Find the Right Nursing Specialties For You

In-demand nursing professionals include nurse educators, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, acute care nurses, and travel nurses.

Advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists, earn the highest salaries in the field. Among RNs, salaries vary depending on work location and experience.

With current nursing shortages, many professionals are in high demand, including ER nurses, perioperative nurses, oncology nurses, and travel nurses. Certain states, including California, feature above-average demand for nurses.

An ambulatory care nursing specialization prepares students for careers in outpatient care settings. Learners develop skills in patient assessment, observation, and treatment. Degree-seekers prepare to perform diagnostic tests, administer medication, and work with healthcare teams.

After earning an RN license, prospective ambulatory care nurses must complete certification requirements. Candidates need two years of ambulatory care experience and passing exam scores.

Pediatric nurses care for infants, toddlers, young children, and adolescents. A pediatric nursing concentration includes courses in acute pediatric nursing, management of chronic pediatric conditions, and pediatric wellness.

Pediatric nursing students usually complete clinical hours in various pediatric healthcare settings. Learners may fulfill clinical requirements in pediatric primary care facilities, pediatric hospitals, and pediatric intensive care units.

Cardiac nurses care for patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Associate-level cardiac nursing concentrations explore patient assessment, treatment planning, and cardiac nursing practice. Learners complete clinical placements in settings such as intensive care units, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and cardiology clinics.

While working under an experienced cardiac nurse’s supervision, students gain the knowledge and skills required for cardiac nursing careers.

Critical care nurses assess acute medical conditions and work with patients who require immediate care. Bachelor’s students in this field explore health assessment in critical care settings, patient outcomes, and critical care pharmacology.

Critical care nursing students complete a supervised clinical placement. Common settings include intensive care units, emergency care units, and cardiac care units. Some nurses specialize in pediatric critical care, which requires experience in a pediatric intensive care unit or a neonatal intensive care unit.

Perioperative nurses specialize in surgical care. During a BSN program, these nurses study pre-op care, post-op care, and treatment plans for surgical patients. They also learn about critical and emergency nursing.

Clinical placements occur in surgical departments, outpatient surgery clinics, and doctors’ offices. During their clinical experience, students learn to work closely with other healthcare professionals, patients, and families. BSN-holders can pursue perioperative nursing certification.

Geriatric nurses care for elderly patients. Students in BSN programs can take specialized courses in gerontology, hospice care, and palliative care. Some programs offer classes in acute and chronic geriatric conditions.

Nursing students gain hands-on training during clinical placements. Geriatric nursing students complete clinical hours at long-term care facilities, hospitals, and hospice care centers. After earning a BSN, nurses continue their specialized training in the workforce.

Nurse anesthetist programs prepare graduates for advanced practice roles administering anesthesia to patients. During a CRNA program, students examine pain management best practices. They learn to monitor anesthesia during medical procedures and administer post-surgical care. Degree-seekers strengthen their patient and physician communication skills during clinical placements.

As of July 2021, a master’s degree qualifies holders for CRNA licensure. However, nurse anesthetist positions will soon require a doctor of nursing practice.

Clinical nurse specialists fill leadership roles in clinical settings. CNS nursing concentrations train learners in advanced clinical care, integrated healthcare services, and clinical leadership. The specialization also emphasizes evidence-based practice and risk assessment. Students learn to improve patient health outcomes.

Learners pursuing a CNS concentration gain hands-on training through clinical placements. During a field experience practicum, students develop skills in clinical decision-making, assessment, and case management.

A family nurse practitioner specialization provides advanced practice training for primary care roles. Curricula explore disease prevention, health assessment, and wellness promotion. Learners also study chronic and acute conditions.

Nurses complete clinical rotations in doctors’ offices, hospitals, primary care clinics, and outpatient clinics. The specialization prepares students to earn licensure and certification as a family nurse practitioner. Graduates can also earn a doctorate in this specialization.

Family nurse practitioners administer primary care to patients of all ages. Doctoral-level FNP programs explore advanced health assessments, primary care nursing practice, and community nursing. Students also complete clinical rotations in a variety of settings.

Aspiring family nurse practitioners can pursue a master’s or a doctorate. A doctorate typically requires more credits and a longer clinical placement. A doctoral degree can help FNPs stand out in the job market.

Many graduate-level nursing programs offer a women’s health nurse practitioner specialization. The concentration trains nurses to provide specialty care for women. Coursework explores reproductive healthcare, prenatal care, and postpartum care.

WHNP programs also cover women’s primary care, advanced practice nursing, and women’s health issues. Like students in most nursing specializations, learners gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations. Clinical placement settings include labor and delivery units and women’s healthcare centers.

Doctoral-level pediatric nursing students complete coursework and a practicum experience. The concentration emphasizes acute and primary care for infants, children, and adolescents.

Learners study advanced health assessment, pediatric illnesses, and wellness promotion. Students complete clinical rotations in healthcare settings. Some programs offer separate nursing specializations for acute pediatric care and primary pediatric care. Graduates with this specialization typically become pediatric nurse practitioners.