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Nursing can be a rewarding career path for many people. There are many career choices, competitive wages, flexible work schedule, and high compensation.
However, it’s not for everyone. There is a high physical strain and mental stress associated with being a nurse. In this article we’ll talk about:
- How many kinds of nursing specialties are there
- The educational requirements for being a nurse
- How to choose a nursing specialty
Read our related article, What Do Nurses Do? for a high-level overview of nursing duties across all specialties.
How Many Kinds of Nursing Specialties Are There?
Healthcare is an expansive industry. That’s because there are so many aspects to health that need to be available for patients. Similar to the specialized corners of doctorates there are many kinds of nurses that fulfill very specific needs.
There are over 100 nursing specialties that can be combined to create very specific specialities. Here are a few of the most common nursing careers.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are nurses that provide basic care needs for patients. They work under RNs and only do very basic tasks. However, they must have great communication skills.
Duties of LPNs usually include:
- Provide basic medical care: Changing bandages, inserting catheters, administering oral or intravenous medication
- Monitor health: Check blood pressure and other vital signs
- Keep records: Keep a detailed record of care
- Communicate with patients and doctors: LPNs may be responsible for communicating procedures to patients
LPN is the most entry-level friendly job in the nursing field and doesn’t require post graduate studies. On a national scale LPNs make $59,631 an hour. However, depending on where you live it could be much less or more than that.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses are responsible for a bit more than LPNs. RNs work tirelessly to provide top notch care to patients. They are responsible for:
- Coordinate care with the help of healthcare providers
- Educate you and family members on symptoms, medication management, and treatment plan
- Help out with diagnostic tests
- Ask about, observe, and record medical history and symptoms
- Oversee any LPNs who are in your care team
RNs are valuable for the health industry and they provide important support for doctors and patients. The national average salary for RNs is $94,217 a year.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) are nurses who have a master’s degree. They typically specialize in a specific area of healthcare and help support patients and doctors in that area.
Some of the areas APRNs work include:
- Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
- Geriatric nurse practitioner (GNP)
- Neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP)
- Certified nurse-midwife
Many of these jobs require specialized training and education. The roles of APRNs vary based on field of speciality and the national average salary of APRNs is $118,200.
School Nurse
School nurses are tasked with helping children in a school stay healthy and help decrease the risk of sickness. They also may be required to teach children about healthy diet choices and other health topics.
School nurses are required to:
- Conduct health screenings
- Oversee immunization records
- Educate children about making healthy choices
- Respond to health emergencies including broken limbs and sick children
- Administer prescriptions for students that need them
School nurses are typically required to have a bachelor's degree and an up to date NCLEX license. However, some charter or private schools may have less restrictions.
The national average salary of school nurses is $65,387 a year. However, some schools will pay much less than that.
Home Care Nurse
In some situations medical care has to be administered to patients in the comfort of their home. Older folk, people with chronic illness, pregnant women, and those experiencing disabilities all benefit from home care nurses.
Home care nurses do much of the same things RNs do, but with the context of being at the patient’s home. Those responsibilities include:
- Providing IV therapy
- Checking vitals
- Providing tube feeding
- Physical examination
- Helping with basic needs like bathing, getting dressed, and transfers
Many home care nurses have the same level of education as RNs, and their national average salary is $113,305.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Psychiatric nurse practitioners work with mental health professionals to deliver mental health care. These nurses manage the diagnoses and the treatment of mental health disorders.
PMHNPs provide similar care as RNs, but with the speciality of mental health care. A Master’s degree is often required to work as a PMHNP and the national average salary for this job is $185,193 a year
Travel Nurse
Travel nurses are specialized nurses that are hired at hospitals throughout the country. They travel all over to fill in spots for staff shortages for a set time.
Educational standards for travel nurses depend on what kind of speciality the travel nurse has. Because travel nurses can fill many specialities, the national average salary varies greatly.
Labor and Delivery Nurse
L&D nurses provide care to mothers and babies during and after the birthing process. Their responsibilities include everything an RN would do and also coach patients through pain management techniques and breastfeeding.
L&D nurses aren’t required to have a master’s degree, but a certificate or continued education may be. The average national salary for L&D nurses is $121,638.
Education Requirements for Being a Nurse
The education requirements to be a nurse changes based on what kind of nursing career you’ll want to pursue. However, all of them have a similar beginning.
Obtain an Associate Degree (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing
An associate degree in nursing is a two or three year undergraduate program that prepares people for a career in nursing.
An associate degree is optional on this education track; it’s also the cheapest. Associate degrees are often offered at community colleges and offer a cheaper option to start your higher education journey. With an associate’s of applied science degree in nursing you can get your license and get an entry level job.
A bachelor of science is required to become an RN. This degree usually takes 4 years to acquire and it should have an emphasis on nursing.
Many colleges and universities offer nursing programs that expedite the speed of education. These intensive programs are great options for getting everything you need to start your career.
Pass The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX)
After you’ve completed your education you still need to pass the national council licensure exam.
The NCLEX is a nationwide exam that all nurses have to take to begin working. This exam tests everything you learned at school while also testing critical thinking and application of nursing knowledge.
Before you can take the NCLEX you need to wait 45 days after graduation. It’s important to stay fresh on what you learned from your nursing education by testing frequently before the exam.
Get Registered in Your State
Congratulations, you passed the NCLEX, now it’s time to get licensed in your state, but don’t worry, it’s not a test this time.
Some states might have a different process for this step. In Arizona you simply need to apply by providing proof of you passing the NCLEX.
The process of getting registered in your state could take to 2-12 weeks.
Additional Education
Many nurses will return to college to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing to gain more education and pivot into a more advanced or specialty role.
Many advanced careers in the nursing field require a higher level of education than a bachelor’s degree.
Many higher education programs are geared for specific fields in nursing. For example, if you want to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), you should take a master’s program that is designed for training FNPs.
How to Choose a Nursing Speciality
There are a lot of specialities to choose from. So how do you know which one to choose from?
Before making a choice on what nursing speciality to choose consider your:
- Personality and interests: Some specialities will have very different patient interactions. Consider what environment you’d do best in. Would you prefer to work with children or the elderly?
- Emotional strengths: Some nursing specialists have different emotional requirements. For example, a neonatal nurse will deal with babies in scary health situations. Not everyone will be able to handle that environment.
- Educational requirements: Some nurse specialities only require a little bit more education or a certificate. If you don’t want to get your master’s degree, consider one of the options that don’t require anymore education.
The good thing is you don’t need to make your choice of speciality before starting your education. You should start your bachelor degree and then choose your speciality when you find something that you feel interested in.
Get Connected With REDC
Starting a career in nursing is much easier if you’re able to meet with people who can help you get started. Events are a great place to do just that.
The REDC has frequently occurring events to help people connect with people who are hiring. Create a network and get the insight you need to get hired.
If you’re looking for a place to get your nursing degree, Yavapai College has a great nursing program that is designed to teach you everything you need to know and get you prepared for the exams.