Best Jobs 2012: Registered Nurse

By  //  May 5, 2012

Healthcare Workforce

EDITOR’S NOTE:   According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections report, the health care and social assistance sector will gain more than 5.6 million jobs from 2010 to 2020, more than any other U.S. sector.  Registered nurse, one of the highest profile and most important jobs in the healthcare sector, topped U.S. News and World Report’s Best Jobs of 2012 list, which ranks career paths in the United States based on employment projections, salary data, and job satisfaction.

From the delivery room to the hospice center, there are few parts of the medical lives of Americans untouched by the skilled hands of nurses. As one of more than 2.7 million registered nurses on the job today, you’ll be tasked with treating and educating patients, explaining prescriptions and procedures, administering medication, or managing medical records. While many RNs work in hospitals or physicians’ offices, more are finding jobs in public health, home care, or alternate care settings such as rehabilitation centers, schools, or businesses. There is also plenty of specialization within the field. You could focus on the care of patients following heart surgery as a cardiovascular nurse, or even aid in treating brain or spinal cord injuries as a neuroscience nurse.

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