Types of Nursing Careers & Specialties

Aesthetic and cosmetic nurses assist with noninvasive cosmetic treatments for adult patients under the direction of a supervising provider.

• Settings: Private Offices, Clinics, or Spas
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment, clear communication, and comfort assisting with cosmetic care procedures

Ambulatory care nurses address acute and chronic conditions in outpatient settings, working with other health care providers to coordinate care.

• Settings: Outpatient Settings
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment, communication, and care coordination

Burn care nurses care for patients recovering from burn injuries, including wound care and ongoing monitoring.

• Settings: Trauma Centers, Intensive Care Units (ICU), Emergency Rooms (ER), or Burn Care Units
• Skills Needed: Wound care, patient monitoring, and critical care support

Cardiac nurses are registered nurses who work in collaboration with cardiologists and other providers to help care for patients with acute and chronic heart conditions. Nurses in this specialty may pursue the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Cardiac-Vascular Nursing certification after obtaining an active RN license and cardiac-vascular clinical practice experience.

• Settings: Hospitals, Long-Term Care or Rehabilitation Facilities
• Skills Needed: Monitoring and supporting patients with cardiovascular conditions as part of a collaborative care team

Burn care nurses care for patients recovering from burn injuries, including wound care and ongoing monitoring.

• Settings: Trauma Centers, Intensive Care Units (ICU), Emergency Rooms (ER), or Burn Care Units
• Skills Needed: Wound care, patient monitoring, and critical care support

Cardiac nurses are registered nurses who work in collaboration with cardiologists and other providers to help care for patients with acute and chronic heart conditions. Nurses in this specialty may pursue the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Cardiac-Vascular Nursing certification after obtaining an active RN license and cardiac-vascular clinical practice experience.

• Settings: Hospitals, Long-Term Care or Rehabilitation Facilities
• Skills Needed: Monitoring and supporting patients with cardiovascular conditions as part of a collaborative care team

In addition to typical registered nursing duties, charge nurses take on a supervisory role, coordinating nursing staff and communicating with physicians.

• Settings: Hospitals
• Skills Needed: Leadership, staff supervision, and care coordination

Correctional nurses provide care to patients in jails, prisons and other correctional facilities.

• Settings: Hospitals, Long-Term Care or Rehabilitation Facilities
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment and the ability to work within facility policies and procedures

Dermatology nurses help treat and care for patients with skin conditions, wounds and injuries.

• Settings: Private Practice Offices, Hospitals, Infusion Centers, Clinics, Plastic Surgeons’ Offices and Burn Centers
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment, skin and wound care, and patient education

Developmental disability nurses provide care to patients with developmental and mental disabilities, including daily living support and health monitoring.

• Settings: Hospitals, Primary Care, Home Care, and Community Agencies
• Skills Needed: Communication, patience, and collaboration with the care team

Diabetes nurses monitor patients’ condition and provide education on managing diabetes.

• Settings: Hospitals, Physician Offices, Pharmacies, Patients’ Homes
• Skills Needed: Patient education, monitoring, and care planning

Domestic violence nurses, an offshoot of forensic nursing, care for patients who have experienced domestic violence, providing physical and emotional support.

• Settings: Hospitals and Community Clinics
• Skills Needed: Compassion, attention to detail, and careful documentation

Emergency room (ER) nurses care for patients with severe injuries, trauma and other urgent medical conditions.

• Settings: Hospitals
• Skills Needed: Rapid patient assessment and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Enterostomy nurses care for patients with ostomies, educating them and their families on home care.

• Settings: Hospitals
• Skills Needed: Patient education, wound and stoma care, and collaboration with the care team

Fertility nurses care for individuals and couples seeking reproductive health treatment, providing education and emotional support.

• Settings: Fertility Clinics, Obstetrics/Gynecology Offices, Egg Donor Centers
• Skills Needed: Patient education, communication, and emotional support

Flight nurses provide medical care to patients being transported by helicopter or airplane, working with other medical professionals during transit.

• Settings: Emergency Settings During Transit
• Skills Needed: Ability to work independently and remain calm under pressure

Forensic nurses care for victims of crimes such as sexual assault and may assist with forensic examinations.

• Settings: Hospitals, Jails and Prisons, Community Agencies
• Skills Needed: Sensitivity to trauma survivors and careful documentation

Gastroenterology nurses care for patients with gastrointestinal conditions, monitoring symptoms and assisting with procedures.

• Settings: Hospitals and Other Medical Facilities
• Skills Needed: Patient monitoring, medication administration, and procedural support

Registered nurses with additional training in genetics care for patients affected by or at risk for conditions with a genetic component.

• Settings: Hospitals, genetics clinics, cancer centers, reproductive specialty centers
• Skills Needed: Patient education and careful documentation of medical and family history

Nurses in this advocacy role help research and shape health care policy, working with patients, providers and government officials.

• Settings: Advocacy groups, hospitals, government agencies, research firms
• Skills Needed: Research, writing, and communication skills

Hematology nurses care for patients with blood disorders and diseases.

• Settings: Hospitals, doctors’ offices and outpatient clinics
• Skills Needed: Patient monitoring, care planning, and documentation

HIV nurses care for patients who are HIV-positive, often as part of their broader nursing duties.

• Settings: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, public health centers, physicians’ offices
• Skills Needed: Patient education and sensitivity to patients’ needs

Holistic nurses incorporate complementary approaches alongside conventional care to support a patient’s overall well-being.

• Settings: Hospitals, private practices, academia, research institutes, long-term care facilities
• Skills Needed: Patient education and familiarity with complementary care approaches

Home health nurses provide nursing care to patients in their own homes, often over extended periods.

• Settings: Private homes
• Skills Needed: Independence, compassion, and patient monitoring

Hospice nurses care for patients who are terminally ill, supporting their medical and comfort needs.

• Settings: Hospice centers, nursing homes, hospitals or private homes
• Skills Needed: Compassion and attentiveness to patients’ physical and emotional needs

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, also called critical care nurses, care for critically ill patients.

• Settings: Hospitals, including major trauma hospitals, medical air transport
• Skills Needed: Rapid clinical decision-making and the ability to work under pressure

Independent nurse contractors provide nursing services on a contract basis rather than as an employee.

• Settings: Hospitals, community clinics, private homes, schools
• Skills Needed: Flexibility and adaptability across settings

Infection control nurses, also called infection preventionists, help monitor and prevent the spread of infections within a health care facility. According to the CDC, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are among the staff who may take part in infection prevention and control programs in long-term care settings such as nursing homes.

• Settings: Hospitals, long-term care facilities
• Skills Needed: Attention to detail and knowledge of infection-prevention practices

Informatics nurses combine nursing knowledge with data and technology to help improve patient care and operational efficiency.

• Settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, health clinics
• Skills Needed: Data analysis, technical skills, and collaboration with clinical and IT teams

Infusion nurses administer medications and fluids intravenously.

• Settings: Hospitals, outpatient clinics and private homes
• Skills Needed: IV therapy skills and patient monitoring

International nurses work and provide nursing care outside their home countries.

• Settings: Various places and settings around the world, including foreign hospitals, clinics or even private clients
• Skills Needed: Cultural adaptability and, often, foreign language skills

Labor and delivery nurses care for patients during childbirth and immediately after delivery.

• Settings: Hospitals
• Skills Needed: Patient support during delivery and postpartum education

Lactation consultants help new parents with breastfeeding and related feeding concerns.

• Settings: Hospitals, private homes, doctors’ offices or classes
• Skills Needed: Patient education and patience

Legal nurse consultants apply nursing and medical knowledge to support attorneys on health care-related legal matters.

• Settings: Hospitals, law firms, insurance companies and government agencies
• Skills Needed: Medical knowledge, research, and writing skills

Long-term care nurses provide ongoing care for patients who need extended support, including medication administration and personal care.

• Settings: Nursing homes, private homes, assisted living facilities
• Skills Needed: Compassion and patience in caring for medically fragile patients

Managed care nurses coordinate care for patients enrolled in health insurance plans, helping manage chronic conditions and connect patients with services.

• Settings: Hospitals, telemedicine centers, health insurance companies
• Skills Needed: Patient advocacy and communication with providers and insurers

Medical surgical nurses provide general inpatient care for adult patients with a wide range of medical and surgical conditions.

• Settings: Hospitals, surgical clinics
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment, medication administration, and care coordination across a broad range of conditions

Military nurses provide nursing care as members or civilian employees of the U.S. armed forces.

• Settings: Veterans’ hospitals, military bases around the globe, military ships and battlefields
• Skills Needed: Flexibility and adaptability across deployment settings

Missionary nurses, often affiliated with a religious organization, provide health care to underserved communities around the world.

• Settings: Cities and towns around the world, typically in developing countries and sites of manmade or natural disasters
• Skills Needed: Cultural sensitivity and adaptability in resource-limited settings

Nephrology nurses care for patients with kidney disease, including kidney failure.

• Settings: Hospitals, dialysis centers, health clinics and private homes
• Skills Needed: Patient education and monitoring

Neuroscience nurses care for patients with disorders of the brain and central nervous system.

• Settings: Hospitals, research institutes, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and outpatient clinics
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment, rehabilitation support, and patient education

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses care for newborns who are premature or have critical health needs.

• Settings: Hospitals
• Skills Needed: Emotional resilience and close monitoring of fragile infants

Nurse administrators oversee the nursing department of a hospital or other health care facility, including staffing and operations.

• Settings: Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living centers
• Skills Needed: Management and organizational skills

Nurse advocates help patients understand their care and make informed decisions, serving as a liaison between patients, families and the health care team.

• Settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and private homes. They also can work independently as a private nurse advocate.
• Skills Needed: Communication and patient advocacy skills

Nurse advocates help patients understand their care and make informed decisions, serving as a liaison between patients, families and the health care team.

• Settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and private homes. They also can work independently as a private nurse advocate.
• Skills Needed: Communication and patient advocacy skills

Nurse attorneys are licensed in both nursing and law and handle legal matters related to health care.

• Settings: Courts, hospitals, insurance companies
• Skills Needed: Legal research, writing, and health care knowledge

Nurse care coordinators help oversee a patient’s overall treatment, working as a liaison among providers, insurers and family members.

• Settings: Hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health care agencies and psychiatric centers
• Skills Needed: Organization, communication, and care coordination

Nurse case managers coordinate care and advocate for patients, working with providers, insurers and families.

• Settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, community health centers, hospice
• Skills Needed: Care coordination and communication skills

Nurse entrepreneurs apply their nursing background to run their own businesses.

• Settings: Home or business, hospitals and clinics
• Skills Needed: Business skills and self-direction

A nurse executive oversees a group of nurses or other staff, along with an organization’s daily operations and long-term strategy.

• Settings: Hospitals, nursing homes or long-term care facilities, clinics and hospice
• Skills Needed: Leadership and personnel management skills

Nurse health coaches work with clients individually or in groups to support healthy habits and behavior change.

• Settings: Clinics, hospitals, offices and homes
• Skills Needed: Motivational communication and patient education

Nurse managers lead a nursing unit, working with physicians and administrators on daily operations.

• Settings: Hospitals, long-term care facilities
• Skills Needed: Leadership and personnel management skills

Nurse writers apply their nursing background to write about health care topics for various publications.

• Settings: Home, publication offices, hospitals
• Skills Needed: Writing, research, and nursing knowledge

Obstetrics (OB/GYN) nurses care for patients during pregnancy, labor and delivery, as well as newborns in the first days of life.

• Settings: Hospitals, health clinics, urgent care centers, midwife practices
• Skills Needed: Patient support, education, and monitoring

Occupational nurses help employers address workplace health and safety, including injury prevention and response.

• Settings: Big and large employers, including manufacturing plants, hospitals, government agencies and offices
• Skills Needed: Crisis response and knowledge of workplace safety practices

Oncology nurses help care for patients with cancer.

• Settings: Hospitals, cancer clinics, doctors’ offices, public health centers
• Skills Needed: Patient education, monitoring, and emotional support

Also called a perioperative nurse, an operating room nurse works with surgeons to help care for patients before, during and after surgery.

• Settings: Hospitals, outpatient surgery clinics
• Skills Needed: Precision and the ability to work under pressure

Ophthalmic nurses work with ophthalmologists to help care for patients with eye conditions.

• Settings: Eye clinics, hospitals, public health centers, schools
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment and procedural support

ENT nurses care for patients with conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat.

• Settings: Hospitals, doctors’ offices, community health centers
• Skills Needed: Patient assessment and versatility across patient types

Pain management nurses care for patients with acute and chronic pain, helping coordinate treatment plans.

• Settings: Hospitals, surgical centers, hospice, home health, intensive care units, maternity wards
• Skills Needed: Patient education and sensitivity to patients living with chronic pain

Palliative care nurses care for seriously ill patients, focusing on easing symptoms and discomfort.

• Settings: Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospice, private homes
• Skills Needed: Attention to patients’ physical and emotional needs

Parish or faith community nurses combine nursing care with spiritual support, often within a religious community.

• Settings: Homes, mosques, synagogues, churches, hospitals
• Skills Needed: Compassion and a whole-person approach to care

A pediatric nurse cares for children from birth through adolescence, including routine care and immunizations.

• Settings: Hospitals, doctors’ offices, public health clinics, schools
• Skills Needed: Rapport with children and their families, and patience

Perianesthesia nurses care for patients before sedation and while recovering from it.

• Settings: Hospitals, emergency rooms, outpatient surgery centers
• Skills Needed: Patient monitoring and comfort with fast-changing patient needs

Perinatal nurses care for patients who are trying to conceive, pregnant, or recently gave birth.

• Settings: Hospitals, private homes
• Skills Needed: Patient education and communication

Plastic surgery nurses work with surgeons who repair, reconstruct or alter physical features, supporting patients before and after procedures.

• Settings: Hospitals, cosmetic surgery centers
• Skills Needed: Composure, sensitivity, and procedural support

Postpartum nurses care for newborns and mothers in the period following childbirth.

• Settings: Hospital maternity wards, OB/GYN clinics
• Skills Needed: Compassion and attentiveness to new mothers and infants

Preoperative nurses help prepare patients for surgery, including gathering medical history and readying them for the operating room.

• Settings: Hospitals, day surgery clinics
• Skills Needed: Attention to detail and the ability to calm anxious patients

Psychiatric nurses help assess the mental health of individuals, families and groups and support treatment plans.

• Settings: Hospitals, emergency rooms, skilled nursing centers
• Skills Needed: Composure in unpredictable situations and strong listening skills

Public health nurses focus on the well-being of entire communities, addressing issues such as vaccination and chronic disease prevention.

• Settings: Public health agencies, government, nonprofit advocacy groups, research institutes
• Skills Needed: Data analysis, research, and communication skills

Quality improvement nurses look for ways to improve patient care, such as reducing infection rates or complications.

• Settings: Hospitals, health clinics, universities, skilled-care facilities, research institutes
• Skills Needed: Data literacy and research skills

Radiology nurses work with radiologists who use imaging tests to help diagnose patients.

• Settings: Hospitals, doctors’ offices, outpatient surgery clinics, public health centers, cancer treatment centers
• Skills Needed: Adaptability across a variety of patients and procedures

Rehabilitation nurses help patients with a disability or long-term condition manage daily living.

• Settings: Hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, private homes
• Skills Needed: Teaching, coaching, and patient advocacy

Research nurses support clinical trials studying new drugs and treatments.

• Settings: Research hospitals and universities, government agencies
• Skills Needed: Data collection, documentation, and attention to protocol

Rheumatology nurses care for patients with rheumatic diseases such as arthritis.

• Settings: Hospitals, physician practices, specialty care clinics
• Skills Needed: Medication administration and patient education

Rural nurses care for patients in remote or underserved communities, often across a wide range of medical needs.

• Settings: Hospitals and clinics in towns far from major medical centers
• Skills Needed: Independence and broad clinical knowledge

Rheumatology nurses care for patients with rheumatic diseases such as arthritis.

• Settings: Hospitals, physician practices, specialty care clinics
• Skills Needed: Medication administration and patient education

School nurses care for the health needs of students, including managing chronic conditions and tracking vaccinations.

• Settings: Inside schools and on college campuses
• Skills Needed: Ability to build trust with young people and patience

Subacute nurses care for patients who need a level of care between acute hospitalization and long-term care.

• Settings: Hospital units, free-standing clinics, skilled care homes and private residences
• Skills Needed: Patience and attentiveness

Substance abuse nurses care for patients with dependence or addiction, providing treatment and support during recovery.

• Settings: Drug treatment clinics, hospitals, public health clinics, private homes
• Skills Needed: Persistence, sensitivity, and empathy

Telemetry nurses monitor patients’ vital signs using cardiac monitors and other equipment.

• Settings: Hospital intensive care units and medical clinics
• Skills Needed: Attention to detail and the ability to respond quickly to changes in a patient’s condition

Telephone triage nurses evaluate patients’ symptoms by phone or video and advise on next steps.

• Settings: Hospitals, clinics, call centers operated by insurers
• Skills Needed: Communication skills and broad clinical knowledge

Telemetry nurses monitor patients’ vital signs using cardiac monitors and other equipment.

• Settings: Hospital intensive care units and medical clinics
• Skills Needed: Attention to detail and the ability to respond quickly to changes in a patient’s condition

Toxicology nurses care for patients who have been exposed to poison, drugs or other harmful substances.

• Settings: Hospitals, call centers, community health centers, government hotlines
• Skills Needed: Clinical knowledge and the ability to respond quickly under pressure

Transcultural nurses help ensure culturally responsive care for patients from different backgrounds.

• Settings: Hospitals, community health clinics and doctors’ offices
• Skills Needed: Cultural sensitivity and, often, language skills

Transplant nurses care for patients before and after organ or tissue transplant surgery.

• Settings: Major transplant hospitals
• Skills Needed: Composure under pressure and comfort caring for critically ill patients

Trauma nurses help stabilize and treat patients with serious injuries.

• Settings: Hospital emergency rooms, medical evacuation transport
• Skills Needed: Quick assessment skills and resilience

Travel nurses take temporary nursing assignments, often to fill short-term staffing needs.

• Settings: Travel nurse staffing agencies. Clients are usually hospitals.
• Skills Needed: Adaptability and quick orientation to new settings

Urology nurses work with urologists to care for patients with urinary system conditions.

• Settings: Hospitals, urology practices, public health centers
• Skills Needed: Adaptability and comfort discussing sensitive topics with patients

Wound care nurses care for patients with acute and long-term wounds, supporting healing and preventing complications.

• Settings: Nursing homes or long-term care centers, hospice, hospitals, private homes
• Skills Needed: Compassion, patience, and wound care expertise