Registered Nurse (RN) Career Opportunities
Turn the nursing shortage crisis into your fast track to a nursing career.
There is an increasing number of aging baby boomers that need medical care. But with a third of the aging nursing workforce preparing to retire, and not enough nurses to replace them, this means that predictions of a nursing shortage are coming true. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projects that by 2020 there will be a staggering 800,000 unfilled RN jobs.
This escalating shortage is serious, but signals a great opportunity for you to pursue a career in the nursing sector of health care—and registered nurse careers are in demand. A nursing career enables you to help where help is greatly needed. The big demand can also translate into registered nursing jobs with enticing perks and attractive nursing salaries for skilled and qualified applicants.
Registered Nurses Needed
To Care for Largest Elderly Population in History
One of the fastest ways to put a nursing career into high gear is to work in areas that serve the elderly. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that sizzling nursing job growth is expected in stroke rehabilitation, Alzheimer's treatment and general elderly in-home care.
Simple population increases in many states are also adding to the demand. Plus, as medicine becomes more and more technologically advanced, the need for registered nurses with specialized knowledge will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.
Good News for Registered Nurses with Specialty Training
Higher Pay and Less Stress
All this adds up to a huge opportunity for those who have considered becoming a registered nurse, and it doesn't have to mean the grueling hours typically associated with working in a hospital's emergency or critical care centers. In fact, nurses who specialize in travel nursing, in-home care, forensic nursing and a wide range of technologically advanced specialties often enjoy greater flexibility and a slower pace.
According to Salary.com, the U.S, national average for a registered nurse salary is between $54,000 and $78,000 a year. On top of that, some hospitals, in their endless quest for more nurses, are offering hefty signing bonuses. In addition to attractive salaries and flexible scheduling, benefit packages may include:
- Health insurance
- Vacation and holiday pay
- Tuition reimbursement
- Childcare
- Pension plan
When you put it all together, a nursing job might just be the healthiest career choice around.
Sources:
Health Work Force, 1999-2008
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008
Discover Nursing, 2007
Payscale.com, 2010
Registered Nurse (RN) Education Resources
RN Career & Degree Information
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Degree and Career Overview - RN Schools
and Training Programs - Registered Nurse Career Paths
- RN Salaries and Career Outlook
- RN Jobs: Everyday Tasks
- Registered Nursing Career Q&A
- Registered Nurse Opportunities
- State Boards of Nursing
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