2026 Career Planning Guide
NURSING SPECIALITIES KEY: n Minimum Education required n Certifications required n Experience needed n Certification credential n Possible employment n Professional Organization n References / Resources
Clinical Research Nurse
Clinical Research Nurses( CRNs) must balance the care needs of the patient / volunteer who is par- ticipating in clinical research with the needs of the research protocol. CRNs care for research par- ticipants ranging from healthy volunteers to critically ill patients. CRNs are an integral member of the clinical research team. Team responsibilities may include contributing to protocol development and implementation, providing specialized care, data collection, data management, interpretation of findings. The specialized skills and knowledge of the CRN focus on( 1) human subjects protec- tion,( 2) care coordination and continuity,( 3) research study implementation and management,( 4) clinical practice and( 5) contributing to science.
n( Minimum education requirement): RN, ASN / ADN, BSN
n Hospitals( acute care settings), Continuing care( i. e. long-term and assisted living centers), ambulatory care centers, out-patient surgery centers, medical / physician offices, military service, community health settings, contract research organization
Dermatology Nurse
Involves screening for skin cancer, treatment of skin conditions / diseases, biopsies, research, and dermatological surgery( includin plastic surgery).
n LPN, ASN / ADN or BSN n Dermatology Certification Examination n 2 years( 2,000 hours) n DNC n Private physician’ s or plastic surgeon’ s office, hospital burn unit n Dermatology Nurses’ Association( www. dnanurse. org)
Developmental Disability Nurse
These nurses provide care, education, and treatment for individ uals that have a range of emotional, physical and mental disabil ities— like Down’ s syndrome, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol syndrome, among others— either from birth or by accident.
n LPN, ASN / ADN, or BSN n Certification in Developmental Disabilities Nursing
n 4,000 hours as a developmentaldisabilities RN, LPN, or LVN within the immediate previous 60 months( five years). n CDDN n Hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals and chronic care facilities, children’ s rehab centers n Developmental Disabilities Nursing Association( www. ddna. org)
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