There are currently 104 nursing professions around the world, making nursing one of the most rewarding, diverse careers you could pursue. Some are common, such as a midwife, but what are the different types of nursing available for you to start a career in?
From cardiac nursing to prison nursing, here are just 30 nursing careers you can specialise in.
1. Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses deliver and coordinate patient care while also educating patients about a variety of health conditions. A majority of registered nurses work within a team of physicians and other healthcare specialists.
2. Cardiac Nurse
As a cardiac nurse, you’ll work with patients who need cardiovascular care. You’ll also assist with surgical procedures.
3. Nurse Anaesthetist
A nurse anaesthetist is a highly trained healthcare professional that specialises in anaesthesia during surgeries.
4. Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical nurse specialists have a background in a particular area of healthcare. This could be bowel cancer, for example, so it depends on the area in which you specialise in.
5. Critical Care Nurse
These nurses have a similar role to registered nurses, however, they’re specially trained to handle emergency situations.
6. A&E Nurse
A&E nurses work in the emergency departments in hospitals which are often very busy and challenging environments where you’re likely to be on your feet throughout your shift. They’re usually the first point of contact for patients who suffer from a variety of conditions or injuries.
7. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Family nurse practitioners are specially trained to care for people of all ages.
8. Geriatric Nurse
Working specifically with older patients, geriatric nurses provide care for any ailments or illnesses older patients may have.
9. Theatre Nurse
A theatre nurse is also known as a surgical nurse. It’s their duty to take care of pre and post-operative care for patients.
10. Mental Health Nurse
It’s a mental health nurse’s duty to provide support and medical care to patients who have mental health issues. This can range from anxiety and depression to personality disorders and drug addiction.
11. Research Nurse
Research nurses help run critical trials and provide information and support to patients involved in trials.
12. Case Management Nursing
This is a type of registered nursing which manages the long-term care requirements of patients with chronic illnesses.
13. Complementary Health Nursing
Complementary health nurses use alternative therapies to treat common illnesses.
14. Prison Nurse
Alongside providing similar services to those who work in a GP practice, prison nurses also deliver mental health and substance misuse services in prisons.
15. Learning Disability Nurse
These nurses provide specialist healthcare support to people with a learning disability. They’ll also work with a patient’s family to help all live a fulfilling life.
16. Children’s Nurse
From nursing a newborn to treating a teenager with an illness, children’s nurses have a lot of variety in the care they provide. It’s also their duty to support the child’s wider family.
17. Adult Nurse
It’s an adult nurse’s job to provide support to adults who suffer from a wide variety of medical conditions.
18. District Nurse
District nurses assess the healthcare needs of patients and families while also monitoring the quality of care the patient is receiving.
19. General Practice Nurse
These nurses work in GP surgeries as part of the primary healthcare team. They provide care, treatment and health education to patients of all ages.
20. Neonatal Nurse
Neonatal nurses care for newborn babies who are born premature or suffer from a sickness.
21. Nursing Associate
Nursing associates work across all four fields of nursing - adult, children’s, mental health and learning disability.
22. Dermatology Nurse
This is a specialism in nursing, where nurses work only with patients who have a skin disorder.
23. Diabetes Specialist Nurses
Diabetes specialist nurses work specifically with ill patients who have diabetes.
24. Nurse Specialist for Safeguarding & Public Protection
These nurses plan and deliver training programmes around child protection, adults at risk and domestic abuse.
25. Family Nurse Practitioner
This is a registered nurse who works under the supervision of a physician.
26. Forensic Nursing
Forensic nurses work closely with the legal system, collecting forensic evidence for cases involving violence.
27. Gastroenterology Nursing
These nurses treat patients who have conditions that affect their digestive system.
28. Gynaecology Nursing
This speciality of nursing treats only female patients concerning reproductive health.
29. Military Nurse
Military nurses care for patients within the military and are positioned across the world.
30. Midwife
A midwife is trained to care for women during pregnancy, labour and birth.
From critical care to midwifery, there are so many different kinds of nurses and different types of care you can specialise in. Whichever path you decide to take, it’s important to be prepared. That’s why we’ve created a resource to help you get the job you were born to do.
Prepare for Your Nursing Interview Today
Interviews can be nervous experiences, and with so many people applying for the same job as you, it’s important to stand out. By doing your research and preparing for the interview, you can make a great first impression. We have just the resource to help you do exactly that.
Make sure you impress in your next nursing interview by downloading our guide full of tips and practice questions, specifically for nurses. Get your copy below.