If you are asking “what type of nurse should I be,” match five things to a role: pace, patient age, setting, schedule and years of school. Options run from LPN (about 1 year of training, $64,400 median pay) to RN ($97,550 median) and nurse anesthetist ($236,590 median, after a doctorate). The self-check below sorts them.
Use it alongside the basics in CNA vs LPN vs RN vs MD if the license levels are still new to you. Pay figures are national medians from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025, the most recent OEWS release.
The Self-Check: Match Your Preferences to a Nursing Role
Read each row and note the answer that sounds most like you. The role that shows up most often across your answers is the best place to start reading below.
| If you prefer | Roles that fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fast pace, high stakes, quick decisions | Emergency, critical care or trauma RN; CRNA | Unstable patients, constant monitoring, procedures |
| Steady pace and long-term relationships | Ambulatory care, rehabilitation, school or public health RN; LPN in long-term care; primary care NP | Same patients over months or years |
| Babies and children | Neonatal or pediatric RN; pediatric NP; certified nurse-midwife | Newborn, child and family care |
| Older adults | Gerontological RN; LPN in residential care; adult-gerontology NP | Chronic disease, function, safety |
| Mental health | Psychiatric-mental health RN; psychiatric-mental health NP | Talk, assessment, medication follow-up |
| Hospital setting | Medical-surgical, critical care, cardiovascular or neonatal RN; CRNA | Most RN jobs are in hospitals |
| Clinic, school or community setting | Ambulatory care, school or public health RN; NP; CNM | Office-style settings |
| Weekday daytime hours | Clinic, school, case management or informatics RN; many NPs | Settings without 24-hour care |
| Shift work, including nights and weekends | Hospital floor RN, critical care RN; LPN in nursing care facilities | Round-the-clock coverage |
| Start working in about a year | LPN | Program typically takes about 1 year |
| Bachelor’s degree, then work | RN (BSN) | Four-year program, then the NCLEX-RN |
| Graduate school later for advanced practice and top pay | NP, CNM, CRNA, CNS | Master’s degree minimum; CRNA programs are doctoral |
| Leading, teaching or working with data | Nurse executive, informatics or professional development RN; CNS | Fewer bedside hours, system-level work |
How Should You Read Your Results?
Treat the self-check as a short list, not a verdict. An RN license carries across specialties, so a first specialty does not have to be your last. The education column matters most because it decides which doors open: an LPN license is the fastest start, an RN license is the base for every specialty and advanced role, and the advanced practice roles all require an RN license first.
Quick Comparison: Nursing Types, Education and Pay
Every number below comes from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and the May 2025 OEWS survey. Medians mean half earn more and half earn less.
| Role | Typical education | Median pay (May 2025) | 10th to 90th percentile | Job growth 2025-35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistant (CNA) | State-approved program plus state competency exam | $42,260 median | Not shown | 3% (with orderlies) |
| LPN / LVN | State-approved program, about 1 year | $64,400 median | $49,740 to $83,440 pay | 3% |
| Registered nurse (RN) | BSN, ADN or hospital diploma, plus licensing exam | $97,550 median | $68,940 to $137,470 pay | 6% |
| Nurse practitioner (NP) | RN plus master’s or doctorate | $132,300 median | $101,340 to $174,420 pay | 36% (APRN group) |
| Certified nurse-midwife (CNM) | RN plus master’s or doctorate | $134,040 median | $93,620 to $188,320 pay | 36% (APRN group) |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | RN, 1 year critical care, doctoral program | $236,590 median | 10th percentile pay $155,250 | 36% (APRN group) |
| Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) | RN plus master’s in nursing | Counted with RNs by BLS | Not published separately | Counted with RNs |
For a state-by-state view of these numbers, see our nursing salary guide by role and state.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
CNAs help patients with bathing, dressing, eating and moving, and they take vital signs. BLS says nursing assistants often need a state-approved education program and must pass their state’s competency exam. The median wage for nursing assistants was $42,260 in May 2025.
CNA work is not a nursing license in the same sense as LPN or RN, but many students use it to test whether they like bedside care before committing to nursing school. Our complete guide to certified nursing assistants covers training and daily duties.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN or LVN)
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses give basic nursing care under the direction of RNs and doctors: checking vital signs, changing dressings, and reporting changes in a patient’s condition. According to the BLS profile for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, the state-approved program typically takes about 1 year, and graduates must pass a licensing exam. That exam is the NCLEX-PN, which NCSBN develops along with the NCLEX-RN.
The median wage was $64,400 in May 2025, and the occupation held about 666,900 jobs in 2025. Median pay is highest in government ($68,970 median) and nursing and residential care facilities ($68,020 median), with a hospital median wage of $61,160. Many LPNs later complete an LPN-to-RN bridge.
Is LPN a Good Fit If You Want to Start Fast?
Yes, if you want paid patient care quickly and are fine with a narrower scope. Nursing and residential care facilities are a leading LPN setting, which suits people who like steady routines and knowing their patients well. If you think you will want specialty work or graduate school, the RN route avoids a second round of schooling.
Registered Nurse (RN) and the Main RN Specialties
RNs assess patients, give medications and treatments, coordinate care and teach patients and families. BLS reports that RNs usually take one of three paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved program, with diploma programs typically taking 2 to 3 years. AACN notes that most RNs enter practice with a baccalaureate degree from a four-year school or an associate degree from a community college.
To be licensed, graduates of any path take the NCLEX-RN. The NCLEX passing standards are reevaluated every three years by NCSBN.
If you are far enough along to start practicing, our 100 free NCLEX practice questions show how the exam reads. For timing by path, see how long it takes to become a registered nurse.
The BLS registered nurse profile puts the median at $97,550 in May 2025, with about 3.5 million RN jobs in 2025. Setting changes pay:
| RN work setting (BLS) | Share of RN jobs, 2025 | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | 59% | $100,220 median |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 19% | $91,230 median |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 6% | $84,300 median |
| Government | 5% | $110,780 median |
| Educational services | 3% | $78,620 median |
Which RN Specialty Matches Your Personality?
BLS lists addiction, cardiovascular, critical care, genetics, neonatal, nephrology, public health and rehabilitation nurses among the common specialties. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers 12 RN board certifications, including ambulatory care, cardiac-vascular, gerontological, informatics, medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management and psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Critical care and emergency: best for people who stay calm when things change by the minute.
- Medical-surgical: the broadest hospital specialty and a common first job that builds core skills.
- Pediatric and neonatal: for people who want to care for children and work closely with families.
- Psychiatric-mental health: for strong listeners who like building trust over time.
- Gerontological: for people who like complex, chronic conditions and long-term relationships.
- Ambulatory care, school and public health: for daytime hours and prevention-focused work.
- Informatics, case management and nurse executive: for organizers who want fewer bedside hours.
Certification usually comes after experience. ANCC’s pediatric nursing certification, for example, asks for an active RN license, the equivalent of 2 years full time as an RN, 2,000 hours of pediatric practice within the last 3 years, and 30 hours of pediatric continuing education in that same window.
The highest paid nursing specialties are mostly advanced practice roles, covered next. If you want nursing knowledge without bedside shifts, look at these non-clinical nursing jobs.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
NCSBN recognizes four APRN roles: certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife and clinical nurse specialist. Under the APRN Consensus Model released in 2008, APRNs are educated and certified in one of six population foci: family/individual across the life span, adult-gerontology, women’s health/gender-related, pediatrics, neonatal, and psychiatric/mental health.
BLS says these roles typically need at least a master’s degree in an advanced practice field, plus an RN license, a national certification exam and a state APRN license. Employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 36% from 2025 to 2035, with about 32,200 openings a year.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
NPs serve as primary and specialty care providers, usually for one population such as family, adult-gerontology, pediatrics or psychiatric-mental health. They held about 336,300 jobs in 2025, by far the largest APRN group, and the median wage was $132,300. ANCC certifies family, adult-gerontology primary care, adult-gerontology acute care and psychiatric-mental health NPs. Pay by specialty and state is in our nurse practitioner salary guide.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
CRNAs give anesthesia and care for patients before, during and after procedures, and also provide pain management. This is the highest-paid nursing role: the BLS advanced practice nursing profile shows a median of $236,590 in May 2025. Applicants need one year of RN experience in a critical care setting before admission, and AACN reports that as of January 1, 2022, all students entering an accredited CRNA program were enrolled in a doctoral program.
The full route is in how to become a nurse anesthetist.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
CNMs provide gynecological exams, family planning and prenatal care, deliver babies and manage emergencies during labor. About 8,200 held jobs in 2025, and the median was $134,040. It suits people drawn to pregnancy, birth and women’s health who want long relationships with patients. See how to become a midwife for the training steps.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A CNS is an expert in one area, such as adult-gerontology or pediatrics, whose work shapes care for a whole unit or patient group rather than one caseload. BLS says a CNS needs a master’s degree in nursing and usually at least 1 year of RN or related experience. BLS counts CNSs with registered nurses, so it publishes no separate CNS wage. ANCC offers the adult-gerontology CNS certification.
How Long Each Path Takes
| Goal | Typical sequence |
|---|---|
| LPN | High school, then a state-approved program of about 1 year, then the NCLEX-PN |
| RN with a BSN | High school, then a 4-year BSN, then the NCLEX-RN |
| NP or CNM | BSN and RN license, then a master’s or doctoral program, then national certification and a state APRN license |
| CRNA | BSN and RN license, at least 1 year of critical care RN work, then a doctoral nurse anesthesia program and certification |
| CNS | BSN and RN license, usually at least 1 year of experience, then a master’s in nursing |
Before any of these, check nursing school requirements such as GPA, prerequisite courses and entrance tests.
Test Your Answers With Real Clinical Time
A self-check works best when you test it against real patients. Our nursing internships abroad place pre-nursing and nursing students in hospital and clinic settings where, under the supervision of licensed clinicians and within their training level, they take part in direct patient care such as vital signs, intake and triage, alongside ward rounds and community outreach. Seeing maternity, pediatric and adult wards in the same few weeks is a fast way to learn which pace and patient group feel right.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of nurse should I be if I want the highest pay?
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is the highest-paid nursing role, with a BLS median of $236,590 in May 2025. It takes a BSN, an RN license, at least one year of critical care experience and a doctoral program.
What type of nurse should I be if I like kids?
Look at pediatric or neonatal RN roles, a pediatric nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife if you are drawn to birth and newborns. Pediatrics and neonatal are two of the six APRN population foci NCSBN recognizes.
What is the fastest way to become a nurse?
The LPN route is the fastest licensed option. BLS says the state-approved program typically takes about 1 year, followed by a licensing exam. A CNA program is shorter, but it is a different credential with a narrower role.
Which nursing jobs have regular daytime hours?
Nurses in offices, schools and other settings without 24-hour care are more likely to work regular business hours, according to BLS. Ambulatory care, school nursing, public health, case management and many NP roles fit.
Do all nurses need a bachelor’s degree?
No. An RN can be licensed through a BSN, an associate degree or a hospital diploma. BSN-prepared nurses are now the majority: AACN reports 72.9% of RNs held a baccalaureate or higher in 2024. Advanced practice roles require graduate school.
Can I change nursing specialties later?
Yes. An RN license is not tied to one specialty, and specialty certification usually follows experience. ANCC’s pediatric certification, for example, asks for 2,000 hours of pediatric practice within the last 3 years.
Is a nurse practitioner a type of RN?
An NP is an advanced practice registered nurse. Every NP must hold an RN license, complete a graduate program, pass a national certification exam and hold a state APRN license. Pay details are in our nurse practitioner salary guide.
