Twenty Nursing Fields with Rapid Growth. Nursing Specialty Types:
Because the nursing profession is always changing, there are many various kinds of nurses that you can become. The need for nurses is always increasing, and a career in nursing offers many valuable advantages like high pay, lots of chances, and a sense of purpose. This article will teach you about the many sorts of nurses and the special opportunities that come with each of these nursing positions.
Twenty Quick-Rising Nursing Specialties
It might be challenging to choose which kind of nurse would be a good fit for you given the wide range of nursing specialties. There is a kind of nurse to suit every interest, from nurse practitioners to oncology nurses. The top 20 nursing specializations with the quickest growth rates are listed below, along with a description of each type of nurse.
1. Registered Nurse (RN)
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelors of Science Degree
- Expected Job Growth: 15% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, residential care facilities, etc.
- Relevant Certifications: State Nursing License
- Salary Range: $60,300 – $75,900
In addition to providing and coordinating patient care, registered nurses (RNs) also inform patients and the general public about a range of medical issues and offer patients and their families emotional support and guidance. In a variety of contexts, registered nurses collaborate with doctors and other medical professionals as a team. You should think about whether an RN or BSN degree is best for you based on the kind of registered nurse you want to work as. Being an RN requires either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing, therefore you can start working in the industry somewhat earlier than in other medical specialties. Depending on your interests, you can work in a variety of disciplines as a registered nurse thanks to your abundance of job options. Twenty Nursing Fields with Rapid Growth. Nursing Specialty Types.
Select this Particularity If: you want to work in the medical industry and would want to start your career only after completing two or four years of education, and you want to work as part of a healthcare team to care for patients.
2. Cardiac Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, Registered Nursing License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 16% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, In-Home Care and Rehab Centers
- Relevant Certifications: State Nursing License
- Salary Range: $67,490 median annually
Heart disease is currently one of the main causes of death in the United States. The growing number of people with heart-related issues is driving up demand for cardiac nurses. You will help with surgical operations like bypass, angioplasty, and pacemaker surgery as a cardiac nurse.
Select this Specialty if: you have an interest in heart-related problems and would like to help with different surgical procedures or patient treatment strategies.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Education Requirement: Master’s Degree (MSN), Registered Nurse License (RN) and One Year in Acute Care Setting
- Expected Job Growth: 16% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Surgical Centers, Specialty Doctor’s Offices
- Relevant Certifications: CRNA Certification
- Salary Range: $153,780 median annually
An exceptionally skilled nurse with a focus on helping with anesthesia during surgeries is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Because CRNAs are in such high demand in surgical settings and because they get extensive training, they comprise some of the highest-paid nurse specialties in the medical industry. You need to finish a graduate-level school in order to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. A great option for certified registered nurses and aides to pursue their education is Gwynedd Mercy University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice. Twenty Nursing Fields with Rapid Growth. Nursing Specialty Types.
Select this Particularity If: helping patients manage their pain prior to, during, and following operations or medical treatments piques your interest.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Education Requirement: Master’s Degree and sometimes a Doctoral degree
- Expected Job Growth: 15% (much faster than average)
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Physician’s Offices, In-Home Health Care services, etc.
- Relevant Certifications: N/A
- Salary Range: $85,723 median annually
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who specialize in clinical nursing provide direct patient care by collaborating with staff and other nurses to enhance the standard of care a patient receives. Other than teaching and counseling other nursing staff, they frequently hold leadership positions. Find out more about the CNS specialization and employment opportunities, or learn how to become a CNS.
Select this Particularity If: supervising a staff of nurses while practicing medicine is something you’d like to pursue along with a leadership role in the nursing sector.
- Critical Care Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, Registered Nursing License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals and Doctor’s Offices
- Relevant Certifications: Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Salary Range: $71,694 median annually
The primary distinction between critical care nurses and registered nurses is that the former are more highly educated than the latter. Critical care nurses are also properly prepared to handle emergency scenarios. In stressful situations, a critical care nurse’s duty may include tending to severe wounds and keeping an eye on life support systems.
Select this Specialty If: you want to help those who have experienced severe trauma, including a life-threatening sickness or injury. Twenty Nursing Fields with Rapid Growth. Nursing Specialty Types.
- ER Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, Registered Nursing License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 16% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals
- Relevant Certifications: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Salary Range: $62,010 median annually
An emergency room nurse, working with their team, assesses and stabilizes patients before completing a variety of responsibilities. An ER nurse should be able to treat simple wounds or illnesses and determine the appropriate way to administer medication by looking over a patient’s medical records.
Select this Specialty If: you want to work under pressure helping people with a range of illnesses or injuries.
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Education Requirement: Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) and Registered Nursing License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 16% increase
- Employment Locations: Doctor’s Offices and Hospice Facilities
- Relevant Certifications: 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours
- Salary Range: $100,910 median annually
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a medical professional with specialized training in primary care for patients of all ages. A family nurse practitioner’s typical responsibilities include physical examinations, diagnostic testing, pharmaceutical prescriptions, and sickness diagnosis and treatment.
Select this Specialty If: you want to offer patients of all ages more thorough and complete medical care.
- Geriatric Nursing
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19-26% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Doctor’s Offices and Nursing Homes
- Relevant Certifications: Certification in Geriatric Nursing
- Salary Range: $66,169 median annually
A geriatric nurse is a specialist in caring for elderly people, helping them recover from illnesses and accidents while preserving their quality of life. They can foresee future patient care as well as long-term ailments like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease in addition to caring for elderly people. You can advance your career in this area by taking coursework expressly focused on geriatric conditions through Gwynedd Mercy University’s Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate.
Select this Particularity If you’d like to assist the elderly population with basic necessities or more complex medical care for illnesses, injuries, or mental disorders.
- Perioperative Nurse (Surgical/OR Nurse)
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 16% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Surgical Centers and Outpatient Facilities
- Relevant Certifications: CNOR and Certified Nurse First Assistant (CNFA) Certifications
- Salary Range: $68,450 median annually
A perioperative nurse, sometimes referred to as an operating room nurse or surgical nurse, specializes in providing patient care both before and after an operation. They are able to prepare a surgical room, oversee the instruments used for the procedure, and apply bandages to keep a patient’s bleeding under control.
Select this Specialty if you have a passion for helping women before, during, or after childbirth in any way—physically, emotionally, or mentally.
- Mental Health Nurse
- Education Requirement: Master’s Degree and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 31% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers, Psychiatric Facilities
- Relevant Certifications: N/A
- Salary Range: $64,50 median annually
A mental health nurse is a specialist in diagnosing and treating patients with psychological illnesses. Providing counseling services is frequently a crucial responsibility in the field of nursing.
Select this Specialty If: You’re eager to build trusting relationships with patients so that you may offer them comprehensive care that meets their emotional and mental requirements.
- Nurse Educator
- Education Requirement: Master’s Degree and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Universities, Community Colleges
- Relevant Certifications: Certified Nurse Educator Examination
- Salary Range: $68,450 median annually
It is the duty of nurse educators to instruct nursing students in patient care. They could concentrate on particular nursing specialties or offer in-depth classes about nursing as a whole. Find out more about Nursing Education Career Options and How to Become a Nurse Educator.
Select this Particularity If: you want to encourage people to pursue careers in medicine so that they can influence the direction of nursing care in the future.
- Nurse Manager
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Surgical Centers and Outpatient Facilities
- Relevant Certifications: Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) or Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)
- Salary Range: $80,707 median annually
A nurse manager’s job is to supervise a clinical path. A lot of nurse supervisors go into administrative roles, where they deal with hiring new nurses, making schedules, and making financial and managerial choices.
Select this Particularity If: you’re looking for a medical administration job where you can oversee a group of nurses.
- Nurse Midwife
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 9% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals and Doctor’s Offices
- Relevant Certifications: American College of Nurse Midwives Certification
- Salary Range: $63,000 median annually Twenty Nursing Fields with Rapid Growth. Nursing Specialty Types.
Pregnant women’s care is the focus of a nurse midwife. They support prenatal checkups as well as labor and delivery. After the delivery room, nurse midwives continue to provide care by assisting new mothers in acclimating to life with a newborn through education and counseling.
Select this Specialty if: you are drawn to a comprehensive strategy for women’s health and delivery.
- Nurse Practitioner
- Education Requirement: Master’s Degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree (DNP)
- Expected Job Growth: 31% Increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Doctor’s Offices
- Relevant Certifications: Certifications dependent on specialty of care
- Salary Range: $103,880 median annually
Nurse practitioners provide patients and their families with enhanced nursing services as general and specialized care professionals. In addition, they may order tests, administer medicine, and conduct physical examinations. Read these in-depth articles to find out more about What a Nurse Practitioner Does and How to Become a Nurse Practitioner.
Select this Particularity If: you want to further your nursing profession so that you may offer more comprehensive treatment that is comparable to a doctor’s care but at a lower cost relative to the expense of earning your degree.
- Nursing Administrator
- Education Requirement: Bachelor’s of Science Degree and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 20% Increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Outpatient Care Centers
- Relevant Certifications: Certifications dependent on area of specialty
- Salary Range: $96,540 median annually
On a much bigger scale, a nurse administrator is comparable to a nurse manager. Managing complete nursing team units is one of a nursing administrator’s main responsibilities. For the unit to function efficiently, the nursing administrator’s administration is essential.
Select this Specialty If: you enjoy leading sizable teams of nurses and are a natural organizational manager.
- Oncology Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19% Increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Cancer Treatment Centers
- Relevant Certifications: 1000 hours of training as an RN
- Salary Range: $65,470 median annually
Oncology nurses are highly trained in the treatment of cancer, and they assist patients in learning about their treatment options or state of remission. In addition to prescribing medication, oncology nurses will continue to keep an eye on their patients’ condition and symptoms.
Select this Particularity If you’re looking for a nursing career that will enable you to provide critical illness care to a patient and teach them and their families about various treatment options and possible consequences.
- Orthopedic Nurse
- Education Requirement: Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 26% Increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Doctor’s Office, Rehabilitation Centers
- Relevant Certifications: Orthopedic Nurse Certification Exam (ONC)
- Salary Range: $76,282 median annually
The musculoskeletal conditions and disorders that orthopedic nurses specialize in treat include osteoporosis, arthritis, joint replacements, and fractured bones. They can assist in managing complex diseases as well as providing care for medical conditions.
Select this Particularity If you’d like to help with making plans to manage muscle/bone disorders, giving pain medicine, and casting fractured bones.
- Pediatric Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 26% increase
- Employment Locations: Doctor’s Offices, Hospitals
- Relevant Certifications: N/A
- Salary Range: $64,600 median annually
A pediatric nurse is a nurse that specializes in caring for children from birth to teenage years. Pediatric nurses are capable of doing physical examinations, making diagnoses, and creating treatment plans, just like regular nurses.
Select this Specialty If: you’re eager to treat children of all ages, from infants to teenagers and young adults, with basic medical treatment.
- Public Health Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospital, Community Clinic
- Relevant Certifications: Public/Community Health Nursing Exam
- Salary Range: $56,111 median annually
A public health nurse instructs and advocates for communities on critical health information pertaining to their way of life. They work hard to provide their patients with information about various treatment options, illness prevention, and help with medical needs.
Select this Particularity If, instead of working one-on-one with patients, you would prefer to improve the health of sizable populations.
- Travel Nurse
- Education Requirement: Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science Degree, and Registered Nurse License (RN)
- Expected Job Growth: 19% increase
- Employment Locations: Hospitals, Doctor’s Offices
- Relevant Certifications: Dependent upon specialty
- Salary Range: Varies by Contract/Location
A public health nurse instructs and advocates for communities on critical health information pertaining to their way of life. They work hard to provide their patients with information about various treatment options, illness prevention, and help with medical needs.
Select this Particularity If, instead of working one-on-one with patients, you would prefer to improve the health of sizable populations.