A career in nursing is dynamic and diverse, offering nursing professionals a wide variety of specialties to explore. Each nursing specialty comes with its own unique challenges, opportunities, and rewards. Whether you are drawn to the compassion of home healthcare, the fast pace of emergency care, or something in between, there is a nursing specialty that aligns with your interests and skills. 

The WVJC School of Nursing is committed to training the next generation of nurses with the skills and knowledge to provide quality care to their patients, no matter what specialty they choose. Do you want to learn more about the most common nursing specialties, what sets them apart, and how you can get started on the path toward your dream nursing career? If your answer is “yes!”, then keep reading!

Discover Nursing Specialties

There are many nursing specialties in healthcare that cover niche areas. Eight of the most commonly pursued specialties are the following:

Medical-Surgical Nursing

Medical-surgical, or Med-Surg, nurses care for patients who are preparing for surgery or recovering from a medical procedure. Med-surg nurses have special knowledge of the surgical and recovery process and are skilled in assessing and managing various complex medical conditions. According to Nurse Journal, the medical-surgical specialty is one of the most popular positions for entry-level nurses.

Pediatric Nursing

Pediatric nurses have a unique skill set that allows them to care for infants, children, and adolescents. They have extensive knowledge about child development and possess excellent communication skills, patience, and kindness to work effectively with young children and their families. Pediatric nurses can work in a range of settings, including hospitals, physician’s offices, schools, clinics, and more. 

Oncology Nursing

Oncology nurses specialize in caring for patients with various types of cancer. These nurses typically work in hospitals, cancer centers, and outpatient clinics, working closely with a patient’s medical team to provide compassionate support, help manage symptoms, educate patients, and fulfill a comprehensive treatment plan. 

Geriatric Nursing

Geriatric nurses are compassionate nurses who care for elderly patients and their unique health needs. Nurses specializing in geriatrics must have a robust understanding of common conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and more. These specialty nurses often work in assisted living facilities or home healthcare settings. 

Critical Care Nursing

Critical care nurses work in high-pressure and fast-paced settings such as emergency rooms and intensive care units (ICUs). They must have vast knowledge, the ability to think quickly, and the ability to thrive in high-stakes environments, treating critically ill or injured patients where every second counts.

Telehealth Nursing

Telehealth nursing is a relatively new speciality, with the recent growth in virtual healthcare. Telehealth nurses provide support to patients with non-critical needs via phone calls, video chats, and other virtual services. These nurses play an essential role in delivering healthcare to underserved and rural populations who may not have access to healthcare or to those who prefer the convenience of telehealth. 

Labor and Delivery Nursing

Labor and delivery nursing is the specialty that aids in caring for pregnant patients during labor and childbirth. Labor and delivery nurses work in hospitals’ maternity units and in birthing centers to provide emotional, physical, and informational support to patients during their delivery. They are also responsible for monitoring the patient's vital signs and assisting with delivering the baby. 

Travel Nursing

Travel nurses work on short-term contracts at healthcare facilities to fill staffing shortages. A travel nursing position is ideal for an experienced nurse who enjoys change, exploring new places, and wanting to gain experience in many different areas of nursing. One benefit of travel nursing is that working on a contract basis gives nurses the autonomy to choose where and when they want to work.

How To Choose a Nursing Speciality

When choosing a nursing specialty, consider your interests, strengths, and goals. Think about which aspects of nursing inspire you the most, whether it be working with a specific population, learning new technologies, working in a fast-paced environment, or exploring different settings. 

Other factors to consider when choosing a nursing specialty include job outlook, salary potential, work-life balance, and advancement opportunities. Some tools that can help you decide which nursing specialty is best for you may include conducting research online, reading blogs, participating in online forums, connecting with nurses currently in the workforce, and following social media accounts that align with your interests.

‍Kenzie Sullivan is the SEO and Content Specialist for the WVJC School of Nursing.