As the baby boomers in America continue to age and retire out of the workforce, there have been a lot of hiring demands placed on the medical field. Coupled with U.S. life expectancies increasing and promising breakthroughs in medicine, employment opportunities in the field of nursing are at an all time high.
While there are a lot of career choices within nursing and more advanced degrees available for nurse managers, administration and research, this article will discuss the opportunities for a Registered Nurse ( RN ) with an associate's degree.
Salary Ranges / Job Outlook for Nurses
There are many types of nursing opportunities for people who possess an RN associate's degree.
• Hospital nurses
• Private practice office nurses
• Care facility nursing - long term care, mental care, retirement care
• Home health nurses
• Public health nurses - government agencies, public clinics, schools
• Industrial nurses - jobsite nurses
• Head nurses / Nurse supervisors
Salary expectations for nursing careers is quite good, with many employers offering signing bonuses or well paid per diem work. The U.S. Department of Labor has published the median income for RNs as $48,090 in 2002. The range was $33,970 to $69,670 based on geographic location and work experience. Nurse managers made the most money, while care facility nurses made the least on average at $43,850.
A nursing career offers other benefits including a flexible schedule, a short work week (three 12 hour shifts with four days off), tuition reimbursement and signing bonuses.