12 Different Types of Nurses and What They Do (2024)

5. Emergency room nurse

Emergency room nurses nurses provide urgent care to patients in hospitals suffering from sometimes life-threatening injuries or illnesses. ER nurses often work alongside emergency medical staff and first responders, so they must have strong communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills to coordinate care and share information across these teams.

As an ER nurse, you can work in a variety of settings, from Level 1 trauma centers to rural hospitals or clinics, and across a range of nursing specialties, from trauma to pediatrics. ER nurses are registered nurses and must obtain at least an ASN.

Many ER nurses have a BSN and can go on to obtain additional certifications for specialized care, such asadvanced cardiac, pediatric, and newborn life support.

EducationASN (required) or BSN (recommended)
CertificationsRN; some hospitals might also require Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification
More readingHow to Become an ER Nurse;Working as an Emergency Room (ER) Nurse
12 Different Types of Nurses and What They Do (2024)

FAQs

12 Different Types of Nurses and What They Do? ›

There are dozens, if not hundreds of different areas that nurses can specialize in. A nurse might choose a specialty that allows them to work with a certain patient population (such as children), specific health conditions (such as cardiac care), or work settings (such as home health nurses).

How many different types of nurses are there? ›

There are dozens, if not hundreds of different areas that nurses can specialize in. A nurse might choose a specialty that allows them to work with a certain patient population (such as children), specific health conditions (such as cardiac care), or work settings (such as home health nurses).

What is the lowest paying RN? ›

Here are the 10 states where RNs have the lowest average annual salary:
  • South Dakota: $60,540.
  • Alabama: $61,920.
  • Mississippi: $63,130.
  • Iowa: $64,990.
  • Arkansas: $65,810.
  • Kansas: $66,560.
  • Tennessee: $66,680.
  • Kentucky: $67,260.
Apr 4, 2022

What type of nurse is most needed? ›

The following list comprises some specializations that are most in demand for nurses.
  • Critical care nurse.
  • Nurse practitioner.
  • Certified registered nurse anesthetist.
  • Clinical nurse specialist.
  • Oncology nurse.
  • Pediatric nurse.
  • Public health nurse.
  • Telemetry nurse.
Mar 28, 2023

What are the 5 levels of nurses? ›

There are five levels of nursing: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Each level has different requirements, educational qualifications, and salary rates.

Which nurse is the hardest? ›

Most stressful nursing specialties
  • Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. The ICU is an extremely high-pressure environment. ...
  • Emergency room nurses. ER nurses face stress levels that are similar to what first responders experience. ...
  • Neonatal ICU nurses. ...
  • Operating room nurses. ...
  • Oncology nurses. ...
  • Psychiatric nurses.
Dec 1, 2023

What is the highest paid nurse? ›

According to Medscape's 2022 APRN Compensation Report, CRNAs earn, on average, $217,000 annually, making this specialty the highest-paid nursing job.

What is the easiest RN job? ›

8 Easiest Nursing Jobs
  • School Nurse. Average Annual Salary (April 2024): $51,500. ...
  • Nurse Educator. Average Annual Salary (April 2024): $84,000. ...
  • Primary Care Nurse. ...
  • Informatics Nurse. ...
  • Clinical Research Nurse. ...
  • Occupational Health Nurse. ...
  • Lactation Consultant Nurse. ...
  • Home Care Registered Nurse.

How much do most RN make an hour? ›

Registered Nurse Salary in California
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$129,284$62
75th Percentile$102,600$49
Average$87,901$42
25th Percentile$64,600$31

Which state pays RN the most? ›

Best Paying States for Nurses

The state with the highest annual wage is California, which has an average wage of $133,340 per year. Following behind California are Hawaii, with an average salary wage of $113,220, and Oregon at $106,610. The states with the lowest average wage are Alabama, Arkansas and South Dakota.

What is the richest type of nurse? ›

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: $205,770

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) earn a nationwide average of $205,770 per year according to the BLS; this makes CRNAs the highest-paying type nursing job by a significant margin.

Where do the smartest nurses work? ›

Case in point, within all general areas of nursing, the Medical ICU, Trauma ICU, Peds ICU, Neonatal ICU, are perceived to require the highest skill set of nurses.

What are the 4 A's in nursing? ›

As a systematic process for change, this article offers the AACN's Model to Rise Above Moral Distress, describing four A's: ask, affirm, assess, and act. To help critical care nurses working to address moral distress, the article identifies 11 action steps they can take to develop an ethical practice environment.

What is the top nurse called? ›

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

They are considered the highest level of nursing leadership. CNOs oversee the entire nursing program at a healthcare facility and develop policies and procedures that shape how an organization functions.

What is the Big Five in nursing? ›

Its five dimensions include extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness.

What are the 4 fields of nursing? ›

There are four fields of nursing: adult nursing • children's nursing • learning disabilities nursing • mental health nursing.

What is the lowest ranked nurse? ›

1. CNA Certification. As the lowest rank in the nursing hierarchy, CNAs earn the smallest salaries and have the most narrow scope of practice. CNA programs include classroom training and clinical instruction, culminating in a two-part knowledge and skills test.

What is a 2 year nursing degree called? ›

Associate in Nursing (ASN)

You can become a registered nurse (RN) in just two years with your associate degree in nursing (ASN). RNs are the first line of care in many healthcare settings, and they are in increasingly high demand as healthcare organizations strive to accommodate a growing patient population.

Who is the most famous nurse? ›

Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing and possibly the most famous of historical nursing figures. She was a social reformer who laid the global foundation for professional nursing roles. She established the St.

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