The 10 Best Places to Work as a Registered Nurse

While many registered nurses (RNs) work in hospitals, others find fulfilling careers in a variety of exciting work settings. Around 39% of RNs who hold an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) find jobs outside of hospitals.

We factored in average salary, accessibility, employment projections, and overall workload to determine the 10 best places to work as a nurse. If you’re interested in a nursing career or considering changing employers, read on to explore some settings where nurses can make a difference in patients’ lives.

Around 61% of RNs find employment at state, private, and local hospitals. RNs who work in hospitals often perform a variety of tasks and care for different patients each day.

In hospitals, nurses tend to work longer shifts of about 12-15 hours. However, they enjoy more days off than those who work regular 9-5 schedules.

Average Salary: $81,220

Key Responsibilities:

As telecommunication becomes increasingly incorporated into the healthcare industry, some nursing jobs have gone completely remote. Telehealth nurses perform remote patient consultations, freelance writing for medical journals, legal counsel, and research.

While remote jobs let nurses work from home, RNs must be skilled at time management and motivated to work independently.

Average Salary: $70,970

Key Responsibilities:

Emergency rooms (ERs) provide patients with urgent care. ER nurses work with doctors and other nurses to stabilize critically ill or injured patients. These RNs need strong critical thinking skills to handle complicated situations.

Average Salary: $71,594

Key Responsibilities:

RNs who work in doctors’ offices often enjoy a more structured workday than other nurses. Their patients must make an appointment to be seen and generally do not have life-threatening conditions. These nurses assist the physician, take patients’ vital signs and information, and schedule appointments.

Average Salary: $53,040

Key Responsibilities:

Like RNs, nurse educators are in high demand. Nurse educators teach classes in nursing colleges and training hospitals. Most are expected to hold a master’s degree, and some institutions require instructors to hold a doctorate.

Average Salary: $82,769

Key Responsibilities:

Nurse midwives help patients at every stage of pregnancy. Working alongside gynecologists and obstetricians, they support pregnant women and their unborn children during the birthing process.

Nurse midwives need an RN license, a graduate degree with a concentration in nurse midwifery, and certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Average Salary: $98,306

Key Responsibilities:

The public health nurse role is ideal for RNs who want to serve and improve their community. Social services agencies and community centers hire public health nurses to teach citizens about local and national health crises. These nurses also create and implement programs to promote healthy practices and prevent illness.

Typically, public health nurses need to hold a master of science in nursing or a doctoral degree. Some nursing programs offer accelerated programs that let prospective public health nurses earn an undergraduate and graduate degree simultaneously.

Average Salary: $64,958

Key Responsibilities:

Nurses who work in correctional facilities treat inmates with chronic illnesses and medical emergencies. These nurses must be physically and mentally equipped to handle a variety of challenging and stressful situations.

Most correctional facilities maintain a 24-hour nursing staff, and nurses may work more than 40 hours a week. A correctional nurse’s daily routine may involve collecting samples from patients, administering medications for chronically ill inmates, and treating injured or sick inmates.

Average Salary: $54,940

Key Responsibilities:

RNs who work in law offices use their professional expertise to assist with malpractice suits or legal cases involving healthcare. They help lawyers construct cases, review medical records, and research medical law.

Employers at law offices typically prefer to hire RNs with some relevant experience and paralegal training. The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants certifies RNs before they can give legal counsel.

Average Salary: $98,880

Key Responsibilities:

Home healthcare nurses improve or maintain patients’ health within the client’s own home. Some work lengthy hours, stationed close to the patient for extended periods of time. These nurses make up a large portion of RNs, with around 12% providing in-home healthcare services.

This role typically involves long hours working with the client. RNs can boost their employment prospects by earning certifications from organizations like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Average Salary: $66,394

Key Responsibilities:

RNs can find a variety of fulfilling job openings in the healthcare industry. For example, those seeking work in a fast-paced environment where they can save lives can become ER nurses. Others specialize in treating certain populations, like nurse midwives or correctional nurses.

There are many opportunities for RNs outside of traditional healthcare settings. Nurses who don’t want to work in a high stress environment may enjoy telehealth roles, or positions with insurance companies or law firms. Legal offices and publications need veteran nurses’ insight into the healthcare industry. In-home care is becoming more popular among older Americans, and some nurses excel at positions in correctional facilities, schools, and birthing centers.

The ideal workplace is different for each RN, and every healthcare setting comes with positives and negatives. Some nurses are more attuned to handling paperwork and documents in a legal office, while others prefer creating interpersonal connections. Aspiring nurses must decide which setting best suits their skills and needs.

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