Registered Nurse Salary
Registered nurses assess patient health issues and needs, develop and implement treatment plans, administer nursing care to ill, recovering, and disabled patients, and maintain health records. They may also educate patients and their families with regard to health maintenance and disease prevention. Registered nurse salaries vary with level of education, experience, specialty area, and location.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics points to several significant factors with regard to the nursing profession:
· Registered nurses (RNs) constitute the largest professional group within the healthcare sector, holding near 2.6 million jobs.
· Nearly 60% of all nursing jobs are within hospital settings.
· Three common paths to becoming a registered nurse include a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or diploma from nursing program. Many diploma programs are held within hospital settings. Advanced practice nurses—clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives—need a master’s degree.
· Job prospects in all areas are excellent but may vary with geographic location. Employers in some areas of the country report difficulty in attracting and retaining a sufficient number of nursing staff, primarily because of retirement and decrease of new entrants into the field. Typically larger urban areas provide a greater number of opportunities with higher salaries so are able to attract greater numbers of candidates.
· Overall job opportunities are expected to be excellent for registered nurses. Employers in some parts of the country and in certain employment settings report 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
Registered Nurse Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salaries of registered nurses were $62,450 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned a salary between $51,650 and $76,570. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,000 while the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,000.
The median annual salaries in those sectors employing the largest number of registered nurses in May 2008 were:
Sector* Median Salary
Employment Services $68,160
Medical and surgical hospitals $63,880
Private practice $59,210
Home Health Care $58,740
Nursing Care Facilities $57,060
*http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.h
Many employers offer such supplemental benefits and flexible work hours, on-site child care, tuition reimbursement, and performance bonuses. Approximately 21 percent of registered nurses are members of a union or covered by a union contract.
