11 Job Options for Registered Nurses

Jody Dugan, RN, BSN
By
Updated on March 27, 2024
    Nurses can choose from a variety of career paths. While some require additional academic study, RNs have many lucrative and rewarding options to choose from.
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    Are you a registered nurse (RN) looking for your ideal professional pairing? After achieving RN licensure, you can work in a variety of settings and provide care for a range of patient groups.

    This page explores 11 jobs for RNs.

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    Top Job Options for Registered Nurses

    With a rising demand for healthcare professionals, RNs find themselves with a variety of compelling career pathways to explore. Some opportunities keep you in a hospital setting, while others move you into community settings, schools, even law offices.

    The job options you choose need not be permanent and are often flexible and challenging, in addition to providing a lucrative wage . Consider the following 11 jobs for RNs as a starting point to find the perfect opportunity for you.

    Critical Care Nurse

    Critical care nurses take care of people, from infants to older adults, who have life-threatening illnesses or injuries. They play a pivotal role in stabilizing patients and managing complex technology. These nurses need strong communication skills, must practice good logistics, and stay calm in a stressful and fast-paced environment.

    • Minimum Education: Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
    • Certification (Recommended):Certified critical care registered nurse (CCRN) granted by AACN Certification Corporation
    • Compensation: Average annual base salary of $83,150 as of September 2023, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that all RN positions will grow by 6% from 2022-2032, which critical care nurse positions should follow as the percentage of seniors in the general population rises.

    Occupational Health Nurse

    Occupational health nurses specialize in preventing injury and illness in a variety of industries. These RNs assess hazards, provide education, and collaborate with the employer to create a safe and healthy work environment to support employee safety and productivity.

    • Minimum Education: ADN
    • Certification (Recommended): The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses offers two core certifications and one specialty certification:
      • Certified occupational health nurse (COHN) – focuses on clinical practice
      • Certified occupational health nurse-specialist (COHN-S) – emphasizes administrative aspects in the workplace
      • Specialty: case management (CM) – focuses on coordinating cost-effective quality care
    • Compensation: Average annual base salary of $80,220 as of February 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: As employer awareness grows around the importance of occupational health, the demand for occupational health nurses in the workplace also increases.

    Informatics Nurse

    Informatics nurses integrate nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage data and knowledge in nursing practice. These RNs leverage technology to enhance patient care and improve workflow efficiency to facilitate decision-making in the healthcare setting.

    • Minimum Education:Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)
    • Certification (Recommended):Informatics nursing certification (RN-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $84,020 as of February 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: The BLS does not provide job growth projections for informatics nursing. However, data shows a 28% job growth projection from 2022-2032 for medical and health services managers who plan and coordinate healthcare provider activities.

    Certified Nurse-Midwife

    Certified nurse-midwives are advanced practice nurses who specialize in women’s reproductive health and childbirth. These nurses provide their patients with prenatal, labor, and postpartum care, including gynecological services and family planning.

    • Minimum Education: Master of science in nursing (MSN)
    • Certification (Required):Certified nurse-midwife (CNM) from the American Midwifery Certification Board
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $104,530 as of February 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: The BLS projects job growth of 38% from 2022-2032, which is far faster than average.

    Travel Nurse

    Travel nurses are RNs who work temporary assignments in a variety of settings across the country. Assignments typically last several weeks to several months, offering nurses the opportunity to network and gain new clinical skills.

    • Minimum Education: BSN
    • Certification: There is no certification available for travel nurses, but specialty certifications can improve job opportunities.
    • Compensation: An average base annual salary of $80,230 as of January 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: Travel nursing experienced significant growth since 2020, which has since begun leveling off. However, as long as there is a national nursing shortage, there will be a demand for travel nurses.

    Family Nurse Practitioner

    Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) who focus on providing primary care to individuals and families. They diagnose and treat common acute and chronic health conditions, promote health maintenance, and emphasize preventive care.

    Public Health Nurse

    Public health nurses focus on improving the health and well-being of communities using preventive care and health promotion strategies. These nurses assess the needs of the community and use this information to develop and implement programs, collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to address these issues.

    • Minimum Education: ADN
    • Certification: Required in some states. Two organizations offer certification:
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $71,270 as of January 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: Employment opportunities are expected to increase, but public health nurses with certain skills, including strong data analysis skills and fluency in more than one language, could grow at a higher rate.

    Geriatric and Continuing Care Nurse

    Geriatric and continuing care nurses specialize in providing comprehensive healthcare to senior adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities. RNs in this job assess, manage, and coordinate services tailored to promote quality of life and continuity of care across a variety of healthcare settings.

    • Minimum Education: ADN
    • Certification (Recommended): Two organizations offer certification:
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $75,190 as of February 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: The job growth in this market is expected to rise as the Baby Boomer generation will all reach retirement age by 2030.

    Oncology

    Oncology nursing focuses on providing specialized care to patients with cancer and their families. These nurses play a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cancer. They offer support, education, and compassionate care throughout their journey with cancer.

    • Minimum Education: ADN
    • Certification (Recommended): Oncology certified nurse (OCN) from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $82,820 as of February 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: By 2040, the number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year is expected to rise to 29.4 million, and medical technologies and treatments continue to evolve, contributing to the expected growth in this field.

    Legal Nurse Consultant

    Legal nurse consultants are RNs who lend their expertise in healthcare to legal proceedings. These nurses bridge a gap between healthcare and the law, which helps attorneys who have medical- or health-related cases by reviewing records, interpreting information, and offering insight into complex healthcare issues. They perform medical literature searches, educate attorneys, and provide evidence at trial.

    • Minimum Education: ADN
    • Certification (Recommended): There are two credentials for legal nurse consultants:
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $87,090 as of January 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: There are 1.3 million attorneys in the U.S., and opportunities are expanding for legal nurses to contribute to malpractice, personal injury, and worker’s compensation cases.

    Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

    Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are APRNs who specialize in administering anesthesia and managing pain during surgical procedures. CRNAs play a vital role in patient safety throughout an operation.

    • Minimum Education: MSN and DNP
    • Certification (Required):National certification examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
    • Compensation: Average annual salary of $180,980 as of February 2024, according to Payscale
    • Outlook: According to the BLS data, CRNAs could see a 38% job growth from 2022-2032.

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