Nursing careers are an exciting and meaningful thing - you will change and save lives. Too often though, people think the only thing they can do with a nursing degree is become a registered nurse. With a multitude of nursing careers available in the field, this couldn't be further from the truth. You can decide on a nursing career based on the types of patients you want, the environments you want to work in, the degree you hold, or how much you want to make.
You have a wide range of options, so don't be limited by what people have told you about nursing careers. Browse the nursing careers below to discover your nursing niche
Pros of Nursing Careers
- • Rewarding, satisfying and meaningful work
- • Seeing the results of the people you help
- • Staying active
- • Flexible working option
Cons of Nursing Careers
- • Physically and emotionally difficult
- • Long hours
- • People take you for granted
- • Can be exposed to many different illnesses
Nursing Careers
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- • Average Salary: $25,710
- • Focus: General Care
- • Minimum Degree Needed: Diploma or certificate
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- • Average Salary: $81,305
- • Focus: Advanced Practice, General Care
- • Minimum Degree Needed: MSN
Flight Nurse
- • Average Salary: $61,752
- • Focus: Emergency Medicine
- • Minimum Degree Needed: BSN
Labor and Delivery Nurse
- • Average Salary: $56,858
- • Focus: Emergency Medicine, General Care, Surgery
- • Minimum Degree Needed: ADN, BSN recommended
LPN/LVN
- • Average Salary: $44,030
- • Focus: General Care
- • Minimum Degree Needed: Diploma, certificate, or AND
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
- • Average Salary: $61,208
- • Focus: Newborns
- • Minimum Degree Needed: ADN; BSN recommended
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- • Average Salary: $133,115
- • Focus: Advanced Practice, Surgery
- • Minimum Degree Needed: BSN, graduation from accredited graduate school of nurse anesthesia
Nurse Educator
- • Average Salary: $73,150
- • Focus: Education
- • Minimum Degree Needed: BSN, but MSN recommended for more career opportunities
Nurse Practitioner
- • Average Salary: $85,522
- • Focus: Advanced Practice, General Care
- • Minimum Degree Needed: MSN
Obstetrics and Gynecology Nurse (OB GYN)
- • Average Salary: $60,000
- • Focus: Advanced Practice
- • Minimum Degree Needed: BSN
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- • Average Salary: $56,407
- • Focus: Mental Health
- • Minimum Degree Needed: ADN; more opportunity with BSN or MSN
Registered Nurse
- • Average Salary: $57,077
- • Focus: Emergency Medicine, General Care
- • Minimum Degree Needed: ADN, but a BSN is recommended because of higher salary and better job outlook
School Nurse
- • Average Salary: $40,146
- • Focus: Children, Education, Schools
- • Minimum Degree Needed: ADN, BSN recommended
Travel Nurse
- • Average Salary: $63,039
- • Focus: General Care
- • Minimum Degree Needed: ASN, certifications in specialty area recommended
