Top 15 Specialty Careers for Nurses

A CRNA is the highest-paid nursing job with the most autonomy. They directly deliver anesthesia to surgical patients, oversee their condition during surgery, and manage postoperative pain. 

With the growing aging population, the number of surgical patients is increasing, and there is more demand than ever for CRNAs.

Aesthetic nursing is an exciting and growing nursing career. Cosmetic nurses work with plastic surgeons in their offices, operating rooms, or aesthetic spas.

Their duties include administering injections of Botox and fillers, performing chemical peels, laser hair removal, dermabrasion, CoolSculpting, and removing tattoos.

Perhaps one of the more emotionally taxing nursing specialties, pediatric nursing requires a unique skill set. Nurses considering this specialty must be able to manage the care of their patients and their families. 

Pediatric hospitals generally employ pediatric nurses, but they also work in larger adult hospitals with designated pediatric units.

NICU nurses care for the smallest and sickest babies, often right on the edge of viability. This field is fast-paced, emotionally demanding, and requires constant learning to stay abreast of the most current neonatal education.

According to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN), NICU nursing generally involves caring for infants in crisis. It encompasses neonates who suffer from long-term problems related to premature birth or severe illness.

When caring for patients after surgical procedures, PACU nurses transfer them to inpatient units or discharge them post-surgery. They also manage and monitor vital signs to ensure their patients safely wake from anesthesia.

Nurse educators forge the next generation of nurses through classroom and clinical instruction. Nurse educators work closely with other educators to develop their school’s nursing curriculum and meet all state objectives.

Nurse administrators are high-level executives in nursing leadership roles who work in hospitals and healthcare systems. They supervise and oversee nursing staff and create and administer clinical programs for the entire organization. 

You may often hear nurse administrators called nurse managers and chief nursing officers.

The most in-demand of all nursing specialties, NPs are highly autonomous healthcare providers and nursing leaders. NPs take on several responsibilities similar to physicians. 

NP duties include prescribing and administering meds, performing patient exams, ordering tests, diagnosing illnesses, and treating patients. They can even work as independent providers in states with full practice authority for nurse practitioners.

Travel nursing is the perfect specialty for adventure seekers. This nursing specialty can combine your love of nursing with the desire to experience new places and people. 

Healthcare organizations hire travel nurses to fill voids at their facilities. Therefore, travel nurses can work in any area nationwide or in other countries.

CNMs focus on women’s health care, including delivering babies and providing prenatal and postpartum care. Additionally, CNMs assist obstetricians and perform routine check-ups for pregnant patients.

Like advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), a CNS focuses on a specific population, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or obstetrics. However, CNSs focus on educating nurse staff and improving patient outcomes instead of caring for patients. 

Though they have advanced practice training, their job duties focus on evidence-based practice projects and research.

Research nurses conduct and assist with evidence-based research focusing on quantitative and qualitative research methods. 

Nurse researchers collaborate with other healthcare professionals, medical device companies, and pharmaceutical companies to conduct research. 

An often controversial specialty, forensic nurses gather medical evidence from crime victims and provide expert testimony in court cases. 

Forensic nurses also work to educate other healthcare providers and the public and help victims process their experiences.

Nursing informaticists improve health systems, which can improve health outcomes for patients. 

These nurses work to develop communications and information technology systems while also serving as educators, specialists, researchers, and software engineers.

School nursing is one of the lower-paid nursing jobs, especially because many schools have summer breaks. However, they practice in a rewarding environment, helping kids every day. School nurses work in schools and universities, providing care to ill or injured students.