25 Types of Nurses: Nursing Titles and Rankings
LPN, RN, APRN, DONS, CNO. The nursing world is an alphabet soup of acronyms and titles. Figuring out what they mean, much less how they relate to one another in the hierarchy, can be difficult. To help demystify nursing titles and ranks, we've rounded up 25 of the most common nursing roles and defined what each one means below.
Nursing Aid and Nursing Assistant
While they may wear nursing scrubs and have the word "nursing" in their titles, nursing aids aren't actually nurses. Nursing aids and nursing assistants help patients with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing. They may also take on some medical tasks, such as measuring vital signs or administering medication, depending on their state and education level. Nursing aids can pursue additional training and licensing to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
It's all in the name, except when it's not. Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses are actually the same position. California and Texas use the title Licensed Vocational Nurse, while the rest of the United States uses Licensed Practical Nurse. These nurses communicate the care plan to patients and their families and handle basic medical tasks such as taking blood pressure readings, changing bandages, and inserting catheters.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Nurses hold an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing and perform a range of clinical and administrative tasks across many settings. They assist physicians, record medical history, monitor patient symptoms, administer medicine, perform diagnostic tasks, and more. RNs may oversee other roles such as CNAs and LPNs, and can go on to take on many specialized positions, several of which are covered later in this list.
Staff Nurse or Bedside Nurse
Staff Nurses provide direct, hands-on patient care, often working at the bedside in a hospital setting. They may work across many different units and take on a wide range of tasks, and some facilities let nurses choose whether to practice as a generalist or specialist. Some Staff Nurses go on to pursue further training and certification in a specialty, taking on a new title.
Charge Nurse or Shift Manager
A Charge Nurse manages a shift of Staff Nurses while also performing standard patient care duties. Charge Nurses oversee administrative and managerial tasks such as coordinating staffing schedules, covering call-ins, managing teams of Staff Nurses, and ensuring policies are followed. Most Charge Nurses are RNs, though in some cases they may be LPNs. They report to a Nurse Manager or Supervisor.
Nurse Manager or Nurse Supervisor
While Charge Nurses manage a single shift, Nurse Supervisors manage an entire unit, sometimes more than one, taking on 24/7 responsibility for operations and patient care. They typically have hiring and firing authority and oversee scheduling and budget duties, while coordinating with physicians and other staff on patient care. A master's degree is often recommended, though not always required. Nurse Managers report to the Director of Nursing.
Director of Nursing
A largely administrative role, the Director of Nursing provides overall leadership for an entire department. This role may also be called a Director of Nursing Services (DONS) or a Director of Patient Care Services (DOPCS). Directors typically hold at least a master's degree and specialize in a particular department, such as oncology or mental health. They manage budgets, oversee clinical services, and report to the Chief Nursing Officer.
Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) or Chief Nursing Executive (CNE)
The highest nursing position available, this role sits in the C-suite and typically reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CNO makes strategic administrative decisions and helps guide the direction of the organization. CNOs usually bring years of experience and hold a master's degree or higher.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
The next level up from an RN, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and a growing number now pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for even more advanced clinical training. APRNs can do everything an RN can, plus take on greater responsibilities such as referring patients to specialists and ordering or evaluating test results. Like RNs, APRNs may manage a team or work in specialized settings. There are four main types of APRNs: nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists.
Nurse Anesthetist
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) help ensure the safe and effective administration of anesthesia during medical procedures. They may work in hospitals, dental practices, and other settings that require anesthesia. Depending on the role, they may also oversee patient recovery or assist with pain management.
Nurse Practitioner
Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNPs) combine clinical training in diagnosing and treating health conditions with a strong focus on prevention and overall health management. CNPs may diagnose and treat conditions, prescribe medications, and order and interpret diagnostic tests. They may work with a wide range of patient populations or focus on a specific specialty, such as gerontology, or subspecialty, such as cardiovascular care.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are certified in a specialty of their choosing. Specialties can be organized by population (pediatrics, geriatrics, women's health), setting (critical care, emergency room), condition (diabetes, oncology), type of care (psychiatric, rehabilitation), or health problem (pain, wounds, stress). Not all MSN programs offer every certification, so it's worth researching programs carefully if you're pursuing this path.
Nurse Midwife
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) combine an RN license with specialized training in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care. They may provide reproductive healthcare services, counsel expectant mothers before birth, deliver babies, perform pre- and post-birth exams, assist with breastfeeding support, and educate new parents. While CNMs provide clinical and medical care, they'll bring in an OB-GYN if complications require it.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) work with both adults and children in a family practice setting, focusing on long-term health maintenance and prevention. Depending on the state, FNPs may work under physician supervision or practice independently. Many FNPs choose to work with underserved populations, and part of the reason some states allow independent practice is to help address physician shortages in those areas.
Travel Nurse
Travel nurses take on temporary assignments in different locations, domestically or internationally. They perform many of the same tasks as typical RNs and are usually employed through an agency that helps facilities manage staffing. It's not for everyone, but for nurses without many fixed commitments who want to see more of the country or the world, travel nursing can be a great way to combine work and travel.
Nurse Case Manager
Nurse Case Managers research, plan, and schedule long-term patient care, usually with the goal of prevention and keeping patients out of the hospital when possible. All nurses advocate for patients, but Nurse Case Managers take on this role fully, acting as a liaison between the patient and their family, the care facility, and sometimes the insurance company. They may choose to specialize in certain populations or conditions.
Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse
ICU nurses work in the intensive care units of hospitals, caring for patients with serious injuries or illnesses. They may treat patients of all ages and conditions, or work in a specialty unit such as a pediatric ICU. Given the complexity of these cases, most facilities require additional training before nurses can work in the ICU.
Neonatal Intensive Care Registered Nurse
More specific still, Neonatal Intensive Care Registered Nurses work with infants who are premature or critically ill in the NICU. They monitor babies and the equipment supporting them, and offer comfort when they can.
Emergency Room Registered Nurse
Nurses who thrive under pressure often find their place in the emergency room, where every shift brings something different. ER nurses care for patients experiencing serious, often acute illnesses and injuries. Since no two shifts are alike, ER nurses need to be skilled at stabilizing patients and treating a wide range of conditions.
Operating Room Nurse
Sometimes called perioperative nurses, Operating Room (OR) nurses care for patients before, during, and after surgery. They also serve as a bridge between the surgical team and the patient's family, helping ensure everyone has what they need for a smooth recovery.
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurse
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurses, also called peri-anesthesia nurses, focus on helping patients recover from anesthesia after a procedure. They're trained to handle patients who wake up confused, in pain, or reacting to anesthesia, offering comfort and recovery guidance.
Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse
The largest nursing specialty in the United States, Med-Surg Nurses treat adult patients with a wide range of injuries and illnesses. Once considered an entry-level training role, medical-surgical nursing has become its own specialization, requiring broad knowledge across many conditions. If you're considering this path, RegisteredNursing.org's medical-surgical nurse guide offers a helpful overview of the role, education requirements, certification options, and career path.
Oncology Registered Nurse
Oncology nurses care for patients who have cancer or are at risk of developing it. They monitor patient condition, administer treatments such as chemotherapy, and support patients and their families through diagnosis and treatment. It's a challenging but rewarding specialty given the long-term nature of cancer care.
Dialysis Registered Nurse
Also called nephrology nurses, dialysis RNs administer dialysis treatment to patients with kidney disease and related conditions. They work across a range of settings, including hospitals, dialysis clinics, patients' homes, and transplant units, and often help implement broader treatment plans alongside dialysis care.
Home Care Registered Nurse
Home Care Nurses work out of patients' homes rather than hospitals, often caring for elderly adults, young children, or people with developmental or mobility needs. These nurses travel to visit patients wherever they are, including senior living communities. It's a strong fit for nurses who want to work outside a traditional hospital setting.
To recap, the general nursing hierarchy runs from nursing aids and CNAs, up through LPNs, RNs, Charge Nurses, APRNs, Nurse Managers, and Directors of Nursing, to the Chief Nursing Officer at the top. Titles can vary widely depending on specialty, but this list should give you a solid reference point whenever you need a refresher.
No matter which title fits your role, comfortable, well-fitting scrubs make a real difference through a long shift. Browse our women's and men's scrubs to find a fit that works for your role and specialty.