Have you already decided to pursue nursing as a professional career but don’t know which path to take? Luckily, there are many types of nursing professions to choose from.
You can choose the kind of nurse you want to become based on what aligns with your goals and skills. Many start with a general practice to develop the foundational skills for a more specific nursing job.
What Do Nurses Do?
Regardless of the type of nursing, every nurse wants to positively impact patients’ lives, giving their best to improve their patients’ conditions.
Nurses can work in different facility types and settings. Although tasks and responsibilities will vary by facility, there are some duties that most nurses perform in any setting. The following list shows common nurse responsibilities:
- Monitoring vitals
- Giving medications following physicians’ orders
- Charting every treatment or procedure
- Informing physicians of the patient’s evolution or condition
- Explaining the treatment plan to patients and family members
Nurses work closely with doctors and other healthcare staff throughout the treatment or healing process.
Which Are Essential Nursing Skills?
Some qualities of a nurse are necessary to perform their job with excellence. Many are learned and strengthened over time. They include the following:
- Empathy
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving
- Resilience
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
How Long Is Nursing School?
There is more than one answer; depending on your interests, you may choose from different types of nursing and program lengths.
There are different levels of nursing. Every level requires specific skills and knowledge to perform their duties according to the industry’s highest standards. However, the level should not be confused with importance: every single nurse is valuable to the healthcare system.
The shortest path to becoming a nurse is a one-year practical or vocational nursing program. Completing one of these programs allows graduates to apply for a license as a practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN).
If you choose to become a registered nurse, you have two nursing program options: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). The path of a BSN nurse typically takes four years, while the path of an ADN nurse is generally two years. Some registered nursing programs take under 2 years to complete. However, you must meet certain requirements before you can apply for them.
What Is Acute Care and Post-Acute Care?
Acute and post-acute care together provide patients with all the treatments and healthcare services they require. The type of treatment and care patients receive varies according to their recovery stage.
Acute Care
Acute care focuses on short-term treatments to stabilize a patient suffering from an injury or an illness like broken bones, head trauma, a stroke, or a heart attack. This type of treatment is usually given in a hospital or an urgent care setting and is provided by different healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses.
Post-Acute Care
Post-acute care is the treatment following an acute condition. It focuses on the patient’s transition to an independent lifestyle or daily activities.Treatment in post-acute care can include pain management, physical therapy, long-term nursing care, and occupational therapy, among others.
6 Types of Acute Care Nurses
Acute care nurses may work in various settings and develop specific skills in multiple areas. However, the following are six common roles for acute care nurses.
1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
What is a CRNA? A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who administers anesthesia to patients and is an essential surgical team member. As of 2025, it will be necessary to have a doctorate to practice as a CRNA.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), CRNAs are professionals in high demand with a mean annual wage of $214,200. Their projected job growth is 38 percent, which is much faster than the national average for all occupations.
2. Emergency Room (ER) Registered Nurse
RNs need an ADN or a BSN to become ER registered nurses. In conjunction with doctors and other healthcare staff, ER nurses care for patients with minor injuries and major trauma in a fast-paced environment.
Based on our research, the annual average salary for ER nurses is $78,000. According to the BLS, RNs have a job growth projection of 6 percent, which can also apply to ER nurses since their services are highly requested.
3. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses care for premature and critically ill newborns, monitoring their vitals, charting their recovery, and calming distressed babies, among other responsibilities.
BLS doesn’t have a job projection specifically for this type of nurse. However, RN jobs are projected to grow at double the average for all occupations.
Based on our research, the annual average salary for a neonatal nurse varies from $97,000 to $120,000.
4. Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) Registered Nurse
To practice in the med-surg nursing world, you typically need an ADN or BSN. Med-surg registered nurses care for the widest range of patients and treat the widest range of conditions in acute care settings. Therefore, many consider the med-surg unit an ideal starting point for acute care nurses.
An extensive review of available data indicates that the annual average salary of a med-surg nurse varies from $70,000 to $100,000. According to BLS, the employment growth rate for registered nurses is 6 percent.
5. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse
ICU RNs care for patients in critical condition in a fast-paced environment, providing life-saving treatments. To practice as an ICU nurse, you need a BSN, and it may help if you have extra certifications like the adult critical care nurse (CCRN) certification granted by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Our research shows an ICU nurse’s average annual salary ranges from $77,000 to $100,000. Unfortunately, BLS doesn’t have a job projection specifically for ICU nurses. Nevertheless, nurses have a higher projected job growth than the average for all occupations.
6. Telemetry Nurse
Telemetry nurses focus on patients who need continuous cardiac and vital sign monitoring without the need for critical care. Since data from each patient goes to a monitoring station, a telemetry nurse can check patients’ heart rhythms without being at the bedside.
Telemetry nurses are among the seven types of RNs who can find jobs in hospitals. You need an ADN or a BSN to practice as a telemetry nurse.
The available data shows that the average annual telemetry nurse salary goes from $50,000 to $120,000. The demand for telemetry nurses may continue increasing throughout the years since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country.
6 Types of Post-Acute Care Nurses
Are you drawn to post-acute care? Learn about six common nursing roles in post-acute care.
1. Oncology Registered Nurse
Oncology nurses care for patients in all stages of cancer disease, helping to create a care plan with other healthcare professionals, communicating with patients and families, and supporting them.
To become an oncology nurse, you need to have your ADN or BSN. Further certification may help to improve your skills in the area. The demand for oncology nurses will continue since; unfortunately, it is estimated that in 2024 alone, there will be 2,001,140 new cancer cases in the US.
According to available data, the salary range for oncology nurses varies from $86,000 to $115,000.
2. Home Health Registered Nurse
Home health nurses care for patients in their homes, giving them the support they need in tasks they can’t do because of a disease or injury. To work in home health as a registered nurse, you need an ADN or a BSN. According to BLS, the average annual wage for home health RNs is $87,430, and this sector employs over 11 percent of registered nurses nationwide.
3. Case Management Nurse
A case management nurse coordinates long-term care plans for patients to improve their health. You need an ADN or BSN before you can practice as a case management nurse. Based on our research, the annual salary varies from $50,000 to $98,000. BLS doesn’t have a job projection specific to case management nurses. Nevertheless, registered nurses as a whole have a 6 percent job growth projection.
4. Geriatric Nurse
Geriatric nurses care for older patients, helping them maintain their mental and physical health. To become a geriatric nurse, you must obtain your ADN or BSN. The available data shows that the average annual salary for these nurses ranges from $60,000 to $100,000. The demand for geriatric nurses will continue due to an increase in the number of people over 65, who will represent 23 percent of the US population by 2054.
5. Hospice Nurse
Hospice nurses care for patients with terminal diseases or conditions, helping them live their last days in the most comfortable and painless way possible. To become a hospice nurse, you must have an ADN or a BSN. Based on available data, the average salary ranges from $50,000 to $87,000, and the continuous increase in the population over 65 will likely maintain the demand for these nurse professionals.
6. Dermatology Nurse
Dermatology nurses treat patients with skin conditions or diseases. You need an ADN or BSN to practice in this field. These nurses typically work in physician offices and outpatient care centers, and the median wage for RNs working in those settings is $83,110 and $102,640, respectively. There is great demand for registered nurses across healthcare settings, so dermatology nurses will likely also be highly sought after.
What Type of Nurse Should You Become?
There are specific certifications and advanced education programs in the different areas where nurses work that may improve their skills to perform their duties and provide higher-quality care to their patients. These certifications and higher education programs can also significantly increase your potential salary. Find out which are the highest-paying nurse specialties. Regardless of your path, you can take advantage of the growing demand for different nursing types.
Find PRN RN Jobs near You
If you are looking for higher hourly wages and more flexibility, looking for PRN jobs can be your solution. Working on a PRN basis means choosing the facility you want and when you want to pick up your shift.
With PRN jobs, you have fixed-time work engagements that give you the freedom to change your work setting from one shift to the next or, if available, choose another shift in the same facility.
The best way to find PRN RN jobs near you is with Nursa, an open marketplace where you can connect with facilities in your area. If you are willing to commute, expand your search radius and find facilities in nearby areas.
Sign up with Nursa and discover a world of PRN job opportunities in different nurse settings.
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