Nurses are essential front-line healthcare workers who often are the first care providers patients see in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities. With 5.2 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States, nursing is the largest profession in the healthcare industry, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of RNs is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032.
RNs have many types of nursing jobs to choose from for their careers. Of those who choose to specialize, some work with a certain category of patients, while others work with patients in need of a certain type of care.
Here we will explore several different types of nursing jobs and what makes each distinct. We will also discuss the value of nursing education as it pertains to establishing a career in healthcare. Nurses typically need at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) to qualify for entry-level RN work. However, with the educational standards in nursing rising, many nurses pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to remain competitive in the job market.
How a Nursing Degree Qualifies You for a Healthcare Career
Nursing degree programs are designed to teach students the clinical skills and nursing knowledge that RNs rely on in a fast-paced healthcare environment. A BSN program, for example, includes coursework that covers subjects such as the following:
Pathophysiology
Health assessment
Topics of professional nursing practice
Foundations of nursing
Pharmacology with calculations laboratory
Healthcare informatics
Medical-surgical nursing
Mental health nursing
Pediatric nursing
Obstetrical nursing
Research and evidence-based practice
Community/public health nursing
Transition to professional practice
Leadership and management
The comprehensive nature of ADN and BSN degree programs means that graduates are prepared to pursue jobs in numerous areas of nursing. The best way for nurses to choose which area of healthcare to work in is to explore the different types of nursing positions to learn about the duties and requirements of each.
Exploring Different Areas of Nursing
According to Johnson & Johnson, there are close to 100 nursing specialties that cover everything from ambulatory care to veteran’s affairs. The following sections explore some of the different types of nursing jobs a nursing program graduate can qualify for.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses provide patients with a broad array of healthcare services. In a typical healthcare environment, RNs have the following duties and responsibilities:
Helping to assess patients’ conditions
Recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories
Overseeing patients and recording pertinent observations
Administering patients’ treatments and medications
Coordinating patients’ care
Collaborating with physicians and other healthcare providers
Operating medical equipment
Performing diagnostic tests and analyzing their results
Advising patients’ family members on how to manage their healthcare conditions
Some RNs choose to specialize in a particular area of healthcare. Most will gain at least two years of experience as RNs before exploring the different areas of nursing they may want to work in. This ensures they have established a foundation of clinical skills before shifting their focus elsewhere.
Emergency Room Nurse
An emergency room (ER) nurse provides essential healthcare services to patients who have experienced severe trauma or who are experiencing a serious medical condition that may be an immediate threat to their lives. Time is always a factor when working as an ER nurse, so their main responsibility is to provide treatment that stabilizes patients and brings their vital signs back to acceptable levels.
The main duties and responsibilities of ER nurses include the following:
Triaging incoming patients to determine the severity of their illness or injury
Administering patients’ medications
Setting patients’ broken bones
Starting patients’ intravenous (IV) lines
Suturing patients’ wounds
Intubating patients
Maintaining patients’ records
Helping transfer stable patients
Successful ER nurses are experts in emergency medicine, can work under pressure in a fast-paced collaborative environment, and possess exceptional time-management and communication skills.
Geriatric Nurse
Geriatric nurses work with older patients, which means they are focused on the diseases and healthcare conditions that impact aging individuals. When working with patients, geriatric nurses typically focus on hands-on care and health assessments. Geriatric nurses’ duties and responsibilities include the following:
Assisting patients with their basic needs, such as eating, dressing, and using the restroom
Helping patients be as self-sufficient as possible
Administering medications
Assisting patients with exercise and physical activities
Coordinating patients’ care plans
Assisting with physical exams to determine patients’ cognitive abilities and mental health
Closely monitoring patients for mental and physical decline
Assessing patients’ ability to perform routine daily tasks
Monitoring patients to ensure that their care plans are having the intended effect
Recording patients’ vital signs and other pertinent information
In addition to the care they provide to their patients, geriatric nurses also serve as their advocates and are the primary educators of their family members. Successful geriatric nurses have an extensive knowledge of the aging process, are proficient communicators, and are exceptionally well organized.
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses provide healthcare services exclusively to children. They typically operate as part of a team of pediatric surgeons, pediatricians, and other healthcare specialists who focus on children's health issues. The typical duties and responsibilities of pediatric nurses include the following:
Performing routine health screenings and evaluations of patients
Diagnosing and treating patients’ common illnesses and injuries
Guiding patients’ parents and caregivers on how to care for their children's health and safety
Administering patients’ immunizations and providing them with other preventive healthcare services
Interpreting patients’ lab results
Administering patients’ medications
Performing physical examinations of patients
Successful pediatric nurses establish bonds of trust with their patients and their patients’ parents. They also are exceptional interpersonal communicators and active listeners, and are capable of employing a creative approach to patients’ care when needed.
Surgical Nurse
Surgical nurses support surgeons and other primary care health physicians who are treating surgery patients. They look after patients and address their needs before and after surgery. The typical day-to-day duties and responsibilities of surgical nurses include the following:
Assisting with pre-surgery preparations
Explaining to patients what to expect, so they are mentally prepared
Administering patients’ prescribed medications
Caring for patients’ wounds and changing their dressings
Answering patients’ questions
Keeping patients’ families informed of their status
Updating patients’ charts and medical records
Successful surgical nurses have strong communication and organizational skills, can help patients feel comfortable before surgery, and work well in a team environment.
Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric nurses, also known as mental health nurses, provide direct mental health care to patients based on the orders of the patients’ presiding physician. As one of the types of nursing that focuses exclusively on mental health, nurses in this specialty should have extensive knowledge of mental health conditions and their signs and symptoms. The typical duties and responsibilities of psychiatric nurses include the following:
Administering patients’ treatment plans
Collaborating with physicians and other healthcare professionals
Administering patients’ medications and monitoring them for their responses
Conducting patients’ evaluations and screenings
Educating patients’ family members about their conditions
Maintaining and updating patients’ medical records
Responding promptly to patients’ emergency mental health situations
Successful psychiatric nurses have strong decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, empathy, and compassion, and the ability to develop a bond of trust with patients and their families.
Qualify for Different Types of Nursing Careers With a Nursing Degree
Working as an RN in any of the many areas of nursing can offer a rewarding and stable career path. RNs can provide care in general settings — such as a primary care physician’s office — or they may choose to specialize in areas of care like psychiatry, surgery, or pediatrics.
Individuals interested in entering the healthcare field should explore the ADN and BSN completion programs offered at the Denver College of Nursing campuses. These programs prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which they must pass to earn state RN licensure prior to practicing. Graduates of either program who become RNs will be qualified to pursue roles in numerous healthcare specialties.
DCN also offers online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs for current RNs looking to advance in their careers.
Learn more about DCN’s programs to discover how they can support your professional goals in nursing.
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