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Job Profile: Registered Nurse

RN Specialties by Work Setting or Type of Treatment

RNs may specialize by work setting or by type of care provided.

• For example, ambulatory care nurses treat patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries on an outpatient basis, either in physicians’ offices or in clinics. Some ambulatory care nurses are involved in telehealth, providing care and advice through electronic communications media such as videoconferencing or the Internet.

• Critical care nurses work in critical- or intensive-care hospital units and provide care to patients with cardiovascular, respiratory or pulmonary failure.

Critical Care Nurses Need a BSN

Critical Care Nurses need a BSN or ADN in order to practice medicine.

Learn about degree programs here.

• Emergency, or trauma, nurses work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks and strokes. Some emergency nurses are flight nurses, who provide medical care to patients who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical facility.

• Holistic nurses provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback, which are meant to treat patients’ mental and spiritual health in addition to their physical health.

• Home health care nurses provide at-home care for patients who are recovering from surgery, accidents and childbirth.

• Hospice and palliative care nurses provide care for, and help ease the pain of, terminally ill patients outside of hospitals.

• Infusion nurses administer medications, fluids and blood to patients through injections into patients’ veins.

• Long- term care nurses provide medical services on a recurring basis to patients with chronic physical or mental disorders.

• Medical-surgical nurses provide basic medical care to a variety of patients in all health settings.

• Occupational health nurses provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses and help employers to detect workplace hazards and implement health and safety standards.