There’s no question about it that nurses are a huge part of what make hospitals and healthcare work. From taking care of patients to communicating with doctors, nurses arguably have one of the most important roles out there.
They make up one of the biggest healthcare jobs in the world and luckily, healthcare always needs more nurses to perform a variety of duties.
There isn’t just one type of nurse. Just as there are hundreds of departments and fields that encompass the world of healthcare, there are as many as 200 specialties. For example, you could be a midwife nurse or even a travel nurse!
Being a nurse also has many perks. Not only do you get to feel the benefit of participating in life-saving work by directly impacting people’s lives, but you also get great pay, flexibility, optional overtime shifts, job security, and various other benefits.
It’s an extremely respected field, yet according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information, there was a large shortage of about 800,000 nurses in 2020[1].
Especially with the pandemic, hospitals are always looking for more nurses, and are willing to pay big bonuses. Don’t forget that as a nurse, your career mobility is fantastic, you can potentially work wherever you want when you want, and it can become a feasible second career choice.
If you’re considering starting a new job or recommending a career option to someone else, you’ll want to keep being a nurse in mind. It’s a fantastic career to start out with especially if you’re young.
However, before you jump into being a nurse, you’ll want to learn about the different specialties and what areas you might potentially excel at.
With so many options, it can be overwhelming but don’t worry -- we took job growth trends and salaries into consideration so you can find your best fit.
Let’s look at the top 12 most wanted nurse specialties for you to consider:
1 of 5
