Spotlight on Nursing Careers

With a worldwide shortage of nurses set to reach peak proportions in the next three to five years, the demand has never been greater for qualified nurses.

If serving the greater good is important to you — and job security is pretty significant as well — then nursing is a great career choice. Here’s a look at four of the highest in-demand nursing positions.

1. Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse anesthetists are some of the highest paid in the nursing area, thanks to their advanced degrees, and high level of autonomy and responsibility. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) may practice in hospitals, dental offices, ambulatory surgical centers, military facilities and any other place anesthesia is administered. To become a CRNA, you must first obtain your Bachelors degree in Nursing and then a Masters degree in Nurse Anesthesia. A national certification must be passed, and then CRNAs have to undergo recertification every two years.

2. School Nurses
Unlike high paid CRNAs, school nurses earn slightly below the average salary for an RN. But they work 9-month schedules and are finished by mid-afternoon, making the job perfect for parents with young children at home. The primary responsibility of a school nurse is to advance health education, including protecting student and staff safety and promoting healthy living. Additional job duties include assessing injuries and illnesses, administering medication, and assisting in crisis intervention.

3. Hospice Nurses
Hospice nurses provide comprehensive physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill patients and their families. This highly demanding work pays slightly higher than the average home health care position. Hospice nurses typically work on a team with other health care professionals, including social workers, clergy and meal providers, all of whom together provide a support system to one another.

4. Nurse Executives
One of the highest earning nursing jobs, nurse executives often earn $100,000 plus salaries. Their jobs are largely administrative, providing nursing consultation within various settings such as to the insurance industry, hospitals, and nursing unions. Nurse executives are typically involved in setting and implementing policy, with the potential to affect broad changes in health care settings. A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required for these positions, although most nurse executives hold a Master’s degree or even PhD in nursing as well. Many also have MBAs or Masters degrees in Public Policy.

Are you interesting in becoming a nurse? Be sure to learn more about this life-saving and -changing profession from the JobMonkey’s Guide to Nursing Jobs.