1. Nurse Practitioner (NP) — 38% growth
Fastest-growing healthcare role period. Primary-care shortages, expanded NP scope laws, retail and telehealth growth.
Career Growth
Fastest-Growing Nursing Careers
BLS-projected growth rates for the fastest-growing nursing careers through 2032 — where demand is climbing fastest and why.
2. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) — 9% growth
Outpatient surgery expansion and CRNA-only practice models in many states drive sustained demand.
3. Nurse-Midwife (CNM) — 7% growth
Birth-center expansion and renewed focus on maternal health outcomes.
4. Home Health & Hospice RN — ~22% (aide BLS proxy)
Aging-in-place demand. RN case managers anchor every home-health agency and hospice.
5. Informatics Nurse
Not separately tracked by BLS, but every major health system reports unfilled informatics openings.
6. Mental Health / Psychiatric Nurse
Severe national shortage; inpatient psych and substance-use programs expanding.
7. Case Management (CCM)
Value-based care and ACO models keep pulling RNs into care-coordination roles.
8. Critical Care (ICU)
Replacement demand from post-pandemic burnout exits keeps ICU openings high.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the fastest-growing nursing career?
Nurse Practitioner leads at 38% projected growth through 2032 (BLS) — the fastest growth rate of any healthcare occupation. CRNA and CNM follow.
Why are NPs growing so fast?
Primary-care physician shortages, expanded state scope-of-practice laws, retail and telehealth clinic expansion, and aging-population chronic-care demand.
Is RN demand still growing?
Yes — BLS projects 6% RN job growth and ~193,000 RN openings per year through 2032, driven mostly by replacement demand as Baby Boomer nurses retire.