Ready to put on your scrubs and begin your nursing career but not sure what nursing path to take? With so many nursing specialties -- from a travel nurse to a scrub nurse to a midwife -- it's helpful to narrow down your choices and explore what's possible. Take our short quiz to learn what nursing specialty is best suited for your nursing career!
It’s easy to be inspired to become a nurse when you read about the exploits of famous caregivers such as Florence Nightingale, Mary Eliza Mahoney, and Clara Barton. A nursing career offers a chance to positively influence the lives of people in need. Nurses do much more than just provide basic, friendly care – they are the first responders who play a vital role in the healing process in a variety of healthcare settings.
As the healthcare industry grows, so does the demand for nursing jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% increase in RN employment from 2031-2031.* We can expect growth for many different reasons:
- Increased emphasis on preventive care
- Growing rate of chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes
- The baby-boom population expected to live longer and more active lives
What kind of nurses are there?
There are many types of nurses with all sorts of specialties you might consider when you’re looking to find the perfect career path, whether you’re a new grad or an experienced nurse looking for your niche.
Different nursing specialties:
- Aesthetic/cosmetic nurse
- Assisted living nurse
- Dialysis nurse
- Emergency Room (ER) nurse
- Flight nurse
- Home health nurse
- Labor and Delivery (L&D)
- Neonatal nurse (NICU)
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Nurse administrator
- Nurse educator
- Nurse midwife
- Oncology nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Psychiatric nurse
- Travel nurse
- ...and many more.
Consider your personality traits to find the perfect match.
Think about the kind of person you are and why you want to be a nurse. The best nursing career for you is one that’s most appropriate for your personality and unique aptitude.
Do you love working with kids? Pediatrics is an obvious choice. Are you interested in helping patients over the full lifespan? You may choose to work in geriatric care. Becoming a travel nurse could be a fun and rewarding option if you love to travel and live new experiences. Those who thrive in a high-pace environment may pick a specialty as an OR nurse in emergency services.
No matter what you pick, if you enjoy helping people and get a thrill from bringing them to health, we know nursing is a good career for you—no matter the specialty.
Learn more about the different types of nursing degrees you can pursue
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2021. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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