Nursing Career Outlook Salary
Forecast Skills &
Activities

Care for Yourself While You Care for Others

The health care industry is booming and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it isn't slowing down soon. States are pouring money into hospitals, clinics and aging facilities. There are 76 million baby boomers heading toward age 65 (and next year 10 million of those baby boomers will add to the rising number of people in need of health care according to the BLS), and health care facilities are ramping up to provide them with the latest and greatest in health care technology.

That's where a degree in Health and Nursing comes in for you. Hospitals, private clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation clinics, medical laboratories and health insurance companies are looking to hire people with degrees-people like you. For degree holders, the future is extremely promising: health care occupations are expected to rise by as much as 27 percent by 2014.

Career Outlook

Career Outlook

27% Job Growth

There are hundreds of rewarding careers available to people with Health and Nursing degrees. Degree holders work in hospitals, clinics, private practices, medical laboratories, rehabilitation clinics and even for worldwide health organizations that provide relief to ailing populations outside the U.S. The best part about getting a degree in Health and Nursing is that every one of those careers is growing faster than average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health aides are expected to enjoy a 56 percent job growth rate over the next 10 years, and they are in high demand at nursing homes, geriatric hospitals, convalescent facilities and in-home health care companies. Medical assistants can look forward to a 52 percent jump in employment opportunities, physicians' assistants are at a 50 percent growth rate, and physical therapists will see a 44 percent rise in opportunities. Health and Nursing careers are also recession-proof careers: no matter what happens to the economy, people still need health care.

Salary Information

The salary for people with Health and Nursing degrees is growing every year. According to Allied Health Services, registered nurses can earn between $37,000 and $50,000 as a starting base, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those nurses earned an average of $52,330 per year. Most nurses earn as much as $60,000 or more. Those who work for private home health agencies can earn as much as $75,000 per year, while people who work in hospital settings earn between $60,000 and $70,000.

Part-time hourly rates for people with Health and Nursing degrees starts between $20 and $30 an hour. As employees gain experience, their pay increases. For example, someone with less than 2 years of experience can earn around $56,000 while someone with 20 years of experience makes more than $70,000. Registered nurses make an average of $15,000 more per year than Licensed Practical Nurses (which more than pays for the cost of their education in a very short time). Area of expertise also changes the pay rate: Those who work in an emergency department often earn around $68,000 per year while those who work in a college health setting earn approximately $53,000 per year. Also, employers typically offer many recruitment incentives, such as bonuses ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, relocation assistance, housing assistance, day care and tuition repayment.

Required Job Skills and Knowledge

People with Health and Nursing degrees have a wide range of skills. Many learn the basics about health care and the law, medical ethics, health care administration and management, medical assisting, medical coding and billing, and mental health. They then choose a field to study in depth, and they acquire skills such as prepping a patient for surgery, assisting during medical procedures, discussing preventative care and healing regiments with patients, and assisting with nutrition and dietary needs. People who work in the Health and Nursing fields deal closely with patients as well as other medical staff. They help schedule patients, make sure the medical office runs smoothly, make sure patients are comfortable and attended to, and they assist during surgeries and/or dental procedures. They understand First Aid, emergency procedures, human anatomy, illnesses and injuries, and body alignment, balance and movement. They also understand mental conditions, addictions and other ailments.