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There are many people who earn a very nice living on a Registered Nurse Salary. Nurses can be paid well, and deserve every penny of what they earn. Day in and day out, we entrust them with our health and well being. Being an RN is way more than most people know, it's about providing exactly what the patients need, at the right time, in the most professional manner possible.

State requirements are stringent to both become and stay a nurse. As with most professionals, educational requirements are important for those looking to enter the nursing field. There are characteristics that should be inherent in anyone looking to care for others. They should be able to understand others problems, listen to them in their time of need and have compassion for those under their care.

Within the whole health care sector, nursing is the largest growing profession. On last count, we had almost three million active and licensed nurses in the system. Nationwide, the need continues to increase, and we need more men and women to enter the field. We have plenty of seniors, and even more people on the verge of retirement that will need care in the near term. It goes without saying that nurses will be among the most needed to provide the necessary care. It is very obvious that our entire healthcare field continues to grow, and will do so for years to come. We need as many qualified candidates as possible.

As the baby boomers retire, and the seniors continue to age, the need for quality nurses is expected to increase by at least 20% for the next ten years. Therefore, by 2018 this country will need in excess of half a million additional nurses on staff. This can be good news, even in an economy that is faltering, including some of the highest unemployment we've seen in a long while. Men and women who chose to enter this field and put in the necessary effort to get properly trained and certified will do very well.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has said that the lowest paid ten percent of nurses made about 43,000 a year while the top ten percent of the highest paid nurses earned more that 93,000. The largest amount of registered nurses work in the general medical field and surgical hospitals. Nurses working in hospitals can expect to earn an average of about 67,000 per year.

The second biggest group of nurses are the ones that support private physicians practices. Working in private practice can have its reward, and as far as salary is concerned, the earning power is about the same as hospital nurses at about 67,000. RN's that provide care in the home health care end of the business will earn 63,000 per year on average. Unfortunately, those working in nursing homes come in on the lower end at about 59,000 per year. Outpatient service can be a fast paced environment and those nurses who chose to work there, will make approximately 65,000 per year.

These income levels are very good and most people can live quite nicely. At the same time, there are other areas in health care that offer even a greater income. Equipment and supplies can be quite interesting and has great earning power at an average annual salary of over 77,000. Finally, maybe not surprising, a nurse in Government at the Federal level in the executive branch can earn about 78,000 per year.

Even though new nurses are being hired every day, the need will continue to grow into the future. Many areas around the U.S. still need many more qualified and quality nurses. If you are ready to embark on the nursing career, there may not be a better time to start. Those who have a heart for others and a dedication to quality and details will benefit from this nursing boom.

Although the duties are somewhat alike, an RN salary is typically higher than that of other nursing positions. An LPN needs a lesser degree of education and certification.