The nursing profession is one that is always thriving, which means that there are a ton of nursing jobs to be had. But which ones are worth pursuing?
Here are some of the most lucrative jobs in the nursing profession. They may not necessarily be the highest-paying jobs out there but they are more than worth pursuing if you are thinking of getting into the nursing industry.
- Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE)
At around $90,000 per year, it is expected that the position will see the growth of around 10% over the next decade. The primary duties of the position are in the training and education of nursing professionals that will work in nursing and health care facilities.
Being a CNE requires an MSN with a specialization in education. Most of the minimum education requirements are a BSN, however. There is also the chance to strengthen credibility with additional nursing educator certifications. The most relevant certifications include certified academic nurse educator (CNE-CL) and certified nurse educator (CNE).
- Nursing Home Administrator (NHA)
With most administrators making just under $100,000 per year, the nursing home administration field has been growing exponentially. There is an expectation that it will continue to grow by as much as 32% by the year 2030.
The duties combine education and industry experience in both business and healthcare. There is also a need for managing daily operations within a nursing home facility. They have the ability to hire staff, rain them, assist with patient care, and handle finances. The job requires a BSN but most of the positions will require a master’s degree in order to get the necessary skills for the job.
- Medical-Surgical Nurse Manager
This is one of the higher-paying nursing jobs on the list at just over $105,000 per year. It is also a position that expects to see exponential growth of up to 32% over the next decade. They can provide care to patients who are either preparing for or recovering from surgery.
The minimum level of education is a BSN though most in the field require a master’s degree in order to get the necessary skills for running a medical-surgical facility. On top of that, most boards will require certification of some kind as well.
- Pain Management Nurse
This is the highest paying position on the list at just over $108,000 per year. There is also expected to be nearly 10% growth in the position through the year 2030. Pain management nurses generally work with oncology units, hospice programs, or palliative care. They can also work as advocates who help to get patient’s medication.
Generally speaking, pain management nurses will need a BSN. With two years of full-time RN work under their belt, it is possible to sit for the registered nurse-board certified credential. This is in the specialty of pain management. There is a requirement of at least 2000 hours in a nursing role that has pain management involved.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
With a salary just above $92,000, there is expected to be roughly 10% growth in the field over the next decade. A clinical nurse specialist is considered to be an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). This type of nurse is in charge of patient care within a clinical setting.
Most clinical nurse specialists will have to get an MSN degree that has an emphasis on clinical nursing. There are also a required 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours required. Being a clinical nurse specialist is very in-demand right now and a great choice for those looking to get into the nursing industry.
