Nurse Practitioner Specialties: Focus Your Practice
One of the many advantages of working in health care is the vast range of career paths and areas of specialization available. Health care professionals can focus on clinical roles such as acute care, ambulatory care, or surgical care, or they can explore nonclinical fields like health care administration, research, or informatics.
The diversity of health care career opportunities enables individuals to align their careers with their personal interests, skills, and long-term goals, ensuring flexibility and growth opportunities throughout their professional journey. Those interested in health care roles that offer the greatest opportunity for specialization should consider becoming a nurse practitioner (NP).
NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have earned at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Graduate nursing students can choose from numerous nurse practitioner specialties allowing them to focus their expertise and provide tailored care to different patient populations.
When considering career advancement, nurses should think about:
- The different NP specialties available
- Reasons clinicians choose to specialize
- Which specialties are currently in high demand
This blog will explore the top nurse practitioner specialties and career opportunities for those looking to advance in nursing.
What Are Nurse Practitioner Specialties?
Nurse practitioner specialties, also known as population foci, are different areas where NPs can focus their practice. Like physicians, who can specialize in fields such as pediatrics, cardiology, or dermatology, NPs can also concentrate on specific patient demographics, medical conditions, or types of care. Specializing allows nurses to develop advanced NP skills and expertise, enabling them to meet the unique needs of the patient population they serve.
The wide variety of specialties includes family health, mental health, pediatrics, neonatal care, adult-gerontology, and women’s health. Each specialty requires additional education and clinical training beyond the core NP curriculum, which ensures that graduates are prepared to provide high-quality care in their chosen area of focus.
Most NP specialties are certified through professional organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). Certifications typically expire every five years, though the exact renewal requirements vary by credential.
Why Choose a Nurse Practitioner Specialty
Clinicians choose to specialize for a variety of professional and personal reasons. Specialization allows nurses to align their practice with their passions and interests, creating a more fulfilling and rewarding career.
Key benefits of specialization include:
- Focused expertise: Specializing enables NPs to develop a deep understanding of a particular area of medicine.
- Career advancement: Specialization can open doors to leadership roles, better nursing opportunities, and higher salaries.
- Improved patient outcomes: By honing their skills in a specific area, NPs are often better equipped to provide targeted care, leading to better patient outcomes.
- Personal fulfillment: Clinicians who choose a specialty they are passionate about are often more satisfied with their careers, as they can work in areas that align with their personal and professional goals.
- Increased job demand: Certain NP specialties are in higher demand due to population health trends, such as the growing need for mental health care or the growing elderly population.
Top Nurse Practitioner Specialties
While there are many NP specialties to choose from, some of the most popular and in-demand include family nurse practitioner (FNP) and adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP). Below is an overview of each specialty, including job duties, work environments, salaries, and unique benefits.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) provide comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages—from infants to the elderly. They focus on maintaining and improving overall physical health for individuals and supporting their families.
FNP responsibilities include:
- Diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions
- Offering preventive care and routine health screenings
- Managing chronic illnesses and ongoing health concerns
- Providing health education and guidance to patients and families
- Serving as primary care providers and building long-term relationships with patients
FNPs make up about 68.7% of all NPs nationwide. They work in a variety of settings, including:
- Family practices
- Community health centers
- Outpatient clinics
- Private practices
- Schools
- Urgent care centers
- Organizations serving rural or underserved populations
According to recent data from Indeed, the average base salary for a Family Nurse Practitioner in the U.S. is approximately $128,123 per year.
Unique FNP benefits:
- Versatility: FNPs treat patients of all ages, creating a diverse and dynamic practice.
- Strong patient relationships: FNPs often form long‑term connections with patients and families, providing continuity of care over time.
Psychiatric‑Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) promote mental and emotional wellbeing by addressing psychiatric disorders and supporting patients’ overall mental health across the lifespan.
PMHNP responsibilities include:
- Assessing, diagnosing, and treating psychiatric disorders
- Prescribing and managing medications for mental health conditions
- Providing psychotherapy and counseling
- Coordinating care for individuals with complex mental health needs
PMHNPs represent about 7.1% of the NP workforce and typically work in:
- Outpatient mental health clinics
- Hospitals
- Private practices
- Community health centers
- Telehealth settings
- Inpatient psychiatric units
- Substance use treatment facilities
National salary data on Indeed show an average base annual salary of about $143,747 for PMHNPs in the U.S., ranging up to over $216,000 depending on location, experience, and setting.
Unique PMHNP benefits:
- High‑impact mental health care: PMHNPs help address critical mental health needs by expanding access to psychiatric services and supporting patients through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
- Diverse practice settings and flexibility: PMHNPs can work across a wide range of settings, including telehealth and private practice, offering flexibility and varied career opportunities.
Other Common Nurse Practitioner Specialties
Aside from FNP and PMHNP, nurse practitioners can choose from several other population‑focused certifications and practice specialties to focus or expand their careers. Some include, but aren’t limited to:
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health NP
- Neonatal NP
- Emergency NP*
- Orthopedic NP*
*Emergency and orthopedic practice typically require additional training or post‑master’s certification.
NP certifications are population‑focused rather than workplace‑specific, allowing graduates to deliver care across various clinical environments, depending on certification and state scope of practice. Additional certifications and training may continue to open new career opportunities and increase salary potential.
Tailor Your Impact as a Nurse Practitioner
Felician University offers flexible advanced nursing education. The online MSN-FNP and MSN-PMHNP programs include coursework in advanced health assessment, advanced nursing practice, and other areas that prepare aspiring NPs to meet evolving health care demands.
Explore our online NP specialties to see which is best for you and advance your career with Felician University.
Recommended Readings
Sources:
- Indeed, “AGNP vs. FNP: What’s the Difference? (Plus Tips)”
- Indeed, “FNP vs. NP: What’s the Difference?”
- Indeed, “What Does a Family Nurse Practitioner Do? (With Skills)”
- Payscale, Average Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary
- Payscale, Salary for Certification: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners