Types of Nursing Careers & Specialties 

Aesthetic and cosmetic nurses may administer noninvasive cosmetic treatments, such as anti-aging injections and filler, microdermabrasion or acne treatments, to adult populations.

Ambulatory care nurses address acute and chronic illnesses, disabilities and end-of-life needs outside of a hospital setting, in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Nurses specializing in burn care provide treatment for patients who have experienced burn injuries, from caring for wounds to trauma assessment.

Cardiac nurses are advanced practice registered nurses who work in collaboration with cardiologists and other providers to care for patients with acute and chronic heart conditions.

Nurses specializing in burn care provide treatment for patients who have experienced burn injuries, from caring for wounds to trauma assessment.

Cardiac nurses are advanced practice registered nurses who work in collaboration with cardiologists and other providers to care for patients with acute and chronic heart conditions.

In addition to completing the typical duties of a registered nurse, charge nurses hold a supervisory role. This may include coordinating between nursing staff and physicians, delegating tasks and providing schedules.

Correctional nurses work in jails, prisons and other correctional facilities, caring for patients experiencing incarceration.

Dermatology nurses help treat and care for patients with diseases, wounds, injuries and other skin conditions, as well as cosmetic concerns.

Developmental disability nurses provide care to patients who have developmental and mental disabilities. Responsibilities include helping patients eat and teaching movement and language skills, as well as evaluating and monitoring their health.

Diabetes nurses monitor and educate patients about their condition. Depending on their level of experience, these nurses may also aid in adjusting medications, providing nutritional and exercise plans, and offering behavioral and psychosocial counseling.

An offshoot of forensic nursing, domestic violence nurses take care of patients who have experienced domestic violence. RNs in this specialty are responsible for helping patients heal from physical and mental wounds.

Emergency room (ER) nurses are equipped to deal with patients with severe injuries, trauma and other unstable medical conditions.

Enterostomy nurses are RNs who care for patients with enterotomies, a procedure that creates an ostomy or stoma, which diverts the bowels. Responsibilities include educating patients and their families on proper home care.

Nurses working in this specialty area care for individuals and couples seeking counseling and treatment related to reproductive health. Job tasks include educating patients about their options, providing emotional support and teaching them how to administer treatments.

Flight nurses are registered nurses trained to provide medical care as they transport patients by helicopter or airplane. This role involves working with other medical professionals like paramedics and physicians to ensure patients receive proper care during transit.

Forensic nurses care for victims of crimes such as sexual assault, perform forensic exams, and may be called to testify in court on the findings from their examinations.

Gastroenterology nurses provide care for patients with gastrointestinal diseases of the stomach, esophagus or bowel. Conditions treated may include ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and abdominal injuries.

Registered nurses can gain additional training in genetics to care for patients who are affected by or at risk for conditions with a genetic component, such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.

This advocacy role includes researching and drafting legislation on a variety of health care issues. Nurses may work with patients, care providers, government officials and others while helping shape priorities and vision for nurses’ role in society.

Hematology nurses specialize in caring for patients with blood disorders or diseases. These include blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and conditions like hemophilia, sickle cell disease and anemia.

HIV nurses care for people who are HIV-positive. They may work exclusively with these patients or care for them as part of their overall nursing duties.

Holistic means “healing the whole person.” Holistic nurses in this role incorporate complementary treatments, such as biofeedback, massages, reiki, reflexology, relaxation and lifestyle counseling.

Home health nurses provide care in the patient’s own home, usually for extended periods. Responsibilities include providing nursing care, physical therapy, dialysis services and more.

A hospice nurse cares for people who are dying or have a limited life span. Roles can vary and may include admitting patients to hospice or caring for them until the end.

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, also called critical care nurses, care for critically ill people, often after they’ve been stabilized in the emergency room. ICUs operate 24/7. This has one of the fastest job-growth prospects among all nursing specialties.

This nurse works as a contractor, not an employee.

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, also called critical care nurses, care for critically ill people, often after they’ve been stabilized in the emergency room. ICUs operate 24/7. This has one of the fastest job-growth prospects among all nursing specialties.

This field melds nursing with data and analysis to find best practices in nursing. Informatics nurses may concentrate on improving patient care, operational efficiencies and other areas.

Infusion nurses administer medication through an IV.

International nurses travel and work outside their home countries.

A nurse specializing in this area cares for pregnant women during childbirth and immediately after delivery.

Lactation consultants help new mothers breastfeed their babies and solve feeding problems. The role may also include conducting training seminars for expectant mothers.

A legal nurse consultant works with lawyers on medical lawsuits and other legal issues, including workers’ compensation claims, insurance fraud, malpractice cases, client interviews and trials.

Long-term care nurses care for patients who need extended care. Responsibilities may include managing pain, giving medications, wound dressing, bathing and personal hygiene, and physical therapy.

Managed care nurses care for people who are enrolled in government health programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, or in private health maintenance organizations. The role may include helping clients stay healthy, managing chronic illnesses, administering medications and ensuring cost-effective care.

Medical surgical nurses assist doctors in the operating room and coordinate post-surgery care with other care providers.

In this role, a nurse works as a civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense.

In affiliation with a Christian or other religious organization, missionary nurses care for underserved people around the world. Tasks may include caring for diseases, giving vaccines, providing safe drinking water and teaching infection control.

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

Neuroscience nurses in this specialty are trained to care for patients with disorders of the brain and the central nervous system. This includes helping with wound care, neurological exams, rehabilitation and daily activities.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses care for infants who are born too early or with critical health issues, such as birth defects.

This role may be called nurse director or clinical nursing manager. It refers to a nurse who is responsible for running the nursing department of a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility. A nurse administrator may draft budgets and schedules, evaluate employee performances and recruit new employees.

Nurses in this advocacy role defend the rights and interests of clients who can’t advocate for themselves and help them make informed decisions. They serve as a conduit between patients and doctors and the rest of the healthcare system. They also may facilitate discussions with the client’s family.

Nurses in this advocacy role defend the rights and interests of clients who can’t advocate for themselves and help them make informed decisions. They serve as a conduit between patients and doctors and the rest of the health care system. They also may facilitate discussions with the client’s family.

A nurse attorney is licensed to practice both nursing and law. Responsibilities include handling legal issues related to health care, such as insurance claims and malpractice cases, or working on legal journals and regulatory matters.

The main job of a nurse care coordinator is to oversee the overall medical treatment for patients to ensure that they get the optimal, most efficient care. They are liaisons among various doctors, hospital administrators, insurers and family members.

Nurse case managers are registered nurses who coordinate care and advocates for patients. This role requires both medical expertise and management skills and includes dealing with doctors, insurers and family members.

Some nurses parlay their nursing training into working for themselves. They can work on their own or, in some states, open their own practices.

This board-certified job is voluntary. A nurse executive is responsible for a group of nurses or other employees, as well as daily operations and long-term strategies.

A nurse health coach works one-on-one or in groups with clients to promote their health and healthy habits. This can be done in person, online or by phone and does not require expertise on any subject matter; the important skill for this role is to motivate people to live to their full potential.

This is a leadership position. A nurse manager is typically in charge of a nursing unit and works in tandem with doctors and administrators.

In this role, nurses write about nursing for a variety of platforms, including books, newspapers, blogs and television. They can work for an industry group or hospitals or as freelance writers.

Sometimes also called an OB/GYN nurse, obstetrics nurses care for women during their pregnancy, labor and delivery, as well as with reproductive issues. They also care for newborns for the first few days of their lives.

Occupational nurses work with employees on workplace and environmental safety issues. Injury prevention is a key focus. They help handle accidents, workers’ compensation claims and ensure a healthy workplace.

Oncology nurses help treat patients who have cancer. They can be certified or specialized in certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer, pediatric cancer, and blood and bone marrow transplant.

Also called a perioperative nurse, an operating room nurse works with surgeons to care for patients before, during and after their operations. This is one of the most in-demand nursing specialties.

These registered nurses are eye-care specialists. They work with ophthalmologists to help diagnose and treat eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. They may assist with eye surgery.

This is also called an ear, nose, throat (ENT) nurse. In this role, nurses care for patients with diseases and conditions that affect those areas, including hearing loss, throat cancer and loss of sense of smell.

Nurses in this specialty practice care for people with acute and chronic pain and advocate for best treatment practices. This includes medications for managing pain, preventing dependence or addiction to narcotics, and helping patients with their underlying conditions.

In this role, nurses care for seriously ill people, focusing on easing their symptoms and discomfort rather than treating the underlying condition. Unlike hospice nursing, palliative nursing isn’t limited to end-of-life care.

A parish nurse may also be called a faith community nurse. It refers to a registered nurse who combines medical care with spiritual care. Though the term “parish” is used in Christian denominations, faith-based nurses can represent Islam, Judaism and other religions.

A pediatric nurse cares for children from birth until usually age 21. Responsibilities include tracking patients’ developmental milestones, including puberty, giving vaccinations, and handling illnesses and diseases they may get. Further specializations, such as in cancer care for children, are possible.

This job specializes in caring for patients who are about to be sedated or just waking up from sedation. A perianesthesia nurse may help manage pain related to surgery or an invasive procedure such as a colonoscopy.

Perinatal nurses care for women who are trying to get pregnant, are currently pregnant or recently gave birth. They track fetal health, educate about prenatal nutrition, help during delivery, and handle postpartum depression and issues related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Nurses in this specialty role work with surgeons who repair, reconstruct or replace physical features. Cases can range from skin grafts for burn victims to liposuction to facial filler injections and wound recovery.

Postpartum means after the delivery of a baby. These nurses care for newborns and their mothers in the period following childbirth. They may encounter medical issues like postpartum bleeding, problems with breastfeeding and postpartum depression. These nurses can opt to earn specific certifications, such as for maternal newborn nursing.

Preoperative is the first of the three stages for surgery: before, during and after. Preoperative nurses help prepare patients for their procedures, including taking medical history, physical exam and screening tests, and getting them ready for the operating room.

Nurses specializing in this area help assess the mental health of individuals, families and groups. They may evaluate their condition and help draft a treatment plan. Some people who have advanced practice registered nurse degrees can diagnose mental conditions and treat patients.

Public health nurses focus on the well-being of entire communities, not just individuals. These nurses may work on issues like promoting vaccinations, safe sex practices or reducing rates of diabetes or other chronic conditions.

This is a data-driven specialty that looks for systemic ways to improve patient care quality. These nurses may, for example, help write protocols to lower infection rates or reduce complications for surgical patients.

Also called a medical imaging nurse, this nurse works with radiologists—doctors who use X-rays, ultrasounds and other imaging tests to take pictures of the inside of the body.

A rehabilitation nurse helps patients with a disability or a long-term condition to manage their lives to their best ability. This nurse may teach stroke patients how to speak or eat, oversee exercises, and tend to their mental and emotional needs.

Nurses specializing in this area help with clinical trials, which study unproven drugs and other treatments on humans.

This nurse specializes in caring for people with rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis and other conditions that inflame and affect the tendons, ligaments and joints. Part of the job involves administering biologic drugs through an IV or with an injection.

Serving people who live in remote or isolated communities with limited access to health services, a rural nurse’s practice will cover the full spectrum of medical care, from emergencies to pregnancies to managing chronic conditions.

This nurse specializes in caring for people with rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis and other conditions that inflame and affect the tendons, ligaments and joints. Part of the job involves administering biologic drugs through an IV or with an injection.

School nurses tend to the medical needs of students of all ages. They care for medical needs as well as address behavioral and emotional conditions that can hurt students’ ability to learn. Responsibilities may also include counseling students about pregnancy prevention, checking for vision or hearing problems, or tracking vaccinations.

Subacute care is less intensive than acute care, and it usually takes more time. This specialty nurse may work with people who need help with feeding or breathing, or occupational and physical therapy.

This is a challenging role that helps people who have dependence or addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Responsibilities may include providing treatment, counseling and support to patients trying to recover from substance abuse. Pain management is an important part of this specialty.

A telemetry nurse is trained to operate an electrocardiogram and other equipment to monitor a patient’s vital signs. This role includes analyzing oxygen levels, heart rhythms and other data gathered by technicians to assess a patient’s health.

This job involves answering calls from patients to evaluate their symptoms and advise them on next steps via phone or video chat. A telephone triage nurse may offer patients home treatment options or direct them to a doctor or the hospital.

A telemetry nurse is trained to operate an electrocardiogram and other equipment to monitor a patient’s vital signs. This role includes analyzing oxygen levels, heart rhythms and other data gathered by technicians to assess a patient’s health.

A toxicology nurse diagnoses, advises and treats people who have overdosed or been exposed to poison, alcohol, drugs, snake venom and other dangerous substances.

A transcultural nurse serves as an advocate to ensure the best health care for people from different cultural backgrounds. This population may include people who speak different languages, follow different medical customs or have backgrounds that may make them vulnerable to discrimination or substandard care.

Transplant nurses are equipped to care for donors and recipients of solid organs or other types of transplant surgery. Patients may receive heart, kidneys, liver, cornea and other organs and tissue. These nurses may prepare donors and assist surgeons during the transplant.

The main job of a trauma nurse is to help stabilize and treat victims of trauma, such as from gunshots, auto accidents, falls or domestic assault. Duties include helping assess the patient, giving them blood through an IV or breathing help, and preparing them for surgery if necessary.

This is a temporary nurse who works around the country. Assignments may last weeks or months, sometimes to fill a shortage in a specialty area such as pediatric oncology. Nurses in this field may also travel to cities with widespread disease outbreaks, such as the coronavirus pandemic, or a natural disaster.

These nurses work with urologists to treat diseases involving the urinary system, including prostate cancer, kidney stones and urinary tract infections. They conduct routine exams, give medications and counsel patients on how to manage their condition.

The primary role of this nurse is to care for patients with both acute and long-term wounds. A wound care nurse may treat the wounds to promote healing, educate people about how to prevent ulcers and infections, and assess how to speed up recovery.