Nursing Employment
As the largest health care occupation, registered
nurses hold about 2.4 million jobs.
About 3 out of 5
jobs are in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient
departments.
Others 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, public and private. About 1 in 4 RNs work
part time.
Earnings of nurses
Median annual earnings of registered nurses are
$52,330. The middle 50 percent earn between $43,370
and $63,360.
The lowest 10 percent earn less than
$37,300, and the highest 10 percent earn more than
$74,760. Median annual earnings in the industries
employing the largest numbers of registered nurses
are as follows:
- Employment services $63,170
- General medical and surgical hospitals
53,450
- Home health care services 48,990
- Offices of physicians 48,250
- Nursing care facilities 48,220
Many employers offer flexible work schedules,
child care, educational benefits, and bonuses.
Foreign-educated nurses
Foreign-educated nurses wishing to work in the
United States must obtain a work visa. Applicants
are required to undergo a review of their education
and licensing credentials and pass a nursing
certification and English proficiency exam, both
conducted by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign
Nursing Schools. (The commission is an
immigration-neutral, nonprofit organization that is
recognized internationally as an authority on
credentials evaluation in the health care field.)
Applicants from Australia, Canada (except Quebec),
Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are
exempt from the language proficiency exam. In
addition to these national requirements, most States
have their own requirements.
Information on Registered Nurses in America:
Information on Licensed Vocational and Practical Nurses in America:
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