take on their patients, and thus treat them accordingly.
Education required: ADN or BSN
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse
These nurses handle the assessment and treatment of wounds caused by medical procedures, diseases, or injuries. They work with other healthcare professionals on creating a treatment plan, and educate the patient and the family on how to handle the wound care at home. They work with patients of all ages, usually in a hospital or surgical center.
Education required: BSN
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