Is nursing school a challenge if you’re the first in your family to attend college? For sure. Is it still possible to succeed? Definitely!

At Nightingale College, 49% of our learner population are first generation college learners!

Being the first in your family to attend college is a huge achievement on its own, but it can bring unique challenges. When you have a problem, you may not be able to turn to your family for help like other learners. You may also deal with pressure from your parents and your community, who expect you to succeed academically and/or financially where they did not.

It’s not easy, but you can do it! Here are a few tips for first-generation learners:

• Find support and resources. If you don’t know where to turn, talk with your LALR counselor.
• Get to know your faculty members. Building relationships is essential for success.
• Speak up. Participate fully in your classes, and if you have a question, ask. You probably aren’t the only one in your situation.
• Embrace uncertainty. Many aspects of the college experience may be unfamiliar, but you’re not alone. Expect to feel confused or lost at times, and don’t give up!
• Find your friends. Support is essential for studying, information, and inspiration! Stay in touch with people from classes, clinicals, and College social media groups so you can help each other succeed

Nursing is a highly enriching career. What can be more gratifying than pursuing this noble calling and making it your mission to help people and save lives? But being a nurse is rewarding from a practical point of view, as well. 

While nurse salaries vary by state, employer, years of experience, and many other factors, on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean salary of the Registered Nurse is $80,010. In some places, they can even earn more. For instance, in California, the median wage for RNs is $120,560, and in Hawaii, it sits somewhere around $104,840. Some states, however, swing in the opposite direction compensation-wise, with nurses in Alabama cashing in paychecks of around $60,230. 

Maybe remuneration is not the highest on your priority list when choosing a profession. But sometimes, you need that extra money. You have to manage your finances so that you cover everything: student loans, family commitments, personal ambitions. Perhaps you have some unexpected expenses like a vacation coming up, or you just want to increase your savings. 

The good news is there are plenty of ways for Registered Nurses to make more money. In this guide, we have gathered some of the best income-boosting opportunities and side hustles that will help nurses earn a little extra cash:

Earn an Advanced Degree

If you’re playing the long game, one of the best ways to increase your nursing income is to advance your education. Higher degrees come with higher paychecks. You can notice this at all levels. The average salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse is $50,090, almost $30,000 less than a Registered Nurse’s mean salary. In addition to having more employment opportunities, Bachelor’s trained nurses are more likely to enjoy higher paychecks than their ADN counterparts. 

Should you opt for a Master’s Degree, the top paid nursing specialties will be within your reach. High-paying, advanced practice nursing roles, such as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Educator, or Nurse Anesthetist, have a minimum MSN as an educational requirement. But for these roles, salaries range from $84,060 to $189,190. So, advancing your nursing education is a sure way to climb up the compensation ladder and start earning the most money as a nurse. 

Get Certified

Seeking specialty certification in a specific area of nursing is another great way to boost your resume, strengthen your skills, and enhance your paycheck. Aside from the extra money, getting certified comes with many other benefits. It will make you a more confident and empowered nurse, earn you the respect and admiration of your colleagues and supervisors, and open doors to more employment opportunities. 

Some certifications offer more chances to earn the top wages in your field. Research carefully your interest area, the need for that particular skill at your organization, as well as the credentialing bodies offering certifications. 

Discover some of the top nursing certifications that will help upgrade your income!

Consider Management or Leadership Positions

Registered Nurses who work in management or leadership positions tend to earn more. The mean annual wage for Nurse Managers stands at $118,800. The employment for NMs is also projected to grow 32% by the end of the decade. This expected employment change is much higher than all other occupations (4%), and even to Registered Nurses (7%). 

So, by pursuing a job in nursing management or leadership, you would both significantly step up your earning potential and have fantastic job prospects. 

Find out how much you can expect to earn as a Nurse Manager in every state. 

Look into Per Diem Shifts

One opportunity to earn more money faster as a nurse is considering per diem shifts as a side hustle. Per diem, the Latin expression for “per day,” is a great option to earn premium wages in hospitals and clinics in your area. It’s a very lucrative alternative, especially if your current nursing job doesn’t allow overtime work. 

Generally, per diem Registered Nurses will have higher hourly wages compared to full-time employees. That is because per diem nursing jobs don’t come with any benefits, so employers compensate by bumping up the paycheck. If you only need a side gig to earn some extra money, you can likely make do without the benefits. You can find per diem shifts by consulting agencies, hospitals, or other healthcare systems. 

Another great thing about per diem nursing as a side gig is that it doesn’t come with any schedule requirements. You have complete flexibility to choose when and where to work. As a result, the size of your paycheck will be directly proportional to how much you work. 

Network

If you’re looking to increase your earning potential, do not underestimate the power of networking. 

Networking is a powerful tool in any career, and nursing is no exception. Meeting new people and establishing contacts is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of the profession. You can hear about job opportunities sooner; you can secure recommendations or have many professional doors open for you. There are many places where RNs can network: nursing conferences, on the job, or even on social media. 

Start a Blog or Do Freelance Healthcare Writing

Working as a freelance health writer is a fairly popular way to make extra money as a nurse if you know your way around pen and paper. 

There is no shortage of health-related websites and blogs which need content on a daily basis. As a nurse, you have actual clinical experience and intimate knowledge of the field – skills highly coveted by employers of freelance nurses. As far as what you can write about, the possibilities are endless: health concerns, new nursing products, your experiences as an RN, the industry as a whole. 

If you have the skills to set up your own blog and are ready to commit to it, you can even earn some extra money through blogging. It may take a little time to take off, but if you manage to get it off the ground, your blog can definitely be an additional source of income.

Also, being a blogger or a freelance health writer is a very flexible side gig. As long as you have an internet connection, you can work from anywhere and anytime. It’s time to put those writing skills to work. They can help settle the bills, secure that vacation, or pay for a new car. 

Become a CPR Instructor

Another possible money-making enterprise for Registered Nurses is becoming a CPR instructor. Once you get certified by a recognized organization, you can act as a First Aid instructor in various settings. The main goal of this part-time job is to teach people to give first aid assistance before the trained medical professionals get on the scene. 

Many companies offer CPR classes to their employees to improve work safety conditions. You can even teach first aid to school teachers or family members of at-risk children. Some events also require CPR instructors. Being on the lookout for CPR instruction gigs can help put a little extra money in your wallet. 

Become an Immunization Nurse

Often a seasonal side hustle, working as an Immunization Nurse is an excellent way to earn a little bit of cash doing something you were trained to do. There are immunization clinics that may require extra help at certain times, like before the start of the flu season. There are also many companies, churches, or other organizations that sign up to offer immunization shots when there is a need. And managing these shots is how nurses can make more extra money on the side. 

Due to the COVID outbreak and the need for immunizations, there are even more job opportunities for nurses looking for higher pay. With the rise of drive-through clinics, curbside clinics, mobile outreach clinics, and home visits, RNs are needed to administer the shots and help keep the population safe. 

You’ll have to check with staffing agencies or local health departments to find this kind of opportunity. As an Immunization Nurse, you can make an extra $25 to $40 hourly. 

Become a Health Coach

As a Registered Nurse, you have the skills and expertise to venture into health coaching as a way of bumping up your earning potential. 

A Health Coach works directly with clients and helps them improve their health and live a healthier lifestyle. Some of your duties include offering nutrition guidance, ensuring your patients develop healthy eating habits, and assisting them with developing exercise routines.

You can charge clients an hourly fee or offer a subscription plan. 

Become a Medical Transcriptionist

Nurses looking to expand their revenue potential can also take into account the Medical Transcription route. Medical Transcriptionists listen to physicians’ voice recordings and convert them into written reports. To make their jobs easier, they use speech recognition software. After that, they review and edit the medical documents, patients’ histories, discharge summaries, and so on. 

You can do this job part-time. Depending on the employer, you can also work from home or anywhere else, as long as you have a reliable internet connection. On average, you can earn around $18 an hour as a medical transcriptionist. It’s an excellent opportunity to make some quick money.

Become a Home Health Nurse

Home Health Nurses care for patients in their homes. This job comes in different formats: full-time, part-time, and even per diem. If you aim to boost your earnings, you can pick up some shifts as a Home Health Nurse in your free time.  

Find a home health agency that employs nurses to get started with this side job and put some extra cash in your pocket. You’ll find this gig extremely rewarding: it allows you a good amount of nursing autonomy as you don’t have a supervisor scrutinizing your every move. Also, you can develop long-lasting relationships with your patients and their families. 

Look into Telehealth Nursing Opportunities

Are you looking to earn some extra money from the comfort and convenience of your household? The good news is many nursing jobs will allow you to work from home. One such side gig can be telehealth nursing. 

Increasingly gaining popularity, telehealth nursing is a fantastic opportunity for RNs searching for paycheck-boosting scenarios. The idea behind it is straightforward: patients who aren’t feeling well use telemedicine services before going to the hospital. RNs assist patients via phone or video conferencing apps. They can direct patients on how to manage their symptoms at home. In more severe cases, RNs will schedule physician appointments or will call emergency teams on the spot. 

Being a Telehealth Nurse is a flexible job that doesn’t necessarily require one’s presence on a clinical site. So, as long as you have a reliable internet connection and the required training, you can look into telehealth nursing opportunities as a means to make more money as a nurse. 

Do Some Phlebotomy Work

Phlebotomy is the process of drawing blood from a patient. The blood samples are often sent to laboratories for testing, making it an essential tool for diagnosing many medical conditions. Other times, blood is drawn as a treatment for specific conditions. Drawing blood can also be voluntary, like in the case of donating blood. 

Clearly, this procedure is vital in the medical field. As a nurse, you can make some extra money performing phlebotomy work. 

Many insurance companies will hire nurses to perform basic physical exams and draw blood samples as part of the insurance application process. This type of work can usually be done in the evenings and at the patient’s home. The company will give you the applicants’ names, you perform the procedures, and earn top dollar for your services. 

Tutor Nursing Students

Your nursing education itself can be a ticket to making excellent supplemental income. You can earn extra money while banking on your preexisting knowledge and student experience by becoming a tutor. Having been through nursing school already, you know how challenging some courses or exams are. 

So, offering your services as a tutor is a great way to put some cash in your pocket while helping nursing students learn and understand the material. If you are located near a nursing school or college, you can ask nursing professors to recommend you. If that’s not possible, there are plenty of nursing students who look for online tutoring services.

Complete Paid Medical Surveys

An ideal side hustle for nurses who want to monetize their time online is completing online surveys. Surveys won’t double your income but are still an easy way to earn some fast money. In addition to paid online surveys, you can also look for online or offline focus groups or telephone studies. 

Many companies that design medical devices and other healthcare technologies and pharmaceutical and drug companies will pay generously for the nurses’ opinions and feedback on their products. RN’s input is extremely valuable as it can lead to better patient outcomes. So, for a little extra money in the bank, you can always find healthcare panels or legitimate survey sites that will pay for your nursing expertise.

Sell Your Scrubs

For many nurses, buying new scrubs has become a passion project: you see it, you like it, you buy it. So much so that you end up with too much nursing gear: scrubs, jackets, hats, and shoes. And for the most part, you probably won’t get a chance to wear them. 

If you’ve amassed your own little scrub store, then an easy way to make some extra money quickly would be to sell your unused scrubs or those that are in really good condition. You can try different online marketplaces, organize a yard sale, or offer your coworkers scrubs at a discounted price. 

Are You Crafty? Take Advantage of That

Finding a hobby is an excellent way for nurses to destress and prevent nursing burnout. In addition to that, if you happen to be a crafty person, you can quickly turn your hobby into a money-making venture, as well. 

You can sell your creations online, to your family, friends, or coworkers. It can be artwork, accessories, handmade jewelry, cards, hand-painted mugs, or pretty much anything else. Find your craft and use it to your advantage. 

Are You Ready to Increase Your Nursing Income?

As a Registered Nurse, you already set yourself up for a well-paying career. However, a little extra money never hurt anyone. There are a myriad of ways for you to boost your nursing income if you’re willing to get creative and put some time into it. 

Still, the best way to ensure steady and reliable paycheck growth is to advance your education, engage in continuous learning and become a better nurse. There are many possible side gigs for motivated RNs. Still, the most lucrative of all is becoming the best professional you can be. 

Enroll in our RN-to-BSN program.

At the heart of any successful nursing career is the nurse’s commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Continuing education is one way RNs ensure their expertise grows throughout their career. Another way is becoming a Certified Nurse. 

But what exactly does becoming a Certified Nurse imply? Nursing students already have to navigate so many different levels and degrees of nursing, CE requirements, and now RN certification gets thrown in the mix. 

This article will answer all the questions you may have about what a Certified Nurse is, how to become one, and why you should consider earning this credential. 

What Is a Certified Nurse?

As you already know, in order to start your practice as a Registered Nurse, you must first get licensed through your state. That requires your enrollment in either an ADN program or a BSN program. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX RN exam, and once you pass it, you become a licensed RN. So, licensure is mandatory for practice. 

Getting certified, on the other hand, is a voluntary process. As the American Board of Nursing Specialties defines it, certification is the formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes. 

To put it simply, certification is a testimony of a nurse’s expertise, commitment, and excellence in patient care in a particular specialty. A certified nurse is a professional who chooses to take an extra step in their education to prove their competence and dedication to their chosen nursing field.  

Nurse certification is a wonderful tool for nurses who wish to become better caregivers while also boosting their careers. 

How Do You Become a Certified Nurse?

With definitions out of the way, let’s tackle the next big thing: how to become a certified nurse. The road to nursing certification has several stops along the way.

Obtain your nursing license

First of all, you have to become a licensed nurse before you can become a certified nurse. The most common pathway is getting RN licensure and working your way up from there. However, some certifications are available to Licensed Practical Nurses as well. If you wish to pursue one of those, you must obtain PN licensure and take the NCLEX-PN exam. 

Find a certifying organization that offers an accredited certification program in the area of nursing that interests you

Multiple organizations have the right to grant certifications. Some, like the American Nurses Credentialing Center, offer certifications for a wide variety of nursing specialties. Others have a more narrowed-down focus. For example, the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) offers certification for nurses interested in oncology practice. Nurses who want to expand their expertise in caring for patients with diabetes can opt for certification provided by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. LPNs and RNs who want to pursue ​​professional nursing certification in the specialty of intellectual and developmental disabilities nursing can find credentialing programs offered by the DDNA, the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association. So, after you obtain your nursing license, you can start looking for a certifying body that caters to your needs.

Check certification eligibility criteria 

Once you found a credentialing organization that offers the certification you’re looking for, you need to check eligibility criteria. Every certification has a specific set of eligibility requirements. Usually, that includes the need for the applicant to hold a particular academic degree and to have worked a certain number of hours in the field. 

Make sure you meet the requirements

Usually, before you can apply for certification, you have to work for one or two years in the specialty in which you want to be certified. Sometimes you may need to take extra classes that focus mainly on the nursing area in which you’re interested. After you have the requirements down, you can move to the next step. 

Get ready for the certification exam 

You will have to pass an exam to get your certification. Make sure you prepare for it to the best of your ability. Use the study materials, take the practice tests. This last hop, and you can finally reap the benefits of your hard work. Congratulations, you are a Certified Nurse!

Don’t forget about certification renewal

Once you pass the certification exam and finally become a Certified Nurse, you may think that you’re done. Get certified once and forget about it. Things are a little bit different.

Nursing certifications are only valid for a couple of years, anywhere from two to five. After that, you will need to renew it. Recertification is just as important as the initial process of certification. It shows that you are genuinely committed to lifelong learning and constant improvement of your knowledge and skills. Getting recertified may vary slightly from one specialty to another. Generally, you’ll have to undergo a certain number of continuing education hours and engage in some professional activities in your area of nursing. This way, you’ll always stay on top of your game in your field. 

How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified RN?

The length of time it will take you to become a certified nurse will largely depend on other academic decisions you make along the way. If you are an ADN-prepared RN, it may take around four years. If, however, you go for a BSN degree instead, it will take about six years before you earn your certification. 

The reason for this has to do with program duration. An ADN generally takes two years to complete; however, a traditional BSN program can take four years. Bear in mind that healthcare employers increasingly prefer BSN-trained nurses. After you get your license, you will need to get up to two years of bedside nursing experience in your desired specialty before you can apply for certification. 

What Are the Benefits of Getting Certified?

You may find yourself wondering why seeking certification is worth it. After all, you have to invest time, money, and energy in this, so what’s in it for you? There are multiple reasons why getting certified is a good career move. And it is not only the nurse who benefits from it. 

Benefits of Nursing Certification for Registered Nurses

Whether you want better employment opportunities or you strive to give your patients the highest level of care possible, here are some of the best reasons to have your eyes on a nurse certificate:

• Certified Nurses are recognized and respected by their peers, patients, and supervisors. The nursing certificate validates the RNs’ mastery of skills, knowledge, and abilities. It proves their competence and the fact that they have distinguished themselves in their specialty of choice. And everyone in the workplace appreciates nurses who go above and beyond to advance their expertise.
• Certified Nurses feel more empowered and confident in their practice. The higher the nurse’s education level, the better prepared they are to address even the most complex nursing situations. Certification helps nurses extend their knowledge and expertise while also helping them stay up to date with the latest developments in their specialty. This helps them build confidence in their professional skills and increases their credibility. As a result, they feel more empowered. 
• Certified Nurses have access to more job opportunities. Surveys have shown that close to 90% of Nurse Managers would prefer hiring certified nurses over their non-certified counterparts. 
• They also have higher chances of climbing up the professional ladder within their organization. In addition to it being an ace on the nurse’s resume during the hiring process, certification also proves pivotal when it comes to opportunities for upward career advancement within the medical institution where they work. Certified nurses are more likely to get promotions that involve a higher degree of authority and responsibility. 
• Certified nurses earn higher salaries. Perhaps you’ve wondered at some point: “Do nurses with certifications earn more?” And the answer will gladden you. A 2020 report from Nurse.com shows that education and certification positively correlate with higher salaries. Hence certified nurses do earn more than their non-certified counterparts.
• Nursing certification demonstrates the nurses’ commitment to career development and dedication to patient care. Specifically, because it is a voluntary process, seeking specialty certification is often viewed as a reinforcement of the RN’s devotion to the field. 

How Do Employers Benefit from RNs Pursuing Certification?

Nurses getting certified also has positive implications for employers. Here’s why healthcare institutions benefit from RN certification:

• It helps the organization stand out from the competition. The healthcare market is highly competitive. Hiring the most qualified and skilled Registered Nurses helps hospitals thrive and eclipse the competition while also demonstrating to patients their commitment to providing high-quality care. 
• It plays a part in healthcare institution’s ability to obtain accreditation and funding. The Joint Commission, an accreditation body for healthcare institutions, is just one of the many organizations that consider the percentage of certified nurses employed by an institution. Having a higher number of RNs with specialty certification can pave the way to accreditation or receive grant funding. That, in return, can help attract more patients. 
• It can boost employee retention rates. As long as the institution invests in its nurses, RNs will feel engaged and stimulated to work for said institution. Offering RNs the possibility of participating in certification programs, offering cost reimbursement, and creating an environment that applauds ongoing education is a great way for the institution to lower turnover rates and improve the quality of care. An investment in Register Nurses is an investment in the future of the facility and the wellbeing of the community. 
• Improved patient outcomes mean good business. One of the main benefits of nurse certification is that it significantly improves the quality of care and patient outcomes. This can be extremely valuable not just for the patients but also for the hospital. Certified Nurses tend to make fewer medical errors, have lower failure-to-rescue rates, and lower percentages of hospital-acquired infections. This helps the institution cut costs and readmission numbers considerably. 
• Studies also show that nursing certification can lead to improved personnel satisfaction. That translates into fewer RNs experiencing burnout, increased performance, and lower turnover rates.  

How Do Patients Benefit from Certified Nurses?

Nurses with a higher education level are able to provide better care. The positive effects of specialty certification on patient outcomes have been extensively documented. These are some of the ways in which patients benefit from nursing certification. 

• Certified nurses tend to be responsible for fewer medical errors. One study on the link between nurses’ specialty certification and their clinical expertise found that certification is related to patient safety. 
• Certification also contributes to the following improved patient outcomes:

– lower frequency of patient falls

– improved symptom management of pain in oncology patients

– earlier interventions for the initiation of rescue in a failing patient

– lower incidence of failure-to-rescue cases

– decreased mortality rates

– decreased length of stay in hospital. 

• Being cared for by certified nurses can mean lower healthcare costs for the patient. As the number of medical errors shrinks, so will the cost of healthcare costs to patients. For example, one report found that because of policy change, hospital-acquired conditions declined by nearly 1 million instances from 2014 to 2017 in Massachusetts alone, saving about $7.7 billion. In a country where medical errors add more than $4 billion to annual healthcare costs, highly prepared certified nurses can really make a difference. 
• Americans prefer being cared for by Certified Nurses. First of all, being in the care of a Certified RN brings peace of mind to the patients. They find it reassuring to know that their nurse has extended training and knowledge beyond nursing school courses. Secondly, according to a Harris Poll, almost 80% of Americans knew that certification for nurses is a possibility. So, they see nurses who do pursue this option as more trustworthy and better prepared. Also, three in four Americans said that they would choose a hospital that employs a higher percentage of Certified Nurses if they had a choice. Once again, this points to the strong preference consumers have for Certified Nurses. 

Find out what are the top nursing certifications that you should get in 2021!

What’s Stopping You From Getting Certified?

Now, beyond any shred of a doubt, you know how important and valuable certification is. Those extra letters behind your name are not there to crowd your nursing resume. They validate your specialty knowledge and expertise. They are there to prove you’re able to provide higher quality care, improve the outcomes of your patients, and elevate the standing of the institution where you work. 

Before you get certified, make sure you meet all the criteria. Become a Licensed Registered Nurse with Nightingale College’s BSN program. If you’re already an RN, consider our RN-to-BSN online program!

Invest in your nursing education, pursue certifications, and become the best nurse you can be!

When considering a career – any career – one of the main selling points is your earning potential. Following your passion hits a lot differently when it comes hand in hand with a paycheck that allows you to live a comfortable life. Becoming a Registered Nurse is no exception. 

Prior to becoming an RN or before plucking up the courage to make the career shift that’s been on your mind, you most likely want to know what you can expect in terms of wages. What’s the highest salary you can aim for? What kind of nurses get paid the most? What would it take in terms of educational requirements to get to that point of financial stability?

We have the answers to all these questions – and many more regarding nursing salaries. Read on to find out the highest-paid nursing jobs, their job outlook, and everything else you need to know about them.

What Are the Highest-Paid Nurses?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for Registered Nurses is $80,010. However, the more you advance your education, the higher your salary will be, up to the point where you can earn six-figure wages. Of course, your income potential is closely linked to various factors, such as the state where you practice, your employer, or years of experience. Still, several nursing jobs come with a particularly high paycheck – double or even triple above the national average. Let’s look at the areas of nursing that pay the most:

Nurse Anesthetist 

Salary: It’s probably not a surprise to anyone that Nurse Anesthetists top the highest-paid nurses’ list. The median salary for this very specialized nursing field is $189,190, as reported by the Bureau of Labour Statistics. In some states, Nurse Anesthetists earn well above the $200,000 mark. For instance, in Oregon, the annual average salary for NAs is $236,540, making it one of the highest paying jobs in the medical field. In Wisconsin, this nursing role makes place for wages of up to $231,520 yearly, and Wyoming also beats the national average by miles. Here, Nurse Anesthetists earn $231,250, more than $42,000 above the median NA salary. 

Find out how much Nurse Anesthetists earn in every state. 

The BLS reported salary reflects the real-time job marketplace reasonably accurately. According to data gathered from Zip Recruiter, the yearly salary of a Nurse Anesthetist is $171,340. 

Career Outlook: In general, due to a continuously increasing nursing shortage that affects the entire country, the employment of all Registered Nurses is expected to grow by 7% throughout the decade. Simultaneously, the projected growth for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, such as Nurse Anesthetists, is much higher than the average. The employment of APRNs is predicted to increase by 45% from 2019 to 2029. Almost 3,000 job openings will be available for Nurse Anesthetists during the next ten years. Unsurprisingly, most CRNAs will be needed in inner cities and rural areas.

Educational Requirements: The educational road to becoming a Nurse Anesthetist and enjoying the highest-paying nursing position’s financial rewards is not the easiest one. The minimum requirement for practicing as an APRN is obtaining your Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctoral Degree in Nursing. However, to advance to an MSN, the aspiring student must complete an accredited nursing program and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. 

Are you ready to start pursuing the highest-paying job in the nursing field? Enroll in Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN accredited program and get one step closer to your dream career. 

Job Description: So, it’s clear that Nurse Anesthetists get paid the most, but what exactly do they do to deserve such high salaries? Their duties involve a tremendous amount of responsibility and revolve around administering anesthesia, monitoring a patient’s vital signs, and providing essential care before, during, and after medical procedures.

Employers: Most Nurse Anesthetists are employed in physician’s offices – almost 47%. Next in order are general medical and surgical hospitals, which hire around 14,000 CRNAs. Although to a lesser extent, they can also find jobs in Outpatient Care Centers, offices of other Health Practitioners and colleges, universities, or professional schools. 

Geriatric Nurse Practitioner 

Salary: Working as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner is very lucrative in terms of pay. With annual wages that average $172,645, this Advanced Practice Nursing Role is one of the nursing fields’ highest paid jobs. 

Career Outlook: According to a 2017 report from the US Census Bureau, by 2030, the number of Americans who are 65 or older will be around 82 million. To put this in perspective: in 2015, people aged 65 or older accounted for 47,8 million of the population. This significant increase has multiple ramifications. As the numbers of older adults grow, so will the increasing need for geriatric care. With more Baby Boomers requiring specialized medical attention, the nursing field of geriatrics will demand more qualified professionals. Consequently, Geriatric Nurse Practitioners are likely to enjoy excellent job prospects throughout the decade. 

Educational requirements: A Geriatric Nurse Practitioner is by definition an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, and the minimum requirement for achieving the APRN status is pursuing an MSN. Advancing your education is well worth it in terms of salaries. For example, as a Geriatric Nurse, the average annual salary you can expect is $98,860, which is already a high salary for a nursing job. However, completing an MSN degree and becoming a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner will come with increased responsibilities and an increased paycheck – $172,645. 

Job Description: Geriatric Nurse Practitioners are responsible for providing medical services to the aging population. They conduct physical examinations, assess a patient’s state, and devise care and treatment plans accordingly. Their advanced education often puts them in charge of establishing a diagnosis and writing prescriptions. Generally, they work directly with patients and without the supervision of a medical doctor. However, the scope of practice of a GNP – how much authority they have differs from state to state. 

Employers: Most Geriatric Nurse Practitioners find employment in private practices, specialty clinics, and hospitals. There is a particular demand for them in rural areas, where access to physicians is severely limited. GNPs can also work in research or didactic positions.

Cardiac Nurse Practitioner

Salary: As far as high-paying nursing specialties go, Cardiac Nurse Practitioners sure make it to the top of the list. Their yearly wages are around $136,846, which is almost $57,000 more than what Registered Nurses earn on average. 

Career Outlook: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists heart disease as the leading cause of death for adult populations from all backgrounds. Taking this under consideration, it’s clear that nurses who specialize in treating heart problems and conditions are likely to fare particularly well on the job market. 

Educational requirements: To become a Cardiac NP, the aspiring nurse must pursue extensive training and education. As for all other Nurse Practitioner roles, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Nursing is one of the main prerequisites. Clocking in a few years of clinical experience, especially in the cardiac unit, is compulsory before starting work as a CNP. 

Job Description: Cardiac Nurse Practitioners are involved in the field of cardiology, treating patients who suffer from diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and circulatory system. Their duties range from performing assessments, diagnosing patients to providing treatment, and even prescribing medication. Educating their patients on matters of cardiovascular health is also an essential part of the job. 

Employers: There are plenty of options for Cardiac Nurse Practitioners in terms of employment industries. This role allows you to work in inpatient and outpatient hospitals or private practices. You can also work in nursing care or assisted living facilities, or in-home healthcare services. 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Salary: The median annual pay for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners is $134,702. This amount is more or less in line with the wages listed in a 2019 survey conducted by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), which lists Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners as the highest-paid Nurse Practitioner, with a median base salary of $125,000. 

Career Outlook: Per the BLS, the projected growth in employment for Advanced Practice Nurses is 45% throughout the decade. More specifically, yearly, from 2019 to 2029, there will be on average around 24,200 job openings for Nurse Practitioners in general. Due to the continuous rise in mental health disorders, the need for PMHNPs will only continue to rise. According to the Health Resources & Administration, by 2030, the national supply of Psychiatric NPs is expected to grow by 6690 FTEs. 

Educational requirements: Becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner requires extensive training and education. An MSN is the minimum requirement for fulfilling this highly specialized nursing role. 

Job Description: The professionals working in the psychiatric mental health field care for patients who suffer from various psychiatric disorders and illnesses. This position – albeit very well paid – is particularly challenging. Treating people with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, panic disorders, personality disorders, severe traumas, schizophrenia, and many more mental illnesses and diseases is a part of a Psychiatric Mental Health NP’s daily life. Their duties include (but are not limited to) diagnosing patients, providing psychotherapy, monitoring their health, administering, and in some states even prescribing medicine. 

Employers: As a place of employment, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners can choose from a variety of options: independent practices, psychiatric hospitals, public and private hospitals, correctional facilities, government agencies, and many more. 

Nurse Manager 

Salary: According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers, Nurse Managers included, earn a median salary of $118,800, making this administrative role one of the best paying in the nursing field. In the District of Columbia, salaries are even higher: $157,590. New York, Hawaii, and California follow closely behind, offering Nurse Manager salaries which average at $156,140, $139,650, and $138,030. 

Find out how much Nurse Managers make across the US. 

Career Outlook: In addition to the high paychecks, Nurse Managers enjoy exceptional job prospects. Employment in this area of work is projected to grow by 32% by 2029. 

Educational requirements: A career as a Nurse Manager is made possible by first pursuing and completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. An MSN Degree, while highly encouraged, is not a requirement, and many medical facilities will still employ RNs with a BSN under their belt in administrative positions.

Your goal of becoming a Nurse Manager is within reach! Enroll in Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN program and get ready for the next chapter of your professional life! 

Job Description: Nurse Managers have an extensive set of duties and responsibilities. They must supervise, direct and lead the nursing staff in a healthcare institution. Nothing is outside a Nurse Manager’s jurisdiction from creating schedules and managing budgets to resolving conflicts in the workplace. 

Employers: Most Nurse Managers earn their living by working in general medical and surgical hospitals. They can also find jobs in outpatient care centers, nursing care facilities, and home health care services. 

Nurse Practitioner 

Salary: You might have noticed by now that the more specialized the NP role is, the higher the salary. However, even General Nurse Practitioners earn very competitive wages, which round up to $114,510. 

Find out how much Nurse Practitioners earn in every state. 

Career Outlook: BLS data indicates that over the next decade, the number of job openings for NPs will exceed 24,000. That’s significantly higher compared to other APRN roles. Nurse Anesthetists expect on average 2,900 job openings, whereas Nurse Midwives’ numbers are projected to grow by 500 midwives/yearly. 

Educational requirements: Before you can become an NP, you must earn at least a Master’s Degree in Nursing. 

Job Description: As a Nurse Practitioner, you will be expected to have the technical skills to examine medical histories, perform evaluations, order and perform tests and interpret the test results. The extensive training also brings in the right to prescribe medication all over the US. In most states, you are allowed to administer some controlled medication, as well. 

Employers: From physician’s offices, general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, universities, colleges, and even individual practices – nothing is off-limits for Nurse Practitioners. 

Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner

Salary: On average, Orthopedic Nurse Practitioners earn $111,681 annually. That is almost $15,500 higher than Orthopedic Registered Nurses, who make a median annual salary of $96,259. The difference reflects the extra time spent by the Orthopedic NP working and learning to become an expert in the field. 

Career Outlook: Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, in general, enjoy excellent job prospects, and Nurse Practitioners all the more so. Demand for APRNs is expected to grow by 42% through the decade. While there is no official data regarding the number of ONPs needed in the healthcare industry, we are confident that demand for the job will only go up. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, musculoskeletal diseases or injuries are some of the most common causes of primary care visits. 

Educational requirements: Being an APRN role, Orthopedic Nurse Practitioners must first obtain an MSN in order to practice. 

Job Description: Whether it’s conducting physical exams, taking patient’s history, analyzing test results, prescribing treatments and medication, the job of an OPN revolves around advancing musculoskeletal healthcare and helping people recover. Setting broken bones, applying casts, and prescribing pain medication are likely to be part of an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner’s everyday duties. 

Employers: An Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner can work in a range of health care settings with an orthopedics department or specialty. Hospitals, operating rooms, rehabilitation or surgical centers, hospices, private practices are all within reach for Orthopedic Nurse Practitioners. 

Pain Management Nurse 

Salary: Pain Management Nurses earn about $109,000 a year. 

Career Outlook: The BLS does not offer specific data on the job outlook for Pain Management Nurses. However, data indicates that the job growth for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow 10% by 2029. At the same time, there is also a projected 7% for Registered Nurses. Considering these aspects, it’s safe to say that Pain Management Nurses will continue to have considerable career opportunities.

Educational requirements: Pursuing a career in pain management nursing starts with obtaining your Bachelor’s Degree. Once you become a licensed Registered Nurse by passing the RN-NCLEX exam, you are eligible for a job in this area. 

Are you interested in becoming a Pain Management Nurse? Enroll in our BSN program and enjoy the benefits of this high-paying career. 

Job Description: The field of pain management nursing is relatively recent – the American Nurses Association only recognized it as a nursing specialty in 2005. This does not diminish its importance. Pain Management RNs specialize in caring for patients who suffer from chronic, crippling pain. Their role is central in helping patients alleviate or manage their pain. In order to do so, Pain Management Nurses physically examine patients, their medical histories, and test results. It is part of their duties to administer pain-relieving medications and educate patients on the proper usage of pain medication. However, pain-alleviating drugs can also be very addictive. That’s why, Pain Management Nurses do their best to help patients by introducing alternative pain-diminishing solutions, such as acupuncture, massages, and more. 

Employers: Most Pain Management Registered Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, and physician’s offices. They can also be hired in rehabilitation centers and, to a lesser extent, by sports medicine organizations or even fitness centers. 

Nurse Midwife

Salary: Advanced Practice Nurses who specialize in women’s reproductive health and childbirth, more commonly known as Nurse Midwives, are among the highest-paid types of nurses. BLS reports that they earn on average $115,540. 

Discover Nurse Midwives’ salaries in all 50 states. 

Career Outlook: The expected job growth for Nurse-Midwives by 2029 is 12%, significantly higher than the 4% projected employment growth of all occupations. In more specific terms, aspiring Certified Nurse-Midwives will have at their disposal 500 more jobs each year for the next decade.

Educational requirements: A Master’s Degree in the field of nursing is a requirement for pursuing a career in midwifery. 

Job Description: Assuming that all Midwives do is deliver babies is a severe understatement of the extensive role a CNM has in the healthcare ecosystem. They perform gynecological exams, offer family planning services and prenatal care. All in all, they are instrumental in providing care to women who are about to become or are thinking about becoming mothers.  

Employers: As a Certified Nurse-Midwife, employment is available in a variety of settings. Still, most Midwives are hired by physicians’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. 

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Salary: For fulfilling the role of an expert in the field of nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialists are remunerated rather well. The ballpark figure is $106,400 annually. 

Career Outlook: Being an APRN, Clinical Nurse Specialists have attractive job prospects as the BLS projected a 45% growth in employment of Advanced Practices Nurses. 

Educational requirements: Clinical Nurse Specialist is an Advanced Practice Nursing role, just like Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwife. Those interested in this high-paying nursing specialty should pursue an MSN or Doctoral Degree. 

Job Description: As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, you have a significant and multifaceted role – you will be an expert clinician, an educator, a consultant, a researcher, and even a leader. Some responsibilities include consulting and teaching nurses, providing direct care, leading evidence-based practice projects, contributing to research, and nurse, patient, and family education. Clinical Nurse Specialists have to be certified in a specialty of choice, such as gerontology, pediatrics, family, psychiatric, women’s health, etc. Subsequently, they carry out the role of an expert in their chosen field. 

Employers: This high-paying nursing job also comes with numerous options for employment industries. They can work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, academic health centers, nursing education facilities, and private practices. Still, most are based in hospitals. 

Family Nurse Practitioner 

Salary: With a salary of around $105,898 a year, Family Nurse Practitioners are also among the highest-paid nurses. 

Career Outlook: According to a survey conducted by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in 2019, the most sought-after specialization for Nurse Practitioner was Family NP, with over 65% of NPs seeking to specialize in this field. 

Educational requirements: Family Nurse Practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who have completed a Master’s Program in Nursing.

Job Description: The scope of practice for a Family Nurse Practitioner is rather broad, as they have to care for and treat a full range of patients, from infants to the elderly. Most often, FNPs are the primary care provider for families, especially in underserved communities. Thus, their duties include performing examinations, ordering tests, diagnosing and treating patients, prescribing medications, and educating patients on preserving their health and preventing disease. For the most part, FNPs care for the families for more extended periods, nurturing long-term relationships with their patients, which is particularly rewarding. 

Employers: Hospitals, either public or private, ambulatory clinics, hospice centers, community health centers – all of these institutions offer employment opportunities to Family Nurse Practitioners. 

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 

Salary: Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who focus on pediatrics are gainfully employed specialists with higher-than-median earnings of about $105,400 a year. 

Career Outlook: Out of the 290,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) licensed in the US, only 3.7% of NPs are specialized in Pediatrics. So, the demand for qualified PNPs far exceeds the supply, making the specialization highly desirable among employers.

Educational requirements: To qualify as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, a nurse must have a Master’s degree.

Job Description: PNPs treat children from birth to the moment they transition to adult care. As a Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner, your duties include diagnosing and treating common childhood illnesses (allergies, infections, skin conditions), performing pediatric healthcare tests, prescribing medications, providing childhood immunizations. Also, you’ll be responsible for providing families advice and education on things like child nutrition, obesity, and weight management. 

Employers: A variety of practice settings are available for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. These include hospitals, private practices, pediatric offices, specialty clinics, or specialty units in medical facilities.

Informatics Nurse 

Salary:  Their essential contribution to the field of nursing helps Informatics Nurses earn higher-than-average paychecks: $102,230 a year.

Career Outlook: As we enter a new era of information and digitization, Nursing Informatics is one of the fastest-growing nursing fields. Data is at the forefront of health and healthcare reforms, so career opportunities for specialists who can use data to improve healthcare will be booming in the future.

Educational requirements: For a career in informatics, aspiring nurses must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. 

Pursue a BSN by enrolling in our RN-to-BSN program and combine your passion for nursing with your passion for information and technology!

Job Description: The goal of an Informatics Nurse is to boost healthcare workers’ efficiency, improve the quality of healthcare, and cut costs. To do that, Nurse Informaticians use data extensively; they analyze trends, pay close attention to potentially dangerous medical errors, and implement user-friendly and patient-centric innovations. They also train nursing staff on how to use various new technologies, which help them be more efficient at their job. 

Employers: There is no shortage of employers for Informatics Nurses. In this high-paying nursing position, you can work in hospitals, consulting firms, universities or corporations. Over two-thirds of Informatics Nurses work in hospitals, particularly in medical facilities that have achieved Magnet status. Some NIs can even be hired by the government or the military. 

Find out everything you need to know about a career in Nursing Informatics.

Neonatal Nurse

Salary: The salary of a Neonatal Nurse amounts to $100,945 a year. 

Career Outlook: According to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, approximately 40,000 low-birth-weight infants are born annually in the United States. In addition to that, many other babies are born with other severe conditions that require specialized attention in the first day or weeks of their lives. Hence, Neonatal Nurses’ job prospects will continue to remain high, even though medical advances have increased survival rates significantly.

Educational requirements: The most crucial academic requirement an aspiring Neonatal nurse must fulfill is obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. 

Enroll in Nightingale College’s hybrid BSN degree and pursue a career in neonatal nursing.

Job Description: Neonatal Registered Nurses primarily care for infants born prematurely or with specific conditions or diseases. A typical day on the job would require paying special attention to any changes in a baby’s behavior, preparing medications, recording observations, as well as supporting parents through the difficult times of seeing their newborn in the intensive care unit. 

Employers: Generally, Neonatal Nurses work in hospitals and clinics, most often in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 

ICU Nurse 

Salary: ICU Nurses have an average salary of $95,000. However, this figure is likely to change based on location, employer, and education level. 

Learn more about ICU Nurses’ earning potential across the US. 

Career Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses’ employment is expected to grow steadily by 7% from 2019 to 2029. As a sub-specialty of Registered Nursing, ICU Nursing can be expected to grow at a similar rate, which indicates promising career opportunities for ICU nurses.

Educational requirements: In order to work in the ICU department of medical facilities, you first must become a Registered Nurse. You can achieve that either by pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. It’s worth mentioning that employers show a strong preference for BSN nurses. Also, more advanced education will typically lead to higher salaries. 

Are you ready to become an ICU Nurse? Enroll in our BSN program today. 

Job Description: Working in the Intensive Care Unit, intensity is in the job description. ICU nurses assist and treat patients who are in extremely critical conditions. They continuously monitor the patient’s state, assess their medical state (which could drastically change or worsen from one moment to the other). Also, they carefully document their observations, medication intake, symptoms so that medical professionals have easy access to the whole picture of a critical patient’s state. 

Employers: Since their job is directly linked to the emergency department, most ICU nurses work in hospitals. They can also be employed in nursing care facilities or outpatient care centers. 

Nurse Educator 

Salary: The median annual wage for Nursing Professors is $84,060. For more detailed information about Nurse Educator salaries, read our article on the average income for this profession in every state.

Career Outlook: One reason why this profession is not only appealing but also one of the highest-paid is because of the high demand for nursing educators. Many universities across the country have admitted to having rejected students due to a lack of nursing faculty. By 2025, the shortage of Nurse Educators will increase even further due to the retirement of almost one-third of the current nursing faculty. Therefore, the job prospects for Nursing Educators are excellent. 

Educational requirements: Be prepared to spend extra time studying and training if you are considering a career in nursing education. The minimum requirement for a Nurse Educator is an MSN degree. 

Are you ready to teach the next generation of nurses? Enroll in our MSNEd program and take your skills from the bedside to the classroom. 

Job Description: Essentially, what you do as a Nurse Educator is pretty straightforward: educate the future generation of nurses. You can choose whether you want to teach more general nursing classes or specialize in a particular area of nursing. On a more day-to-day basis, you will be responsible for developing curricula, advising, evaluating, and teaching students through lectures or lab and clinical work. 

Employers: Of course, the main employment opportunities for Nurse Educators include universities, colleges, community colleges, and technical and vocational schools. Suppose you wouldn’t trade the healthcare environment for a classroom. In that case, you can also find a job in teaching hospitals, laboratories, or clinical settings. 

Ready to Take Advantage of the Highest Salary Opportunities in the Nursing Industry?

As you have seen by now, the nursing field can be enriching, both in terms of experience and income potential. If you were ever wondering if it’s worth it to invest your time, money, and energy in advancing your education, the short answer is yes. The competitive wages, the benefits, and the subsequent sense of personal and professional accomplishment will make the return on investment rather high. 

What better time than the present to go after that Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree and climb higher on the ladder of professional success? And because in our world everything is interconnected, your professional success is the success of the entire healthcare industry. The whole country wins when you win.

Are you ready to reap the rewards of a high-paying nursing career? Begin by enrolling in our RN-to-BSN degree!

*In lieu of official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, data regarding average salaries was gathered using ZipRecruiter, in September 2021. Bear in mind that wages will vary significantly based on location, employer, education level, years of experience, and other factors. 

ICU Nurses are Registered Nurses responsible for assisting and treating patients who are in extremely critical conditions – patients who suffer from dangerous and potentially life-threatening symptoms or complications. It is a demanding career track, yet as challenging as it is, it is equal parts rewarding. Unquestionably, the job demands long hours, stressful work conditions, and the intensive care unit is bound to take its toll on a nurse’s physical and emotional wellbeing. But for ICU Nurses, saving lives is part of their daily routine. 

Given the complex environment of critical care nursing, it is imperative that ICU Nurses be highly trained, and pursuing a BSN Degree is the best way to obtain this training. Of course, when weighing the benefits of advancing your education, one factor that may tip the scales is your earning potential. Generally, you can expect that getting your BSN degree will give your paycheck a significant bump. 

And that is exactly the case for ICU nurses. Earning a Bachelor’s degree and subsequently pursuing a job on the Intensive Care floor will reward you both professionally and financially. 

Keep on reading to find out more about what it takes to become an ICU RN; what exactly this job implies, and more importantly, how much you can expect to earn by embracing this career. 

ICU Nursing: How to Get There & What to Expect

In order to become an Intensive Care Unit Nurse, you must first become a Registered Nurse. There are two ways of accomplishing this: either by getting your Associate’s Degree in Nursing or by pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree. Passing the NCLEX exam is the next step. Furthermore, you are likely to need at least two years of work experience before you can actually start working on the ICU floor. 

Nowadays, most employers give strong preference to BSN-educated nurses. Typically, RNs with a Bachelor’s degree are linked with better patient outcomes (which is a big concern, especially when it comes to critical patients). Choosing BSN versus ADN trained nurses falls in line with recommendations coming from the Institute of Medicine, which has been strongly advocating for an 80% BSN educated nursing workforce by 2020.

Discover more reasons why getting your BSN is a wise choice even if you’re already working as a Registered Nurse. 

While the goal of ensuring that 80% of the RNs working across the country have a BSN under their belt hasn’t yet been achieved, it’s clear that getting your Bachelor’s might soon become an actual requirement for RN practice. Especially if you are considering a career in ICU nursing, advancing your education to get a Bachelor’s Degree is an inspired decision. 

Enroll in the RN-to-BSN program offered by Nightingale College and advance your nursing skills. Become an ICU Nurse in as few as 12 months!

By definition, Critical Care Nurses work in the intensive care unit in a healthcare facility. They help treat patients who find themselves in extremely dangerous situations, from accidents to life-threatening diseases. The patients they look after are often intubated, ventilated, or their life might depend on certain medications being administered like clockwork. 

Therefore, ICU Nurses must have a specialized technical skill set, must be knowledgeable, empathetic, but also, extremely attentive to detail, fast thinkers, and great communicators. It’s a very extensive skill set that makes a good Critical Care RN. Other duties include

• Monitoring patients
• Assessing their medical situation (which can worsen at any given moment) and making fast and effective decisions 
• Attentively and accurately documenting patient care, medication intake, symptoms, etc.
• Providing comfort and preventing suffering (to the best of one’s ability). 

Thus, an ICU Nurse’s job description is as far-reaching as it is sensitive. For sure, it’s not an easy job, but at least it’s a well-paid one. 

How Much Do ICU Nurses Actually Earn?

Let’s take a closer look at how much you can expect to earn as an Intensive Care Nurse. Data regarding annual and hourly wages was gathered using the job platform ZipRecruiter. Since ZipRecruiter is a recruitment platform, the data is not only up to date but also in accordance with market reality. 

Per ZipRecruiter data, the average salary of an ICU Nurse is $91,986. That is considerably above the mean salary for Registered Nurses. In 2020, the Bureau of Labour Statistics indicated that RNs earn a mean yearly salary of $80,010. However, due to the more specialized skill set and the slightly more complex duties Critical Care Nurses must fulfill, the higher salary they receive is righteously earned. 

Want to know more about Registered Nurse Salaries across the US? Read our complete guide on RN Salary and find all the answers.

The highest paying states for ICU Nurses are New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, and Maine. In New York, RNs working in intensive care can expect to earn up to $114,270. New Hampshire offers wages around $110,770, while in Vermont, an ICU Nurse’s earning potential can be as high as $104,700. 

On the other side, among the states which pay the least are Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. In North Carolina, Critical Care Nurses take home an average salary of $74,700. The wages for this specialty in Missouri round up to $80,220, while ICU Nurses working in Texas earn around $81,050 annually. 

If you are interested in checking your earning potential but the state in which you live is neither in the top nor the bottom on the average salary scale, do not worry. We’ve got you covered. Below you will find a list of all 50 states listed in alphabetical order and their respective annual and hourly wages for ICU Registered Nurses. 

ICU Nurse Salaries in Every State*

*Data was gathered from ZipRecruiter in October 2021. 

Embrace a career as an ICU Nurse! Read more about our RN-to-BSN program.

Critical Care Nurses’ Job Outlook

While there isn’t any official data available with regards to the job outlook for ICU Nurses specifically, it’s safe to assume that it falls at least in the same ballpark as for Registered Nurses. Therefore, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Registered Nurses is expected to grow steadily by 7% from 2020 to 2030. ICU Nursing, as a specialty of Registered Nursing, can be expected to grow at a similar rate.

To sum it up, it’s crystal clear that Registered Nurses with a BSN degree will be in high demand in the next decade. If you are considering a career switch towards ICU nursing, now is a great time to pursue your dream. 

Great career opportunities, a competitive salary, and the unshakeable and invaluable feeling that you are making a difference in someone’s life when they most critically need the care – all that comes along with a career as an Intensive Care Nurse. 

Enroll in Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN degree and start your path towards becoming an ICU Registered Nurse today. The future awaits. 

A Certified Nurse-Midwife is an advanced practice nurse whose main area of expertise revolves around women’s reproductive health and childbirth. It’s a career track that’s perfect for RNs who are equally as passionate about helping women become mothers as they are about newborns. It’s also an excellent opportunity for Registered Nurses who wish to advance their career and, in order to do so, are ready to embark on the BSN journey and not stop there. 

There’s no doubt that midwifery is a very complex, albeit rewarding, nursing field. And for nurses who choose to specialize in this area, the rewards are manifold. First of all, they get the professional satisfaction of helping bring the miracle of life to the world. Equally important is the financial aspect: Nurse-Midwives are among some of the highest-paid nurses in the U.S. 

But how much do Nurse-Midwives actually earn? In what parts of the US does an aspiring CNM have the highest earning potential? How promising is the job outlook for this particular APRN specialization? All in all, is it worth investing your time, energy, and money in getting a BSN degree, followed by an MSN in pursuit of a career in midwifery? 

Keep reading to find out. 

Job Outlook for Nurse-Midwives: Why Should You Consider This Career Path?

Nurse-Midwives play a central role in the healthcare industry. Their job goes far beyond just delivering babies. CNMs also provide care to women by performing gynecological exams, offering family planning services, and prenatal care. They also provide basic nutrition counseling, wellness care and they educate their patients on how to lead healthy lives. Nurse-midwives also have prescriptive authority in all 50 states. 

With such a far-reaching job description, it’s clear that becoming a Nurse-Midwife is no walk in the park. In order to become a CNM, nurses have to start by obtaining their Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, followed by a Master’s Degree in the field. MSN-educated nurses typically have higher salaries, less stressful work environments, more autonomy, and consequently increased control over their schedules as well as a wider pool of job opportunities. 

Get one step closer to your dream of becoming a Nurse-Midwife. Enroll in Nightingale College’s BSN program and advance your nursing skills to the point where a career in midwifery is right within your reach! 

An additional and equally compelling reason to pursue a career in midwifery is the increasing demand for Nurse-Midwives. Official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 45% increase in job prospects for APRNs (Nurse-Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Anesthetists) over the course of this decade. Let’s only take Nurse-Midwives into account. The expected job growth by 2029 is around 12%, which is still significantly higher than other occupations, which expect a projected rise in employment by 4%.

More than 800 job openings are projected for CNMs every year over the decade. So, if you are considering a career in midwifery, now is a great time to pursue an advanced degree that will get you one step closer to your dream career.  

The job outlook for Nurse-Midwives is great, it’s a recession-proof career that also allows you to cash in a fairly high yearly salary. In the next section, let’s take a look at how high a Nurse-Midwife’s earning potential actually is. 

How Much Do Nurse-Midwives Earn?

Whether you’re planning a career switch to midwifery or becoming a CNM has been your goal all along, the possibility of increasing your income makes this job very attractive. 

At Nightingale College, we are firm believers in elevating healthcare through advancing your education. We aim to boost your nursing skills and be the springboard for your dream career, and that extends to midwifery. If you are already a working professional, enroll in our RN-to-BSN program to get your Bachelor’s Degree. If you are just commencing your nursing odyssey, our hybrid BSN program is the best first step.

Given their advanced degree, Nurse-Midwives receive a reasonably high salary. Naturally, their wages are tied to more factors than just the education level. Type of employer, years of experience, the state where they practice – each of these aspects are taken into account when it comes to midwives’ salaries. 

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Nurse-Midwives in 2020 was $115,540. 

Working as a CNM, you have the highest earning potential in California. In the Sunshine State – which is also the state with the highest employment level for this occupation – Nurse-Midwives can expect to make around $159,590 yearly. Second on the list of top paying states for CNMs is Utah, with an annual salary of $133,680, and not too far behind is Mississippi, where Nurse-Midwives can earn up to $127,960 a year. 

On the lower-paying side of the spectrum, there is Georgia, with a mean wage of $92,840. In Idaho, Nurse-Midwives take home around $72,150, and finally, according to BLS available data, Florida CNMs have the lowest wages – $67,530. 

Before embarking on any career path, having a clear idea regarding your earning possibilities would be a deciding factor. That’s why we put together a list of all the states for which official BSL data was available and in it, you will find how much Nurse-Midwives can expect to earn in each of them:

Nurse-Midwife Average Salaries in most states*

*Data gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Take the first step toward a career as a Nurse-Midwife by getting your BSN Degree! Enroll in our online RN-to-BSN program today!

Average Salary of Certified Nurse-Midwives Based on Where They Work

As a Certified Nurse-Midwife, you can find employment in various settings. Still, you have the highest chance of being employed by physicians’ offices, followed by general medical and surgical hospitals and outpatient care centers. 

Per the BLS, the industries which pay Nurse-Midwives best are as follows:

• Local Government: here CNMs can earn up to $158,210. This particular industry’s employment levels are very low, with only around 80 Nurse-Midwives working in this position.
• Outpatient care centers: typically pay slightly above average. Working here, Nurse-Midwives can expect to earn in the vicinity of $142,010 a year. 
• General medical and surgical hospitals: pay fairly high salaries: $111,420 a year.
• Offices of physicians: employ a little over 3,000 Nurse-Midwives and offer salaries to midwives that typically range around $116,440.
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools: Although just around 100 CNM are employed in academic settings, usually, these institutions offer relatively high salaries: $107,130.

If you have a passion for teaching, you can also consider nursing education as a career track. Find out more about becoming a Nurse Educator. 

How Do Nurse-Midwives’ Salaries Compare to Other Nurses’?

As the population ages and the number of baby boomers with chronic and acute illnesses grows steadily, the demand for nurses is becoming more urgent than ever. The need for nurses on a national level is only accentuated by the high number of nurses who have reached (or are soon to reach) retirement age. So, nurses of all specialties are now in demand more than ever, which translates to quite high salaries for RNs. 

Naturally, the more you advance your education level, the more your earning potential increases. Nurses with an MSN under their belt have significantly higher salaries compared to nurses with a BSN. At the same time, BSN-trained nurses automatically have salaries that generally surpass those of ADN-educated nurses. 

If you are thinking about whether or not it’s worth advancing your education, one thing that may tip the scales one way or the other is knowing how big your paycheck is going to be depending on the route you take in your professional life. Surely, midwifery is an excellent choice in terms of pay. But how does it compare to other nursing jobs? 

Below you will find a side by side comparison of salaries associated with different nursing specialties: 

Registered Nurses- $80,010 per year. 

Required education level: ADN or BSN – BSN highly preferred. 

Find out how much Registered Nurses earn in every state.

Nurse Anesthetists – $189,190 per year. 

Required education level: MSN

Find out what are the average salaries for Nurse Anesthetists across the country.

Nurse Practitioners –  $114,510 per year

Required education level: MSN

Discover how much can Nurse Practitioners earn in all 50 states.

Nurse Educator – $84,060 per year

Required education level: MSN

A passion for nursing and a passion for teaching? Why choose one when you can do both? Nurse Educators get the best of both worlds. Read our guide with Nurse Educator salaries and find out how much they earn in the US. 

All in all, advancing your education is a sure way to also advance your paycheck. If you’re interested in a career in midwifery, the very first step is getting your BSN degree. Not only will you climb higher on the professional ladder, but you will also greatly impact the future of healthcare. 

Enroll in our online RN-to-BSN program. Take that step today. 

Nursing is undeniably a tremendously fulfilling career. You play a direct role in helping people and saving lives – it doesn’t get more meaningful than that. It is also a field that’s brimming with options and possibilities – from informatics to working with children, you can choose the career track that best suits your interests and passions. 

A great way to ensure you take advantage of all the benefits of a nursing career is to advance your studies and get a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. That will give you access to a wider pool of career opportunities. Just as importantly, earning your BSN is also the path to earning a higher pay. Of course, salary is largely dependent on your level of education, years of experience, the area where you live, and other factors. But if thoughts like “How much do BSN Nurses make?” and “Will getting a Bachelor’s degree really impact my earnings?” have crossed your mind, it’s worth exploring the financial gains that come hand in hand with that RN BSN title. 

Read on to discover how much money you can expect to make as a BSN nurse. We have compiled data to answer any questions you might have – from starting salaries for BSN nurses to the average salaries in every state. But why stop there? Find out what are the highest paying nursing jobs for RNs who hold a Bachelor’s Degree and what other benefits you can enjoy as a BSN nurse. 

What Is the Starting Salary of a BSN Nurse?

When deciding whether or not to pursue a BSN education, the decisive factor may be your earning potential – and we’re not talking about how much you can earn after ten or twenty years of experience (although that’s just as important). From a pragmatic perspective, you undoubtedly want to know what paycheck you can expect to cash in even in the first years of your career as a BSN-trained Registered Nurse. 

According to data from ZipRecruiter, one of the most popular online job boards currently on the market, as of October 2021, the starting salary for Entry Level BSN nurses is $47,127. That comes to approximately $22.66 an hour. At the same time, the majority of entry-level RNs earn between $33,500 and $51,000. California is the state in which BSN Nurses can expect the highest entry-level of pay, with employers in the city of Santa Clara making around $57,017 yearly. 

To put this in perspective, the average base salary for all entry level positions in the United States is $40,153. Therefore, starting a job as a BSN RN would generally put your paycheck almost $7,000 above the national average. Keep in mind that entry level salaries vary greatly based on several factors, such as location, employer, as well as previous experience. If you already have previous experience working as a Registered Nurse, it’s likely you’ll be compensated better than a Registered Nurse fresh out of school. 

Are you already a Registered Nurse? Give your paycheck a boost by enrolling in Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN program!

What is the average salary for BSN Nurses? 

Looking at entry level salaries is important because it offers a baseline for your future earning potential. It’s easier to determine what you can expect to earn in the longer run when you have a general idea of how much you will make when you first enter the BSN role. But you don’t have to resort to assumptions about BSN salaries, in general. In this section you will find all the information you need about the average salary for BSN nurses. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a Registered Nurse is $80,010. However, it’s no secret that nurses who have pursued a more advanced degree, such as a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, have a higher earning potential. Since the BLS does not provide official data regarding the differences between RN and BSN salaries, we used ZipRecruiter data to compile a list of the median salaries for BSN nurses in every single state. Thus, the average salary for BSN Nurses across the US is $79,623, very close to the national average reported by the BLS. 

Below, you will find a list of all 50 states and their respective annual and hourly salaries for BSN RNs so that you get a clearer picture of how much you can potentially earn based on your location. 

Take your career and your paycheck one step further. Enroll in our hybrid BSN program today and improve your education and your chances for a higher salary!

What Are the States Where BSN Nurses Have the Highest Wages?

Naturally, location plays an essential role in the value of monetary rewards you can expect for your services. If you go ahead and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, you will have the chance of earning the highest wages in Washington, New York, New Hampshire, California, and Vermont. In the Evergreen state, the salary of a BSN RN rounds up to $93,770. New York is also high on the list of highest paying states for BSN-trained nurses. Here, you can expect to take home up to $87,500. New Hampshire offers wages of around $84,750, making it another great state for RNs with a BSN under their belt. However, you must keep in mind that while these states do offer the highest mean salaries, they also come with a high cost of living.  

North Carolina, Missouri, and Illinois position themselves on the other side of the spectrum. With average salaries of $58,250, $63,562, and $63,634 respectively, these three states offer the lowest wages for BSN graduates. 

Find out more about how much nurses earn in each state. 

What are Some of the Best Paid BSN Jobs?

A 2020 study by Medscape highlights the difference in pay between nurses who hold a Bachelor’s degree and those who do not. Therefore, the study shows that the median income of a BSN nurse is around $80,000 a year, while RNs with an Associate’s Degree earn on average $76,000 annually. Let’s dive into some of the best nursing jobs available for BSN holders and see how well-compensated they are. 

1. Informatics Nurse –  $102,230

If technology interests you but you don’t want to sacrifice your love for nursing, you should pick a career that combines both your passions. As a nurse informaticist, you are the bridge between the hospital staff and the IT staff, as your responsibilities include analyzing data to improve patient care, evaluating and supporting healthcare technology, both software and hardware. All in all, the use of technology is critical for any health institution, so informatics nurses are generously remunerated – they make over $102,000 annually. 

Find out everything you need to know about a career in Nursing Informatics – from how you can become an NI to how much you can expect to earn.

2. ICU Nurse – $91,986

ICU nurses, or intensive care unit nurses, care for patients who are usually in critical conditions and demand incredibly structured and regulated settings. Their patients might be intubated, ventilated, or could require potentially saving medication drips that need to be administered with clockwork regularity. ICU nurses also work more structured shifts and enjoy a more disciplined work life. Their salary on average can be around $92,000.

Discover the earning potential ICU RNs have in every state. 

3. Travel Nurse – $99,202

Travel nursing is nursing with a twist: you can provide medical assistance all over the country (or even abroad). As a travel RN, you can generally choose the location and the specialty you would like to pursue during your assignment. Partly because of the added unpredictability of the job, travel nurses typically earn more than regular RNs, over $99,000 per year.

Wondering how much money Travel Nurses earn all across the country? Find out in our guide to Travel RNs salaries. 

4. Operating Room Nurse (Perioperative Nurse) – $91,629

OR nurses work with patients right before they undergo surgery. They can also manage communication with the patients’ families. As a part of the surgery team, perioperative nurses assist the surgeon and make sure the procedure is happening in a secure, sterile, ready-to-go environment. Nurses who enjoy direct patient care can pursue this specialization and earn more than $91,000 per year. 

5. Oncology Nurse – $87,340

Caring for people diagnosed with cancer is definitely a sensitive area of practice. Oncology nurses help patients deal with the cruelness of the disease, their main goal being to help cancer patients become cancer survivors. The annual salary of a BSN-trained oncology nurse is over $87,000. 

6. Emergency Room Nurse – $78,868

ER nurses are in charge of treating patients who come to the emergency departments of a hospital. One of the main characteristics of this job is its unpredictability: rushing through the doors of the ER will be people with various symptoms, from having had a heart attack, to being shot or having been in a terrible accident. Emergency room nurses have mean wages that can be in the ballpark of $85,000.

Find out what your earning potential is working as an ER Nurse in all 50 states. 

7. Legal Nurse Consultant – $85,351

The main responsibility of a legal nurse consultant is to provide invaluable consultation and expertise to attorneys regarding medical matters, such as the delivery of nursing and other healthcare services or the nature and cause of certain injuries. Legal nurse consultants need a strong educational and experiential foundation, but the fact that their mean wage is around $85,000 makes the effort worthwhile.

8. Pharmaceutical Nurse – $84,348

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing opens a lot of doors for jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. You could pursue a career as a sales representative, or you could become a technical writer, writing articles in publications focused on the pharma industry. You can even pursue a career as a trainer/educator, offering guidance for pharmaceutical industries on how to use new drugs, therapies, or machines. The pharmaceutical industry is a lucrative field, making for one of the highest-paid specializations for nurses – on average RNs who work in this industry make around $84,000 a year. 

9. Cardiac Care Unit Nurse – $83,438

Cardiac care unit nurses work closely with cardiologists providing care to patients suffering from various heart maladies. They are directly involved in diagnosing, treating, and controlling conditions that affect the complex cardiac system. In addition, they can also be involved in a patient’s process of cardiac rehabilitation by guiding them toward the lifestyle change that would prevent the aggravation of the disease. Cardiac care unit nurses take home a salary of around $83,000 yearly.

10. Hospice Nurse – $81,417

As a hospice nurse, you will be taking care of patients at the end of their lives. This specialization isn’t focused as much on curing or fixing a patient, but rather helping ensure their quality of life during their remaining days. In addition to helping the patient live with the least amount of pain possible, hospice nurses provide the emotional support that is tremendously needed both by the patient and their family. Typically, they work at the patient’s home or in a hospice center, and on average they earn close to $81,000 a year. 

11. Critical Care Nurse – $74,600

As a critical care nurse, you will treat patients suffering from extremely serious, even life-threatening illnesses. The job can get rather stressful, so critical care nurses must always be alert even after long hours of intensive work. According to the AACN, critical care nurses make up for about 37% of the RNs who work in hospitals. This is one of the highest-paid nursing jobs, with CCNs making around $74,600 yearly. 

Find out more about the experience of a Nightingale College graduate who works as a Critical Care Nurse and is currently on the frontlines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

12. Dialysis Nurse – $73,769

Dialysis nurses’ main focus is treating patients suffering from kidney failure and helping return their kidneys to a functioning state. Although dialysis nurses’ salaries vary based on several different factors, such as institution size or experience level, on average they earn around $73,000. 

13. Surgical Nurse – $74,004

Surgical nurses are the health professionals that assist surgeons both during routine and more complex surgical procedures. As a surgical nurse, your responsibilities range from prepping the patient for surgery, monitoring the patient’s vitals and handing instruments to the surgeon during the surgery and making sure post-surgical care is up to the highest standards. In this position, you will earn over $74,000 a year. 

14. Nurse Case Manager – $72,076

Case management nurses are in charge of long-term care plans for their patients, so, generally, they work with patients who require ongoing medical attention, such as geriatrics, HIV, or cancer patients. Nurse case managers earn over $72,000 a year. 

15. Pediatric Nurse – $59,084

The job description of a pediatric nurse ranges from working with toddlers to treating teenagers. As a pediatric nurse, you also have to educate the parents on how to provide the best care for their children and how to make sure they grow healthy and unharmed. Pediatrics is a very gratifying career to pursue as a nurse, especially if you love children. The median salary for pediatric nurses is about $59,000 per year.

*Data regarding the average salaries for each nursing specialization was gathered using ZipRecruiter. 

Do you already work as an RN and want to advance your career? Enroll in our online RN-to-BSN program and reap the rewards of a higher paycheck in as few as 12 months!

Why Should You Pursue a BSN?

Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing goes beyond higher pay. As numerous studies show, BSN-trained nurses are linked to better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and lower mortality rates. 

Also, earning your BSN might become a requirement. In 2010 the Institute of Medicine called for an increase in the percentage of the BSN educated nursing workforce to 80% by 2020. More and more hospitals are falling in line with this recommendation. According to a 2020 AACN survey, 41.1% of hospitals and other healthcare settings are requiring new hires to have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, while 82.4% of employers are expressing a strong preference for BSN program graduates.

Therefore, earning a BSN degree is an important stepping stone to a more fulfilling career that offers higher pay, better benefits, more flexibility, and more opportunities. But advancing your education is a serious commitment that requires time, money, and energy, so, in the end, it’s up to you to decide if this is the right next step for you and your career.  

Find out more about how long it takes to get your BSN degree based on your current education level and how getting your BSN degree will help you advance your nursing career. 

Enroll in a BSN program today and increase your chances of securing a high paying nursing job. 

Many times people use the terms Nurse Manager and Nurse Leader interchangeably. While they do share some things in common, the management and leadership paths in nursing are otherwise distinct. 

This guide will closely examine each of these roles, paying particular attention to the differences between job description, duties and responsibilities, education, and salary. We also touch upon the essential skills and qualities that set these highly trained professionals apart from other Registered Nurses. 

Let’s throw some light upon the differences and similarities between nursing leadership and management. 

What Are the Differences Between Nurse Manager and Nurse Leader?

While both positions require similar skills and aim to advance and improve nursing practice, they are not synonymous. One implies a more hands-on approach, while the other operates “behind the scenes.” Nurse Managers (NMs) and Nursing Leaders (NLs) deal with directing nursing staff, maximizing efficiency among the nurse workforce, mentoring RNs, and leading their teams in providing quality patient care. However, the scope of their practice, the sphere of influence, and focus differ. 

What is a Nurse Leader?

Holding a higher-level nursing role, a Nurse Leader’s main aim is improving nursing practice and outcomes. Their approach is less hands-on and more focused on the bigger picture: implementing the vision, fulfilling the mission, and developing long-term plans for the organization in which they work. 

Nurse Leaders’ help and expertise are invaluable in creating annual strategies for achieving financial and operational goals. They oversee the upholding of ethical, professional, and medical standards within their institution. Also, they spearhead projects and initiatives which revolve around two essential goals: increasing the quality and reducing the costs of patient care.  

RNs working in nursing leadership can hold positions such as Head Nurse, Patient Care Director, or Chief Nursing Officer. They will generally delegate tasks to Nurse Managers. At the same time, they keep a birds-eye view over the improvement of patient health outcomes. 

Nurse Leaders focus on empowering others and motivating, inspiring, and influencing the nursing staff to meet the standards of the organization. 

What is a Nurse Manager?

As with all other professions, a management position in nursing implies overseeing, directing, and organizing employees and making sure that the department they supervise functions like a well-oiled machine. 

Certain processes within a healthcare organization fall under the jurisdiction of Nurse Managers. Planning, organizing, staffing, and guiding the nursing staff is the direct responsibility of the NM. They are in charge of the daily operations of the department and coordinating the patient’s continuum of care. 

Nurse Managers are also the person the staff goes to when they have issues with fulfilling their duties, when they encounter problems with coworkers, or when they need advice and guidance on accurately diagnosing or offering care to patients. They may not be as hands-on as bedside RNs. However, they are still involved in patient care planning, overlooking the collaboration and communication between nurses and other members of the healthcare team.

Also, a position in nursing management necessitates a thorough understanding of the business side of healthcare. Nurse Managers will often deal with budgets in addition to their other responsibilities. 

Nursing Management vs. Leadership: Duties and Responsibilities

Because of the different roles they hold within the organization, Nurse Leaders and Nurse Managers fulfill a different set of tasks. Here is an overview of the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of each of these highly skilled professionals: 

What Does a Nurse Leader Do?

A Nurse Leader’s job description concentrates on setting policy, influencing nursing teams, and kick-starting transformation and change in nursing practice. They must always be well informed about the latest developments in healthcare research. Some of the responsibilities of a Nurse Leader include:

• Introducing initiatives and projects meant to shorten the average length of patient hospital stays
• Developing strategies for reducing patient readmission rates
• Committing to reducing healthcare costs 
• Overseeing the implementation of quality and safety measures in their institution
• Developing treatment plans
• Ensuring the employees’ compliance with rules, regulations, and ethical standards
• Managing fiscal responsibilities
• Working to reduce the turnover rates of RNs
• Advocating for patients, nurses, and the profession in general

What Does a Nurse Manager Do?

A Nurse Manager’s role centers around increasing the efficiency of the nursing staff by directly overseeing their activities. While the list of responsibilities is vast, here are some of the most common duties that come with the Nurse Manager title:

• Identifying staffing requirements and ensuring that the institution is adequately staffed
• Evaluating the performance of Registered Nurses and offering constructive feedback
• Hiring and firing nurses
• Creating schedules and distributing assignments to nursing staff
• Offering career mentoring advice
• Managing the budget of the department they supervise
• Ensuring that their department is supplied with the appropriate equipment and supplies
• Encouraging the professional development of staff by planning and implementing educational opportunities
• Evaluating the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice within the institution
• Serving as the liaison between the nursing staff and the top management, thus making sure Registered Nurses are involved in the decision making and the implementation of initiatives that affect them directly

What are the Qualities They Should Possess?

Nursing leadership and management are different in some regards, but at the heart of both these roles is a similar skill set. Certain qualities are indispensable to both Nurse Managers and Nurse Leaders. Let’s glance over some of the qualities that make a great Nurse Leader or Manager:

• Leadership skills. This comes as no surprise, but leadership skills are essential for both roles. Effective leaders know how to motivate their teams. They are pros at handling and delegating responsibilities and are great problem solvers. They always manage to find creative solutions to problems, which is a requirement for NMs and NLs. Also, good command of leadership skills helps motivate staff, keep morale high, and contribute to job satisfaction.
• Interpersonal skills. Jobs that require teamwork and dealing with people on a daily basis would be hard to fulfill without a firm grip on interpersonal skills. Nurse Managers and Nurse Leaders need to communicate with both groups and individuals in their professional lives, so they must build good relationships and work efficiently with others. 
• Analytical skills. This is another high-priority competency for those who wish to pursue nursing management and leadership positions. Analytical skills allow you to find solutions to any problem thrown your way and help you make informed decisions about the best course of action. Understanding problems and scrutinizing the situation for viable solutions is a crucial skill for Nurse Managers and Leaders. In order to sharpen these skills, they must understand and follow current regulations in nursing and adapt to new laws.
• Communication skills. By their very nature, nurse management and leadership roles require fantastic communication skills. These professionals must be able to communicate policies and procedures effectively. They must ensure that the staff and people they oversee follow and comply with the new policies and regulations. Knowing how to communicate them properly plays a crucial role in their adoption.
• Technical skills. Nurse Leaders and Nurse Managers must always be on top of the game. Hence, they must follow the newest advancements in healthcare technology and data analytics. For instance, suppose a Nurse Manager doesn’t know how to operate the Electronic Health Record Systems. How will they train and prepare the nursing staff to use them when the facility adopts these technologies? Proficiency in the technical side of nursing plays a significant role in the success of NMs and NLs. 

What Is the Educational Route They Must Pursue?

In order to start their practice, Nurse Managers and Nurse Leaders must fulfill specific education requirements. These requirements might differ from one employer to another. Still, typically, they need at least a Bachelor’s Degree to enter the profession. However, obtaining your Master’s Degree in Nursing is far more common among pursuant of these advanced roles. Moreover, when looking to fill NM and NL positions, employers in the healthcare field strongly prefer MSN-trained Registered Nurses. 

Graduate programs take between two and three years to complete. They include coursework and practical experience directly related to leadership and management. Thus, graduates of MSN programs are better prepared to take on the responsibilities associated with being a manager or leader in the healthcare industry. 

Many aspiring Nurse Leaders and Managers also contemplate advancing their nursing degree even further by pursuing a doctorate. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs elevate learners’ skills and knowledge, allowing them to pursue and excel in more senior positions. 

Nursing Management vs. Leadership: Salary Expectations

Nursing management and leadership positions come with higher than average wages. A Registered Nurse earns on average $80,010 yearly. Meanwhile, according to the BLS, a Nurse Manager’s mean annual salary is around $118,800. The bump in pay reflects the higher level of education and the increased responsibility level that comes with the position. 

As far as Nurse Leaders are concerned, according to the 2019 Salary and Compensation Study for Nurse Leaders elaborated by the American Society of Nursing Leadership, they earn more than $150,000 annually.

Final Thoughts

Both leadership and management roles are essential to the good functioning of the healthcare system. While these positions may not be synonymous, they definitely are complementary. It’s best when effective Nurse Leaders also excel at management and when Nurse Managers are effective leaders. The nursing workforce is like a living organism, and good collaboration, successful communication, and effective leadership are its backbone. 

Nurse Leaders and Managers must be passionate, respected, and committed individuals. They need to work ceaselessly to improve the quality of care for the patients and job satisfaction for the employees. 

These are not easy roles to fill, but one is bound to succeed with the proper education, training, and skillset. 

If you see yourself in a career in management or leadership, start paving the road for yourself today. Enroll in Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN program and get one step closer to your dream job!