NursingLink

Nurse Employment Profile and Job Outlook

Nursing is the largest health care occupation, with 2.4 million jobs in 2004. Three out of five jobs in the United States are in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient departments. Other nurses work in offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, home health care services, employment services, government agencies, and outpatient care centers. The remainder work mostly in social assistance agencies and educational services.

Job opportunities for RNs in all specialties are expected to be excellent. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014. Many new jobs will result. Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations.

Thousands of job openings also will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation, especially as the median age of the registered nurse population continues to rise.

Faster-than-average growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care. Many employers also are relying on foreign-educated nurses to fill open positions.

Which Areas of Nursing Are Forecasted to Grow the Most?

There is an increasing emphasis on preventive care. The number of older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly.This will probably increase the need for Long-Term Care and Geriatric Nurses.

What is the Median Salary for Nurses?

The median annual earnings for registered nurses were $52,330 in May 2004. Nurses working for employment services earn the most on average ($63,170), followed by general medical and surgical hospitals ($53,450), home health care services ($48,990), offices of physicians ($48,250), and nursing care facilities ($48,220).

Where in the Country is Nursing Demand the Greatest?

Employers in some parts of the country and in certain employment settings are reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number of RNs, primarily because of an aging RN workforce and a lack of younger workers to fill positions.

How have Nursing Schools and Training Programs Responded to the Growing Demand?

Enrollment in nursing programs at all levels have increased more rapidly in the past couple of years as students seek jobs with stable employment. Many qualified applicants are being turned away because of a shortage of nursing faculty to teach classes. The need for nursing faculty will only increase as a large number of instructors near retirement.

Return to “Ten Steps to Becoming a Nurse”.

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