There are many different levels of certification or nursing degrees that you can obtain, but becoming a registered nurse (RN) is one of the best opportunities, as RNs are able to perform more advanced tasks and the registered nurse salary is higher than that of LPNs or CNAs. Registered nurses have a variety of duties such as recording patients’ medical history, performing tests, working with medical machinery, and helping with patient rehabilitation, among many other duties. RNs are able to work in a variety of places such as nursing homes, clinics, and hospitals, and are in high demand, with thousands of job openings every year.
| Profession | Median Annual Salary |
| Registered Nurse | $62,000 |
Job Opportunities
Jobs for registered nurses are opening up across the country and are expected to increase over the next few years. Nearly 600,000 jobs are expected to open up in the upcoming years, the most of any occupation. Because of the high number of people retiring, there is high demand for anyone in the medical field in order to help older generations with age related medical issues.
Education
There are several paths you can take to become a registered nurse including pursuing an associates or a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes anywhere from 2-5 years depending on the program. In order to obtain an associates, you will usually want to go to a technical college, whereas if you want to get a bachelor’s in nursing, which can help you further your career, you will want to attend a university. You can also take a degree program through a hospital, which usually takes around 3 years. In order to get your license, students need to take a national exam; once you pass the exam, you may begin working.
Registered Nurse Salary Levels
In 2008, the registered nurse salary ranged between $42,000 to $92,000 a year, with a median annual salary around $62,000 a year. Those working in employment services generally make a higher salary; however, most registered nurses work in physicians’ offices and make around $60,000 a year.
A Rewarding Career
Becoming a nurse is an extremely rewarding career and is very practical, allowing you to further your career at any time. Going into the medical field is a great idea for anyone and a registered nurse salary can easily support a family, and with as little school as you need to obtain a license, it’s easy to become an RN.
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