School of Nursing Career Center
Explore Nursing
What to do with your BSN degree
Staff Nurse
As a staff nurse you are able to work in hospitals, medical centers, doctors' offices, educational institutions, home care services, long term care facilities, sub-acute and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory centers and hospices. Areas of specialty include: medical-surgical specialties, pediatrics, operating room, emergency room, critical care, psychiatric care units, gerontology, women's health, labor and delivery, and newborn units.
Community Nurse
As a community health nurse you are able to work in public and private schools and camps, health maintenance organizations, daycare centers, mental health centers, state and local health departments, home healthcare agencies, senior centers, nurse-run clinics and social service agencies. Areas of specialty include: home healthcare, public-community health, rural nursing, environmental and occupational and industrial health.
Long-term Care
As a long term care nurse you are able to work in nursing homes, retirement centers, residential daycare centers, sub-acute and rehabilitation centers and hospice organizations.
Government Services
As a government services nurse you can work in health agencies such as Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, Veterans Administration, Civil Service, Peace Corps/VISTA, the Armed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force), international health agencies, and prisons.
Education
As a nurse specializing in education you can work in teaching hospitals, colleges and universities, international healthcare organizations, wellness centers, public schools and community education programs. Areas of specialty include: teaching, counseling, and educational administration.
Nursing Research
As a nurse specializing in research you are able to work at various institutions such as large hospitals, medical centers, the National Institutes of Health, colleges and universities, centers for nursing research and the National Institute for Nursing Research.
International Work
As an international nurse you are able to work at embassies, military bases, national or international government agencies, private volunteer organizations, colleges and universities, business and industry, church-related mission services and the World Health Organization. This area is generally referred to as “international health."
Industry
As a nurse you are also able to work in business, and industries such as pharmaceuticals, law, equipment, computers, insurance, medical and health publications, healthcare advertising agencies, and professional associations.
A Sampler of National Organization Websites
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American College of Nurse Practitioners
- American College of Nurse-Midwives
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association
- American Organization of Nurse Executives
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- American Nephrology Nurses' Association
- American Nurses Association
- Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
- National Association of Neonatal Nurses
- National Association of Orthopedic Nurses
- National League for Nursing
- Oncology Nursing Society
- American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
- Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
- Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
- Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses
- Home Healthcare Nurses Association
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners
- National Association of School Nurses, Inc.
- National Gerontological Nursing Association
- Society of Pediatric Nurses
Websites to Explore Nursing
Other Resources
- What's in a name? (Word document)