Nurse Salary Chart
Average Nurse Salaries:
Nurse Salaries by Industry:
Nurse Salary data by BLS.gov(2008). |
Nurse Salary Data
Nursing is by far the largest occupation in the medical field, and the demand for qualified nurses is rapidly increasing in all areas of specialization. While the majority of nurses – about 60 percent – work in a hospital setting, nurses can find employment in long-term care facilities, physicians’ practices, clinics, schools, and many other locations. If you love caring for others and are considering a career as a nurse, the following information can help you decide if this exciting and rewarding field is right for you.
What are the personality traits of a good nurse?
Being a good nurse takes dedication, caring, and a genuine desire to help others. To be a successful nurse, you must be patient, calm, and compassionate. You must be confident in your knowledge and able to reassure patients, who are often nervous or frightened. You should be neat, professional, and well-groomed; the ability to work long hours under pressure is also necessary for anyone considering a nursing career.
General information on nursing careers
There are many different types of work environments for nurses. Some of these include ambulatory care, which consists of providing preventive care for patients in a clinic or doctor’s office; critical care, which involves care of patients with serious or acute illnesses; hospice care, with a focus on providing comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients; trauma care, or treating patients in an emergency setting; and long-term care, such as in an assisted living or long-term care facility.
Nursing job duties
Nurses have a wide range of duties, which vary depending on their area of specialization and patient population. Some of the tasks performed by nurses include developing patient care plans, administering medications, setting up intravenous lines, monitoring vital signs, and working with doctors and other medical staff.
Nursing training
In order to work as a nurse, you will need either an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing or a certificate from an accredited nursing school. After completing a nursing program, candidates must pass a national licensing exam. Nursing programs include both classroom instruction and practical clinical experience; the required coursework covers topics such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, patient care, and nutrition.
Nursing job outlook
Skilled nurses are in high demand, and the job outlook for qualified individuals is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the nursing field will grow more quickly than virtually all other occupations over the next decade. Nurses may earn, on average, about $62,000 per year.
