Four Must-Know Facts about Nursing Jobs

by Sarah Clark
Career Training Directory Columnist

There’s lots of good news for aspiring nurses today. Here are some of the hottest developments in the field; knowing about them might help you make a more informed decision about whether a nursing job is right for you.

Nursing Job Growth is Booming

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the number of nursing jobs to increase by at least 27 percent between 2004 and 2014. That’s much higher than the average growth rate for all occupations. In fact, nursing is the second-fastest growing occupation in the U.S. This growth is driven largely by an aging population and large numbers of nurses heading into retirement.

Nurses Make Up the Largest Health Care Occupation

Today some 2.4 million health care workers are nurses. Nursing is the most popular occupation in the health care industry.

RN Specialties are Numerous

A nursing career can offer tremendous variety. A nursing specialization can focus on a particular population, ailment or disease, or facility. For instance, an RN can specialize in outpatient or inpatient care. A nurse could also work in the cardiac emergency ward or a cancer treatment facility. Nursing specializations are numerous, which could make a nursing career a profession that offers variety and ongoing opportunities for professional development.

Most RNs Work in Hospitals

Three out of five nursing jobs are in hospitals. But the largest growth in nursing positions will be outside of hospitals, according to the BLS. That’s because hospital stays are getting shorter and more and more outpatient facilities are providing a broader variety of treatment options to patients. But high-stress jobs in emergency room hospitals are expected to continue to be more plentiful as those jobs tend to have higher attrition rates among nurses.

About the Author

S. Clark is a freelance writer specializing in postsecondary education and career development.

Source(s)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics