The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were 2.6 million registered nurses in the united States as of 2008. This means that RNs made up the largest segment of the healthcare professional population. The BLS also reports that projected job prospects for new nurses remain excellent across the country.
The median annual salary for registered nurses was $62,450 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent of the RN population earned between $51,640 and $76,570, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $92,240, reports the BLS.
Registered nurses have ample opportunity to advance their professional in many different directions. RNs can advance to become Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in any one of over a dozen medical specialties by obtaining a master's or doctoral degree. RNs can also advance into more business-oriented roles and work their way up to hospital management.
As an RN, you will be responsible for helping sick and injured people deal with difficult times. Anyone who's been hospitalized knows it can be lonely and scary. RNs are usually the first and last people patients see every day while they are in the hospital. Patients and their families also look to nurses to help them understand their conditions and guide them.
Many individuals pursue a nursing career because of their desire to help others. An RN has the sense of knowing that he is doing this on a daily basis. An RN can enjoy a sense of personal accomplishment from his studies to become registered as well as the continuing education required by many employers. In addition, RNs gain the respect of their patients and the entire community.