The Comprehensive List of Nursing Specialties
Key Takeaways
- Nursing is far broader than bedside hospital care. There are numerous nursing specialties, including pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, critical care, mental health, public health, research, leadership, informatics, and legal nursing.
- Work settings vary significantly, with nurses working in hospitals, clinics, schools, homes, businesses, government agencies, research organizations, and legal settings.
- Choosing a nursing specialty should involve matching personal interests with career requirements.
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also projects 189,100 openings for registered nurses each year over the decade. An aging population, a greater emphasis on preventive care, an increase in chronic conditions, and nurse retirement are propelling this demand.
Maintaining a truly complete list of nursing specialties is nearly impossible because specialties evolve over time. If you’re interested in nursing, this guide is a useful starting point for exploring nursing roles, specialty areas, and related professional associations.
Addiction Nurse
These nurses assess and monitor patients’ substance use treatment plans and recovery progress, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of various treatment options. They also administer medications and may help implement behavioral therapy techniques.
Addiction nurses work with patients experiencing alcohol, drug, and other substance use disorders in settings such as community health clinics, mental health clinics, psychiatric wards, and treatment centers.
Ambulatory Care Nurse
An ambulatory care nurse provides health care for non-hospitalized patients who require minimal bedside services. They also care for discharged patients who need follow-up nurse visits.
These nurses work in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.
Burn Care Nurse
A burn care nurse cares for patients who have suffered burn injuries. They assist these victims throughout their recovery, from initial trauma assessment to recovery and any post-trauma therapy required.
These nurses work in settings including emergency rooms, hospital burn care units, intensive care units, outpatient facilities, rehabilitation centers, and trauma centers.
Cardiac Care Nurse
These nurses work with patients suffering from heart conditions or who have had heart surgery. They administer medication, monitor patient progress, and follow treatment plans assigned by a cardiologist.
Cardiac care nurses, sometimes called cardiology or cardiovascular nurses, may work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, or physicians’ offices.
Case Management Nurse
A case management nurse helps doctors and patients coordinate, implement, and oversee care plans throughout an illness. They often specialize in managing a particular chronic illness or long-term care.
These nurses work at medical facilities, from clinics and hospitals to private practices, home health care companies, hospice facilities, and nursing homes.
Certified Nurse Midwife
In addition to assisting with births, a certified nurse midwife provides other gynecological services. They also provide menopause and postmenopausal care, postpartum care, and reproductive services.
These nurses may work in birthing centers, hospitals, private practices, and public health clinics. They may even visit patients’ homes.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
These nurses help identify gaps in health care delivery, working to design and implement interventions. They may administer basic treatments, make diagnoses, order tests, and prescribe medications. The scope of practice for clinical nurse specialists varies from state to state.
Clinical nurse specialists may work in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, private practice, and other facilities.
Critical Care Nurse
Critical care nurses specialize in monitoring and treating patients facing life-threatening illnesses or injuries. They must endure stressful situations and think critically while performing their duties. Critical care nurses communicate with the medical team and the patient’s family, so effective communication skills are essential.
They typically work in intensive care units and other high-acuity settings where patients need close monitoring and treatment for serious or life-threatening conditions.
Dermatology Nurse
A dermatology nurse cares for and treats patients with skin diseases and conditions, injuries or wounds, or those undergoing cosmetic surgery. They may also assist with chemical peels, laser treatments, tattoo removal, and other treatments.
These nurses work in burn centers, clinics, hospitals, infusion centers, plastic surgeons’ offices, and private practice offices. They also may provide treatments in cosmetic dermatology offices and day spas.
Developmental Disability Nurse
A developmental disability nurse works with patients who have autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or other cognitive or developmental impairments.
These nurses — also known as special needs nurses — work in care facilities, hospitals, institutions, schools, and other specialized settings.
Domestic Violence Nurse
These nurses treat victims of domestic violence. Along with treating physical injuries, they help victims heal and cope with emotional and mental wounds. Domestic violence nurses must keep meticulous notes and records that may be called upon in court.
Domestic violence nurses commonly work in hospitals but may also work in community clinics, shelters, and other public health agencies.
Faith Community Nurse
A faith community nurse provides health education, advocacy, support, and other nursing services within a faith community. These nurses, also called congregational nurses, encourage whole-person care that addresses physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Faith community nurses work with churches, congregations, houses of worship, and faith-based or community organizations.
Flight/Transport Nurse
A flight or transport nurse provides medical care to critically ill or injured patients during air or ground transport. They may provide emergency and critical care at the scene of an incident or during transport between facilities.
These nurses provide care in the confined spaces of helicopters, airplanes, and ground emergency transport vehicles.
Forensic Nurse
A forensic nurse treats victims of trauma. This could include assault, domestic violence, neglect, or other causes of intentional injury. They also provide law enforcement with information that may help apprehend perpetrators. In some instances, forensic nurses may be called upon as a witness in court cases.
These nurses work in correctional institutions, coroner and medical examiner offices, psychiatric hospitals, regular hospitals, anti-violence agencies, and community crisis agencies.
Gastroenterology Nurse
These nurses help patients suffering from diseases and disorders of the digestive tract, including the stomach and bowels. They can perform diagnostic procedures or assist during endoscopy.
Gastroenterology nurses often work in clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and private practice.
Genetics Nurse
A genetics nurse cares for patients with diseases that have a genetic component, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions. They may also assess risk for patients, analyze test results, and counsel patients.
These nurses may work in specialty genetics clinics, cancer centers, hospitals, prenatal and reproductive centers, or specialty medical practices.
Geriatric Nurse
A geriatric nurse focuses on meeting the unique physical and mental health needs of older adults through holistic and individualized care. They may care for patients with chronic conditions, acute illnesses, functional limitations, or complex age-related health needs.
They often work in hospitals, home health care, hospice care, or senior care facilities.
- American Assisted Living Nurses Association
- American Geriatrics Society
- Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
Hematology Nurse
These nurses treat patients with blood diseases or disorders such as cancer, hemophilia, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia. They will perform checkups, collect blood samples, order blood tests, assist with blood transfusions, and perform or assist with many other medical procedures.
Hematology nurses work in blood clinics, cancer treatment centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, and other medical settings.
HIV/AIDS Care Nurse
An HIV/AIDS care nurse treats patients with HIV and AIDS in all stages of their disease. In addition to acting as caregivers, they are educators and patient advocates.
These nurses work in clinics, hospitals, specialist offices, assisted living facilities, community health centers, home care agencies, and hospice care centers.
Holistic Nurse
A holistic nurse addresses multiple dimensions of a person’s well-being, including physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs.
They work in traditional hospitals and medical facilities, consultancies, hospice facilities, long-term care, palliative care facilities, private practice, and other settings.
Home Health Care Nursing
A home health care nurse works one-on-one with patients in their homes, providing services to a wide range of patients. They assess patients’ needs, help develop care plans, carry out and evaluate those plans, and monitor responses to medications, rehabilitation, or other treatments. They also help coordinate therapeutic services under the direction of the patient’s health care provider. These may include occupational, respiratory, and physical therapy.
Home health care nurses may work with people who are chronically ill, disabled, elderly, or recovering from an accident, injury, or surgery. They can be employed by government organizations, home health and hospice agencies, hospitals, insurance companies, medical centers, and senior communities.
Hospice Nurse
Hospice nurses provide comprehensive care for patients in their last weeks of life. They also support their patients’ caregivers and loved ones, guiding all of them through the end-of-life transition.
Hospice nurses can work in hospitals, hospice centers, nursing homes, patient homes, or skilled nursing facilities.
Informatics Nurse
An informatics nurse combines nursing science with information and analytics to care for patients. They work with a diverse group of stakeholders, drawing on clinical and technical perspectives to prioritize patient safety.
These nurses may work in clinics, health care consulting firms, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and nursing schools.
- American Medical Informatics Association
- American Nursing Informatics Association
- International Council of Nurses
>>Read More: Health Informatics: A Guide to This Flourishing Field
Infusion Nurse
This nurse administers medications and fluids, including antibiotics, blood therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hydration, and other infusion fluids. They use and manage vascular access devices such as peripheral IV catheters, implanted ports, and central venous access devices.
Infusion nurses can work in hospitals, home health, infusion centers, long-term care facilities, oncology centers, and skilled nursing homes.
Lactation Consultant
A lactation consultant specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding and lactation. Nurses may pursue lactation credentials, but lactation consultants can come from several health-profession backgrounds. They provide education, assessment, and support during pregnancy and after birth.
Nurses who also practice as lactation consultants may work in birth centers, pediatric offices, postpartum hospital units, or public health clinics.
Legal Nurse Consultant
A legal nurse consultant consults with and provides expertise to attorneys when exploring medical issues. They bridge the gap between the legal process, health care science, and patient outcomes during legal cases.
These consultants work in independent consulting practices, insurance companies, and legal firms.
Long-Term Care Nurse
These nurses provide services for patients who require extended care, including those with injuries, severe illnesses, and other disabilities. They also care for elderly patients who need frequent care.
A long-term care nurse can work in assisted living facilities, home care agencies, nursing homes, and retirement communities.
Managed Care Nurse
A managed care nurse makes sure patients undergo only necessary medical procedures and take advantage of preventive medical care. They work with government agencies, insurance companies, medical facilities, nurses, patients, and physicians.
These nurses typically work in offices at clinics, community health centers, hospitals, and insurance companies.
Medical-Surgical Nurse
These nurses specialize in caring for patients with a variety of medical issues or who are preparing for or recovering from surgery. They help coordinate care among the health care team.
Medical-surgical nurses primarily work in hospitals but may also work in homes, outpatient settings, or provide telemedicine.
Military Nurse
A military nurse spends most of their time directing patient care. They administer medication, assess patients, collaborate with specialists, and maintain accurate medical records.
Military nurses can serve in the U.S. or overseas in military hospitals, clinics, operational settings, and other assignments where nursing care is needed.
Missionary Nurse
Missionary nurses use nursing knowledge and clinical skills while serving in a faith-based mission. They may provide patient care, health education, community health services, or other forms of nursing support, often while working with poor or underserved populations.
Missionary nurses may serve in the U.S. or internationally through mission organizations, charities, clinics, hospitals, community programs, or other faith-based organizations.
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
Neonatal intensive care nurses work with newborn infants and premature infants who have a variety of medical conditions or birth defects.
Most of these nurses work in hospitals or nurseries in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Some work in community settings, in-home settings, or follow-up care.
Nephrology Nurse
This nurse serves patients who require kidney care. They may specialize in pediatric nephrology or specific treatments such as dialysis or transplant.
Nephrology nurses may work in clinics, hospitals, medical facilities, and physicians’ offices. Some homebound patients also require the care of nephrology nurses.
Neuroscience Nurse
A neuroscience nurse cares for patients affected by or living with a neurological illness. Their patients may experience a variety of effects due to nervous system dysfunctions such as dementia, epilepsy, paraplegia, quadriplegia, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, or other events.
These nurses may work in elder care facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation facilities.
Nurse Advocate
A nurse advocate works on behalf of patients to protect patient rights and maintain quality of care. They are a liaison between patients and doctors, intervening when there is a concern about care and working to resolve patient care issues.
These nurses work in hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient care centers, and specialty departments.
Nurse Anesthetist
These nurses administer anesthesia to patients before, during, and after surgery. They assess patients, administer anesthesia, monitor patients during procedures, and help manage recovery and pain.
Nurse anesthetists work in many settings, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and offices or practices that provide anesthesia services, such as dental, ophthalmology, pain management, and plastic surgery.
Nurse Attorney
A nurse attorney is licensed to practice both law and nursing. They represent medical professionals in court in malpractice cases and work to change policies within the health care system.
These nurses can work in clinics, hospitals, or an educational setting while focused on health care. In legal settings, they may work with the government, insurance companies, law firms, or in private practice.
Nurse Executive
A nurse executive is the most senior administrator in a nursing organization. They lead the nursing team, oversee patient care services, and make administrative decisions.
These nurses work in consulting firms, health care organizations, home health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, and nursing schools.
Nurse Life Care Planner
These nurses help patients who may suffer from debilitating illnesses, injuries, or disabilities and therefore may need care for the rest of their lives. Their patients may have HIV/AIDS, autism, diabetes, mental health disorders, or paralysis.
Nurse life care planners often work in medical facilities that cater to long-term patients. They may be in clinics, hospice care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse with graduate-level education. Nurse practitioners assess patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, make diagnoses, initiate and manage treatment, prescribe medications and other therapies, coordinate care, and provide counseling and education. Scope-of-practice requirements vary by state.
Nurse practitioners work in nearly every health care setting, including clinics, emergency departments, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, home health settings, and urgent care facilities. Common areas of practice include family care, adult-gerontology, pediatrics, women’s health, acute care, and psychiatric-mental health, among others.
- The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
>>Read More: How to Become an APRN With the Help of Purdue Global
Nurse Researcher
A nurse researcher works to discover ways to improve the services for and outcomes of patients by studying aspects of illness, health, and health care.
These nurses work in many settings, from health care facilities to laboratories to research organizations to universities.
Nursing Author, Historian, or Writer
A nursing author, historian, or writer contributes to articles, educational materials, books, or even movie or television scripts about nursing. They’ll consult, fact-check, and review written materials. In some cases, they’ll even write the material themselves.
These nurses often pursue writing alongside their usual nursing duties. They may work with a specific publication or provide freelance services.
- American Association for the History of Nursing
- American Medical Writers Association
- National Association of Science Writers
Obstetrics Nurse or Gynecology Nurse
Obstetrics or gynecology nurses typically work alongside OB/GYN physicians. They provide prenatal, postpartum, and reproductive health care through all stages of a woman’s life.
OB/GYN nurses work in community clinics, family planning centers, maternity wards, and private practice.
Occupational Health Nurse
These nurses work to promote or restore health, prevent illness and injury, and protect people from environmental and work-related hazards. They also deliver health and safety programs and services to workers and community groups.
Occupational health nurses work in hospitals and medical centers, manufacturing and production facilities, and government.
- American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc.
Oncology Nurse
An oncology nurse is a vital part of cancer care teams. They administer treatments, communicate with care providers, and help develop a plan for each patient.
These nurses work in cancer centers, clinics, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers.
Orthopedic Nurse
These nurses care for people with musculoskeletal diseases and disorders, including arthritis, broken bones, fractures, joint replacements, and osteoporosis. They also assist doctors with surgery, administer pain medications, and treat injuries.
Orthopedic nurses can work in ambulatory infusion centers, hospitals, and long-term care centers.
Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
An otorhinolaryngology nurse specializes in care for patients with ear, nose, or throat problems. They help treat acute and chronic problems ranging from allergies and infections to injuries and other abnormalities.
These nurses work in allergy clinics, assisted living centers, community clinics, hospitals, otorhinolaryngology offices, and plastic surgery offices.
Pain Management Nurse
A pain management nurse cares for patients suffering from chronic or acute pain. They assess and examine patients, perform diagnostic tests, and help them manage their pain safely.
These nurses work in clinics, hospitals, and physicians' offices. They also work in rehabilitation centers and sports medicine offices.
Pediatric Nurse
These nurses work with babies, toddlers, tweens, and teens. They focus on the health conditions and developmental stages of younger people.
Pediatric nurses work in ambulatory care centers, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and long-term care centers.
Psychiatric Nurse
A psychiatric nurse helps assess, address, and monitor behavioral and mental health conditions. They can treat patients with anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder.
These nurses can work in assisted living facilities, behavioral care companies, primary care offices, rehabilitation centers, and state and federal facilities.
Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses work with whole communities, educating them about health issues, improving community health and safety, and increasing access to health care. They often go into communities to provide services instead of waiting for patients to come to them.
These nurses work for community health centers, government agencies, nonprofit groups, and other care groups that work with underserved communities.
>>Read More: The Importance of Community Health Nursing
Radiology Nurse
A radiology nurse cares for patients who need diagnostic imaging or radiation therapy. They evaluate, plan, and provide care for patients during their procedures.
These nurses usually work in a health care facility or hospital. They may specialize in one medical department or rotate throughout a medical facility.
Rehabilitation Nurse
Rehabilitation nurses specialize in caring for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. They help patients attain optimal health and function and adapt to an altered lifestyle. They work with patients of all ages.
Most rehabilitation nurses work in either inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation centers. They might also work in acute and subacute rehab facilities.
Reproductive Nurse
Reproductive nurses, also known as fertility or IVF nurses, care for patients seeking counseling or treatment for reproductive health. They most often treat or advise couples or individuals about conception, fertility, and reproduction. They also help advise women going through menopause.
These nurses work at counseling programs, egg donor centers, hospitals, obstetrics and gynecological offices, and reproductive clinics.
Rheumatology Nurse
A rheumatology nurse helps patients with rheumatic diseases that affect joints and muscles, including fibromyalgia, lupus, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.
These nurses work in hospitals, specialty clinics, and physicians’ offices.
School Nurse
A school nurse — aside from providing medical care for students of all ages — creates, coordinates, and distributes care plans for patients who need additional physical and mental health support.
School nurses work at all education levels from preschool through college.
- American College Health Association
- American School Health Association
- National Association of School Nurses
Toxicology Nurse
Toxicology nurses working in clinical toxicology or poison-center settings may care for patients exposed to toxins, poisons, or drug overdoses. They may contribute to assessment, treatment planning, patient education, and poison-information services.
Toxicology nurses work in doctors’ offices, emergency rooms, and hospitals.
Transcultural Nurse
A transcultural nurse provides culturally responsive care to patients from different backgrounds. These nurses focus on a patient’s individual needs and preferences while respecting cultural values, beliefs, and practices.
They provide care within community clinics, hospitals, and outpatient facilities.
Transplant Nurse
Transplant nurses work closely with patients either donating or receiving organs or tissues. These nurses coordinate a patient’s care throughout the transplantation process. They also administer medications, dress wounds, monitor patients’ vital signs, and watch out for infections and organ rejection.
Sometimes called transplant nurse coordinators, they work in ambulatory surgical units, hospitals, and organ transplant facilities.
- International Transplant Nurses Society
- NATCO, The Organization for Donation and Transplant Professionals
Trauma Nurse
These nurses specialize in diagnosing and treating potentially life-threatening illnesses or traumatic injuries. Some of these nurses are first responders who care for victims of self-inflicted injuries and violent crimes.
Trauma nurses are often deployed to ambulances or other vehicles that transport patients. They also work in hospitals, intensive care units, and trauma centers.
Urologic Nurse
A urologic nurse cares for patients with urinary tract diseases, such as conditions affecting the bladder, kidneys, and urethra. They may administer medications, assist with catheterization, and provide patient education about symptom management, hygiene, and other aspects of urologic health.
Urologic nurses work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Nurse
Nurses who work with Veterans Affairs help coordinate patient care for those who have served in the U.S. military. Besides physical needs, they may help veterans with psychological and emotional care. For example, they may work with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
VA nurses work in outpatient care centers, patients’ homes, and VA hospitals.
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse
A wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse cares for those with abdominal stomas, drains, fistulas, pressure injuries, wounds, or continence disorders. They teach those with ostomies and wounds about care and rehabilitation.
WOC nurses work in home health care, hospitals, long-term care centers, and nursing homes.
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