Transitioning into post-secondary education can be overwhelming, and prospective nursing students may find it difficult to know what nursing degree is right for them in a wide sea of majors to choose from. To explore majors for nursing, you must analyze your skills and passions to find a field of study that leverages your strengths.
This article is intended to show you how to choose your major for the nursing career of your dreams. Dive in to find out why nursing is a great career option and learn some tricks and tips for selecting a nursing major. This list of related majors in the field of nursing is sure to help you ace that admissions process and kickstart your career as a professional nurse.
Why Choose a Career in Nursing
Choosing to major in nursing can be quite rewarding. At a minimum, you can help patients attain and maintain good health. You may get the chance to save lives in a variety of settings. Patients’ lives are dependent on you, and although that’s a critical responsibility, the fulfillment of providing care to individuals can be hard to beat.
The nursing profession is quite dynamic and can present you with new challenges every day. A registered professional nurse (RN) has numerous opportunities for specialization in the job market, depending on their preferences.
Nursing Job Outlook
Graduating from a nursing program provides promising job outlooks. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) foresees that the employment of registered nurses will grow by five percent between 2024 and 2034.1
Nurses Salary Potential
The following outlines the average annual salary for nurses based on ZipRecruiter data from October 2025. All information reflects national averages and may vary based on experience, region, and employer.
| Career | Minimum Level of Education | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetist | Doctorate Degree in Anesthesia | $138,6902 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree | $130,2953 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | Master of Science in Nursing | $94,5454 |
| Nurse Educator | Master’s Degree in Nursing | $102,2635 |
| Pediatric Nurse | Associate Degree in Nursing | $76,3486 |
How to Choose a Major for Nursing: Tips for Selecting the Right Nursing Degree
Tip 1: Consider the Course Delivery
Before enrolling for any degrees in nursing, find out how the schools deliver their courses. Broadly, colleges for nursing offer online programs or full-time study. Online nursing programs are relatively affordable and spare you commuting and on-campus living expenses. Online programs are also convenient for those working or those who have a family to care for.
Tip 2: Research Available Nursing Internships and Clinical Rotations
Health organizations and hospitals that employ recent graduates prefer professionals with practical clinical skills. Many agencies would prefer a graduate who has completed internships and attained an RN license. It’s advisable to choose a nursing school that helps prospective students gain hands-on experience as well as educational experience.
Tip 3: Ensure You Attend an Accredited Nursing Program and School
You should exclusively consider attending a nursing school that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). To receive your RN license, you must first graduate from an accredited institution and an accredited nursing program. Some nursing colleges also attain regional accreditation, which enables students to work in certain states or varied clinical settings.
Tip 4: Set Personal Nursing Career Goals
Knowing what you’re passionate about can help you choose a program in nursing that you’ll enjoy pursuing in this field of study. You should consider the wide variety of opportunities for growth in every nursing program. As an experienced RN, you can further your nursing education in an advanced nursing program to become a nurse practitioner.
Tip 5: Choose a Nursing Specialty
To thrive in the nursing field, you should consider specializing. Experts can be more marketable than general professional nurses. Research different nursing specialties and identify a marketable one. You can also choose a program in nursing with multiple congruent specialties. For instance, combining mental health nursing and elderly nursing care offers unique clinical experiences.
Degrees for Nursing: Majors for a Nursing Career
Students who major in nursing can work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.
Nurse-Midwifery
A registered nurse-midwife offers care to women from the start of a pregnancy, through childbirth, up to menopause. Certified nurse-midwives qualify as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), allowing them to work in a variety of healthcare settings. A nurse-midwife can also double up as a physician, prescribing medications and treating certain medical conditions.
Associated Career Paths: Clinical practice, neonatal, perinatal, perioperative, trauma nursing
Levels of Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctoral Degree
Nurse Case Management
Nurse case managers create, implement, and review healthcare plans for individuals. Patients could be recovering from serious injuries, be geriatric, or have chronic diseases. Nurse case managers also collaborate with medical professionals and doctors to offer patients comprehensive care. They can work both within and outside of a hospital or medical center.
Associated Career Paths: Disease expert, service expert, specialty expert, duration expert
Levels of Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctoral Degree
Pediatric Nursing
Pediatric nurses attend to children who are healthy, ill, disabled, or handicapped. They understand child growth and development and can assess a child’s developmental milestones. They typically work in hospitals and doctors’ offices where they provide routine check-ups to kids. In addition, they can collaborate with families to provide children with holistic development.
Associated Career Paths: Family nurse practitioner, registered professional nurse
Levels of Education: Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Forensic Nursing
Forensic nurses treat trauma related to physical or sexual abuse and violence in a clinical setting. They work with law enforcement agencies to propel anti-violence efforts and collect and present testimony in courts to help apprehend abusers. They can integrate various medical care programs for the well-being of their patients.
Associated Career Paths: Sexual assault nurse examiner, death investigator, corrections nurse
Levels of Education: Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Other Nursing-Related Majors
There are numerous equally great courses and health care settings that could lead you to a fulfilling career. Whether you’re starting with a nursing diploma or you’re taking an advanced level graduate study, these courses present opportunities for you to work in a variety of health care environments to improve public health.
- Nursing Administration
- Nursing Science
- School Nursing
- Occupational And Environmental Health Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Emergency Room Nursing
- Critical Care Nurse
- Community Nursing
- Psychiatric Nursing
- Adult Health Nursing
Is a Career in Nursing Right for You?
A career in nursing can be a great path for you if you’re an empathetic person who enjoys helping others. A fulfilling nursing career depends on your passions and strengths. Nursing can be stressful, especially during emergencies, and some nurses find it difficult to cultivate a work-life balance.
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Taking education courses in behavioral sciences can help fine-tune your skills. Nursing education courses are also very demanding, requiring you to dedicate most of your time to your studies. If you can handle the pressure and complete the prerequisite coursework, you’ll be presented with an array of leadership experiences and opportunities.
Majors for Nursing FAQ
How to become a registered nurse?
To be a registered nurse, you need an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. However, if you’re already working in clinical settings as a medical assistant, you can use your community college courses to shorten your study time. A licensed practical nurse can also bridge courses to accelerate your studies.
Must I study math and several sciences to become a nurse?
Requirements for math and science courses depend on the nursing major and the college you attend. A licensed practice nurse must take anatomy, human growth, development, physiology, and nutrition courses. Some legal practitioner nursing programs may require you to study math. Whether you’re taking a bachelor’s or an associate degree, you need health-related science courses.
What are the types of degrees for nursing majors?
The types of degrees for the best nursing majors are associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. Each degree level has associated nursing majors, each with a degree level resonating salary. Your degree level determines your salary and your particular nursing major.
Sources:
2 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Nurse-Anesthetist-Salary
3 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Nurse-Practitioner-Salary
4 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Clinical-Nurse-Specialist-Salary
5 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Nurse-Educator-Salary
6 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Pediatric-Nurse-Salary#Yearly
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