Types of Nurses and Nursing Speciality

Introduction

The roles and responsibilities of every nurse are unique. A nurse from the cardiac department has different responsibilities from those of an emergency care department nurse. The diverse roles in the nursing domain highlight the fact that nursing is a critical care and supports numerous people’s jobs. Each department has different types of demands from its nurses in terms of knowledge and skills. 

In this blog, let us understand about nursing, its types, and specialties. This will guide you to understand the key responsibilities that different nurses have in the healthcare domain. 

What is Nursing? 

The nursing domain comes under the healthcare profession, where nurses provide medical care to patients and also assist them throughout the recovery process. It is about remembering the minor needs of patients, handling administrative tasks, and more. Apart from patient care, nurses have to communicate well with doctors and other healthcare professionals. 

To progress in the field of nursing, one has to complete a designated nursing course and get a relevant license. The nursing domain encompasses several types and specialities where one can choose according to their interests and ability to handle responsibilities.

Types of Nurses 

The role of nurses in the hospital has distinct authority, medical practice, and knowledge that differ from those of nurses in other departments. Nursing specialities are based on career level, administrative roles, and license status. They are: 

1. Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses are healthcare professionals who have a medical license from the healthcare department. According to the patient’s condition, the nurse aligns their treatment procedure with the doctor’s healthcare plan. Having an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing makes them eligible to be a Registered Nurse. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Giving medicines to patients as prescribed by doctors.
• Providing immediate care during emergencies. 
• Guiding the patients and their respective family members about the recovery process, such as taking medicine on time, health care activities, and more.
• Monitoring patients regularly and giving healthcare reports to doctors on time. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: 2,00,000 – 3,00,000 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: 4,00,000 – 7,00,000 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level:  7,00,000-10,00,000+ LPA (5+ years)

2. Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

A Licensed Vocational Nurse must complete a state-approved vocational nursing program to provide basic yet critical care to patients. This includes applying ointment, changing bandages, and maintaining the patient’s blood pressure record.  

Key Responsibilities

• Monitoring and recording the vital signs like temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.
• Providing both oral and injectable medications to patients on time.
• Coordinating with seniors regarding patient’s health care plans. 
• Updating the patient’s health records.

Salary Range

• Entry-level: 3,00,000 – 5,00,000 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: 4 – 7 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: 7,49,575 LPA (8+ years)

3. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is an advanced-level nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. They have wider responsibilities that range from examining patient’s vital signs to conducting diagnostic tests. 

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting the patient’s physical examination, such as blood tests and X-rays.
• Preparing individual patient’s treatment plans for those suffering from acute and chronic diseases. 
• Providing counselling to patients on maintaining better health and preventing illness. 
• Helping patients with reference to healthcare specialties in the future. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: 4 – 4.7 LPA (0-1 years)

• Mid-level: 4.7 – 5.2 LPA (1-3 years)

• Senior-level: 14 LPA (8+ years)

4. Certified Nursing Assistant

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a beginner-level nurse who works in hospitals and nursing homes, helping patients with basic yet important tasks. They nurture and care for the patients and support senior healthcare professionals during treatment.  

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting patients, especially seniors, with their day-to-day activities, such as grooming, bathing, and walking.
• Keeping track and recording vital health signs like blood pressure and heart rate. 
• Caring and comforting the patient by feeding them and keeping the patient’s bed area clean. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹3.6 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹3.6 – 5 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹5+LPA (5+ years)

5.  Public Health Nurse

A Public Health Nurse (PHN) provides healthcare to patients from a community or public group. They generally work in government healthcare departments, NGOs, schools, and rural health organizations. To be a PHN, one must complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) followed by a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). 

Key Responsibilities

• Analysing the healthcare data reports of a patient to identify health risks.
• Guiding and promoting health education on hygiene, disease prevention, and food habits to the families and community groups. 
• Checks vital health signs and prepares the correct doses of vaccines and medications. 
• Collaborating with government healthcare agencies and NGOs. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹ 7.4 LPA (1-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹ 9.7 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹ 10.8 +LPA (6+ years)

6. Nurse Manager 

A Nurse Manager oversees the administrative processes of other nurses in a particular department. They recruit, schedule work timings, and also set the salary budget for the recruited nurses. To be a Nurse Manager, one has to complete an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing), followed by having a registered nursing license. Additionally, one can become a nurse manager after working as a nurse in a particular health care department for at least 3 years. 

Key Responsibilities

• Play a vital role in human resource management to recruit trained nurses and evaluate their performance. 
• Helps in mentoring the nurses and staff of a particular department. 
• Ensures the needs of the patients are satisfied, and the quality of health care is maintained. 
• Ensures that staff maintain the legal terms and conditions of the hospital policies. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹5 LPA (3-6 years)

• Mid-level: ₹5.9 – 6.4 LPA (6-9 years)

• Senior-level: ₹ 8.3+LPA (9-12+ years)

7. Nurse Educator 

A Nurse Educator teaches various nursing skills and clinical knowledge to the nursing students or current nurses. To educate other nursing members, one must have a Master’s Degree in Nursing, a PhD, along with hands-on clinical experience. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provides lectures, gives lesson plans, and helps with practical knowledge for the new staff and nurses. 
• Instruct on patient care methods, such as having a keen eye on the vital signs and the medical needs of the patient. 
• Handles and creates important documents for both the nursing staff and patients. 
• Evaluates performance, checks on their progress, and grades assignments of the nursing staff. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹3.1 LPA (1-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹4.4 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹6.1+LPA (6+ years)

8. Director of Nursing 

A Director of Nursing manages the entire nursing department in the healthcare association and is known as the senior-level nurse. Rather than directly handling patient care, they take part in leadership and administrative roles. A nursing director must have the necessary degrees, a Registered Nursing license and clinical experience. 

Key Responsibilities

• Assessing and evaluating staff and intern nurse’s performances. 
• Manages crucial documents based on evidence and conducts research.
• Maintains a library of evidence-based documents that are up-to-date with clinical resources. 
• Coordinates with interdisciplinary teams like physicians, nurses, patients’ families, and doctors. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹5 – 21 LPA (1-4 years)

• Mid-level: ₹ 25 – 30 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹30 – 38 +LPA (8+ years)

9. Nurse Informaticist 

A Nurse Informaticist is a registered nurse who are specilized in using information technology. They optimize electronic health records (EHR) to keep track of healthcare documents. A nurse informaticist does not need clinical experince but they do need a master’s degree in nursing and regitered nurse license. 

Key Responsibilities

• Optimizing electronic health record systems for better management and improvement.

• Ensuring and checking patient’s data are accurate according to the evidence. 
• Identifying and troubleshooting the technology and resolving it. 
• Provides guidance and training to the nursing staff to use the medical technologies. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹7 LPA (1-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹7 – 12 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹8 – 15+LPA (8+ years)

10. Nurse Anesthetist 

A Nurse Anesthetist are highly skilled nurse who manages anesthesia procedures and provide medication to relieve the pain of the patient before and after surgery. To be a Nurse Anesthetist, one must have done a BSc in Nursing, have a registered nurse license, and have at least 3 years of clinical experience in critical care. 

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluating and examining the patient’s physical condition. 
• Planning the type of anesthesia (general, local, regional) and dosage amount based on the patient’s evaluation. 
• Checking the operating euipments are clean and sterilized properly. 
• Providing information about the procedures and risks to the patients and their families. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹4 – 8 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹4 – 10 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹ 24 LPA (8+ years)

11. Nurse Midwife 

Nurse Midwife is a type of nursing where these nurses focus on pregnant women, childbirth, and gynecological health issues. To be a nurse-midwife, one has to complete a BSc and  MSc in Nursing, specialization in midwifery, and must pass the NCLEX-RN.  

Key Responsibilities

• Checking and monitoring the condition and development of the fetus. 
• Helping with the delivery process and managing labor pain through medical care. 
• Prescribing medicines and performing/ representing wellness screening to the parents. 
• Educating and guiding the mother on breastfeeding and common gynecological issues after childbirth. 

Salary Range 

• Entry-level: ₹2.5 – 2.6 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹ 3.1 LPA (3-5 years)

• Senior-level: ₹ 3.5 +LPA (6+ years)

12. Nurse Practitioner (NP) 

A Nurse Practitioner can treat, diagnose, and also prescribe medication to the patients. They are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who can provide multi-health care to the patients without a physician or health supervisor. To be a nurse practitioner, one must have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, a registered nurse lisence and a PhD degree. 

Key Responsibilities

• Keeps records of the medical history of patients and conducts health exams. 
• Prescribing medication and also guide on non-medical therapeutic methods. 
• Collecting samples like blood, stool, and urine, and ordering lab tests. 
• Educating patients and their family members on disease or illness prevention.

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹4.7 – 5.1LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹5 – 7 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹15+LPA (6+ years)

13. Clinical Nurse Specialist 

A Clinical Nurse Specialist is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who focuses specilized care for the patient. One can become a clinical nurse specialist if they have a BSN degree, passed the NCLEX-RN exam, and have at least 1-5 years of clinical experience. 

Key Responsibilities

• Make health care plans for patients, especially in the domain like oncology and critical care. 
• Helps to resolve complex health cases and provides expert consultancy to nursing staff. 
• Mentors the bedside nurses to improve their clinical care skills.
• Helps clinically guide the nursing staff and also improve patients’ health safety. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹5.5 – 7.7 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹7.3 – 9.5 LPA (3-9 years)

• Senior-level: ₹10 – 13.5+LPA (5+ years)

14. Military Nurse

A Military Nurse is a registered nurse who is highly trained to provide medical care to military service members. To be a military nurse, one must complete a BSc Nursing course at the Armed Forces Medical Service College and have an RN license.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing instant support during natural disasters to the injured service members. 
• Managing healthcare documents and coordinating with general nursing staff.
• Providing proper medical care to the service members in a dangerous environment. 
• Educating about safety medical tips, wellness, and sanitation to the military group. 

Salary Range

• Entry-level: ₹ 9- 11 LPA (0-3 years)

• Mid-level: ₹ 11.1 – 14.7 LPA (3-6 years)

• Senior-level: ₹ 15- 22 LPA (5+ years)

Nursing Specialities

Nursing specialities focus on a specific domain in the nursing profession. Every healthcare department needs nurses who are specialised in skills and knowledge in that particular field. They are: 

1. Cardiac Care Nurse

A cardiac care nurse is specialised to work in cardiac care units. They need to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and have licensure as a Registered Nurse to be a professional Cardiac care nurse. 

Key Responsibilities

• Monitoring vital signs and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs). 
• Supervising patients with their medications and managing intravenous drips.
• Educating patient’s and their family on the recovery and health maintenance process.
• Coordinating with the doctor and surgeons regarding the patient’s surgery procedure. 

2. Obstetrics Nurse

An Obstetrics Nurse or OB nurse is a specialist in the gynecology department. They are the registered nurses who provide prenatal care and help with treatment procedures. 

Key Responsibilities

• Conducts the necessary checkup procedures of the mother and the fetus.
• Monitors heart rate and uterine activity during childbirth and delivery.
• Monitors the weight, blood pressure, and heart rate of the newborn baby 
• Guides the new parents on both the mother’s and the infant’s care.

3. Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse

A Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse specializes in caring for premature and critically ill infants. They have exceptional assessment skills to continuously detect any small health illness in infants and provide immediate intensive care.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing advanced equipments like incubators, cardiac monitors, and operating ventilators according to the infant’s health condition. 
• Monitors the vital health signs of stress, blood pressure, and heart rate of the infant. 
• Maintains a clean and sterilized environment for the infants. 
• Provides tube feeding, medicines, and wound care to the infants.

4. Oncology Nurse

An Oncology Nurse is a specialised nurse who provides intense care and treatment to cancer patients. They conduct chemotherapy and collaborate with multiple health professionals, like doctors and dietitians, for patient care. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provides clinical care, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy to the patients. 
• Examining vital signs and symptoms like pain, nausea, side effects, and treatment. 
• Coordinates with oncologists, dieticians, and surgeons for further treatment procedures. 
• Provides emotional support and a goal of care for the patient and their family. 

5. Emergency Nurse

An Emergency nurse is a specialized registered nurse who first responds and assists a patient during an emergency before the doctor’s intervention. They perform core responsibilities like treating wounds, helping with the administration process, and checking for vital health signs. An emergency nurse works in a hospital, clinics, on flights, and in trauma centers. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provides instant medical care to the arriving patients, like cleaning wounds, setting broken bones, and giving the necessary medication. 
• Continuously monitoring the patient’s health condition and checking vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate. 
• Guiding the patients and their families about the health recovery and discharge processes.
• Ensuring that the surrounding environment is clean, especially near patients.

6. Critical Care Nurse

A critical care nurse is a specialized registered nurse who provides fast healthcare to patients during critical situations. They generally work in the ICU, emergency care, and trauma unit departments. 

Key Responsibilities

• Monitoring complex data from the hemodynamic and neurological monitoring systems. 
• Responding immediately during an emergency of a patient, such as a stroke, cardiac arrest, and more.
• Managing medical documents and keeping the records of each patient in a safe and organized manner. 
• Guiding the patient about recovery plans and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams. 

7. Perioperative Nurse

A Perioperative Nurse is a registered nurse who assists the doctor during operating procedures and plays a crucial part in the surgical team. They work in hospitals and clinics to manage operating procedures, patient safety, and maintain a sterile environment. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provides overall medical care to the patient before, during, and after the operation.
• Performs intraoperative duties like handling operative instruments and monitoring the environment of the operating room.
• Assisting the doctor (surgeon) during the operation with the correct operating instruments, sponges, and other medical supplies.
• Positions the patient properly to prevent any injuries during surgery. 

8. Clinical Nurse Specialists

Clinical Nurse Specialists are the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who play a leadership role in the specialized healthcare domain. They provide diverse care to the patients in a specific healthcare domain like pediatrics, critical care, and oncology.

Key Responsibilities

• Diagnose complex illness or health issues in a specific healthcare section. 
• Mentoring and guiding the nurses to improve patient care methods. 
• Improves the healthcare system by addressing the gaps in patient care.
• Coordinates with medical teams, patients, and their family members to improve clinical outcomes. 

9. Diabetes Nurse

A Diabetes Nurse is an educational specialist on diabetes who helps diabetes patients to manage the types of diabetes. They empower the patient in self-management by educating about blood sugar levels, insulation and food habits. 

Key Responsibilities

• Examining physical conditions and checking healthcare complications.
• Continuously provides healthcare plans. 
• Educating patients and their families on checking blood sugar levels, injecting, and performing pumping procedures. 
• Guiding patients on nutritional food plans and healthy food habits.

10. Forensic Nurse

A Forensic Nurse is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who cares for patients who are victims of abuse, violence, and trauma. They work in hospitals and emergency rooms along with law enforcement. 

Key Responsibilities

• Collecting evidence samples of blood, semen, tissues, along with photographs of the injuries. 
• Makes reports from the patient’s statements and manages these files in a secure manner. 
• Supporting and providing specialized care for the injured victims. 
• Work as a medical officer and a death investigator. 

 11. Gastroenterology Nurse

A Gastroenterology Nurse takes care of patients who have digestive health issues. They are specialized nurse that monitors vital signs, provide medicines, guides about caution and risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Helping the patients during the collection of medical history and physical tests.
• Assisting physicians during diagnostic processes like endoscopies and colonoscopies.
• Educating patients on GI diseases and emotionally supporting them for an improved lifestyle.
• Keeping the endoscopic equipment clean and sterilized before and after the procedures. 

 12. Parish Nurse

A Parish Nurse is a specialized registered nurse who works directly under a faith or religion-based community. They provide holistic care on body, mind, and spirit of the patients who are engaged in the particular religious community. 

Key Responsibilities

• Checks on vital signs of the patient, like temperature and blood pressure.
• Helps the patients to understand their illness and refers them to a doctor accordingly.
• Ensures to provide quality medical and holistic care for the patients.
• Recruits healthcare volunteers to coordinate and work on delivering improved healthcare. 

 13. Mental Health Nurse

Mental Health Nurses are trained and specialized mental healthcare professionals who are involved in the psychiatric department. They assist doctors in managing patient care and psychiatric evaluation. 

Key Responsibilities

• Performing various critical mental state examinations.
• Checking physical health, such as blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. 
• Reviewing and developing individual care plans for the patients.
• Educating the patients and their families on mental health conditions.

14. Orthopedic Nurse

An Orthopedic Nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in caring for patients with musculoskeletal health conditions. They provide acute care to the patients and help them focus on healing methods. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provides pre and post operative care for the patients in managing movement and pain. 
• Helps to restore the mobility of patients and helps with exercises and traction methods. 
• Continuously checks on surgical wounds and manages pain through medication. 
• Guiding patients about treatment plans, recovery, and joint protection. 

 15. Public Health Nurse

A Public Health Nurse is a specialized registered nurse who helps in improving and managing population health. They provide healthcare education, guides on prevention, and precaution of diseases. 

Key Responsibilities

• Helps in immunization and disease prevention programs, such as vaccinating and screening for diseases in patients.
• Educates and guides mass people on healthcare prevention and promotes wellness. 
• Immediately plan and respond to health care activities during a disaster or natural calamities.
• Coordinates with multi-disciplinary members and the community members for public health improvement. 

A Nursing Overview at a Glance

Conclusion

Nursing is a diverse profession with various types of nurses and specialized nursing fields. From entry-level positions to advanced practice nurses and specialized units, every nurse has a distinct role to play for the well-being of patients. 

Nurses in each healthcare department coordinate with a multidisciplinary team to make informed decisions. Students who are willing to grow a specialised or registered nursing career must be aware of nursing types and their specialities.