Opportunities, Salaries, and Benefits
Nursing has become one of the better-paying professional jobs. RNs can make $22 to $31 per hour. With overtime, bonuses, and profit-sharing money, the annual salary is approximately $47,000 to $67,000. LPN pay can range from $16 to $20 per hour, an annual salary of $32,000 to $40,000. With overtime available in almost all nursing jobs, an LPN can easily reach the pay ranges of $50,000 to $70,000. Even newly graduated nurses can earn outstanding salaries right out of school.
Benefits attached to nursing jobs tend to be great and increase the total pay package substantially. Even during these recessionary times, nurses have seen their pay and benefits hold up. As more baby boomers age, the trend is expected to continue. Some experts project a shortage of a million nurses by 2020, so hospitals, nursing homes, and medical centers will continue to offer excellent pay and benefits, as well as hiring bonuses, to keep their nursing positions staffed. Hiring bonuses can be substantial, as much as several months' pay.
The demand for nurses ensures that pay and benefits will continue growing, with strong job security that is not seen in most other careers. Few other professionals have employers competing to hire them. 
Pay is not the only factor that makes nursing an excellent career choice. In 2009, the Gallup Company found that nurses continue their first ranking in the poll of most trusted professions. Nurses are seen by the public as caring professionals who help people and save lives. The reputation of nurses leads to respect and thanks from the community that you serve. Every day, nurses around the country are helping children fight cancer, comforting grieving families, saving lives, ensuring safe recoveries from surgeries, delivering babies, and teaching people to enhance their health. What can beat that?
Another outstanding perk of a nursing career is the flexibility to choose your own specialty, hours, location, and career path. Nurse staffing agencies are flourishing, and they allow you to try out a workplace before you commit to a long-term relationship. Take a staffing job at a hospital to see if you like the atmosphere and work well with the people. Change departments easily to try out different specialties. Then you can decide about applying for a permanent job at that facility. Do the same with a medical center or doctor's office. A nurse staffing agency allows you to try out locations, work as much or as little as you like, and change nursing fields.
Whatever your desire for your career direction, various nursing opportunities are available for you. You can be in control of your career and the path you take.