Nursing Careers

Healthcare continues to evolve due to changes to government regulations and emerging medical technologies. Within this robust field, nurses are in particularly high demand due to their diverse skill sets, which help them provide quality patient care and improve public health.

This guide can help you plan a career in nursing. It provides information about the competencies, degrees, and licenses you need to find success in the field.

Nursing careers come with competitive salaries, flexible schedules, and several specialized fields to suit each nurse’s personal interests and professional objectives.

Beyond these practical benefits, careers in nursing receive high levels of respect among the general U.S. population. A 2018 Gallup Poll showed that most Americans view nurses as the most honest and ethical among all professionals.

To succeed in this field, you must develop the compassion and patience to help all types of people in fraught situations. Communication is also a crucial skill for nurses, who must cultivate positive relationships with patients and their loved ones.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that healthcare occupations will grow by 14% between 2018 and 2028. Registered nurses (RNs) are projected to see 12% employment growth, and these professionals earn an average annual salary of $73,550. Nurse practitioner positions are projected to increase by 26%; these workers earn an average annual salary of $107,480.

The dearth of nurses in nearly every state means that demand for these healthcare professionals continues to grow. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the shortage of qualified nurses will surpass 80,000 by the end of 2020.

To recruit new nurses, state and federal government agencies fund grants and scholarships. Nurses can also take advantage of student loan forgiveness and repayment programs.

Source: PayScale

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The following section details five core skills professionals need in order to build successful nursing careers. Nurses develop some of these competencies, like critical thinking and technical communication, through their academic training. Other qualities, such as compassion, are typically innate, but may be enhanced as nursing students complete residencies and other practical experiences.

Earning a nursing degree is the first step to becoming a nurse. Registered nurses must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma. During undergraduate nursing programs, students gain foundational knowledge and practical experience.

Nurses who pursue a master’s degree in nursing expand their clinical assessment and management skills. An MSN also trains nurses in a specialty, preparing learners for roles like nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist. Nurses can also specialize their training by earning a nursing graduate certificate.

At the doctoral level, nurses strengthen their clinical and research skills, preparing for academic, managerial, and research positions.

Nurses must complete supervised clinical experiences as part of their training. During a clinical internship, nursing students provide patient care, complete rotations in different hospital departments, and apply classroom training under the supervision of a preceptor.

During their clinical experiences, nurses may complete rotations in pediatrics, surgery, the emergency room, and other hospital departments. Nursing programs incorporate supervised experience that meets their state’s RN licensure requirements.

However, because clinical experience requirements vary by state, prospective nurses should look into the minimum number of clinical hours needed for licensure where they live.

Practicing nurses in every state must hold a nursing license. To become a registered nurse, individuals must attend an approved nursing program and earn an associate degree, a nursing diploma, or a bachelor’s degree.

Nurses must then pass the NCLEX-RN examination and complete clinical training requirements. After meeting these requirements, nurses can apply for a state nursing license. Because each state sets its own licensure requirements, prospective nurses should research the licensure process in their state.

Advanced practice nurses must obtain a specialized license. Nurse practitioners, for example, must pass a national certification exam and apply to their state’s board of nursing for a license. As with the RNs, advanced practice nurses must hold a degree from an approved nursing program and apply for a state license.

Professional associations offer nursing certifications in specialized fields, such as gerontology, pediatrics, and emergency nursing. Nurses who pursue specialized certification can demonstrate advanced training and experience within their specialty. These credentials can help nurses stand out in the job market.

Nursing students can prepare for a specific career by pursuing a concentration. For example, BSN students can specialize their degree by completing a concentration in emergency nursing, gerontology, or oncology, while MSN students can pursue nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist specialties.

The list below describes four common concentrations, all of which can lead to specialized nursing careers.

A nursing degree prepares graduates for diverse roles. With a bachelor’s degree, for example, nurses can work in pediatrics, oncology, and cardiology, among other fields. A BSN meets the qualifications for most entry-level nursing positions.

Nurses can also pursue graduate degrees to expand their career opportunities. A master’s in nursing prepares graduates for leadership roles like nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and nurse midwife. In these areas, nurses typically have more responsibilities and higher salaries. With a doctorate in nursing, nurses qualify for many top positions in the field, including nursing professors.

Nursing careers offer lucrative salaries at all degree levels. With a BSN, nurses earn an average salary of more than $80,000, which increases to above $90,000 for individuals with a master’s degree. A worker’s level of education usually scales with their earning potential, as demonstrated below.

After you have received the required education and obtained RN licensure from your state board of nursing, it is time to gain experience. Healthcare employers value professionals who can adjust to the rapid changes in the industry, so try to work in many different nursing units.

By exposing yourself to different care areas, you strengthen your resume and discover what subfields you like and dislike.

The following sections provide advancement tips for nursing careers. You can learn about gaining specialized certifications, pursuing free continuing education opportunities, and growing your professional circle through networking events.

Government and industry authorities closely regulate nursing careers, providing clear guidelines for advancement. You can learn about these guidelines through your state board or your employer. First and foremost, you must have an RN license to practice. Before you can apply for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license from your state, you typically need to obtain specialized certification.

The APRN designation is an umbrella term for nurses who have obtained a graduate degree and advanced certification/license. These professionals include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. Each of these occupations comes with its own specializations.

For example, nurse practitioners must specialize in a patient population, with options like adult-gerontology acute care, pediatric primary care, and psychiatric-mental health. They can also subspecialize in areas like oncology, dermatology, palliative care, and orthopedics. Certification is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

ANCC also provides certification programs for specialists. Midwives obtain these credentials through the American Midwifery Certification Board. Additionally, anesthetists become certified through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.

You must earn a master’s or doctoral degree to qualify for state licensure as an APRN. However, most graduate programs require applicants to have at least one full year of job experience and/or clinical practice. During this time, you can strengthen your skills in other ways, including taking free massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Academic certificate programs also give working RNs flexible options for continuing their education. Colleges and universities offer online certificate tracks in areas like nursing administration, nursing informatics, and nursing forensics. Students can also pursue a nurse educator certificate, completing about 12 credits that they can later apply toward a graduate degree.

Although most nursing fellowships target master’s and doctoral students, undergraduate opportunities also exist. For example, the Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Fellowship Program accepts applications from rising seniors. Fellows engage in direct clinical experience at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, gaining exposure to the roles, practices, and policies of oncology nursing and medical/surgical oncology.

Engaging in continuing education is crucial to advancing a career in nursing, as nurses must complete a designated number of continuing education units (CEUs) each renewal period to maintain their license. Requirements differ by state and specific profession. RNs must generally earn 15-30 CEUs over the course of 2-3 years by completing relevant training, accruing work experience, and earning professional certification.

Career advancement also involves collaborating with colleagues and connecting with potential mentors and employers. You can network by volunteering in your community, as well as through social media platforms and industry websites (like Nursing Times). You can also meet people by attending national events, including the Black Nurses Rock Convention and the Nursing Education Research Conference.

Nurses work in hospitals, healthcare organizations, and doctors’ offices across the country, providing vital healthcare services to patients of all ages. The locations and industries that nurses work in can affect their job opportunities, salaries, and licensure processes.

The following section covers major industries for RNs and nurse practitioners. Each profile describes the general duties of and average salaries for nurses in these work settings.

However, keep in mind that salary potential and employment opportunities differ by geographic location and individual employer. Use this information as a starting point for your own research into potential nursing careers.

Source: BLS

Source: BLS

Students thinking about careers with a nursing degree may want to consider what states offer the best employment opportunities.

California houses the largest number of nursing professionals — more than 300,000 individuals — due in large part to the size of its general population. This high demand also means that nurses in California boast the highest average salary in the field ($113,240).

Texas, Florida, and New York have the next largest nurse populations in the U.S.

The demand for nurses continues to increase, with the BLS projecting 12% growth for registered nurses and 26% growth for advanced practice registered nurses between 2018 and 2028.

When hiring new workers, prospective employers often look for qualifications like educational experience, professional experience, and certifications. For example, earning a family nurse practitioner, certified pediatric nurse, or oncology certified nurse credential can help professionals stand out from their peers.

Nurses can gain additional professional experience through travel jobs, which they can find at NursingJobs.com. Job seekers can also find customizable job search advice by visiting Health eCareers and NurseRecruiter. These sites offer resources like resume tips and interview advice.

This section provides resources that can help start and advance your career in nursing. Read on to learn about major professional organizations that offer academic scholarships, job guidance, research opportunities, and networking events. This section also includes lists of MOOCs and influential publications in the healthcare field.