Nursing Career Options and Job Outlook

We are currently facing a nursing shortage in the United States and it is predicted that this need for qualified nurses is only going to increase. Through advances in healthcare people are living longer than ever which has produced an increased population of elderly people who are in need of medical care. There is also a great need for nurses in non-hospital settings. Another factor in the shortage is that current nurses are growing older as well and choosing to retire. A new crop of nurses will be needed to fill these positions. This makes nurses today, especially nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN), are just about guaranteed to obtain a job directly after school. They can also count on there never being a shortage of need for their skills.

The average beginning yearly pay for a new RN is about $44,600, which is more than many careers that have comparable education and experience requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the yearly median earning of a registered nurse in 2004 at $52.330. While the middle percent of registered nurses took home yearly incomes between $43.370 and $63,360, with the highest earners making more than $74,760. Even the lowest earner made around $37,200. As experience is obtained yearly incomes go up. When you factor in wages made for shift differentials and over time, most nurses make well over their base incomes. Going into management and administration can add even additional income.

Nurses can be found in every area of the hospital setting. They are at the patients bedsides, in operating and emergency rooms. There are nurses that specialize in x-ray and diagnostics as well as in the labs. Some nurses focus on children or maternity care. Not only are nurses working in large hospital settings but also same-day surgery centers and as part of emergency response teams who care for patients as they are transported to the hospital.

Only about half of nurses fulfill the various positions at hospitals. The rest are split between many other places. There are also more options than ever before for nurses to do exactly the type of work they enjoy most and work for who they want when they want. They work in long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Also medical offices, clinics, schools, various businesses, research centers and in the military. They also hold instructor positions teaching nursing students. These are just a sampling of the different career options nurses have today.

RNs who seek additional education have even more opportunities to specialize their care. They can be clinical nurse specialists, who focus their energy on one particular health crisis such as mental illness or cancer. There are certified nurse midwife opportunities for nurses who feel the need to assist women through the various steps of pregnancy and childbirth. Nurse anesthetists work along size anesthesiologist in operation and emergency rooms. There is an over whelming need for nurse practitioners who can take care of most of the daily health issues and free up doctors to tackle more invasive concerns. Then there are the nurses who participate in the research for new technicians, methods and equipment.