6 Nursing Careers to Pursue in 2024

Nursing remains one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare, and there is a path into it at almost every level of education and time commitment. Here are six careers worth considering, from the quickest entry point to the most advanced practice roles, with what each one takes and what it pays.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

The LPN credential is one of the fastest ways into nursing. LPNs work under the supervision of registered nurses and other providers. They monitor vital signs, perform routine assessments and interventions, administer medications, and communicate with the rest of the care team.

"LPNs work as the eyes and ears of a healthcare provider or a registered nurse," says Marla Kniewel, EdD, MSN, RN, director of the MSN program and chair of the Institutional Review Board at Nebraska Methodist College. "They recognize that interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals is critical to delivering safe, quality patient care."

Education: A postsecondary practical nursing program, usually completed in under two years, plus passing the NCLEX-LPN and holding a license in your state.

Where they work: LPNs provide basic nursing care for stable patients in nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and patients' homes.

Certifications: Beyond required life-support certifications, three common additions are IV Therapy Certification (to administer IV therapies), Wound Care Certification (to clean and treat common wounds, popular in hospitals and long-term care), and Certified Hemodialysis Nurse (to work in dialysis centers).

Who fits: Strong communicators who work well on a team and want to start practicing without committing to the two to four years a bachelor's degree takes.

Salary and outlook: The median annual salary for an LPN is $62,340 (BLS). Jobs are projected to grow 2.6% through 2034.

Registered Nurse (RN)

RNs hold either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing recognizes the BSN as the minimum education standard, and many hospitals now require it. Some employers ask ADN-prepared nurses already on staff to return to school for a BSN.

"As an RN, we must understand a range of nursing knowledge and science to provide patient care in widely diverse healthcare settings," Kniewel says. "But at our core, we serve as an advocate to our patients and their families with caring and compassion."

Education: An ADN takes two years and prepares nurses for general clinical tasks. A BSN takes four years and adds management and leadership coursework. Graduates of either must pass the NCLEX-RN and obtain a license. ADN nurses can use an RN-to-BSN bridge program to finish the bachelor's faster.

Where they work: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehab, and long-term care. RNs manage individualized care for ill, injured, and disabled patients and coordinate treatment with the rest of the team.

Certifications: Specialty credentials signal advanced competence. Common ones include Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), and Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN).

Salary and outlook: The median annual salary for RNs is $93,600 (BLS), with jobs projected to grow 4.9% through 2034. Because the BSN is now standard for many entry-level roles, bachelor's-prepared RNs often earn more and have more room to move into management.

RN Specialties

After a few years of experience, many RNs specialize. There is a certification for nearly every specialty, and earning one tells colleagues and patients you have real depth in your field. A sample of where RNs go:

• Neonatal nurse: Care for premature infants and newborns with conditions like birth defects or cardiac anomalies, usually in a NICU.
• Forensic nurse: Work with victims of violence or abuse whose care intersects with the legal system, in hospitals, anti-violence programs, psychiatric facilities, and medical examiner's offices.
• Pediatric nurse: Care for children from birth through the late teens in clinics, schools, and hospitals.
• Labor and delivery nurse: Care for mothers during labor and delivery and provide initial newborn care alongside obstetricians and midwives.
• Obstetrics (OB) nurse: Help patients maintain healthy pregnancies in OB-GYN offices, maternity units, and birthing centers.
• Home health nurse: Travel to patients' homes and care facilities, often seeing several patients a day.
• Psychiatric nurse: Work with patients facing behavioral or mental health challenges in inpatient units, clinics, rehab centers, schools, and government agencies.
• Geriatric nurse: Care for older patients in long-term care, skilled nursing, hospitals, and clinics.
• Oncology nurse: Care for patients undergoing cancer treatment in oncology units and outpatient treatment centers.
• Acute care nurse: Care for critically ill patients in hospitals.
• Informatics nurse: Develop and improve healthcare communication and information technology rather than working at the bedside.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

APRNs hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). They assess, diagnose, and treat patients, and depending on the state, many carry the same authority as physicians, including serving as a primary care provider and prescribing medications.

"Holism is a hallmark of nursing and is a reason many patients and families prefer the care they receive from APRNs," says Hilary Applequist, DNP, APRN-NP, ACHPN, a board-certified adult/gerontology nurse practitioner in Nebraska. "We look at them as whole people, not just a disease to fix."

There are four APRN roles: certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist. All must be licensed in the state where they practice, and demand for all four is strong.

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

Education: A master's in a nurse-midwifery program, generally two years, plus passing a board exam.

What they do: CNMs practice in all 50 states and DC. They support patients through pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum, and provide gynecological and reproductive care and education. Scope varies by state.

Salary and outlook: Median annual salary of $128,790 (BLS), with jobs projected to grow 11.1% through 2034.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Education: A DNP in a nurse anesthesia program is now required for new CRNAs; the doctoral standard is in effect. A doctorate generally takes three years.

What they do: CRNAs administer anesthesia and other medications during surgery and procedures in hospitals, emergency rooms, and outpatient surgical clinics. They educate patients about anesthesia and identify potential risks.

Certification: CRNAs pass the exam from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, recertify every four years, and retake the exam every eight.

Who fits: RNs with intensive care experience. Critical thinking, stamina, and attention to detail matter most here.

Salary and outlook: CRNAs earn more than other APRNs, with a median annual salary of $223,210 (BLS) and projected job growth of 8.6% through 2034.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Education: An MSN or DNP.

What they do: NPs provide primary, acute, and specialty care across the lifespan within their state's scope of practice. Increasingly, they serve as primary care providers.

"Nurse practitioners bring previous nursing experiences to bear as we move into the provider role," says Applequist, who teaches in the NP program at Nebraska Methodist College.

Certifications: NPs pass a board exam and often certify in a specialty. Three common ones are Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology NP (A-GNP), and Emergency NP (ENP).

Salary and outlook: Median annual salary of $129,210 (BLS), with projected job growth of 40.1% through 2034, one of the fastest rates of any occupation.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Education: An MSN or DNP.

What they do: CNSs assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patient care, and many also work in research or management, leading teams and driving evidence-based practice. Most states require certification in the population area you practice in, such as adult/gerontology, pediatrics, or neonatal.

Salary and outlook: The BLS currently classifies CNSs as RNs, with a median annual salary of $93,600 and projected RN job growth of 4.9% through 2034. RNs who diagnose and treat patients earn a median of $100,300, and most CNSs, with graduate degrees and added responsibility, earn within the APRN range.