11 Best Places To Work With A RN Degree

An RN degree is quickly becoming one of the most popular educational awards across the United States, and with a nursing shortage on the horizon, it couldn’t have come soon enough that so many students are choosing nursing as a career. In fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports this position as having a 19% probability for growth by the year 2022.

For a look into 11 of the best positions that a registered nurse can enter into within the United States, check out the following information.

#1 Nurse Anesthetist

Best Health Degrees lists this position as a career for advanced practice RNs and requires the nurse to work closely with other nurses and physicians to assist anesthesia related medical procedures. Although this is a registered nursing role in some locations, most hospitals require nurses to take advanced training at a graduate level by obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing or equivalent from an accredited school that is recognized by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational programs. Most nurses within this position can make an annual salary of anywhere from $144,000 to $165,000.

#2 Legal Nurse Consultant

Registered Nurses who specialize in medical laws and policies may assist in legal claims related to malpractice, workers’ compensation, injury, or other health related problems that require legal attention. They work one on one with lawyers and sometimes juries to help establish evidence and are sometimes called to the stand as an expert witness for their consultant abilities. Special skills required by these RNs include a firm grasp of medical terminology, health care policies, and experience working with medical records. A bachelor degree combined with three years of RN experience qualifies a nurse for this position; similarly, a master’s degree would also be appropriate. $62,000 to $80,000 is the typical annual salary for this position.

#3 Nurse Case Managers

Registered nurses who have specialized training in dealing with injury and illness may choose to work as a Nurse Case Manager and coordinate the care of patients with large scale medical problems. These nurses work with patients and medical staff at hospitals, private practices, and other medical facilities to properly coordinate the appropriate care for their patient. This could mean organization medical schedules for surgery, oncology treatments, and other care that must be obtained. Earnings for this role usually range between $47,000 and $85,000 per year.

#4 Nurse Researcher

Nurse Journal

reports that these registered nurses work within academic institutions, medical labs or other medical facilities and primarily process research. This requires professionalism, strong writing skills, and knowledge of grant proposals and medical journals. The annual salary for this position is between $75,000 and $95,000.

#5 Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric Nurses

work with children to communicate patient needs to medical staff and to act as a liaison between parents and hospital staff. Some pediatric nurses specialize in oncology or ICU positions, and earn a yearly wage of $67,000.

#6 Orthopedic Nurses

Orthopedic Nurses assist patients who have mobility issues or are undergoing rehabilitation, surgery, or physical therapy. They work to provide care for patients undergoing these problems and treatments and can be found in emergency rooms, clinics, and specific hospital departments. This position makes a yearly wage of approximately $120,000.

#7 Geriatrics

Gerontology is the study and care of older people, which means that registered nurses within this position work with the elderly. This position is one of the positions that currently have a shortage, making it very high in demand. Communication between patients and families is a huge part of this position, but monitoring vital signs, mental health and medications is another big role within this job. Most RNs working in Geriatrics make about $75,000 per year.

#8 Neonatal Nurse

This is another position in high demand across the United States and deals with the handling and caring for newborn infants who range in age from minutes to weeks old. This involves emergency care for babies who are born with illnesses or who are born prematurely. Administering medication, as well as other basic tasks is part of this job; this means having a lot of information on baby care and what they need early in their development; this position an average salary of $50,241 per year, according to healthcare-salaries.com.

#9 Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse

This nursing position involves endocrine system disorders and diseases of small children. Educating parents and caring for children throughout the disorder are tasks involved with this position. Scrubs Magazine says that this RN job makes about $81,000 per year.

#10 Post-Anesthesia Care RN

Working within the Post-Anesthesia Unit of hospitals and other medical facilities, registered nurses care for patients as they recovery from different types of anesthesia. They may also schedule anesthesia during surgical procedures or during the birth of a baby. Registerednursejobsindiana.com states that this role also helps with education of family and patients on the subject of anesthesia.

#11 Pain Management RN

This position can be quite difficult as it is a daily care job that usually works within the OR unit to care for patients and families who are dealing with pain. Pain Management registered nurses work within hospitals or other medical care facilities and may also assist in methods of pain relief other than pharmaceutically if directed by a physician.