Ambulatory or Critical Care Path

Here are more ambulatory or critical care nursing options that may work best for you:

*Note: These specialties require an advanced certification in addition to a Master’s degree

Ambulatory Care Nurse

young man with short brown hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck while crossing his arms
young man with short brown hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck while crossing his arms

Ambulatory Care Nurse

Average annual salary $80,000/Year*

Salario medio anual $80,000/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Ambulatory Care Nurses are often in high demand within clinics due to their expertise and special skills. With a majority of health care moving to the outpatient setting, ambulatory care registered nurses (RNs) are critical.

Ambulatory Care Nurses specialize in outpatient settings, providing care for patients in various healthcare centers such as clinics, urgent care centers and doctor’s offices. They manage the care and treatment of acute health issues, and guide individuals with chronic disease management.

young man with short brown hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck while crossing his arms

Burn Care Nurse

young man with short black hair wearing red scrubs crossing his arms
young man with short black hair wearing red scrubs crossing his arms

Burn Care Nurse

Average annual salary $100,312/Year*

Salario medio anual $100,312/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Because this is a highly specialized field, Burn Care Nurses are always in demand.

Burn Care Nurses are highly specialized in the care of acutely ill patients with thermal injuries.

young man with short black hair wearing red scrubs crossing his arms

Cardiac Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Woman with short curly hair wearing a light blue coat with a stethoscope aruond her neck crossing her arms
Woman with short curly hair wearing a light blue coat with a stethoscope aruond her neck crossing her arms

Cardiac Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Average annual salary $123,780/Year*

Salario medio anual $123,780/año*

6 to 8 years of schooling

The need for Cardiac NPs will only continue to grow. As more and more Americans are diagnosed with cardiac disease, Nurse Practitioners will be needed to care for these patients.

A Cardiac Nurse Practitioner is a specialized Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who provides comprehensive care to patients who have been diagnosed with cardiac diseases.

Note: This specialty may require an advanced certification in addition to a Masters degree or higher

Woman with short curly hair wearing a light blue coat with a stethoscope aruond her neck crossing her arms

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

bald man with clear glasses wearing a blue face mask and teal scrubs crossing his arms
bald man with clear glasses wearing a blue face mask and teal scrubs crossing his arms

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Average annual salary $195,610/Year*

Salario medio anual $195,610/año*

6 to 8 years of schooling

The job prospects for CRNAs are excellent because of the need for additional healthcare providers and the increased number of ambulatory care services.

CRNAs are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who administer anesthesia and other medications. They also monitor patients who are receiving and recovering from anesthesia.

Note: This specialty requires advanced certification. A Doctor of Nursing Practice is required.

bald man with clear glasses wearing a blue face mask and teal scrubs crossing his arms

Emergency Room (ER) Nurse

woman with brown hair wearing round black rimmed glasses and blue scrubs over a white shirt holding a stethoscope with her right hand while crossing her arms
woman with brown hair wearing round black rimmed glasses and blue scrubs over a white shirt holding a stethoscope with her right hand while crossing her arms

Emergency Room (ER) Nurse

Average annual salary $100,312/Year*

Salario medio anual $100,312/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

There are many jobs available for Emergency Room Nurses who care for trauma patients and other emergencies.

ER Nurses work in the Emergency Department (ED) to triage patients who require immediate care. They treat immediate life-threatening medical conditions, stabilize patients requiring advanced medical therapies, and discharge stable patients.

woman with brown hair wearing round black rimmed glasses and blue scrubs over a white shirt holding a stethoscope with her right hand while crossing her arms

Flight Nurse

Young woman with short black hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck crossing her arms
Young woman with short black hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck crossing her arms

Flight Nurse

Average annual salary $77,600/Year*

Salario medio anual $77,600/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

This field is a highly specialized field that is always in high demand. A Transplant Nurse cares for patients who are donating or receiving an organ or tissue through a transplant procedure.

Flight Nurses take the responsibilities of an RN onboard a jet or helicopter transporting patients to hospital or other healthcare facilities. Flight Nurses are responsible for caring for acutely ill patients in flight.

Note: Other certifications are required.

Young woman with short black hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck crossing her arms

Forensic Nurse

woman with blonde hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck crossing her arms
woman with blonde hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck crossing her arms

Forensic Nurse

Average annual salary $72,659/Year*

Salario medio anual $72,659/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Forensic Nurses must be detail-oriented, organized, skilled in collecting and preserving evidence, and committed to accurate and careful documentation. Forensic nursing is an emotionally challenging field.

A Forensic Nurse is someone who works with crime victims to gather medical evidence and provide expert testimony that can be used in court. Forensic nursing is a unique specialty that blends the worlds of nursing, science, and the legal system.

woman with blonde hair wearing blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck crossing her arms

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Critical Care Nurse

young woman with long curly brown hair wearing blue scrubs with a long sleeved white shirt underneath while she crosses her arms
young woman with long curly brown hair wearing blue scrubs with a long sleeved white shirt underneath while she crosses her arms

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Critical Care Nurse

Average annual salary $119,604/Year*

Salario medio anual $119,604/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

ICU Nurses will always be in demand because there will always be emergency events which cause patients to require life-saving measures. These highly-specialized and trained nurses will always be able to find positions.

ICU Nurses provide life-saving care to patients that are extremely sick and often fighting for their lives. Nurses in this field are at the top of their game and take care of patients that require 24/7 nursing care.

young woman with long curly brown hair wearing blue scrubs with a long sleeved white shirt underneath while she crosses her arms

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse

man wearing a white hair cap and white face mask and light blue scrubs holding an newborn child with his arms and his hands are gloved
man wearing a white hair cap and white face mask and light blue scrubs holding an newborn child with his arms and his hands are gloved

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse

Average annual salary $120,317/Year*

Salario medio anual $120,317/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

NICU Nurses are in high demand. Nurses who go on to careers in the NICU are equipped with a skill set that will be in demand for years to come.

NICU Nurses primarily care for sick and/or premature babies, or babies dealing with various forms of birth defects. These patients need to be cared for and monitored, sometimes for weeks or months, until they are healthy and developed enough to go home.

man wearing a white hair cap and white face mask and light blue scrubs holding an newborn child with his arms and his hands are gloved

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse

Woman wearing a hair cap and a blue face mask, and light blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck being held by her gloved hands
Woman wearing a hair cap and a blue face mask, and light blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck being held by her gloved hands

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse

Average annual salary $82,750/Year*

Salario medio anual $82,750/año*

4 years of schooling

This field is a highly specialized field that is always in high demand.

PICU Nurses provide care for children and adolescents with a wide-range of ailments, from common childhood diseases to life-threatening illnesses.

Woman wearing a hair cap and a blue face mask, and light blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around her neck being held by her gloved hands

Perioperative/Operating Room (OR) Nurse

young man wearing hair cap with blue face mask pullde down wearing blue scrubs and translucent gloves while crossing his arms
young man wearing hair cap with blue face mask pullde down wearing blue scrubs and translucent gloves while crossing his arms

Perioperative/Operating Room (OR) Nurse

Average annual salary $83,200/Year*

Salario medio anual $83,200/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Perioperative Nurses are in high demand. Perioperative Nurses, also known as Operating Room Nurses, fulfill surgical nursing roles before, during, and after surgical procedures.

They work closely with patients and a team of healthcare professionals as they perform a wide variety of tasks.

young man wearing hair cap with blue face mask pullde down wearing blue scrubs and translucent gloves while crossing his arms

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)

young bearded man wearing blue scrubs over a white long sleeved shirt while crossing his arms
young bearded man wearing blue scrubs over a white long sleeved shirt while crossing his arms

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)

Average annual salary $90,636/Year*

Salario medio anual $90,636/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

SANEs are needed for ongoing education, testifying in criminal cases, and providing support to victims of sexual assault.

SANEs perform emergent triage, document and perform sexual assault medical forensics, provide emotional support and other tasks.

young bearded man wearing blue scrubs over a white long sleeved shirt while crossing his arms

Substance Abuse Nurse

woman with brown hair wearing dark blue scrubs and a small id card clipped onto the top of the shirt, a stethoscope around her neck while crossing her arms
woman with brown hair wearing dark blue scrubs and a small id card clipped onto the top of the shirt, a stethoscope around her neck while crossing her arms

Substance Abuse Nurse

Average annual salary $77,600/Year*

Salario medio anual $77,600/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Substance Abuse Nurses are in high demand across the country as the number of individuals suffering from substance abuse addiction rises.

A Substance Abuse Nurse specializes in the treatment of patients addicted to drugs, alcohol, or other substances. They provide pain management, education for patients and caregivers about the dangers of substance abuse, and emotional support to patients in crisis.

woman with brown hair wearing dark blue scrubs and a small id card clipped onto the top of the shirt, a stethoscope around her neck while crossing her arms

Transplant Nurse

Man with short hair wearing black scrubs holding a stethoscope with his right hand while crossing both of his arms
Man with short hair wearing black scrubs holding a stethoscope with his right hand while crossing both of his arms

Transplant Nurse

Average annual salary $83,200/Year*

Salario medio anual $83,200/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

The demand for organ transplants is high in the U.S., thus making the need for Transplant Nurses critical to our country’s healthcare system.

A Transplant Nurse cares for patients who are donating or receiving an organ or tissue through a transplant procedure.

Man with short hair wearing black scrubs holding a stethoscope with his right hand while crossing both of his arms

Trauma Nurse

young man with black hair wearing red scrubs crossing his arms
young man with black hair wearing red scrubs crossing his arms

Trauma Nurse

Average annual salary $100,312/Year*

Salario medio anual $100,312/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Trauma occurs across a lifespan, making Trauma Nurses a high-demand specialty.

Trauma Nurses care for people with critical, often life-threatening injuries.

young man with black hair wearing red scrubs crossing his arms

Wound Care Nurse

Young man with short hair wearing light blue scrubs with a yellow stethoscope hanging around his neck crossing his arms
Young man with short hair wearing light blue scrubs with a yellow stethoscope hanging around his neck crossing his arms

Wound Care Nurse

Average annual salary $77,600/Year*

Salario medio anual $77,600/año*

4 to 6 years of schooling

Wound Care Nurses will always be in demand in operating rooms, critical care units, ICUs and inpatient settings where patients are bedridden.

Wound Care Nurses bring their skills and techniques together to heal patients both physically and mentally. Nurses who decide to become certified in wound care are entering an in-demand specialty.

Young man with short hair wearing light blue scrubs with a yellow stethoscope hanging around his neck crossing his arms