According to the BLS, the median annual salary for RNs in 2008 was around $62,000. Many employers offer extras, such as competitive bonuses and education subsidization.
Hospitals never close and sick people don't take breaks. Nurses are needed around the clock, which means many different work shifts are available. This scheduling flexibility allows individuals to find a nursing job that suits their needs.
Nurses are needed in many different settings, from home care to hospital, so they have a wide pool of potential employers. The BLS reports the job outlook for nurses is favorable through at least 2018.
Not everyone leaves work knowing that they've made an immediate difference in a person's life, but nurses do. Whether they've helped deliver a newborn baby, or simply made a patient feel more comfortable, nurses can go home with the satisfaction that comes from helping another human being.
As the BLS points out, RNs have many options open to them for kinds of treatment they can specialize in or settings where they can work. Openings exist for all branches of health care -- from surgical to holistic to rehabilitation -- so a career in nursing can be suited to an individual's interests.