Take the First Step Toward Your Health Care Career Now!
There is a shortage of qualified nurses. The reasons are two-fold: a shortage of nursing teachers, which makes it more difficult to find a good nursing program. And, much of the current nursing workforce is beginning to reach retirement age. This creates a problem with the supply of nurses not measuring up the demand needed to fill the growing gaps.
If you’re even considering becoming a registered nurse, make no mistake, now is a great time. Whether you choose the associate degree route or the bachelor’s degree, there will be a job for you once you graduate.
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RNs are a huge part of a medical team that is comprised of doctors, other nurses, and healthcare professionals. Where you work determines your duties. You’ll also be able to specialize in one of the many different aspects of the medical field such as neonatology, pediatrics, oncology, and other areas of the practice.
Your typical RN duties will look like this:
The type of patients you work with will depend on the type of RN you are.
Where you work, and what specialty field you’re in, will dictate your duties. Here are a few types of RN specialties you can consider:
An advanced degree will open up some of the following nursing opportunities:
To become an RN, you can choose one of the three ways that make most sense to you. There are certificate nursing programs through hospitals, community colleges and trade schools offering associate degree programs, and bachelor’s degrees through a university’s nursing school program. No matter which program you choose, one thing is certain; you must get a license to practice nursing.
However, the average wage for RNs in the U.S. was $89,010 in 2022, with the top ten percent earning $129,400 (bls.gov).
By 2031, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an opening of 195,400 positions across the nation. Having a bachelor’s degree will greatly increase your chances of being hired.