Nursing is a vast industry with many specialties. While nurses generally have the same goal of providing quality patient care aligned with treatment plans, how they do their clinical responsibilities differ per specialty. If you are looking to learn more about nursing, interviewing different specialties will help in giving multiple perspectives on the nursing practice.

What are the different types of nursing specialties?

There are many nursing specialties and to work in that specialty, nurses must undergo training and earn certifications and qualifications. This is especially true for specialties that have specific clinical skill requirements.

Registered nurses

All nurses who work in the field are registered nurses. Registered nurses have an associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree and have earned their license through the NCLEX national examination. 

Some registered nurses pursue further education and get their Master’s degree, Doctor of Philosophy degree, or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Post-graduate degrees open more employment and career opportunities for nurses in the academe, research, administration, or even in their clinical nursing team.

Non-registered nurses

Those who did not finish nursing school, get their Bachelor’s degree, and earned their license can still practice nursing, albeit limited. 

Certified nursing assistants or CNA are trained for four to 12 weeks on basic care. Licensed practical nurses or LPN have a one to two-year certificate with clinical experience. In comparison with CNAs, LPNs are higher in terms of capabilities and responsibilities.

Ambulatory care nurses

Typically working in outpatient centers, ambulatory care nurses cater to many patients at a time. They often deal with mild medical cases in health centers, communities, military clinics, and government departments. 

Nurses in this specialty do not only do clinical work. They can also be researchers, educators, administrators, and care coordinators, to name a few. Their group is called the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses.

• Official website: aaacn.org

• Social media: @AmbCareNursing on Twitter

• Contact: Janet D’Alesandro, janetd@ajj.com

Critical care nurses

Highly specialized with specific skills for critical care, nurses who practice this specialty are in charge of patients in the intensive care unit, those who are unstable, or who have chronic illnesses and injuries.

These nurses, through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, are best to approach for outputs on life-threatening cases. 

• Official website: AACN.org

• Reference materials: aacn.org/education/publications

• Social media: @AACNme on Twitter

• Contact: Kristie Aylett, kristie.aylett@aacn.org

Emergency nurses

Always on their feet, emergency nurses are the first providers of treatment in crises in emergency rooms and urgent care centers. Apart from triage and immediate patient care, they are also adept in patient safety and disaster preparedness.

Cases of emergency nurses often need prompt medical attention such as trauma and injury. The Emergency Nurses Association serves as the organization for this medical specialty.

• Official website: ena.org

• Publication: Journal of Emergency Nursing

• Social media: @ENAorg on Twitter

• Contact: Dan Campana, dan.campana@ena.org

Gerontological nurses

A specialty that dedicates itself to elderly patients, gerontological nurses are also referred to as geriatric nurses. This evidence-based specialty addresses the physical, physiological, and mental health needs of the older adult group.

For information on primary care, acute care, and other geriatric care, talking to the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association will help.

• Official website: gapna.org  

• Publication: Geriatric Nursing Journal

• Social media: @GAPNA_HQ on Twitter

• Contact: Janet D’Alesandro, janetd@ajj.com

Hospice and palliative nurses

In some cases, medical conditions have no hope for recovery. Hospice and palliative nurses take on the role of caring for these patients in their own homes, residential hospices, clinics, or inpatient medical facilities.

The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association is the nursing group with expertise in this highly specialized medical focus.

• Official website: advancingexpertcare.org

• Social media: @HPNAinfo on Twitter

• Contact: info@hpna.org

Medical-surgical nurses

Among the largest nursing specialties across the country, medical-surgical nurses care for adults before, during, and after their surgery. Nurses in this specialty are often seen in hospitals, outpatient settings such as homes, and also telemedicine.

These nurses through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses can give wonderful insights on surgery, patient care pre and post-operation, and even advocacy.

• Official website: amsn.org

• Social media: @MedSurgNurses on Twitter

• Contact: Janet D’Alesandro, janetd@ajj.com

Nephrology nurses

The kidney has specialty nurses dedicated to cases involving this organ. Nephrology nurses work in kidney centers, clinics, and hospitals that do hemodialysis, transplantation, peritoneal dialysis, and the like.

Should you wish to get in touch with them or learn more about kidney illnesses, tap the American Nephrology Nurses Association.

• Official website: annanurse.org

• Social media: @ANNAnurses on Twitter

• Contact: Janet D’Alesandro, janetd@ajj.com

Neuroscience nurses

Neuroscience nurses provide care for patients with illnesses related to the brain and nervous system. These include but are not limited to stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, brain trauma, and epilepsy.

Nurses of this specialty are collectively under the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. Approach this group for research and clinical information on neuroscience.

• Official website: AANN.org

• Publication: Journal of Neuroscience Nursing

• Social Media: @neuronursesAANN on Twitter

• Contact: Allison Begezda, abegezda@aann.org

Oncology nurses

Just as there are doctors dedicated to cancer, there are also nurses for this specialty. Oncology nurses are trained to assess, administer treatment, and monitor patients who have cancer or are likely to get it.

The Oncology Nursing Society is the best to get in touch with for this complex nursing specialty.

• Official website: ons.org

• Social media: @oncolognursing on Twitter

• Contact: Nicole Lininger, nlininger@ons.org

Psychiatric nurses

Mental health and behavioral science are the key areas of focus for psychiatric nurses. They are equipped with knowledge and clinical skills to assess, treat, and monitor patients with psychiatric conditions like mental illnesses and substance abuse.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association represents this specialty and gives insightful data on this medical focus.

• Official website: apna.org

• Publication: Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association

• Social media: @AmerPsychNurses on Twitter

• Contact: Meaghan Trimyer, mtrimyer@apna.org 

Urology nurses

Nurses in the urology specialty work with both men and women with urinary and reproductive problems such as urinary tract infections. They also assist in surgeries of the bladder, prostate, and vasectomy.

The Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates is a great source of information for the urology specialty.

• Official website: suna.org

• Publication: Urologic Nursing Journal

• Social media: @UrologicNurses on Twitter

• Contact: Janet D’Alesandro, janetd@ajj.com

Get in touch with nursing specialty groups

Doctors have medical specialties and they are trained to handle cases of these kinds. The same goes for nurses. They work together with specialty doctors to provide quality care and treatment to their patients. Contacting nursing specialty groups and diversifying your sources is a great step in expanding your knowledge of various medical conditions.