The healthcare industry is experiencing a great amount of job growth. There is a nationwide shortage of nurses, and this shortage is predicted to get worse. Jobs in the field of nursing are abundant worldwide. Unfortunately, not only are there not enough nurses, there are not enough nursing educators. This causes a high degree of competition for those wanting to get in to a nursing program. Potential nursing students are finding it difficult to find programs, and when they do, there are often wait lists. The wait is worth it, however. Since qualified nurses are in high demand - and will continue to be, the wages too, will continue to rise. Registered nurses constitute one of the largest healthcare occupations, with 2.3 million jobs. Even more new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses than for any other occupation. These job opportunities are expected to be very good.

Registered nurses known as RN's work to sustain health, prevent disease, and support patients who are dealing with illness. They are advocates and health educators for the community, their patients and the patients families. Registered nurses deal with direct patient care. It is their job to observe patients, record symptoms and track patient progress. The also help to assist doctors during surgery, treatment, and examinations. They are also required to administer medications, and help in convalescence and therapy. The setting a registered nurse works in somewhat determines their regular duties. Hospital nurses form the largest group of nurses. Hospital nurses provide bedside nursing care and carry out medical regimens. They also may supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides. Hospital nurses usually are assigned to one department, such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, the emergency room, intensive care, or the treatment of cancer patients.

There are three different nursing degrees that lead to an RN. To become an RN, nurses need to graduate from a 4-year Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing, an Associates of Nursing, or a Nursing Diploma program offered by hospitals. They also need to pass a national licensing examination. A registered nursing degree has a national licensing section that makes it easier to get licensed in multiple states. This is helpful if a nurse gets recruited elsewhere. According to the Department of Labor Statistics, registered nurses will be in great demand for the foreseeable future. More new nursing jobs will be open than jobs in any other field. At this time, there is a shortage of qualified nurses to even come close to filling the projected demand. The average salary for a nurse is approximately $48,000 with the higher 10% making upwards of $69,000 annually.