Countless individuals earn a great living on a Registered Nurse Salary. All nurses are entitled to a solid income, they earn every penny for what they do. Day in and day out, we entrust them with our health and well being. Being an RN is way more than most people know, it’s about providing exactly what the patients need, at the right time, in the most professional manner possible.

Nursing Certifications and continuing education is different depending on what state you live and work. Education and training are very important for someone looking to get into the nursing field. Anyone entering the nursing field should have an internal desire to care for others, have compassion, sympathy and want to take on the enormous responsibilities of other peoples health care..

The healthcare sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, and nursing is in higher demand each and every year. On last count, we had almost three million active and licensed nurses in the system. Our system is so strained, we need more. Baby Boomers will be needing more health care as they move into their senior years. Many types of nurses will be needed to provide the necessary services. It is very obvious that our entire healthcare field continues to grow, and will do so for years to come. We need as many qualified candidates as possible.

As the baby boomers retire, and the seniors continue to age, the need for quality nurses is expected to increase by at least 20% for the next ten years. Therefore, by 2018 this country will need in excess of half a million additional nurses on staff. This can be a positive for an economy that is struggling to create enough jobs for people who need a change. Those willing to dedicated themselves to this very important work and get the training they need will do well in this industry.

On the low side, the bottom ten percent of Registered Nurses make an average of 43,000 per year, while the upper end or higher paid make 93,000. The majority of registered nurses are generalists and work in public and private hospitals. Nurses who are considered generalists and who work in hospitals can expect an average annual salary of approximately 67,000.

Just as important and the second largest group of RN’s are the men and women who work directly for doctors offices. These folks earn a similar annual salary, and on average comes in also at 67,000. Registered Nurses that work with the elderly and are agents of home health care tend to earn on average of about 63,000. Maybe surprising to most, but the RN’s who chose to work in nursing home facilities tend to earn the least, with annual salaries of about 59,000. Outpatient service can be a fast paced environment and those nurses who chose to work there, will make approximately 65,000 per year.

Most people would be very happy to earn these salaries. At the same time, there are other areas in health care that offer even a greater income. Venturing into areas such as medical supplies and equipment can earn you over 77,000 annually. If you go the Federal Government route, you can earn almost 80,000 per year within the executive branch.

The need for qualified nurses continues to grow, even though many are being hired every day. Depending on where you live, certain areas are in dire need for qualified nurses. If you are ready to embark on the nursing career, there may not be a better time to start. If you can see yourself caring for others and realize the type of gratification that comes with, then you can benefit from the current boom in nursing.

Although the functions are much the same, an RN tends to earn a higher salary than other nurse jobs. Although very close, a LPN can achieve certification with slightly less eduction requirements.