In a world that’s becoming increasingly more digitized, it’s no surprise that one of the fastest-growing professions in the healthcare system is nursing informatics. But what exactly is Nursing Informatics and why is this particular field of nursing worthy of attention? 

In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Nursing Informatics from the educational path you need to pursue in order to get on this career track, the qualities you need to succeed as well as what the job entails on a daily basis. 

At Nightingale College, we believe that Nursing Informaticians will play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare. That’s why it’s imperative that we have highly qualified professionals to bridge the gap between nursing and digital technologies and help us stay ahead of the game. 

What Is Nursing Informatics?

Nursing informatics is a specialty that blends together three different disciplines: nursing science, computer science, and information science. Its goal is to manage, communicate, and make accessible large amounts of data and integrate digital knowledge and skills into traditional nursing practice. 

Thus, nursing informatics is a very complex field that requires knowledge from multiple areas of study. Its main purpose is to ensure the maintenance and development of medical data systems that are necessary for the practice of nursing as well as for improving patient outcomes. Fundamentally, nursing informatics is a means to boost the efficiency of healthcare workers and the quality of patient care, as well as cut costs. 

In order to extensively improve the quality of patient care, Nursing Informatics Specialists integrate their clinical nursing skills with advanced technical skills, a feat that is important now more than ever, as the usage of technology in healthcare practices is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. 

The field of nursing informatics is not new, however, it has been getting more traction particularly during the last decade. Some of the vital technologies that have evolved due to advancements in this field are Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems and Electronic medical records (EMRs). 

CPOEs are specifically designed to reduce a hospital’s paper-based ordering systems. They allow medical institutions to write their medication orders electronically, to maintain online records and they also offer security alerts triggered when unsafe orders are placed. Therefore, CPOE systems can greatly increase efficiency and improve patient safety and patient care. 

EMRs are the digital equivalent of patient paper records that one can find at a physician’s office or other medical facilities. They normally include all the information about a patient’s medical and treatment history, from test results, progress notes, nursing notes, and medication records. EMRs are essential in helping healthcare institutions provide accurate, timely, and efficient care. 

These are just two examples of how nursing informatics has already impacted healthcare. And nowadays, especially with hospitals using CPOEs and EMRs to a greater extent, they need well-prepared specialists – nursing informaticists – with extensive knowledge of both IT and nursing to manage and consistently improve these systems. 

What Are the Educational Requirements for a Career in Nursing Informatics? 

In order to start a career in nursing informatics, you have to be a Registered Nurse. Having a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) at a minimum is a requirement for entering this field, therefore, if you are already a working professional with an ADN diploma, you should consider pursuing a BSN by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN program. This kind of program can be completed in as few as 12 months and is a great stepping stone towards becoming a Nursing Informatics Specialist. 

Find out more information about how long it takes to get your BSN degree, the first requirement you must fulfill to become a Nurse Informatics Specialist. 

If you are thinking of making a career shift towards nursing informatics and wish to pursue an advanced degree but are reluctant to do so because of concerns tied to the Coronavirus pandemic, the best solution for you is to enroll in an online program. 

Because of the pandemic, lots of nursing schools have shifted their focus to online education. At Nightingale College not only do we offer online programs, but we have for the past five years, which has allowed us to continuously improve our curriculum and teaching methods to grant our learners the best quality nursing education possible. 

Enroll in our hybrid BSN program and start your journey towards a career in nursing informatics.  

Advanced education, such as obtaining a Master’s Degree or a Doctoral Degree is not always required but is oftentimes highly recommended. 

Some of the courses you can expect to study as part of your nursing informatics curriculum include statistics for evidence-based practice, database management, clinical information systems, information security, and privacy and informatics theory. 

According to a 2020 HIMSS study, in the field of nursing informatics, continuous nursing development is seen as a priority. Hence, around 37% of nursing informatics specialists have a Master’s degree or a Ph.D. in informatics, a 6% increase compared to 2017. Also, the number of people who have received a certificate in nursing informatics rose to 25% in 2020, while the number of specialists who hold any kind of certification is up to 58%. 

Nursing informatics is, undeniably, a competitive field. So, advancing your education is the best way to ensure your spot in this career. 

Increase your chances of becoming a Nursing informaticist by enrolling in an online RN-to-BSN program. 

What Skills & Competencies Do You Need in Order to Become a Nurse Informaticist?

Nursing informatics and traditional nursing, while they do share some common ground, are also very different. But in general, you will make a great Nurse Informaticist if you have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, if you’re passionate about working with technology and if you don’t lose your ground when obstacles come your way. 

Some of the skills you need in order to succeed in the field include, but are not limited to:

• Interpersonal skills: Working with technology doesn’t mean you no longer have to interact with people. Quite the contrary, nursing informatics professionals serve as the bridge between two worlds, nursing, and technology. Therefore, strong interpersonal skills, like teamwork, empathy, conflict resolution, are essential. 
• Problem Solving: Working in nursing informatics generally comes with a wide array of problems that need to be solved on a daily basis. These can range from clinical challenges, like improving the way patient data is shared between providers or improving certain processes. Complications can also ensue because you’ll have to work closely with specialists from different disciplines with different levels of expertise. Nonetheless, knowing how to find solutions (and having the patience to do so) to any obstacles that might be thrown your way will help you tremendously. 
• Knowledge of technology: This is a given in the field of health informatics. Because nurse informatics acts as the liaison between the clinical professionals and the technical members of the team, a high degree of expertise in matters of technology is essential. Skills like knowing computer programming, while not a requirement for most positions, will give you a competitive edge and enlarge your professional options. 
• Clinical experience: Transitioning to a position in nursing informatics requires as much clinical experience as it does technical. Having personal experience in clinical environments gives nurses a better understanding of how technology actually affects patient care and helps them be better in their new position.
  

What Is the Job Description for a Nursing Informaticists?

First off, before delving into the job descriptions, we need to address a dilemma. You might come across different titles for jobs related to nursing informatics. Although they can still differ a little bit depending on the employer, in general, these roles fall under the same job description. 

These are the most popular titles for nurses that work in health informatics: 

• Nurse Informaticist
• Clinical Informaticist
• Nursing Informatics Specialist
• Nursing Informatics Clinician
• Clinical Informatics Coordinator
• Clinical Analyst
• Clinical Nurse Informatics Specialist
• IT Clinical Nurse
• Perioperative Informatics Nurse

Nursing Informaticists are mainly focused on the link between patient data and computer systems. They also act as the bridge between clinical nurses and the IT members of the staff. 

What Do Nurse Informaticists Actually Do?

Through the usage of data, Informatics Nurses analyze trends, keep an eye out for potentially dangerous medical errors, and implement user-friendly, patient-centric innovations that help nurses be more efficient at their job. The field of informatics ensures that technology is a consistent part of the daily work of nurses, and in an increasingly digitized society, it’s imperative for healthcare to keep up with the times. 

NIs are responsible for quality control and systems development. They are also in charge of conducting relevant training for the clinical staff when new technologies are introduced. Other common tasks that occur every day are management of different programs, analyzing clinical statistics, or writing policies. 

According to the HIMSS survey conducted in 2020, the top job responsibilities for nursing informaticists are as follows:

44% of Nurse Informaticists see systems implementation as one of the top priorities in terms of job responsibilities. Tasks related to the utilization and optimization of these systems are also very high on the list of duties, with a little over 41% of nursing informatics specialists engaging in this task consistently. 

Nurse Informaticists are also in charge of developing systems that can advance the quality of care, only around 34% of the professionals are working in this area. 

This job comes with a great deal of responsibility in terms of leadership. So, about a third of the nurse informatics that participated in the HIMMS study said they have to manage at least one person, while around 20% declared they are in charge of managing between one and five employees. 

Where Can You Work as a Nurse Informaticist?

Nursing Informaticists can find employment in a variety of settings, from hospitals and other healthcare facilities to consulting firms, universities, and corporations. 

However, over two-thirds (68%) of the professionals employed in the fieldwork for a hospital or multi-facility health systems. It’s also worth mentioning that more than half work at Magnet hospitals. 

A significant percentage of Nurse Informaticists work for the government or military or in academic settings. 

Nurse Informaticists Salary

Per the HIMMS survey, the majority of nurse informaticists (63%) earn a salary that ranges from $61,000 to $115,000. That is significantly higher compared to the median salary of a traditional Registered Nurse, which according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is around $73,300 annually. 

In order to be able to see how your earning potential as a Nurse Informaticist fares in comparison to other nursing jobs, find out more how much Registered Nurses make in every state. 

At the same time, over 10% of the professionals working in this field bring home more than $150,000. 

Not only are nurse informaticists some of the top earners, but the job satisfaction levels for people engaged in this career is also very high. Over 77% of RNs employed in informatics jobs have reported being highly satisfied with their informatics career choice. 

Why is Nursing Informatics Important for the Development of Healthcare? 

Aside from the financial benefits, another important motivation for Registered Nurses to pursue a career in informatics is the meaningfulness of this career. Essentially, what Nurse Informaticists do is improve the quality of healthcare which translates into better, safer, faster outcomes for patients. 

But how exactly does nursing informatics improve the quality of healthcare?

In order for nurses to be able to care for their patients, they need information. Information about medical histories, medication, results in different tests, notes from physicians. It’s this demand for information that allows the nursing workforce to meet the demands of their job

Nurse Informaticist plays a fundamental role in developing, maintaining, and improving the technology that allows for improved communication which leads to safer patient processes. They optimize documentation efficiency and usability, reduce workflow waste, identify safety risks, and constantly innovate, in collaboration with technicians to reduce the ground for human error. 

As a result, electronic medical records and computerized provider ordering have proved pivotal in reducing medical errors, patient care delays, and healthcare costs.

One example that highlights the importance of nursing informatics comes in the context of the current pandemic. Technology is used by healthcare institutions not only to fight the virus but also to improve patient outcomes and assure the safety of front-line workers. Keeping patient records has significantly moved from paper to digital systems, making it safer and faster for nurses and doctors to assess, assist, and treat patients. 

Moreover, Informatics Nurses act as educators, serving as the link between direct care nurses and technological change. They prepare, educate, and train them in the ways that technology is reshaping the healthcare ecosystem. 

The Future is Calling. Are You Ready to Become a Nurse Informaticist? 

As a nurse informaticist, you will be an important player in the healthcare industry. Speaking fluently both the language of the nursing field and of the technology field you will be the common link that unites these two worlds. And that role is increasingly important. In a society that’s becoming progressively digital, the healthcare industry can do nothing but keep up. 

Are you ready to step into the informatics arena? Enroll in Nightingale College’s online RN-to-BSN program!

If you’re driven by a desire to do good, help others, and impact change then most likely at one point you found yourself asking a question: Should I be a nurse or a teacher? Both careers are meaningful, rewarding, and fall right into line with your core values. 

If you chose to follow the nursing path, that doesn’t mean you need to give up on your dream of becoming a teacher. On the contrary, you can combine your two passions by becoming a nurse educator. That is your chance to get the best of both worlds: your academic experience will help shape the future of nursing, while the ties to clinical practice will keep you grounded and fully aware of your responsibility as a teacher. 

Read on to find out what teaching and nursing have in common, what makes them different, and how you can connect them. In the midst of the side-by-side comparison of these meaningful professions, you might discover if pursuing a career in education is the right move for you. 

What Are the Job Duties of Nurses and Teachers?

Although the main motivation behind both nursing and teaching is improving people’s lives, when it comes to day-to-day duties, the job of a nurse and the job of a teacher come with very different responsibilities. 

A registered nurse works as part of a medical team, alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals with the common goal of providing the best quality of care to patients. In doing so, nurses have a myriad of duties ranging from administering medication and monitoring vital signs, to educating individuals about how to manage their maladies and how to lead healthy lives. An RN’s duties might vary on their chosen specialization: for instance, pediatric nurses and surgical nurses generally have very different responsibilities, one works with children, the other assists surgeons during operations. But all in all, the duties of a nurse come down to treating patients and saving lives. 

Teachers, on the other hand, have one main goal: preparing and educating students for the world and helping them become the best professionals they can be. From developing lesson plans and holding classes or lectures, to grading papers and guiding students to learn and improve, it is a teacher’s fundamental responsibility to teach their students basic life (and academic) skills, to inspire them, and to sow the seed of knowledge in their hearts. 

How Do Work Environments Differ?

Contrary to popular belief, registered nurses are not restricted to working in hospital settings, although the largest number of RNs work in medical institutions. However, nurses can also find employment in clinics, schools, assisted living facilities, or even patient homes. 

Teachers generally work in academic settings, such as schools, universities, colleges. Although these are the most popular, there are still other options out there. For instance, nurse educators can also find employment in teaching hospitals, laboratories, and clinical settings, alongside the traditional university route. 

What Skills do Nurses and Teachers Need in Order to Succeed? 

The jobs in themselves might be different, but the skills that make a successful nurse and teacher are very similar. 

Patience 

Whether it’s students who have trouble following the material or patients who are non-compliant, you’ll need to be patient, calm, and understanding to solve any unexpected conflict. 

Communication Skills 

You must be able to speak clearly to your students, patients, and fellow colleagues. Effective communication skills will make your patients feel more at ease or your students more comfortable and confident.

Instruction Skills 

When it comes to students, on a daily basis, you will have to explain unfamiliar concepts and help them understand from scratch. That is also relevant if you’re a nurse. You might have to teach a patient the home management of diabetes, you might have to instruct a patient on how to use their heart monitor, or you might have to show first-time parents the right way to give their newborn baby a bath. Knowing how to help people navigate this uncharted territory is a valuable skill in both careers.

Problem-Solving Skills

Obstacles may arise in any given situation and you must be equipped with the skills to solve them. Is the WiFi down and you had all your lecture materials stored in Google Drive? Is your patient refusing to take his medication? You’ll have to figure out creative, efficient solutions. 

Dedication to life-long learning 

Both nursing and teaching rely on continuous learning. You need to constantly stay informed in order to be at the forefront of your field. 

Education: How Long Does It Take to Achieve Your Goal?

In order to become a Registered Nurse, you have to earn an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. You get your license by passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Depending on the route you choose to take, the length of your studies will vary. 

An ADN generally takes around 20 months to complete, the BSN can be completed in around 32 months, or, if you are already a nurse and want to advance your studies, you can do so by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN bridge fast track program, which can be completed in as few as 12 months. 

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding which path to take in order to become a nurse: it must be tailored to your time, preferences, and responsibilities. However, with more career options and higher salaries, BSN nurses hold a significant advantage over ADN trained nurses. 

Find out more about how long it takes to get your BSN degree and what are the particularities of each of these routes. 

If you want to shift your focus from nursing to education, you need to be aware that the process is lengthier, more time-consuming, and more expensive compared to becoming an RN. Typically, nurse educators must hold more advanced degrees, such as a Master’s or a Doctoral degree in Nursing. For BSN nurses, an MSNEd program can be completed in 20 months. Also, generally, a few years of hands-on clinical experience are required in order to become a teacher. 

Read more about what it takes to become a nurse educator. 

Salary and Job Outlook

Registered nurses have great job prospects, as the employment of RNs is projected to grow by 12% by 2028, at a much faster rate than other occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be about 210,400 job openings for registered nurses every year over the course of the decade. Not only is the job outlook great for RNs, but they’re also compensated fairly well. Per the BLS, in 2019, nurses earned on average $77,460 a year. 

Meanwhile, nursing instructors and teachers make on average $83,160 per year. In D.C., nurse educators can even earn a median wage of $157,560, in Florida, salaries can go as high as $122,050, and in California teachers of nursing can earn up to $101,930. 

Find out how much nurses educators earn in each state. 

Not only are the salaries for nurse educators significantly higher, but there is also growing demand. The shortage of nursing faculty is affecting the entire healthcare ecosystem. With more than ⅓ of the current nursing teachers expected to retire by 2025, there is now a pressing need for more educators, which will only become more severe in the years to come. 

Nursing vs Teaching: Challenges and Benefits

Each of the professions has its own benefits and challenges. You just need to weigh them and decide which holds more power in your book. 

As an RN, you might get a fairly flexible schedule as most hospitals condone the practice of the three-day workweek: you work three 12-hour shifts a week and have four days off, which is a great way to spend more time with your family. On the downside, these long shifts can take their toll. They’re tiring and stressful, and the long hours spent standing can lead to exhaustion. Another challenge is the fact that while you do have some flexibility over your schedule, you might still have to work nights, weekends, or during holidays. Also, as a nurse, you risk more exposure to work-related dangers and the overall stress of the job might lead to burnout. But you directly help people through difficult and scary times in their lives and that is an invaluable experience. 

Read more about nurse burnout and how to avoid it.

Meanwhile, teaching offers a more structured schedule. Not only do you have weekends and holidays off, but you work more reasonable hours in less stressful conditions. 

Some benefits are applicable to both professions: the jobs are in demand, they offer higher salaries than average, you can choose from a variety of workplaces and both careers are very reputable and respected. 

Questions You Might Ask Yourself

Being an RN I’m directly helping people. Will I still make a difference if I switch to teaching?

It is true that as a nurse you can witness the direct impact of your care: you can see patients getting better under your watch and to some extent you can quantify the impact of your care. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that you saved a life or helped treat a patient.

But when it comes to teaching, the impact not only is still there but, arguably, it’s even on a higher level. Granted, as opposed to nursing, you don’t see the results of your work immediately. However, by educating the future generations of nurses not only do you contribute to saving lives, but you get the added satisfaction of knowing that you help move the profession forward. So, by preparing aspiring nurses to the best of your ability, you play a decisive role in more lives being saved, more patients being treated to the highest standards of professionalism. You may not be in the ER, but your teachings go far beyond university classrooms. 

What if I can’t handle it? Working with one patient at a time is one thing, but a whole class?

Before going into teaching, you need to assess your strengths and weaknesses. As a nurse educator, you will need strong communication skills, advanced knowledge of nursing (and, more specifically, of the field you choose to specialize in) as well as the skills to transfer the knowledge to your students. The comprehensive curriculum of the MSNEd program will help you transition into the nurse educator role, and the hands-on clinical experience will prove invaluable. So, one patient at a time is just the stepping stone you need to lead a whole class. 

Also, keep in mind that nursing is teaching. You spend your days as an RN teaching your patients how to deal with their maladies, you explain to the families everything they need to know about their loved ones’ conditions, you share knowledge with your fellow nurses in order to become a better professional. By becoming a nurse educator you do the same thing, only on a larger, more advanced, more professional level. 

What if you don’t want to change the hospital for a classroom, but you still want to follow your teaching passion?

Luckily, among many options, the MSNEd program also offers you the chance to work as a Nursing Professional Development specialist. You’ll work directly in the hospital, helping novice nurses transition into true professionals or constantly updating nurses’ competencies. You’ll still be teaching, but you’ll do it in the environment you’re most comfortable in. 

Taking Advantage of the Best of Both Worlds

Obviously, the choice comes down to each individual, but if your love for teaching intersects your passion for helping others, becoming a nursing instructor is the perfect middle ground. By teaching nursing, you always have your finger on the pulse of the healthcare industry and you help shape its future. The responsibility is great, but so is the reward. Elevating the level of nursing and ensuring people are getting the highest quality care is no small accomplishment. 

Take the first step towards your career as a nurse educator. Enroll in our MSNEd program today! 

There has never been a better time to be a nurse in the United States of America. Salaries are going up, working conditions are improving, nurses are gaining more independence, job security is high, and, generally, nurses enjoy great employment opportunities right after graduation. 

So, naturally, a career in nursing sure sounds appealing, especially if you have a soft spot for the wellbeing of others. Hence, you decide it might just be the path for you to follow, only to discover the nursing field is one of the most diversified out there. Which naturally props some questions. What nursing specialties are most in-demand? Which are better paid? What level of education do you need to complete to start working in your desired field?

Lucky for you, we compiled a list of the most popular types of nurses. These are the specialties that are sought after by most hospitals, especially in the conditions of the nursing shortage looming ever so intense over the United States. 

To make the process of choosing a career path more manageable for you, we also touched upon the academic requirements each career imposes – that is, what level of nursing you ought to accomplish to pursue a particular profession.

Levels of Nursing

Before we dive into what are the best and the most popular career choices for nurses, we must take a moment to highlight the fact that different career opportunities require different levels of nursing education.

Every different level of nursing comes with its own opportunities. You just have to choose the academic track that falls most in line with your career aspirations. Is being a registered nurse enough for you, or do you want to climb higher and higher up the professional ladder? The choice is yours. We are simply here to help you navigate the confusing waters of nursing, credentials, degrees, and careers. 

Thus, let’s start by examining the main levels of nursing. 

• Nursing aid or assistant: This position doesn’t technically make you a nurse since you do not hold a nursing license, but it is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into what a nursing career can bring. 
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): The CNA must hold a certification to be able to work in this position. Their duties typically revolve around helping patients with daily living, such as cleaning and bathing patients, helping them eat, or taking their vitals. Because of the limited training, their work mostly unfolds under the supervision of an RN.
• Licensed Professional Nurse or Licenced Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN): LPNs usually serve as the link between the patient and the medical staff. Their duties may include basic tasks, such as collecting patient records, administering injections, and preparing surgical procedures. Depending on state regulations, LPNs can even commence small procedures, like starting an intravenous drip or administering medication. LPNs or LVNs work under the supervision of an RN or a doctor.
• Registered Nurse (RN): Registered nurses are what most people envision when thinking of “nurses” in general. Their education is more advanced compared to the other categories, and they have passed a nursing exam and have received licensure. They provide and coordinate direct patient care, they can also consult and make recommendations to doctors and offer training to CNAs and LPNs. Most registered nurses work as part of a team with physicians and other healthcare specialists. You can become a registered nurse in one of two ways: by getting an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or by completing a BSN program.
• Registered Nurse with a BSN: In addition to having gained the RN licensure, an RN with a BSN has also completed a Bachelor of Science in nursing. This allows them to take on more responsibilities and increases their chances of getting management positions. Also, most hospitals make it a requirement that RNs hold a Bachelor’s degree, so more nurses choose to go back to school and receive their BSN, typically through an online RN-to-BSN program. 
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN): Obtaining a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) changes your job description from RN to APRN. APRNs undergo additional training and specific clinical practice and can choose from an even wider variety of roles compared to BSN prepared nurses.  
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): A doctorate is as high as you can go on the levels of nursing scale. The DNP degree offers nurses the skills to make diagnoses in certain situations and even to set up a course of treatment.

Hopefully, having a clearer idea of the different levels of nursing can get you closer to deciding which career track is right for you. And because there is more to nursing than meets the eye, we have put together a list to help you choose between the most popular and in-demand nursing specialties. 

Most Popular Career Tracks for Nurses: 

Nursing is a field that offers a plethora of options as far as career choices go. Each job comes with its distinct set of responsibilities and has particular attributes: some pay better, others are less stressful, while some have the highest growth potential. To make the most out of your nursing career, you must decide which aspects are more relevant to you and pursue the position that best fits your aspirations. One thing is for sure – regardless of the direction in which you choose to take your career, nursing is always going to be one of the most meaningful fields to work in. 

To give you a comprehensive list of viable options we made an in-depth analysis of the nursing landscape, and we scoured several job sites in order to get a feel for the most in-demand nursing positions, as well as their respective average salaries.*

1. Registered Nurse

Required education: ADN or BSN(preferred)

Best For: High demand

Income: $71,730 per year

Job Postings: 189,271

Description: RNs already make up the largest category of nurses, yet the job outlook for this profession is excellent. According to the BLS, the need for RNs is expected to grow by 12% by 2028. So, now might be the best time to join the RN club. You will work closely with physicians and other healthcare specialists, and some of your main duties will include assessing and observing the patients, performing diagnostic tests, operating and monitoring medical equipment, and administering patients’ medicine and treatments. (If you’re an RN looking for either a career change or a more in-depth specialization, rest assured, you’ll find something that makes you tick in this list we’ve put together.) 

Discover the sroty of a Nightingale College graduate who shares her experience of becoming a Registered Nurse as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds.

2. Pediatric Nurse

Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred)

Best For: High demand

Income: $60,814

Job postings: 40,814

Description: If you love children and find working with them gratifying, a career in pediatric nursing may be just what the doctor ordered. This job spans from working with toddlers to treating teenagers. However, caring for young patients and assisting in curing their diseases and illnesses is only part of the job. Another significant chunk of it consists of educating the parents on how to provide the best care for their children and how to make sure they grow healthy and unharmed.

3. Nurse Practitioner

Required Education: MSN

Best For: High Pay

Income: $110,030 per year

Job Postings: 18,574

Description: This is one of the most popular career choices for nurses who get a Master’s degree in Nursing. Some of the NPs duties include examining patients, prescribing certain drugs, diagnosing diseases, and recommending courses of treatment. In some states, as a nurse practitioner, you can even open your own practice and provide care independently without physician oversight. The demand for nurse practitioners is also huge. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 26% growth in the demand for NPs by 2028, much higher compared to other jobs. 

4. Oncology Nurse

Required Education: ADN/BSN

Best For: High Demand

Income:  $71,489

Job postings: 16,895

Description: Caring for people diagnosed with cancer is definitely a sensitive area of practice. Oncology nurses stand by the patients and help them face the cruelness of the disease. Helping people through their cancer journey might prove a difficult task, but helping cancer patients become cancer survivors is a powerful push for nurses who choose this career.

5. Emergency Room Nurse

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Best For: High demand

Income: $67,097

Job postings: 16,737

Description: ER nurses are in charge of treating patients who come to the emergency department of a hospital. Their job is always unpredictable, and they never know what to expect from the people coming through the Emergency Room doors. It could be people who’ve experienced a heart attack, who’ve been shot or who were in a car accident. So, if you are quick to think on your feet, if you don’t mind the pressure and the unpredictability, this career path might be right for you. One thing is sure. You will not get bored on a shift-to-shift basis. 

6. Clinical Nurse Specialist

Required Education: MSN

Income: $89,676

Job Postings: 16,339

Description: Clinical nurse specialists usually work in specialized units, and typically they focus in particular areas of medicine. Clinical nurse specialists are viewed as experts in their field, so if you think you would enjoy a more focused approach to one particular area of nursing, this career will grant you the possibility to specialize in what you find most helpful. Often, your focus would fall on education, research, and consulting.  

7. Nurse Case Manager

Required Education: BSN or MSN (preferred)

Income: $71,772

Job Postings: 14,538

Description: This is the perfect job for nurses who want to nurture long-term relationships with patients and offer continuing support. Nurse case managers usually work with people who require ongoing medical support, such as HIV or cancer patients. Your job as a nurse case manager will imply creating and applying long term care plans and making sure the patient gets the best medical support they need throughout their illness/treatment.

8. Intensive Care Unit Nurse (ICU Nurse)

Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred)

Income: $65,142

Job listings: 11,006

Description: If your attention to detail is off the charts, if you thrive in a planned and organized environment, then the ICU nurse’s life might be for you. ICU nurses care for patients who are usually in critical conditions and demand incredibly structured and regulated settings. Their patients might be intubated, ventilated, or could require potentially saving medication drips that need to be administered with clockwork regularity. ICU nurses also work more structured shifts and enjoy a more disciplined work life. Therefore, if meticulousness and rigor are some of the qualities you possess, then an intensive care unit might be a suitable work environment for you.

9. Nurse Educator

Required education: MSN

Best For: Least stressful, Most searched for

Income: $81,350 per year

Job Postings: 11,004

Description: Nurse educators are in charge of educating future generations of nurses. They are in charge of creating educational programs for students. They teach, advise, mentor, and support learners in their clinical practice. If the idea of leaving your mark on the healthcare system and shaping the nursing professionals of tomorrow has crossed your mind, you should give nurse education a shot. Especially now, as the need for nurse educators is more acute than ever, given the severe nursing faculty shortage the US is going through. 

Find out more information about how to become a nurse educator. 

10. Travel Nurse

Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred) + 1-year experience

Income: >$71,730 per year, depending on assignment

Job Postings: 8,765 

Description: Travel nurses generally have the same duties as a regular RN, with the one significant difference: they provide medical assistance on (usually) short-term assignments which can occur all over the country. They can choose the location and the specialty they’d like to pursue during the assignment. Typically, an agency helps them find the perfect job opportunity based on their preferences. So, if your passion for travel is as strong as your love for nursing combining the two might be the dream solution for you. 

11. Certified Dialysis Nurse

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Income:  $65,870

Job Postings: 7,718

Description: Dialysis nurses (also known as nephrology nurses) work in clinics and are in charge of treating patients who suffer from kidney failure. They are responsible for the entire dialysis process, which entails removing waste products from the body as the kidneys no longer work properly due to the disease. If you’re looking for a rewarding and convenient nursing job, you’ve found it! This job is both: dialysis actually prolongs the patient’s life, so you’ll have a sense of fulfillment, but the position also offers regular working hours, which is a plus if you don’t enjoy the hectic life of an RN. 

12. Operating Room Nurse (Perioperative Nurse)

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Income: $71,077

Job listings: 4,548

Description: OR nurses work with patients right before they undergo surgery. They can also manage communication with the patient’s families. As a part of the surgery team, perioperative nurses assist the surgeon and make sure the procedure is happening in a secure, sterile, ready-to-go environment. Nurses who enjoy direct patient care will feel right at home in this specialization. 

13. Surgical Nurse Practitioner

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Income:  $67,779

Job Postings: 2,817

Description: Surgical Nurse Practitioners are one of the most demanding career paths for a nurse. They provide medication, assess healing, consult patients before and after operations, and help them set recovery steps. SNPs are the largest body in the nurse practitioner group. Should you decide to follow this career path, you may choose to specialize in a certain field, such as cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, or many others. Depending on your chosen specialization, your nursing experience will vary greatly, as surgical nurse practitioners may be involved in something as dangerous as removing tumors or something as trivial as a rhinoplasty. Overall, this a field as rewarding as it is demanding, for, customarily, SNPs assist with life-saving operations.

14. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Required Education: MSN

Income: $99,238

Job postings: 2,652

Description: If a blend of psychology, psychiatry, and nursing is something that interests you, becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner might be the way to go. The core of the job is treating patients diagnosed with mental illness. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners work closely with psychiatrists and other physicians. Providing counseling, helping patients with everyday tasks, and prescribing medication are some of the responsibilities that come with this career. 

15. Cardiac Nurse

Required Education: BSN or MSN

Income: $98,935

Job postings: 1,963

Description: Cardiac (or cardiovascular) nurses work side by side with cardiologists and other healthcare specialists to assure the best possible care for patients with a vast array of heart maladies. They are directly involved in diagnosing, treating, and controlling conditions that affect the complex cardiac system. If you want a career in tackling the problems of the heart (quite literally), it helps to know some of the cardiovascular nurses’ duties. They oversee and care for ill patients, but they can also concentrate on cardiac rehabilitation (guiding patients on a path of a lifestyle change that would hinder the aggravation of the disease.)

16. Nurse Researcher

Required education: MSN

Income: $81,500

Job Postings: 1,722

Description: Nurse researchers conduct research at the nursing level. They design and implement scientific studies that are further published in medical journals and nursing publications. As a nurse researcher, your main goal is improving the healthcare system, the processes, and the outcomes of patient care, so conducting studies is the means towards accomplishing this goal.

17. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse (PACU Nurse)

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Income: $77,000

Job listings: 1,496

Description: The job description is rather straightforward: PACU nurses provide care to patients who have undergone procedures/operations requiring anesthesia. Main responsibilities include examining and treating postoperative patients, so monitoring vital signs and level of consciousness is a big part of the job. PACU nurses work in the recovery room and are the first person patients see after the operation. They must make sure patients don’t experience side effects from anesthesia and are regaining consciousness at an appropriate speed. 

18. Home Health Nurse

Required Education: ADN

Income: $62,086

Job listings: 1,488

Description: Home health nurses provide care for patients in their homes. They can administer medication, care for wounds, perform physical assessments, help with everyday tasks, and develop and implement a care plan (under a physician’s supervision). Home health nursing allows you to provide very individualized, family-centric care. So, if you want to stay as far away from the hospital environment as possible, this might be a satisfactory job for you.

19. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Required education: MSN

Best For: Paid the most

Income: $174,790 per year

Job Postings: 1,413

Description:  Becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) is a top choice for many APRNs because of the sizable paychecks and high job security. As a CRNA, you will work side by side with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and other specialized healthcare specialists. Prescribing and administering anesthesia to patients during medical procedures, providing pain management, and overseeing patient recovery will be some of the tasks you come across daily if you follow the certified registered nurse anesthetist path.

20. Certified Nurse Midwife

Required education: MSN

Best For: High Pay

Income: $106,910 

Job postings: 819

Description: If you think babies are the miracle of life and bringing them into the world is the most rewarding career path you can think of, then becoming a nurse-midwife is the way for you to go. Your main job will be delivering babies and providing pre- and post-natal care to mothers. However, you can also perform medical exams, give counseling, and write prescriptions. It is a career that is perfect for sensitive nurses displaying a high interest in women’s reproductive health and childbirth.

21. Gerontological Nurse

Required Education: MSN

Best For: More likely to grow

Income: $94,831

Job Postings: 532

Description: Gerontological nurses turn their focus to the older patients, as aging brings with itself the need for more specialized care. Nurses who choose this career path have extended choices over their work environments because they can find employment in nursing homes, patient’s homes, private practices, hospitals, or they can even open their own practice. If a greater level of independence is something you treasure, you might contemplate this choice.

Some of your duties will include prescribing drugs, ordering diagnostic tests, and developing and implementing treatment plans for patients.

22. Public Health Nurse

Required Education: ADN or BSN (preferred)

Best For: Least stressful

Income: $58,977

Job listings: 646

Description: Public health nurses work with communities rather than just individuals, and they play a big role in preventing, educating, advocating, and assessing public health issues. They educate communities on how to prevent diseases and how to generally improve the health of larger groups of people. As a public health nurse, you will not be confined to hospital care. Instead, you will be able to work in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community health centers, and other organizations. 

23. Nurse Informatics Specialist

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Best For: More likely to grow

Income: $88,740

Job listings: 251

Description: RNs who are interested in technology, in addition to nursing, may consider a path in nursing informatics. As a nurse informaticist, you would analyze data to improve patient care, and to reduce the number of errors, you would evaluate and support healthcare technology, both software, and hardware. In this position, you are basically the bridge between the hospital staff and the IT staff. All in all, the use of technology is critical for any health institution, so interest in this position is growing. 

24. Radiology Nurse

Required Education: ADN or BSN

Income: $65,002 

Job listings: 189

Description: A radiology nurse focuses on patients who are getting ready for imaging and diagnostic procedures, such as x rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs. These nurses have an essential task of making sure the patient is comfortable during the procedures. Also, they must ensure that accurate images are being taken in order to diagnose illness or potential injuries. 

25. Orthopedic Nurse

Required Education: LPN or ADN

Income: $63,840

Job listings: 79

Description: Orthopedic nurses assist in treating muscle and skeletal diseases and disorders, such as arthritis, broken bones, joint replacements, and so on. They are familiar with casts, mobility devices, and painful experiences. Orthopedic nurses help with a patient’s recovery, ensuring minimum complications occur in the process while also helping them gain/increase mobility. If empathetic towards other people’s pain, encouraging, and a good communicator are adjectives that describe you, you might want to consider specializing in this area.

*We used indeed.com to determine the number of job listings as of February 2020 and payscale.com to find out the average salaries per each occupation (unless there was available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. )

Closing Thoughts

Nursing is a very vast field, and it’s got a little something for everyone. If you’re at the very beginning of the road – rejoice – there are plenty of options for you to choose from as you embark on this wonderful, people-helping journey.

If you’ve been an RN for a while now and you’re wondering what’s next in store for you – rest assured, in nursing, you can always make a career change and still end up with a meaningful and rewarding career.  

Nursing doesn’t have to mean only hospital beds and catheters if you don’t want it to. You can be a nurse and choose to focus on something close to your heart, be it babies, education, travel, or older people. 

But keep in mind, the easiest way to advance in your career is to move further your education. By earning a BSN or an MSN degree, you increase your chances of securing that dream job exponentially. Not only will you become a better specialist in your field, but you will also notice an increase in salary and in the number of job opportunities to choose from. Put in the effort today so that you can reap the fruits of your success tomorrow.

Ready to take your career further? Enroll in our BSN program!