8 Fast-Hiring Nursing Specialties
Healthcare is complex, and nurses want to focus on specific areas of nursing. Specializing offers many benefits, including increased recognition and respect, career satisfaction, better salary potential, and greater job security.
Finding the right specialization or field among diverse nursing careers makes a big difference in your income potential. To make choosing a specialty more manageable, here is a compilation of the most desired nursing specialties, their job outlook, salary range, and what you need to become one.
8 Fast-Hiring Nursing Specialities to Consider in 2022
The healthcare industry will experience a 16% growth in employment, translating to 2.6 million new positions by 2030. This demand means an expansion of specialized nursing careers for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), among others.
The eight nursing careers below provide competitive salaries and fulfilling work experiences. Do you want to know more about these types of nurses and what they do? Read on.
1. Psychiatric and mental health nurse
As a psych and mental health nurse, you will work with adults, teens, and children. The nurses have skills in treating bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and schizophrenia, to name a few.
Mental health nurses work as part of an interdisciplinary team that includes social workers, psychiatrists, and GPs. These nurses also help administer medications. A priority is delivering strength-based, trauma-informed, and recovery-focused nursing care.
Job outlook: An aging population means the employment outlook for psychiatric nurses is excellent, as the elderly experience a high number of cognitive illnesses. Communities are also demanding mental health nurses in hospitals and clinics.
Salary range: $22,500 to $149,000, depending on education level, location, experience, and employment place. The national average salary for mental health nurses is about $89,792 annually.
Employment locations: Mental health nurses can work in assisted living facilities, community mental health centers, behavioral care companies, medical centers and VA hospitals, military hospitals or clinics, private practices, and substance abuse or specialty psychiatric hospitals.
How can you become one?
After becoming RNs, many nurses gain general nursing experience before specializing in psychiatric health. However, some new grad nurses move direct into psychiatric nursing. To do so, we advise you take mental health courses during your studies.
To become an RN, education requirements are an asssociate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification or RN-BC may be a requirement for some facilities.
2. Geriatric nursing
Geriatric nurses specialize in taking care of older patients. These nurses are critical members of a healthcare team that improve the quality of life, independence, and mobility of older patients.
A geriatric nurse focuses on age-related health concerns and diseases. Some conditions you will manage as a geriatric nurse include osteoporosis, stroke, cancer, arthritis, chronic pain, and falls. The nurse also addresses psychosocial issues such as isolation, depression, and loneliness.
Job outlook: Baby Boomers in the United States are growing older and require more healthcare visits than younger Americans. Add to that the growing number of elderlies living with Alzheimer and dementia, we predict a high increase in the demand for geriatric nurses.
Salary range: Geriatric nurses on average earn $98,860 annually, a salary that can go up to $191,500 depending on experience, education, workplace, and location.
Employment locations: Geriatric nurses typically work in hospitals, nursing homes, memory care centers, in-home care, and clinical educators in universities, community colleges, and healthcare centers.
How can you become one?
Geriatric patients offer a unique set of challenges that require specific skills. A willingness to act as a liaison, resource, and advocate is a crucial part of the job.
You have an option to start your geriatric nursing career after completing nursing programs. Many nursing schools incorporate geriatric nursing modules into their programs. You can also carry out clinical rotations in healthcare facilities specializing in geriatric nursing, including geriatric-centered hospitals or skilled nursing facilities.
Practicing RNs should have gerontological nursing certification. The certification exam lasts about five years.
3. Nurse practitioner
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice RNs providing patients with comprehensive care. An NP offers diagnostic care and treatment and focuses on preventative health maintenance. NPs are first nurses, so patient education and holistic care are a major part of their work.
A nurse gathers information about the patient, including physical, psycho-social, and environmental information. The nurse practitioner is skilled in education and may teach patients and their families about processes, treatments, and healthcare prevention of diseases.
As a career NP, you can specialize in several areas, including:
Acute care NP,
Emergency NP
Job outlook: Nurse practitioner opportunities are opening up nationwide as baby boomers age. The expected increase is 45% by 2030, higher than most professions.
Salary range: According to BLS, the median annual salary for NP is $111,680 which can go as high as $124,660 depending on location, facility, and work experience.
Employment locations: NP usually work at doctor’s offices, long-term care facilities, and hospitals.
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How can you become one?
As a prerequisite to become a nurse practitioner you need to be a practicing registered nurse. Then, to become an NP, you need to complete a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice.
To progress to a master’s degree or nursing doctoral, you must complete accredited nursing programs for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After the nursing degree, complete the NCLEX-RN for licensure.
The time to get an MSN depends on where you start:
Nursing students complete within four years
Two years each for RN to BSN and BSN to MSN
Three to four years for BSN to DNP
One to two years for MSN to DNP
4. Pediatric nurse
Pediatric RNs specialize in the care of children, from infancy to late teenage years. A pediatric nurse works closely with healthcare providers and pediatricians and proves support for their patients and families.
The care you provide as a pediatric nurse is critical for kids who see doctors often. A nurse they know and trust will help improve comfort and treatment success.
A pediatric RN often has specialized training to work with their specific provider or doctor. These RNs also have specific training to understand how children react to stress, medication, illness, and injury. A pediatric nurse is a critical member of any healthcare team who ensures the most vulnerable, youngest patients receive the care they deserve.
Job Outlook: Hospitals are always looking out for specialty registered nurses or those with bachelor’s degrees. We predict that the job outlook for pediatric nurses will be the same as for registered nurses.
Salary range: The average annual salary for pediatric nurses is $74,600 which can get close to $100,000 depending on experience, location, and education.
Employment locations: Schools, hospitals, community organizations or groups, clinics, private practice, emergency rooms, government organizations, and social service agencies are the typical facilities that employ pediatric nurses.
How can you become one?
The steps to becoming a pediatric nurse are:
Earn a nursing diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree program that prepares you for the NCLEX exam and licensure.
Pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing if you are an RN without a BSN.
Gain experience in the pediatrics field.
Earn a certificate in pediatric nursing to work full time in the pediatrics department.
5. Nurse Anesthetist
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice nurse with certification in anesthesia. The anesthesia medications can be risky, so CRNAs use their knowledge of medications and nursing skills to maintain patient safety.
A nurse anesthetist is also responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating the anesthetic care plan. You will also implement and evaluate responses to acute and chronic pain management plans. Discharging and educating patients on follow-up anesthesia care is also a critical duty nurse anesthetists do.
Job Outlook: The nurse anesthetist’s specialty has a long history as an in-demand and highly respected career. These nurses are the only anesthesia providers in communities with sparse populations, which creates a demand for their services.
Salary range: According to BLS, nurse anesthetists earn an annual median salary of $183,580.
Employment locations: Specialty hospitals, general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, schools, and physician offices are the typical facilities CRNAs find employment.
How can you become one?
CRNAs must complete a doctoral degree program (DNP) or a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) currently plans the changing CRNA programs from MSN to DNP programs.
To start your journey as a CRNA, first, you must complete an accredited nursing program for a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) and the NCLEX-RN for licensure. The time commitment to become a CRNA depends on the program you take. Then, you can continue pursuing your MSN and DNP degrees.
The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA) is the official nurse anesthesia accreditation body. This program can take between 24 to 51 months, depending on the university, clinical experience, and didactic classroom hours.
The nurse anesthesia recertification program is the Continued Professional Certification (CPC), administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetics (NBCRNA).
6. Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Clinical Nurse Specialists are graduate-level nurses who certify in their choice of specialties. A specialty certification shows an advanced knowledge level and clinical skills.
The concentration areas for a clinical nurse specialist include:
Population, such as adult health, geriatrics, and pediatrics
The department, such as home health, emergency room, medical units, and critical care
By illness, such as oncology, neurology, and orthopedics
Care types, such as rehabilitation, psychiatry, and public health
By health problems, such as anxiety, wounds, and pain
The specialties above may overlap. For instance, a CNS in pediatric neurology can specialize in infectious diseases.
Job Outlook: For advanced practicing nurses such as Clinical Nurse Specialists, BLS predicts 45% job growth from 2020 to 2030, which is way higher than all other occupations.
Salary range: Clinical Nurse Specialists earn an average yearly salary of $93,927. However, experienced CNS can earn more than $103,000 annually.
Employment locations: Clinical Nurse Specialists usually work in specialty doctor’s offices, surgical centers, and hospitals.
How can you become one?
Enroll in an MSN program after you get the RN license and gain some work experience. Clinical nurses have several education paths to choose from, depending on their previous degree and training.
The field does not require specialized certification. However, many clinical nurses take on specialized credentials for career advancement and higher salaries.
7. Nurse administrator
A Nurse Administrator is a leadership position for RNs. A Nurse Administrator's job is to supervise other nurses and healthcare team members. Their job requires them to recruit, hire, and train nurses. Other responsibilities include creating work schedules and running performance reviews.
Nurse administrators have a solid business sense, excellent communication skills, and are masterful time managers.
Job Outlook: According to BLS, Medical and Health Service Manager–which includes nurse administrators,– will grow by 32% from 2020 to 2030 adding over 139,600 new jobs to the market.
Salary range: Nurse administrators have a median annual wage of $104,280 which can go up depending on the facilities and the state/city you are located in.
Employment locations: Nurse administrators are demanded in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and residential care facilities, among other facilities.
How can you become one?
The path to becoming a nurse administrator depends on your leadership experience. Minimum qualifications include an RN license and BSN. However, many employers prefer graduate degrees.
Graduate degree-holders earn more opportunities, and many employers may require an MSN, dual Master of Health Administration and MSN, or Doctor of Nursing Practice and DNP.
Certifications that can help increase your marketability include:
Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC);
Certified in Executing Nursing Practice Certification (CENP);
Certified Nurse Manager and Leader Certification (CNML).
8. Nurse manager
A nurse manager position lets you advance in your career and serve in an administrative post in the nursing and healthcare administration fields. Nursing managers handle the operation of a medical facility, clinic, or hospital. The managers supervise, lead, and direct the nursing staff and ensure the smooth running of a facility.
Job Outlook: As with nurse administrators, nurse managers have a projected 32% job growth between 2020 and 2030.
Salary range: The national average salary for Nurse Managers is $80,878 per year. However, as you progress your career, as a nurse manager you can earn up to $124,000 annually.
Employment locations: Outpatient facilities, surgical centers, and hospitals are the most common facilities that employ Nurse Managers.
How can you become one?
Choose this administrative position in the medical field if you want to manage a team of nurses. However, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and experience as a registered nurse.
Some facilities have a specific amount of experience a nurse must have to work as a nurse manager. Further, many organizations prefer candidates with a master’s degree in business, healthcare administration, or nursing to qualify for nurse manager positions.
Final Thoughts
The nursing field is wide open, and there are specialties for everyone. Whether you prefer working with the elderly or kids, want a traditional hospital setting, or have an eye on home health care, there are nursing specialties to suit your skills.
This makes nursing a unique profession—nurses can specialize in areas their interests lie.