Jobs For Nurses

A nursing degree opens far more doors than most new grads realize, and narrowing the options can feel overwhelming. The roles below span specialties, settings, and patient populations, from bedside acute care to research, law, and travel.

Most nurses are registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing, but the path depends on your degree. A two-year associate degree gets you to RN, a BSN is the traditional route, and a master of science in nursing or doctor of nursing practice can take you to nurse practitioner. Each level prepares you for a different slice of the field. Salary figures come from PayScale and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as noted per role.

Acute care nurse. Provides individualized care to critically ill patients, carrying out advanced nursing duties from working as part of the medical team for life-threatening conditions to managing care plans for patients recovering from surgery. They may also collect blood and tissue samples. Average annual salary: $83,000.

Burn care nurse. Works with the healthcare team to stabilize burn victims, prevent organ failure and infection, and support healing. These nurses often care for patients who require ventilation, manage pain, provide wound care, and work to prevent further complications. Average annual salary: $115,000.

Camp nurse. Provides medical care to campers, and sometimes staff and administrators, at summer camps and similar sites. They confirm participants are healthy enough to attend, coordinate daily medication administration, and handle any illnesses or injuries that come up. Average annual salary: $62,080.

Certified nursing assistant (CNA). Observes and records patients' conditions and vital signs, working under the supervision of RNs and other professionals who provide direct care. Average annual salary: $29,290.

Community health nurse. Educates communities about health risks and prevention, teaching patients and families about diseases and control measures. These nurses are also heavily involved in advocacy and public health policy to address social justice issues. Average annual salary: $62,580.

Critical care nurse. Provides advanced, family-centered care in intensive care units. The role demands solid clinical judgment, the ability to prioritize and advocate for interventions in emergencies, and fluency with advanced medical equipment. Average annual salary: $68,730.

Cruise ship nurse. Cares for passengers and crew aboard ship. The travel is appealing, but the work can be challenging during illness outbreaks or emergencies far from specialized equipment. Median annual salary (RN, BLS): $93,600.

Dermatology nurse. Treats wounds, diseases, trauma, and other skin conditions, and teaches patients how to protect their skin. Average annual salary: $94,740.

Diabetes nurse. Monitors and educates patients with diabetes and promotes self-care management. Eligible candidates typically hold a master's degree in nursing and APRN status. Average annual salary: $66,140.

Dialysis nurse. Prepares patients for dialysis, educates them and their caregivers, updates records, and monitors patients during the procedure. Average annual salary: $78,080.

Emergency room nurse. Cares for patients with traumas and illnesses that need emergency attention, stabilizing and treating them until they are admitted or discharged. Average annual salary: $69,960.

Epidemiology nurse. Works in research labs, hospitals, and clinics, administering vaccines, checking lab work, and assessing patient health during epidemics while ensuring protocols are met. Average annual salary: $81,500.

Family nurse practitioner. Collaborates with specialists to manage patient conditions and refer patients for injuries and long-term illnesses, caring for people across the lifespan. Average annual salary: $96,790.

Federal healthcare nurse. Provides care in occupational health units, hospitals, and clinics, often in veterans' affairs, and educates patients and families on health issues. Federal nurses aren't limited to a single medical setting. Median annual salary (RN, BLS): $93,600.

Forensic nurse. Cares for victims of crime, providing reassuring care while collecting evidence for court. Many receive specialized training to care for survivors of sexual assault. Average annual salary: $60,000.

Geriatric nurse. Specializes in caring for older patients, a fast-growing specialty as the population ages. They work in home health, residential care, hospitals and health systems, and independent practices. Average annual salary: $70,430.

Health administration nurse. Leads teams, evaluates and implements nursing policies, ensures compliance and continuous quality improvement, and weighs in on difficult ethical or unusual care decisions. Average annual salary: $89,000.

Home health nurse. Works primarily in patients' homes or assisted living facilities, coordinating care with home health agencies, pharmacies, and physicians, and supervising home healthcare staff. Average annual salary: $64,140.

Hospice nurse. Cares for patients facing terminal illness, working directly with patients and families to keep patients comfortable. Average annual salary: $67,640.

Labor and delivery nurse. Cares for women during labor and for their newborns, monitoring vital signs, providing emotional support, and tending to the baby's immediate needs. Average annual salary: $68,300.

Legal nurse consultant. Usually works for insurance companies, collecting and organizing records for legal purposes and preparing visual aids for trials. The role requires an RN license and several years of clinical experience. Average annual salary: $79,740.

Licensed practical nurse (LPN). Provides basic medical care so RNs and physicians can focus on specialized work, taking vital signs, collecting samples, and preparing patients for exams. Average annual salary: $45,790.

Nurse anesthetist. Administers anesthesia and monitors patients during surgery, ensuring proper pulmonary and cardiovascular support and a safe recovery from anesthesia. Median annual salary (BLS): $223,210.

Nurse case manager. Evaluates patient needs, builds effective care plans, and coordinates with healthcare and insurance providers on the patient's behalf. Average annual salary: $73,800.

Nursing informatics specialist. Works with clinicians to manage data and information that improves nursing care across settings, and helps develop clinical information systems. Average annual salary: $84,820.

Nurse midwife. Offers a range of health services for women, typically in OB-GYN offices and hospitals, providing prenatal care and delivering babies. Average annual salary: $97,920.

Nutrition and fitness nurse. Works in spas, health clubs, and surgical recovery sites, improving health through nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Median annual salary (RN, BLS): $93,600.

Occupational health nurse. Maintains employee health and safety, plans for health-related work events, and participates in regulatory audits and safety committees. Average annual salary: $74,100.

Oncology nurse. Monitors and medicates cancer patients, develops care plans, and offers support and resources to patients and families. Average annual salary: $75,040.

Operating room nurse. Also called a perioperative or surgical nurse, prepares patients for surgery and provides care during and after the procedure, playing a vital role in successful outcomes. Average annual salary: $73,760.

Outpatient nurse. Cares for patients at outpatient facilities, keeping them comfortable and healthy before, during, and after procedures and surgery. Average annual salary: $68,310.

Paramedic. Often among the first to arrive in an emergency, paramedics assess and diagnose patients before providing emergency treatment, and they monitor and administer medication and pain relief. Median annual salary (BLS): $58,410.

Parish nurse. Takes a holistic approach that includes spiritual wellness, serving as a liaison among patients, communities, and health professionals and offering spiritual support. Average annual salary: $62,080.

Pediatric nurse. Cares for children from birth through adolescence in hospitals, offices, and clinics, and can specialize in areas like neonatology, trauma, and cardiology. Average annual salary: $61,440.

Pharmaceutical nurse. Monitors patients during clinical trials, tracking how individuals tolerate medicines at set intervals. Average annual salary: $61,000.

Office nurse. Works with a physician in private practice, conducting nursing assessments, educating patients, and giving pre- and post-operative instruction. Average annual salary: $57,340.

Plastic surgery nurse. Works with surgeons and support staff to help patients reach their goals, caring for them during and after procedures and setting expectations throughout. Average annual salary: $64,000.

Postpartum nurse. Cares for new mothers and their infants, providing physical care, supporting bonding, and offering advice and psychological support. Median annual salary (RN, BLS): $93,600.

Correctional nurse. Provides direct nursing care to incarcerated patients, evaluating and treating them routinely and handling emergencies as they arise. Average annual salary: $54,000.

Procurement nurse. Cares for organ donors through living or deceased donation. With living donors, they prepare patients for surgery and oversee recovery. With deceased donors, they support grieving families, manage ICU care to optimize organ function, find recipients, and coordinate organ recovery in the OR. Average annual salary: $75,430.

Psychiatric nurse. Provides specialized care to patients with psychiatric disorders, working in mental health facilities or as home care nurses. The role requires an RN license and at least an associate degree in nursing. Average annual salary: $66,680.

Public health nurse. Educates patients, families, and communities about health and risk factors, visiting and evaluating patients at home much like community health nurses and connecting them to support services. Average annual salary: $59,560.

Research nurse (public health). Studies, observes, and cares for patients across a range of diseases while assisting with and monitoring clinical trials of new medications or treatments. Average annual salary: $81,500.

Quality assurance nurse. Evaluates nursing practices for efficiency and quality, then suggests and implements changes and trains other nurses on new procedures. Average annual salary: $78,120.

Radiology nurse. Cares for patients undergoing radiology procedures, assessing them beforehand, managing sedation and monitoring vital signs during, and caring for them afterward. Average annual salary: $66,220.

Registered nurse. Coordinates and provides patient care, observing and assessing conditions to build and implement holistic care plans across hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices. Median annual salary (BLS): $93,600.

Rehabilitation nurse. Helps patients recover and regain independence after disability, illness, or injury, and teaches patients and families how to manage chronic conditions. Average annual salary: $86,110.

Clinical research nurse. Plans and coordinates daily clinical schedules and procedures, collects vitals and samples, and records data for patients in clinical trials, including those testing new cancer treatments. Average annual salary: $72,130.

Rural nurse. Ensures rural communities can access quality care, working in labor and delivery, trauma, and critical care and treating sick or injured patients across the lifespan. Average annual salary: $98,490.

School nurse. Addresses student health needs, educates students about health risks, and responds to emergencies requiring CPR or immediate care. The role requires a current RN license and a BSN. Average annual salary: $48,550.

Staff nurse. A frontline role, usually in long-term care facilities and hospitals, assessing and evaluating patients, administering care and medications, and creating discharge plans in hospital settings. Average annual salary: $69,360.

Surgery nurse. Prepares patients for surgery, monitors vitals, assists surgeons and anesthetists, and cares for patients in recovery. The role calls for strong collaboration and communication. Median annual salary (RN, BLS): $93,600.

Toxicology nurse. Often works with poison control hotlines to triage and manage patients exposed to toxins, assessing symptoms, recommending treatment, facilitating referrals, and providing followup care. Median annual salary (RN, BLS): $93,600.

Transplant nurse. Cares for patients who need a transplant, coordinating tests and appointments during the wait, guiding patients and families through the process, and building recovery plans. Average annual salary: $75,430.

Travel nurse. Works on contract through an agency or self-employment, filling in at clinics, hospitals, and practices around the country and sometimes abroad, performing the same general duties as an RN. Average annual salary: $80,000.

Vaccine research nurse. Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates vaccine research projects. The role requires a master's degree in nursing plus training in research methodology. Average annual salary: $81,500.

Wound care nurse. Treats wounds and teaches patients how to care for them at home, working with chronic wounds as well as new injuries and surgical wounds. Average annual salary: $76,600.

Nontraditional nursing opportunities

Nursing reaches well beyond bedside care and traditional settings like hospitals and private practice. Nontraditional roles include toxicology nurses, correctional nurses, and nutrition and fitness nurses, and travel nursing lets you fill in for other professionals across the country and internationally. If you want a path off the beaten track, the field has room for it.