Congratulations! You’ve made a great decision to pursue a healthcare career as a registered nurse. Not only will you reap the personal benefits of this profession – personal growth, professional recognition and career advancement – you are entering into one of the top three in-demand jobs from now to 2016.

The demand for RNs has seen such positive activity in a turbulent economy, with a 23 percent increase of available jobs in upcoming years. Even more enticing is that RN careers currently hold 2.5 million jobs making it the top healthcare occupation.*

Job Availability and Pay Scale

Now that you’ve decided to pursue an RN career, you’re probably curious about job availability, pay and job locations. Here’s a guide to help you decide the next steps in your professional endeavor.

Employment. As the largest industry in 2006, healthcare provided 13.6 million jobs for wage and salary workers. Of these jobs, 40 percent were in hospitals, 21 percent were in nursing and residential care facilities and 16 percent were in physicians’ offices.

Job Locations. Jobs for healthcare are found throughout the country, but they are concentrated in the larger states such as California, New York, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Pay Scale. On average, registered nurses make $65,220 annually.*

Where to Find RN Jobs

Hospitals. Majority of RN jobs are in hospitals, with 3 in 10 hospitals workers as a registered nurse.

Outpatient Care Centers. Hospitals aren’t the only places that hire a large number of RNs. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported outpatient care centers having a large percentage of professional workers, which includes RNs.

Offices of Other Health Practitioners. About 2 in 5 jobs are available to those in the professional sector of the healthcare industry.*

Whatever the reason was that made you decide to become an RN, you made a great decision. An LPN, for example, could make a quarter of a million dollars more in the first 10 years after graduation.**

Who wouldn’t want a 25 percent return on investment in just 10 years?

For more information about bridge programs for LPN/LVNs to RNs, Paramedics to RNs and Respiratory Therapists (RTs) to RNs, visit Rue Education's website or call 1-800-479-2797.