RN Jobs: Everything You Need to Know
Nursing is a pathway that truly makes a difference in patients' lives every day. By entering a nursing career caring for others, RNs can also earn a rewarding salary for themselves and their families. With demand for nurses unlikely to recede anytime soon, it can be comforting to work in a stable career with little concern about being outsourced or replaced by technology. For young high school graduates, those looking to switch careers, and parents looking to re-enter the paid workforce, there’s never been a better time to become a registered nurse.
Registered Nursing Jobs By The Numbers
Across the country, registered nurses are in moderate to high demand, and this is expected to continue until 2030, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national median salary for registered nurses is around $86,000 annually or roughly $41 per hour, though it may be less for those just starting. Salary ranges can vary based on where nurses live and which type of healthcare facility they serve.
It is projected that there will be 177,000 registered nurse openings through 2032; currently, there are more than 3 million RNs in the workforce. Openings are caused by nurses retiring and those leaving the workforce due to burnout and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Too many nurses are retiring, and not enough new nurses can be sufficiently trained in time to replace them.
Why Are More Nurses Needed?
With a large, aging population, people living longer overall, and the persistent presence of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, the demand for RNs isn't likely to slow anytime soon, according to the American Nurses Association. Nursing shortages can be found nationwide, with the South and the West having the sharpest demand. Nurses impact patient care delivery more than any other job in healthcare. Too few nurses result in the quality of care going down.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), colleges and universities are having difficulty expanding their current nursing education programs; more than 91,000 qualified applications were turned away from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2021 alone. Shortages of nursing teaching staff and clinical preceptors, as well as budget constraints, contribute to the problem. The organization is working with government entities to collaboratively develop legislation and strategies to resolve the shortage while recognizing it will take time.
Nursing Employment Needs Across the Country
States with the greatest need for nurses often pay higher than those with more adequate staffing levels. For example, nurses in highly populated states like California can earn relatively high compensation; Indeed reports that RNs in California earn around $53 per hour as an average base salary, and states including Texas, New Jersey, and South Carolina trail behind.
States with the most nurses overall include California (337,738), Texas (262,710), Florida (248,789), Pennsylvania (172,837), and Ohio (171,502).
The RN Workforce
According to a 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, roughly 58% of RNs worked in hospitals, while 26% worked in outpatient, clinical, or ambulatory settings. Approximately 9% of nurses worked in non-patient settings (such as insurance companies, government agencies, etc.), and 7% worked in other inpatient settings, including nursing homes, mental health facilities, and more.
The same survey found that the average age of an RN was around 47, with racial and ethnic minority groups accounting for 33% of RNs. Men accounted for 12% of nurses.
It has been widely recognized that RNs with bachelor's degrees improve patient outcomes, and the number of RNs who hold a BSN or higher recently surpassed 70% for the first time.
Related: Nurse Practitioner School Interview Questions & Guidance
Nursing Job Resources
Being prepared for your RN job search is imperative. Creating a solid resume and acing a job interview are two of the most important parts of the process. Check out our Nursing Resume and Job Interview guides below to find out all the tips and tricks to make you stand out from the pack.
RN Resume Guide
From formatting your resume and including the right keywords to writing the perfect cover letter, our Resume Guide will help you craft a resume that hiring managers will notice.
RN Interview Tips & Advice
Nursing job interviews can be nerve-wracking, but our job interview tips will help you show up calm, collected, and ready to show your potential employer that you'll be a great asset to the medical team.
