For every virus outbreak or dangerous medical emergency, like that which we saw with the recent A(H1N1) outbreak, physicians and nurses are at the forefront of the battleground. They are exposed to a number of dangers and are putting their lives on the line in order to bravely save people. For these reasons alone we should all be very thankful to these healthcare professionals. As a show of appreciation for the sacrifices that registered nurses make, we feel they should be paid a generous salary. The registered nurse salary is in fact quite good when you take a look at it, and many people are now looking to pursue this career partly because of the salary prospects.
Registered nurses in the United States receive between $46,771 and $66,971 including bonuses and any profit sharing that is applicable. This is equal to earning $22.09 to $30.76 in hourly rate. Registered nurses often work extra hours, and for every overtime hour that id worked, they are usually paid between $30.72 and $45.75 an hour. The registered nurse salary will change as one gets more experienced on the job. Nurses who have been working for less than a year usually receive from $38,582 to $53,000 a year. Those that have stayed on the job for more than a year (and up to four years) can expect an increase in registered nurse salary of $40,591 to $59,080, while those that have 5 to 9 years of experience naturally receive higher salaries. These more seasoned, experienced and committed nurses can at times be earning as much as $47,507 to $65,338 a year. A decade to two decades of being a registered nurse will give you a yearly salary of between $50,000 and $70,890 also. For those that are lucky enough to be on the job for more than 20 years, a register nurse salary of $50,804 to $73,244 a year is common.
Most nurses start out as staff nurses where they earn from $48,353 to $70,122. From being staff nurses, they can train for one or more specialties in areas of patient care that they wish to focus on. Specific work responsibilities may vary for each nurse. This is because their duties and title are usually determined by their work setting or patient population served. Registered nurses who specialize in working in operating rooms and assisting surgeons are called perioperative nurses. They can also specialize in specific health conditions, as diabetes management nurses that assist patients with diabetes do. There are also those that specialize in a work setting or type of treatment. Patients with complex, serious and acute diseases or injuries that need extra monitoring and extensive medication procedures and therapies are handled by critical care nurses. These nurses usually work in critical or intensive care hospitals. The combination of specialties, like with that of pediatric oncology nurses (Pediatric oncology nurses work with kids and adolescents who have cancer), is also a viable option which is worth pursuing once you have settled in as a registered nurse.
These days, there are many types of registered nurses that can specialize in many fields of nursing care. Specializing in a particular field means you are better equipped to handle much more specific duties and responsibilities. With a specialized role you can also expect a higher registered nurse salary. A career in nursing is an exciting one with many options that can open up for you once you have become qualified. If you have the desire to further your education and diversify your knowledge then becoming a registered nurse could be just what you need!
Related posts:
- Career Guide to the Registered Nurse Profession
- Great Working Opportunities for Advance Practice Registered Nurses
- Becoming a Registered Nurse
- Are Registered Nurse Jobs Becoming Life Threatening?
- How Being an Earnest Registered Nurse Matters in Rendering Quality Care to Mankind
- Getting Into the Highly Demanded Registered Nursing Profession