20 Different Types of Nurses | Nurse Careers

List of Different Types of Nurses

Nursing is one of the most prominent professions worldwide. It is suitable for those who wish to care for patients as frontline healthcare workers.

This is an incredibly vast field.

With the demand for nurses growing daily, there is an immense need for certified, qualified nurses in hospitals and clinics.

Are you on the way to becoming a nurse? Are you thinking of choosing nursing as your profession? Then you’ve come to the right place.

This article will look at some of the most popular types of nurses and nursing specialties.

Different Types of Jobs for Nurses

Studies from the past few years have pointed to the lack of sufficient certified nurses in the healthcare industry.

Aspiring nursing students can look forward to a bright and fruitful future.

Different Types of Nurses

Different Types of Jobs for Nurses

Let’s take a look at some of the different types of nurses you can become:

1 – Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered nurse (RN) is the most common field of choice in nursing. You can choose from various educational paths to pursue this field.

You will be required to obtain a diploma in nursing or at least an Associate of Science Nursing degree.

However, increasing numbers of employers are looking for candidates who have acquired a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The training for registered nurses includes theory and practical training. As an RN, you can land a job in hospitals, medical offices, healthcare facilities, and other profiles.

In addition, candidates need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to get certified. This requirement is essential in all 50 states in the US.

Required credentials – RN License + NCLEX-RN test pass

Relevant certifications – Not required but are based on the field of specialty.

Job prospects – Faster than average

Average Salary – Around $42.80 per hour / up to $89.010 median pay per year (source BLS)

2 – Critical Care Nurse

A critical care nurse is responsible for providing intervention and support to extremely sick and unstable patients.

In hospitals, these nurses usually work in ICUs. To become a critical care nurse, you must acquire an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and an RN license.

In addition, aspirants should be certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

It is also advantageous if the aspirant has 1 to 2 years of experience in nursing before working as a critical care nurse.

Required credentials – Bachelor OR Associate Degree in Nursing + RN License + Pediatric Advanced Life Support OR Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Relevant certifications – State licensure

Job prospects – Projected to increase

Average salary – Median salary is around $83,000 per year

3 – Cardiac Nurse

Cardiac nurses are usually required to have an advanced degree. They work with patients who are suffering from severe heart problems.

Cardiac nurses can combine education credits and add their work experience to get Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification as their specialty of choice.

Required credentials – RN License + Work experience

Relevant certifications – Board-approved certificate in cardiac care

Job prospects – Expected to increase

Average salary – Around $71,534 to $81,125 per year (source salary.com)

4 – Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

A certified registered nurse anesthetist, or CRNA, helps administer anesthesia to patients before surgeries.

Irrespective of the practice type, a CRNA is certified to administer anesthesia in rural healthcare settings and serve members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The extensive training and certification process makes a CRNA one of the most beneficial and satisfactory choices for a nursing career.

Required credentials – Doctoral or Master’s (depending on location and hospital)

Relevant certifications – RN License + NBCRNA Certificate

Job prospects – Expected to increase

Average salary – Around $97,64 per hour/ Median salary is around $203,090 per year (source BLS)

5 – Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an advanced field of choice for nurses. They are often termed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) as they have graduate-level education credentials.

As a clinical nurse specialist, you can focus on a specific field in medicine and healthcare.

These include medical settings, patient population, type of patient care required, type of disease, and type of patient problems.

As a CNS, you may supervise specific patient care systems.

Your responsibility may include suggesting ways to improve and offering professional insight for better healthcare. You may be required to provide expert-stage knowledge on any medical issue.

A CNS can have varying powers and responsibilities, which normally depend on the state of practice.

Required credentials – Master’s Degree in Nursing

Relevant certifications – RN License + at least 500 unsupervised clinical hours in choice of clinical specialization

Job prospects – Projected to increase by 26%

Average salary – Around $96,000 to $117,000 per year

6 – ER Nurse

As an Emergency Room (ER) nurse, you must work in medical emergency rooms at hospitals.

Usually, you are required to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to qualify.

Ideal candidates for this position are those who can easily work in high-pressure situations and provide calm, direct, and effective treatment assistance.

Required credentials – Associate Degree in Nursing OR Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree

Relevant certifications – Certified Emergency Nurse (ECN) certification

Job prospects – Projected to grow

Average salary – Around $86,000 per year to $111,000 per year (depending on location)

7 – Family Practice Nurse (FPN)

A family practice nurse, FPN for short, is trained and certified in family healthcare. This job is considered best for those at ease working with adults and children alike.

You must acquire a higher degree and choose specialization training to serve patients in family healthcare practices.

This choice of nursing field is ideal for those who seek flexibility in the type of patients and medical issues they treat.

Required Credentials – Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Relevant Certifications – RN License + AANP Certification + ANCC Certification

Job prospects – Expected to increase by 19% over average

Average salary – Around $94,000 to $127,000 per year

8 – Public Health Nurse

As a public health nurse, you must work at the federal, state, or community level.

Your roles would include providing insight into medical issues, educating the patients, and making large-scale medical decisions.

This type of nurse job is ideal for candidates passionate about promoting community wellness.

This role will give you considerable challenges and provide excellent growth opportunities.

Required Credentials – Master of Science (MS) in the specialty area

Relevant certifications – Renew every 5 years through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

Job prospects- Expected to grow

Average salary – Ranges between $55,000 to $72,000 per year

9 – Geriatric Nurse

A geriatric nurse, as the name suggests, is responsible for caring for elderly patients. Patients with advanced age have various medical needs. These may include administering medications regularly or providing better care for diseases.

If you are passionate about working with the elderly and helping them with their everyday medical problems, you can become a geriatric nurse.

Required credentials – RN license

Relevant certifications – RN-BC

Job prospects – Expected to grow

Average salary – Around $58,000 to $92,000 per year

10 – Travel Nurse

Travel nurses are the first choice for hospitals with a full shortage in staffing. These specially trained nurses can seek employment where their skills are most needed.

Most candidates who become travel nurses do so because of the opportunity to network and advance their careers.

Required credentials – Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Relevant certifications – State licensure

Job prospects – Expect continued growth

Average salary – Around $3,000 per week / up to $100,000 per year

11 – Pediatric Nurse

A Pediatric Nurse is meant to stay with children. If you like to spend time with children and want to pursue a nursing course, then you should go with the Pediatric Nurse.

A pediatric nurse must help toddlers and teenagers by providing assistance services to help them cure diseases.

Besides this, they must educate the parents about their child’s condition, the timing of medicines, what to eat and what to avoid, etc.

Pediatric nurses can work in big hospitals and local clinics as per their experience in the field. An associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing course is required to become a pediatric nurse.

Required Credentials – Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing

Relevant Certifications – National Council License

Job Prospects – High in Demand

Average Salary – Around $60,000 to $90,000 per year

12 – Oncology Nurse

Oncology nurses provide assisting services to people diagnosed with cancer. Unlike other nursing fields, the oncology field is quite challenging as they have to provide care for the deadliest disease i.e., cancer.

From providing basic assistance services to patients to making their families and friends understand the medicines and post-discharge tasks. An oncology nurse needs to take care of everything.

According to a recent study, the number of cancer patients in the US is increasing rapidly.

This ultimately increases the demand for oncology nurses across the US. Hospitals, cancer care units, etc. invite oncology nurses to assist their patients.

Required credentials – Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Always in demand, continued growth

Average salary – Around $86,000 to $107,000 per year

13 – Nurse Case Manager

A nurse case manager is a professional who is associated with a variety of tasks in the hospital. Unlike other types of nurses, a case manager has several other duties.

A nurse case manager provides care to patients suffering from a serious disease and also narrates the best care plans available for them.

Moreover, a case manager educates the family members about the condition and how they can look after their loved ones in their homes.

They also help patients to book appointments, go for lab tests, etc. They ensure that the patients receive proper care so they can get up faster. Care is what is required during the illness.

Required credentials – Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job Prospects – Continued Growth

Average salary – Around $70,000 to $100,000 per year

14 – Nurse Educator

Nurse Educators are registered nurses with advanced degrees in nursing. They are professional teachers for nursing students and beginners.

Most nurses have special experience in clinics. They have to accomplish the clinical-related courses to become an eligible nurse educator.

Nurse educators have many options to pursue their careers. They can be professional nursing school teachers, give speeches to educate beginners, etc.

They can even go to hospitals and clinics to educate the existing staff of nurses.

Nurse educators share their knowledge, help students develop professional skills, and educate them on how to pursue their careers in nursing, etc. They share everything to motivate the students who want to serve as a nurse in the medical field.

Required credentials – Master of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse with License, and several years of experience in the field.

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job Prospects – Continued Growth

Average salary – Around $80,000 to $110,000 per year

15 – Certified Dialysis Nurse

Certified Dialysis Nurses are nurses with special certifications to care for dialysis patients. CDN provides proper care to patients suffering from kidney-related diseases.

They set up everything for patients for the dialysis process and monitor it.

CDNs have special skills for understanding pathological processes and complications. They also know how to control infections, what medicines should be given to patients, etc.

Certified Dialysis Nurses can be a doctor as they know everything about this process and its medicines.

Moreover, CDN also educates the family members about how to care for dialysis patients properly and what types of foods to give.

They also teach them about medicines and are always helpful.

To become a certified dialysis nurse, candidates must pass the nationwide examination i.e. CLEX-RN.

Required credentials – Master of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse with License with at least one year of experience.

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Moderate growth

Average salary – Around $50,000 to $100,000 per year

16 – Perioperative Nurse

A perioperative nurse is also known as an Operating Room Nurse. A perioperative nurse takes care of the patient’s pre and post-operation tasks.

The perioperative nurse is a part of the core staff of a hospital, where they perform a key role while operating on a patient in the operating room.

They provide the required equipment to a surgeon who operates. Perioperative nurses have to take care of the patient who is going to be operated on for surgery.

They are responsible for properly caring for patients before, during, and post-surgery.

Moreover, perioperative nurses ensure that the entire surgery procedure goes smoothly. They make all the arrangements, including medicines and equipment needed during the procedure.

They also provide proper care and education to patients and their families post-surgery.

The nationwide examination i.e. NCLEX-RN, must be cleared by the candidate to become a Perioperative Nurse. Soon after completing the exams, candidates can start working as a nurse in a clinic or hospital.

After gaining experience for one year in the field, they can apply for the perioperative nurse post within the hospital.

Required credentials – Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Passing out the nationwide course, i.e. NCLEX-RN, one year of work experience as a registered nurse, certification of Perioperative Nurse Program.

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Continued growth

Average salary – Around $70,000 to $100,000 per year

17 – Home Health Care Nurse

Home health care nurses are certified nurses who can provide medical and general care to patients in their own homes.

Home health care nurses can look after the overall health of the patients. They have to perform several tasks during their stays with patients in their homes.

Home health care nurses have to check the patient’s health conditions periodically. Besides this, they must follow the medication routinely, call for lab tests, treat wounds, etc.

The scope of home health care nurses includes serving patients directly in their homes.

Besides this, they are also a high demand to look after elderly people in old-age homes. Community facilities, hospitals, and many other spaces are always open for them.

Required credentials – Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Passing out the nationwide course i.e. NCLEX-RN, 2-3 years of work experience as a registered nurse.

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Continued growth

Average salary – A certified home health care nurse’s salary ranges from $60,000 to $85,000 per year

18 – Gerontological Nurse

Gerontological or geriatric nurses are certified nurses who provide special care to elderly patients. Geriatric nurses study the patient’s condition and help them provide the necessary care.

They serve elderly patients who are suffering from diabetes, respiratory diseases, or hypertension.

Besides this, they also educate the family members of patients about their disease and how they can provide basic care to them in their own homes.

A range of services included in the geriatric nurse is caring for healing and aiding process, preventative care, easing the effects of diseases, educating patient’s family members, etc.

Unlike other patients, geriatric-care patients have special disabilities which require prompt care from the nurse.

To become a certified Gerontological Nurse, applicants need to clear the Gerontological Certification Course from ANCC i.e. American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Required credentials – Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Gerontological Certification Course from ANCC, One-year experience in the field

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Expected to increase

Average salary – A certified home health care nurse’s salary ranges from $55,000 to $90,000 per year

19 – Radiology Nurse

Radiology Nurses are known as medical imaging nurses. It is a relatively newer field in nursing for applicants.

Radiology nurses take care of patients undergoing radiological procedures such as Xrays, MRIs, Ultrasounds, and other radiography therapies.

The radiology field is rapidly growing with new technologies. We have special equipment that gives us accurate information about our body’s organs and functionality.

The need for radiology nurses is increasing as more and more radiology centers are opening up in the country.

Radiology nurses can provide care in hospitals, clinics, and radiology centers to properly care for patients undergoing radiation treatments.

Starting from the patient’s clothing to passing out the final reports and other required care tasks that come under the radiology nurse.

To become an eligible Radiology Nurse, applicants have to acquire the Registered Nursing Certification. After that, an associate degree program in Radiology nursing must be completed.

Required credentials – Associate Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Certified Nursing Program, Associate Program in Radiology.

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Continued growth

Average salary – A certified home health care nurse’s salary ranges from $55,000 to $70,000 per year

20 – Orthopedic Nurse

Most people have to deal with various types of orthopedic conditions. Orthopedic nurses are certified nurses caring for people suffering from musculoskeletal diseases.

Other bone disorder treatments for bone fracture, arthritis, joint replacements, etc., come under the orthopedic nurse.

Orthopedic nurses are also referred to as Ortho nurses in medical terms. Orthonurses have special skills to treat patients with muscular or skeleton-related issues.

They work with people who have undergone bone surgery or bone fracture and other muscular treatments.

Orthopedic surgeries require proper care and for that reason, a certified orthopedic nurse is recommended by the surgeon.

While in the hospital, the orthonurse provides the required care to patients. Besides this, he also explains or educates the patient’s family members about caring for their family members in their homes.

The responsibilities of orthopedic nurses may vary according to their experience and work field. However, they must provide proper care and guidance to patients suffering from musculoskeletal diseases.

A certified nurse should complete the associate degree program in orthopedic nursing to become a certified orthopedic nurse.

Post the certification, they can start professional care work for patients in hospitals or clinics.

Required credentials – Associate Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and becoming a Certified Nurse. After that, an applicant must complete the associate degree program in Orthopedic Nursing.

Relevant certifications – State Licensure

Job prospects – Continued growth

Average salary – A certified home health care nurse’s salary ranges from $60,000 to $ 90,000 per year

20 Different Types of Nurses: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common type of nurse?

The most common type of nurse is Registered Nurse, also known as RN. Registered nurses mostly work in a team with physicians. They play an important role in looking after the patient’s health.

Which are the top five nursing specialties out of all the available options?

There are over 20 different types of career options available in nursing. However, as far as the salary is concerned, here are the top five specialties one should consider while deciding which type of nursing is best for them.

  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Family Nurse Practioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist

What is the full form of NURSE?

Many of you might wonder about what is the full form of NURSE. Well, NURSE means Noble-Understanding-Responsibility-Sympathy-Efficient.

What are the core duties of being a nurse?

The nurse is a special profession in the health care industry. They are mostly underrated compared to physicians and other specialists; however, they are equally important to balance the healthcare industry.

Nurses are there to promote health, help in preventing diseases, and provide special care to the sick, mentally disturbed, and those who can’t move properly.

Who invented Nursing?

Florence Nightingale is the founder of modern nursing. He was born in Florence, Italy, in 1820. She took the name of her city i.e. Florence.

Which types of nurses are the happiest nurses?

Out of 20 different types of nursing, each type has special duty and responsibility. If you are looking for the list of the happiest nursing types, then here it is!

  • School Nurse
  • Labor and Delivery Nurse
  • Case Management Nurse
  • Nurse Educator
  • Parish Nurse
  • Travel Nurse

Conclusion

These are just the top 10 types of nurses you can become. There are several more niche fields you can pursue in your nursing career.

Make sure to consult your mentor or educator before choosing to become a particular type of nurse.

nursing malpractice insurance

See Also

How to Become a Telehealth Nurse

Non-Clinical Nursing Jobs

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner Salary

Malpractice Insurance for Nurses

Current Version
September 17, 2023
Updated By
Andrea Morales G.

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