Job Outlook
Laura Crimaldi of the Boston Herald said in a recent article, “The federal government predicts that education and health services will account for more than three out of every 10 new jobs created in the next seven years.” Crimaldi goes on to say, “The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs for registered nurses will grow by 23 percent, or 587,000 positions, between 2006 and 2016. That growth puts opportunities for nurses among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation.”

Employers in some parts of the country and in certain employment settings are reporting 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. Enrollments in nursing programs at all levels have increased more rapidly in the past couple of years as students seek jobs with stable employment in a downturned economy.

To attract and retain qualified nurses, hospitals may offer signing bonuses, family-friendly work schedules, or subsidized training. A growing number of hospitals also are experimenting with online bidding to fill open shifts, in which nurses can volunteer to fill open shifts at premium wages. This can decrease the amount of mandatory overtime that nurses are required to work.

Generally, RNs with at least a bachelor’s degree will have better job prospects than those without a bachelor’s. In addition, all four advanced practice specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists—will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas. Relative to physicians, these RNs increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers.

Earnings

As the most in-demand healthcare occupation, and one of the fastest growing careers in the nation, registered nurses can expect to see their salaries, and other benefits, grow in 2009. More and more employers are offering sweet incentives such as sign-on bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and more flexible hours in order to entice nurses to work in their facilities.

Median 2008 Salary
$57,208

Projected 2009 Median Salary
With 4% Increase: $63,504

With a 3.8% Increase: $61,062

With a 2.7% Increase: $58,827

Projected Need, 2006 – 2016: 1,001,000