Salary You Can Expect In The Nursing Field The nursing field projects an unprecedented time of expansion and

upgrade in pay in the coming years because of the number of retirees that will come into the s ocial security system. At this time there is a shortage of trained nurses and th ey are being recruited from as far away as the Philippines and Australia. The on ly logical way to attract people into the nursing field that I see in the forese eable future is to offer better starting wages, more perks, with longer vacation s. Baby Boomers Retiring With 77 million baby boomers retiring in the next decade it is easy to say that they will need expert nursing care in hospitals, nursing homes, infirmaries, or similar health care facilities. Abilities acquired for RN work will include bein g able to record significant conditions and reactions of patients and notifying physicians of patient's condition. Being able to take vital signs and detect dev iations from normal to determine the progress of the patient. You should have ac quired skills to prepare equipment and aid physicians during examinations and tr eatments of patients. Two Year Associates Degree This requires a RN license that can be obtained through the state after successf ully passing the state board. A two year associates degree in nursing (ADN) or a four year bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) is needed to contend for the RN license. Associates degrees in nursing can be obtained in most community colleges. For a BSN, in most cases, you will need to attend a four year universi ty that not only allows you a better starting salary but a better opportunity to work for state and local governments in supervisory and administrative position s. Average Salary The average starting salary for a RN, according to cbsalary.com, is $51,131 in t he Midwest region with the top starting average salary range in the northeast of $55,141. The average salary for a RN across the United States is $67,217 with t he maximum being $91,229. Health Care Facilities In state & federal run Veteran Homes or similar health care facilities across th e nation there are union bargaining units that negotiate salaries for specific j obs. Expected benefits for RN service start at 2 weeks annual vacations, two wee ks personal time, and two weeks sick leave with six week maternity leave include d. Full health care is implemented when you start your job that will include the whole family if you wish. Standard salary increases annually can amount to 3-6% of your yearly income starting after your first full year service. Salary incre ases are mandatory unless your job performance falls short based on your supervi sor recommendations to management. You should be willing to do shift work with, in most cases, every other weekend off. Supervisory & Administrative Positions In most state & federal run facilities along with public and private hospitals y ou can advance your salary by obtaining a BSN that will qualify you for supervis ory and administrative positions like the dean of nursing. If you wish to advanc e your earnings nursing is a large field to get into because administrators are always looking for a few good personnel to fill open positions of responsibility that can be most rewarding in the long run.