Fastest Growing Careers In Nursing

As the population grows, it is expected that a greater number of people will experience health problems. As such, there will be a greater demand for nurses. According to the US Bureau of Labor, employment opportunities for registered nurses will increase at a faster rate in 2012 than any other occupation. Below is information about the fastest growing careers in nursing.


Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed practical nurses work as assistants to registered nurses and physicians. Their duties comprise mainly of carrying out basic healthcare procedures, such as keeping track of vital signs that are experienced by patients and recording the progression of symptoms and treatments. Licensed practical nurses need to complete high school and a one-year training program at a hospital, community college, or vocational school. The median annual salary for licensed practical nurses is $34,000.


Perioperative Nurse

Perioperative nurses provide assistance for surgeons in the operating room. Their responsibilities include preparing the operating room for surgeries, monitoring patients vital signs, caring for patients during surgeries, assisting surgeons, controlling bleeding during surgeries, and cleaning the room after surgeries are completed. Perioperative nurses have to qualify as registered nurses first by earning a diploma, associate degree, or degree in nursing. Many registered nurse courses offer perioperative nursing certification. The average salary for perioperative nurses is $56,000 per year, but salaries vary greatly from one state to another.


Geriatric Nurse

Geriatric nurses provide care for elderly people, helping them overcome age-related health problems and disabilities. The basic education requirement for geriatric nurses is an Associate or Bachelors degree, but those who wish to advance their careers further can opt to pursue a Masters or Doctorate degree in geriatric nursing. On average, geriatric nurses earn about $54,000 per year.


Ambulatory Nurse

Ambulatory nurses provide care for patients in physician offices. They work under physicians, and they assist in the treatment of a wide range of illnesses and injuries. Ambulatory nurses have to become registered nurses first and then gain at least two years of nursing experience. The average annual salary for these nurses is about $44,000.


Gynecology Nurse

As an increasing number of women are realizing the importance of visiting gynecologists regularly, there is presently a greater demand for gynecology nurses. These nurses specialize in caring for women patients, and they provide reproductive health care as well as care for common illnesses and injuries. Gynecology nurses are mostly registered nurses who possess an Associate or Bachelors degree. They earn an average salary of about $70,000 a year.


Cardiovascular Nurse

According to reports from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the main cause of death among Americans. As such, cardiovascular nurses are in high demand. The responsibility of cardiovascular nurses is to assist cardiologists in providing treatment and care for patients who are suffering from heart conditions. Most cardiovascular nurses have a Bachelors degree in nursing, and their average salary is $55,000 a year.


Other types of nurses that are becoming increasingly in demand include pediatric nurses, nurse practitioners, long-term care nurses, and nurse educators.