6 Types of Nurse Practitioner Specialties
Are you a registered nurse interested in pursuing advanced practice nursing? Becoming a nurse practitioner will help you gain greater autonomy and provide higher levels of care. With so many nurse practitioner specialties, you can focus on an area that aligns with your clinical interests and career goals.
Nurse practitioner (NP) is the third fastest-growing job in the country. Between 2023 and 2033, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 46% growth in NP employment, nearly 12 times faster than average. NPs are needed across NP specialties to meet today’s healthcare needs.
Keep reading to explore the evolving history and scope of NP practice and the diverse NP specialties you can pursue to build a more fulfilling and impactful career.
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do?
NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide comprehensive primary, acute, and selected specialty healthcare services. They focus on diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions, health promotion, disease prevention, and health education and counseling.
NPs practice autonomously and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, following the rules and regulations of the state in which they are licensed. They work in nearly every healthcare setting, from clinics and hospitals to emergency rooms, private practices, and schools.
NP specialties focus on specific patient populations, health concerns, and acuity levels, allowing nurses to develop advanced nursing expertise in their chosen area. With a broad scope of practice and diverse opportunities for specialization, the NP role opens doors to a career where you can grow your influence and impact in healthcare.
What Is the Evolution of the Nurse Practitioner Role?
NPs have quickly become a critical component of the U.S. healthcare system. Each year, they provide high-quality care to millions of patients.
The number of NPs has grown to 385,000 since the role emerged in the 1960s to address the shortage of healthcare providers. Ongoing research during this time shows that NP care is safe, effective, patient-centered, efficient, equitable, and evidence-based.
As healthcare demand grows, more states are recognizing the essential role of NPs in improving patient outcomes. Today, 27 states and Washington, D.C., have granted NPs full practice authority, which means they can practice to the full scope of their education and training. Many other states have pending legislation to expand practice authority.
The profession also continues to advance in terms of education and training. The growth in NP specialties and the number of doctorally-prepared NPs illustrate NPs’ commitment to providing safe, effective, patient-centered care.
Historical Highlights of the Nurse Practitioner Role
- 1965: Dr. Loretta Ford and Dr. Henry Silver developed the first NP education program to address the nationwide shortage of healthcare providers.
- 1971: Idaho became the first state to recognize the NP title in legislation.
- 1973: The number of NP programs in the U.S. had grown to more than 65.
- 1979: The number of NPs in the country topped 15,000.
- 1970s: The first NP specialties emerged in primary care, family health, and pediatric care.
- 1994: Five states permitted NPs full practice authority.
- 2004: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) published a paper recommending transitioning the terminal degree for advanced practice nursing from the master’s degree to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
- 2005: Eleven states and Washington, D.C. permitted NPs full practice authority.
- 2008: In July 2008, the AACN Board of Directors endorsed the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education.
- 2023: The number of NPs nearly tripled since 2010, growing from approximately 140,000 to 385,000.
- 2024: Twenty-seven states and Washington, D.C., permitted full NP practice authority. More than 500 academic institutions in the U.S. had NP programs.
What Are Different NP Specialties?
Becoming an NP means you can choose from many types of nurse practitioner specialties.
Some NP specialties focus on specific patient populations, such as adult-gerontology or pediatrics, whereas others focus on particular health concerns, such as psychiatric mental health.
No matter your NP specialty, you will play a vital role in the lives of the individuals, families, and communities you serve.
Family Health
Approximately 70% of NPs are Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs), making family health the most common specialty. It's ideal for nurses who enjoy working with patients of all ages and having a more predictable work schedule.
FNPs provide a full range of primary care services to patients across the lifespan, from children to seniors. They emphasize health promotion and disease prevention while managing acute and chronic illnesses that fall under primary care.
Most FNPs work in outpatient clinics and private group and physician practices. Other FNPs work in schools, public health departments, and other primary care settings, which typically have traditional working hours.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs) specialize in treating complex and acute conditions in patients who are generally ages 18 and over. AGACNPs manage patients with unstable conditions resulting from common diagnoses such as hypertension, heart failure, and diabetes.
Most AGACNPs work in intensive care, trauma, or acute care units, which have non-traditional working hours, including nights and weekends. They provide complex monitoring and treatment to improve patients’ health and prevent complications.
If you want to care for young adults through seniors in a fast-paced environment, consider the adult-gerontology acute care NP specialty.
Psychiatric Mental Health
As the demand for mental healthcare continues to rise, becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) will allow you to help improve access.
PMHNPs assess, diagnose, treat, and prevent psychiatric and substance disorders, including ADHD, eating disorders, and opioid use disorder. They also work to prevent these disorders in individuals at risk of developing them. Their responsibilities include developing treatment plans, prescribing medication, and providing counseling and therapy.
The top work settings for PMHNPs are behavioral health/addiction clinics, psychiatric-mental healthcare facilities and private NP practices. The patient population they serve depends on where they work. Some PMHNPs specialize in specific populations or treatment areas such as trauma or substance use disorders.
Neonatal Health
Becoming a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) may be the right fit if you are passionate about caring for high-risk newborns and their families.
Neonatal nursing is a relatively small but vital NP specialty focused on providing care to newborn infants experiencing problems during their first months of life, such as low birth weight, infections, and arrhythmias. NNPs represent just 0.5% of all licensed NPs in the U.S.
Because newborn infants may be sick for many months, NNPs also care for infants and toddlers with long-term health conditions. They focus on stabilizing, monitoring, and treating patients and providing education and support to their families.
Many NNPs practice in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), which are designed to provide care based on acuity. As an NNP, you will work shifts around the clock, including nights and weekends.
Midwifery
Midwifery is an in-demand specialty that allows nurses to promote patient-centered wellness through comprehensive reproductive, maternal, and newborn care.
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are advanced practice registered nurses who practice midwifery, which encompasses:
- Care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period
- Care for sexual and reproductive health
- Care for gynecologic health
- Care for newborns
CNMs practice in clinics, hospitals, birth centers, and homes; their responsibilities depend on the work setting. They may manage pregnancy, labor, and delivery, provide gynecologic care, or educate patients on general wellness.
Pediatric Health
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) care for children from birth to young adulthood, supporting their growth, development, and lifelong well-being. Hospital outpatient clinics, private group practices, and hospital inpatient units are the most common practice settings.
The responsibilities of PNPs depend on whether they are certified in acute or primary care. All PNPs guide patients and their caregivers in treating and preventing a comprehensive range of health conditions.
Generally, primary care PNPs provide well-child care and prevent and manage common acute and chronic pediatric health conditions. PNPs specializing in acute care treat acute, critical, chronic, and complex illnesses or injuries.
With the rising demand for pediatric healthcare services, the country needs more PNPs to address provider shortages and improve patient outcomes.
Excel in Your NP Specialty with an Online DNP from Baylor University
NPs are essential healthcare professionals who provide advanced nursing care across various specialties. Whether you're drawn to family health, adult gerontology acute care, psychiatric mental health, neonatal care, midwifery, or pediatrics, you will have numerous opportunities to grow your influence as an NP.
The first step in becoming an NP as a registered nurse is to earn a master's degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited NP program. One of the many reasons to get your DNP is that earning a terminal degree unlocks a world of possibilities for career growth. As a doctorally-prepared APRN, you will be able to lead change and deliver the highest level of compassionate care in your area of interest.
Baylor University offers two online DNP program options:
- A BSN to DNP involving three years of study
- A Post-Master's degree you can complete in even less time
Baylor is ranked among the top graduate schools for DNP programs, offering clinical placement support and world-renowned faculty. As a student, you choose one of six specialty advanced practice tracks to pursue your ideal career and receive personalized support from day one of the program.
Are you ready to drive change, innovate, and become an exemplary nursing leader?