Whether you want to assist surgeons during procedures in a hospital or work with patients in their homes, nursing careers are available in nearlyall educational levelsThey come with a variety of salaries, locations and responsibilities.
nursing is thegreatest professionin healthcare, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) estimates that there were nearly3 millionsnursing jobs registered in 2020. The field is designed togrow 9%by 2030, the BLS reported, adding more than 276,000 positions with opportunities to pursue more than 100 specialties, from school or camp nursing to cardiac care.
What are the different types of nurses and their salaries?
So many options can leave new and experienced nurses wondering which specialty is right for them. To help, we've compiled a list of the 16 types of nurses employers are looking to hire, including information on salary, growth potential, and required nursing degrees.
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- average salary 2021:$ 30.290
- Job growth projected to 2030: 8%
- required education: State-approved education program, on-the-job training
- Location: Nursing facilities, hospitals and long-term care facilities
- Responsibilities: Monitor vital signs, bathe and dress patients, and assist with repositioning and walking
2. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
- average salary 2021:$ 48.070
- Job growth projected to 2030: 9%
- required education: Certificate/Diploma in an approved educational program often found at technical schools and community colleges
- Location: Nursing facilities, hospitals, doctors' offices, home health care
- Responsibilities: Change dressings, check blood pressure, collect blood and urine samples, and discuss patient concerns with RNs and physicians.
3. Registered Nurse (RN)
- average salary 2021:$ 77.600
- Job growth projected to 2030: 9%
- required education: Bachelor of Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Nursing (BSN)
- Location: Hospitals, outpatient care services, nursing care facilities
- Responsibilities: Assessing patients, administering medications and treatments, assisting with diagnostic tests, and providing emotional support and health education to patients and their families.
4. Surgical Assistant RN
- average salary 2021:$ 101.700
- Education Mandatory: DNA, BSN preferred
- Location: Hospitals
- Responsibilities: assist surgeons during procedures and care for patients before, during and after surgery
5. Home Care Registered Nurse
- average salary 2021:$ 53.000
- Education Mandatory: ADN, BSN
- Location: Patient houses
- Responsibilities: Preparing equipment, changing dressings, administering medications, and monitoring conditions
6. Nurse registered in the emergency room
- average salary 2021:$ 79.300
- Education Mandatory: ADN, BSN
- Location: emergencies
- Responsibilities: Perform triage on patient arrival, determine order of treatment, perform examinations, record patient history, monitor patient progress, and consult with supervising physicians.
7. Labor and Delivery Nurse
- average salary 2021:$ 76.400
- Education Mandatory: ADN, BSN
- Location: Hospitals, private care centers
- Responsibilities: assistance to mothers during labor and delivery, conducting cognitive testing of newborns, assistance to parents in selecting a care plan, and assistance with postpartum care for mother and child
8. Clinical Nursing Supervisor
- average salary 2021:$ 76.145
- Education Mandatory: ADN, BSN, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Location: Hospitals, long-term care facilities
- Responsibilities: Supervise nursing staff, schedule hours, distribute patient assignments, complete performance reviews
9. Nurse Case Manager
- average salary 2021:$ 66.155
- Education Mandatory:BSN
- Location:Hospital, nursing home, industrial environment.
- Responsibilities:Work with patients, medical staff and insurers to find the most cost-effective treatment plan, monitor progress, evaluate care and suggest alternative treatments.
10. Registered Nurse in Intensive Care
- average salary 2021:$ 79.800
- Education Mandatory:BSN
- Location:Intensive Care Units, specialized hospitals
- Responsibilities:Providing complex care for people with serious illnesses or injuries.
11. Registered Nurse in Oncology
- average salary 2021:$ 79.320
- Education Mandatory:BSN
- Responsibilities:Provide assistance to patients undergoing cancer treatment or patients at risk of developing cancer, administer medications and closely monitor the patient's condition.
12. Nurse specialist in health informatics
- average salary 2021:$ 93.390
- Education Mandatory:BSN, MS in Health Informatics, Health Management or Quality Management preferred
- Location:Department of Information Systems of health organizations
- Responsibilities:Maintain medical hardware and software, train medical staff, and ensure electronic documentation meets the organization's accreditation and review standards.
13. Registered Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN)
13. Registered Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN)- average salary 2021:$ 123.780
- Job growth projected to 2030: 45%
- Education Mandatory:MSN
- Location:Doctor's offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers
- Responsibilities:Diagnose patients, manage treatments, order tests and prescribe medications
14. Specialist Clinical Nurse
- average salary 2021:$ 111.982
- Education Mandatory:MSN
- Responsibilities:Improve patient care plans by working with social workers, physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists, and occasionally providing bedside care for patients.
15. Nurse
- average salary 2021:$ 120.680
- Job growth projected to 2030:52%
- Education Mandatory:MSN or a master's degree in a specialized role
- Location:doctors' offices, hospitals
- Responsibilities:Examine patients, diagnose health problems, analyze test results, and administer medications and treatments.
16. Nurse educator
- average salary 2021:$ 103.448
- Education Mandatory:MSN, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Location: academic settings, clinics, hospitals
- Responsibilities:Develop continuing education programs, facilitate training, provide educational resources for staff, and design educational initiatives to improve patient care.
How many types of nurses are there?
If you're still not sure what kind of career you want to pursue as a nurse, don't worry. This list is just a small sampling of the hundreds of types of nursing jobs you can take on in your nursing career.
Nurses are the most employed professionals in the health area and are in the sixth highest ranked occupation.projected change in employmentin the US according to the BLS Occupational Outlook.
- 1.75 million nurses work in hospitals
- 199,130 work in doctors' offices
- 173,790 work in home health services
- 131,320 work in skilled nursing facilities
- 147,720 work in outpatient clinics
Advance your nursing career
earning yourdegree in nursingomaster's degree in nursingoffers an undeniable advantage in your nursing career.
Although a registered nurse is not required to have a BSN degree, according to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, approximately42%of nurses said a bachelor's degree was their first nursing license. FORBSN is slightly different from an RNas it helps you prepare for the increasing complexity of care, technological advances, and the shift from critical care to community care settings. Many RN specialty certifications require a BSN as a minimum educational requirement.
And getting your BSN or MSN can help you jumpstart your career. According to AACN, 40.6% of entrepreneursnow require new hireshold a bachelor's degree in nursing and 77.4% express a strong preference for graduates of the BSN program.
Additionally, a 2021 AACN survey found that 76% of BSN students and 75% of MSN students had job offers upon graduation. Four to six months after completing their programs, the survey found that employment was 93% among entry-level BSN graduates and 94% for MSN.
Start your nursing career
Few careers have as much potential to positively impact people's lives as nursing. According to the AACN, nurses are the primary providers of patient care in hospitals, provide the majority of long-term care in the country, and have a major impact on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes.
While COVID-19 has challenged nurses in many ways, a 2020 American Nurses Association survey found that despite the pandemic,85% of respondentsshe would be a nurse again if they had to do it again.
“People who want to work in service to others, who want to help heal the whole person, make great nurses,” said the BSN online graduate of the University of Southern New Hampshire.julie antis '17.
Nursing is a career that allows you to create the life you want. While some nursing jobs follow a standard five-day work week, many RNs work nights, weekends, and even holidays, giving you flexibility to suit your life. AND,nurses are in demandacross the country, which means you can opt for a change of scenery without jeopardizing your career.
A headline can change your life. Find the SNHUonline nursing programthat can best help you achieve your goals.
Rebecca LeBoeuf '18 is a writer at the University of Southern New Hampshire. Connect with her atLinkedIn.