Become a Nurse >> Browse Articles >> Step 2: Choose the Right Path

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Become a Nurse - Career Specialties

Become a Nurse - Career Specialties

Most registered nurses choose to follow a career path focused on a specific nursing specialty that fits their personality and intellectual interests. Some specialties involve being certified by a professional board or association which will often increase a nurse’s wages and long-term promotion potential. Below are links to several profiles of popular nursing specialties. Each profile includes the average salary and educational requirements for nurses in that specialty field. Links to related professional organizations are also provided. For more generalized information on choosing a specialty, see “Find your nursing niche” and “Find a Nursing Specialty”.

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Advanced Practice Nurse

Ambulatory Care Nurse

Camp Nurse

Cardiac Care Nurse

Case Manager

Certified Nursing Assistant

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Community Health Nurse

Correctional Nurse

Critical Care Nurse

Dermatology Nurse

Developmental Disabilities Nurse

Diabetes Management Nurse

Emergency Nurse

Flight Nurse

Forensic Nurse

Genetics Nurse

Geriatric Nurse

Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Gynecology/Obstetric Nurse

Hematology Nurse

HIV/AIDS Nurse

Holistic Nurse

Home Health Care Nurse

Hospice/Palliative Nurse

Infection Control Nurse

Informatics Nurse

Infusion Nurse

Labor and Delivery Nurse

Lactation Consultant

Legal Nurse Consultant

Licensed Practical Nurse

Long-Term Care Nurse

Managed Care Nurse

Medical-Surgical Nurse

Military Nurse

Neonatal Nurse

Nephrology Nurse

Neuroscience Nurse

Nurse Anesthetist

Nurse Administrator

Nurse Attorney

Nurse Educator

Nurse Entrepreneur

Nurse Midwife

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Researcher

Occupational Health Nurse

Oncology Nurse

Ophthalmic Nurse

Orthopaedic Nurse

Otorhinolaryngology (Head and Neck) Nurse

Pain Management Nurse

Parish Nurse

Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Nurse

PeriAnesthesia Nurse

Perinatal Nurse

Perioperative Nurse

Plastic Surgery Nurse

Poison Information Specialist

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Nurse

Pulmonary Care Nurse

Radiology Nurse

Rehabilitation Nurse

Reproductive Nurse

School Nurse

Sports Medicine Specialist

Sub-acute Nurse

Substance Abuse Nurse

Supplemental Nurse

Surgical Nurse

Telemetry Nurse

Telephone Triage Nurse

Toxicology Nurse

Transplant Nurse

Trauma Nurse

Travel Nurse

Wound and Ostomy Nurse


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  • 2_max50

    diemeli1020723

    1 day ago

    2 comments

    Its really hard right now to take preq's classes right now for nursing because there's not enough classes being offered. I was thinking of completing a semester's worth of classes to get my certificate as a nurse assistant and continue to take my preq classes. That way by the time I've completed my preq's and ready to submit my application my experience as a nurse assistant will increase my chances of getting accepted. is this a good plan?

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    NurseCatherine

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    I am considering Medical-Surgical and Surgical nursing. i know that I want to work in a hospital, and those two specialties are particularly interesting to me.

  • Chastity_max50

    mzchas

    3 months ago

    10 comments

    New to the nursing field...I will be going to get an Accelerated BSN. I'm leaning towards either NP or CNS.

  • 092_max50

    mely2006

    3 months ago

    58 comments

    I'm a first year nursing student, but quite confused on which field to go into. Help anyone?

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    cfl

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    I'm having trouble deciding whether to pursue a nursing or teaching career. The thing is I absolutely love kids, I realize both are very similar in comforting and inspiring kids. I'm thinking of being a camp nurse or a traveling nurse. If anybody has any advice I would greatly appreciate it!

  • Mike_and_joyce_max50

    Herbalnurse919

    6 months ago

    52 comments

    I do love the fact that we have so many choices.

  • Profile_max50

    otey_2006

    6 months ago

    60 comments

    Great link and awesome example of why I chose nursing, it's a diverse field. You can go into more than one area. :)

  • Img_0049_max50

    michelleansley

    8 months ago

    16 comments

    i like the diversity that this article gives, it covers just about every nursing field out there and allows you to see first hand what your options are, what to expect, what the average going rate of pay is. I REALLY like this link.

  • Lvn_grad_jamie___me_max50

    rn2bjenny

    8 months ago

    14 comments

    Medical assistants are very helpful and necessary. I am appreciative of all the hard work they have to do. I belive the reason the Medical Assistant is not listed here is because they are not required to be liscensed. It is highly recommended, but not required. Also, school is not a guarantee in making a critical thinker. Some people can think critically very well without the benefit of going thru a licensed nursing program. On the same wavelength, one of the reasons for going thru a licensing program is to gain knowledge that your critical thinking skills can rely on to obtain the results needed for patient care. So, yes, there is a difference between Medical assistants and LVNs and RNs, etc but they are all equally necessary. One should not be deemed a "lower" form of nurse ever. I've got a great idea...why don't we all be team players instead of doing what we're accused of doing...eating our own.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Cosby

    8 months ago

    4 comments

    I am definetly in on the medical field. I will start out with pursuing my Lpn license first. thanks for the informative information

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    MikaB23

    9 months ago

    2 comments

    ALL OF THE NURSING PRACTICES ARE NOT LISTED PEOPLE! THERE ARE OVER 200 NURSING CAREERS

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    FKH

    9 months ago

    2 comments

    I am interested in geting Patient Support/Aide or General Support Associate
    to Nurse/Tech. Let me clear it I mean non professional category job. I shall appreciate if nurse link members/community to could help me out on humtarian moral grounds.

    Thanks, regads,

    my contact: fkhsubhani11@hotmail.com

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    biniyam

    9 months ago

    2 comments

    I am well experanced diploma nurse I can have good knology to give care any kind of pt +Experanced cawnselr any one entersted please email bini3778@yahoo.com

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    dd22

    10 months ago

    2 comments

    I am wondering if anyone can assist me with my questions.. I have a B.S. in health care management and was planning on going back to school for my nursing degree. How would l go upon doing that??

  • 4311_508448988704_171300770_30330700_718134_n_max50

    becky_l

    about 1 year ago

    3828 comments

    I am a Medical Assistant and proud of it.....you don't have to have a LPN or RN degree to have the citical thinking skills. All Medical Assistants work hard to get where we are also and sacraficed so much, sleepless nights, agony of school and hardship of personal lifes dealing with school just as you...you make it sound like I should work at McDonalds!


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