What Kinds of Nursing Specializations Are Available?

Do you prefer shopping at a supermarket or a convenience store? Small boutiques or e-commerce?

If you like having lots of choices, Nursing won’t let you down. There are more than 100 areas of specialization for nurses. That means that you can almost certainly find a specialty that fits your personality and interests. Check out the Nursing homepage to learn more.

We broke them down by major categories, along with several possible job titles that you could have within each area of specialization.

Already know what you want to study? Then head over to our ranking of the Best Online BSN Degrees to find your school!

Advanced Practice

Nurses who work in advanced practice roles often work as primary care providers. They have completed their master’s or doctoral degrees, making these some of the most in-demand nurses around.

Possible job titles:

• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Pain Management Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Emergency

Emergency nursing focuses on patients who are experiencing medical emergencies. That makes this a fast-paced, high-pressure area of specialization – but it’s one that can be very rewarding, too!

Possible job titles:

• Burn Care Nurse
• Cardiac Care Nurse
• Critical Care Nurse
• Emergency Nurse
• Poison Information Specialist
• Pulmonary Care Nurse
• Sub-acute Nurse
• Telephone Triage Nurse
• Toxicology Nurse
• Trauma Nurse

Psychological

Psychological nurses are also known as psychiatric or mental-health nurses. They are advanced practice nurses who specialize in mental health.

Possible job titles:

• Developmental Disability Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Rehabilitation Nurse
• Substance Abuse Nurse

Clinical

Clinical nurses work with patients. They specialize in treating a particular part of the body, disease, or condition.

Possible job titles:

• Diabetes Nurse
• Gastroenterology Nursing
• Genetics Nurse
• Hematology Nurse
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Medical-Surgical Nurse
• Nephrology Nurse
• Neuroscience Nurse
• Oncology Nurse
• Radiology Nurse

Family

Nurses who specialize in family medicine treat patients at every phase of their lives. Some, like family nurse practitioners, will care for patients from childhood through old age, while others specialize in the health concerns of a particular age group.

Possible job titles:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Geriatric Nurse
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
• Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse

Surgical

These nurses provide patient care before, during and after surgery. They work alongside surgical teams, and often help communicate with patients’ families.

Possible job titles:

• Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Ophthalmic Nurse
• Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
• Perianesthesia Nurse
• Perioperative (Surgical) Nurse
• Plastic Surgery Nurse
• Transplant Nurse

Community

Nurses who go out into the community to provide care, whether working in schools, the military or summer camps, are practitioners of community nursing. Because they often treat a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, they have a wide range of medical knowledge.

Possible job titles:

• Correctional Facility Nurse
• Forensic Nurse
• Holistic Nurse
• Hospice Nurse
• Military Nurse
• Missionary Nurse
• Occupational Health Nurse
• Public Health Nurse
• School Nurse
• Telemetry Nurse

Management

Roles that involve leadership and decision-making fall under the category of management. Nurses may be able to qualify for management positions with just an associate degree, although other training and certifications will be required.

Possible job titles:

• Case Management Nurse
• Health Policy Nurse
• Infection Control Nurse
• Informatics Nurse
• Legal Nurse Consultant
• Managed Care Nurse
• Nurse Advocate
• Nurse Executive
• Nursing Quality Improvement
• Pain Management Nurse

Women’s Health

Nurses who choose women’s health specialties focus on illnesses and conditions that primarily affect women.

Possible job titles:

• Labor and Delivery Nurse
• Lactation Consultant
• Obstetrics Nurse, Gynecology Nurse
• Perinatal Nurse
• Reproductive Nurse