NURSING

A nursing career can offer you the unprecedented opportunity to make a significant impact in your community while enjoying one of the most financially rewarding job markets in decades. Faced with rapidly expanding numbers of baby boomers that require advanced medical care, nearly every hospital, health care system, and assisted living facility in the country requires competent nurses and aides.

With the growth of part-time and online nursing degree programs, working professionals no longer have to sacrifice professional or family commitments to pursue a career change.
In 2002, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that registered nurses across all specialties earned a median annual salary of about $48,000. Experienced nurses can earn $70,000 or more per year in base salary, with frequent opportunities to earn bonuses and overtime incentives during busy seasons.

Choosing an exciting and in-demand nursing specialty can help you earn even more money. Some nursing degree candidates, especially students that want to switch to nursing from another career, concentrate on pediatric nursing, while others focus on the expanding field of elder care. Veteran nurses can enroll in business, management, and legal programs that can qualify them for career advancement as managers, consultants, and facility administrators.