Top nursing specialties include palliative nursing, cardiac nursing, geriatric nursing, and mental health nursing. No matter which types of nursing appeal to you, you must start by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After obtaining licensure and clinical experience, earning a certification in your specialty can progress your career.
As a nurse, you can choose from nursing jobs in a variety of different specialties, ranging from pediatric care to mental health nursing and many others. With many nursing specialties to consider, you can choose a job that uniquely aligns with your nursing strengths and interests. While a BSN is required for many of these specialties, some may also require advanced degrees and supplemental certifications.
At Madonna University, our students are introduced to a variety of nursing specialties during their clinical rotations. Madonna’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in Metro Detroit works with top healthcare facilities in Michigan to help students discover what they love about nursing and which areas they excel in. During clinical rotations, you can gain hands-on experience in a variety of specialties.
As you work through your clinicals, keep these top nursing specialties in mind, and note whether you show an aptitude for any one specific area of nursing.
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What Are Nursing Specialties and Why Do They Matter?
A nursing specialty is a specific practice area or area of nursing expertise. There are different kinds of nurses who work with specific patient populations, such as pediatrics, women’s health, and adult-gerontology. Other nurses work within a specific setting like emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, schools, and homes. Still other nurses specialize in a specific health condition, such as HIV/AIDS or oncology, or by body part or system like ophthalmic, cardiac care, and nephrology.
Specialties in nursing are important because they allow nurses to develop deep expertise in an area. Nursing is such a broad field that it’s impossible to develop expertise in all its practice areas. By specializing, nurses are better equipped to care for their patients and contribute to positive patient outcomes.
Top 5 Types of Nursing Specialties
Nursing offers many exciting practice areas. It’s a good idea to spend some time scanning lists of different specialties and then researching the ones that capture your interest. Some top types of nursing include:
1. Palliative Care Nursing
Palliative care nurses, or hospice nurses, are typically equipped with a BSN or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), depending on their role and responsibilities. They may hold several certifications, including:
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator (CHPCA)
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN)
- Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN)
A palliative care nurse works with patients experiencing severe illness, chronic diseases, or terminal conditions. Their goal is to manage pain and keep patients comfortable, rather than to provide therapeutic care with the goal of returning patients to full health. Palliative care nurses report to physicians and advanced practice registered nurses and can work in a clinical setting or in patients’ homes.
2. Cardiac Care Nursing
Cardiac care RNs work with patients who are managing chronic and acute cardiac conditions, such as those recovering from heart attacks and those living with heart failure. In addition to treating patients, cardiac nurses are also able to educate and advise patients on preventive healthcare and heart-healthy lifestyle modifications.
Cardiac care nurses require a BSN, and they may hold additional certifications, including:
- Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC)
- Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC)
- Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC)
Cardiac nurses work in both inpatient and outpatient roles. These nurses can help prepare patients for cardiac surgery and assist with recovery.
3. Geriatric Nursing
Along with holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing, geriatric nurses may hold the title of nurse practitioner (NP) with a graduate degree in nursing and board certification in gerontological nursing. These nurses work with older patients, treating everything from acute illnesses to chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Geriatric nurses also help patients make lifestyle modifications to prevent or manage age-related conditions, such as osteoporosis. These nurses may also work closely with their patients’ caregivers, delivering patient education and supporting older adults’ socioemotional wellness.
4. Gynecology/Obstetric Nursing
Gynecology nurses, or obstetric nurses (OB/GYN nurses), are experts in women's health. These BSN-prepared nurses may also demonstrate their nursing competencies with the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Core Certification (RNC-OB). Obstetrics nurses may work in hospitals, clinics, birthing centers, or women’s health centers.
OB/GYN nurses play a crucial role in women’s healthcare by caring for women throughout pregnancy and during and after delivery. They also educate people about pregnancy and childbirth, and frequently act as a point of contact between patients and doctors.
5. Mental Health Nursing
Mental health nurses are also referred to as psychiatric or behavioral health nurses. These professionals treat people suffering from mental health disorders, ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Mental health nurses perform intake responsibilities in inpatient settings, handling patient assessments and coordinating care. They counsel patients and their family members, provide treatments, and offer a compassionate, empathetic ear.
Which Nursing Specialty Is Right for You?
When considering your nursing path, you’ll want to think back to your ABSN coursework and consider which aspects of nursing appeal most to you. Take the time to assess your skills and determine what capabilities you have that would best serve your ideal specialization.
Additionally, consider which clinical rotation you enjoyed the most and think about the related specialties you might choose from, since it’s impossible to cover every option during your education. Throughout clinicals, you may find it helpful to talk to licensed, working nurses about their specialty and why they chose it.
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How an ABSN Prepares You for Any Specialty
No matter which types of nursing areas appeal most to you, you can build a foundation for your future with the ABSN program at Madonna University. Our ABSN program provides a comprehensive, in-depth curriculum in core nursing competencies, including pharmacology, health assessments, and holistic nursing care. It also dives into certain clinical areas, such as mental health nursing, community care, and pediatrics.
Along with didactic coursework in various areas of nursing, your clinical rotations provide an inside look at different specialties, such as the following:
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
- Community health
By the time you graduate, you’ll be a well-rounded nursing candidate, with the option to choose from a vast range of nursing specialties.
Find Out Why Madonna University Nurses Are Different
Madonna University’s ABSN program prepares future nurses to pursue exciting careers in any practice area, and it can also lay the groundwork for career advancement by providing a pathway to a graduate degree in nursing. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 non-nursing college credits, you may be eligible to apply. Here, you’ll benefit from our Franciscan values, small class sizes, and Academic Success Coaches.
Contact an admissions representative today to learn more about our ABSN program. With rolling admissions, no waitlist, and three start dates per year, your nursing journey may be right around the corner.