Careers and Strategies to Maximize Your Earning Potential in the Nursing Field

Of the thousands of careers that are available in modern societies, working in healthcare can certainly be one of the more rewarding. The variety of roles that can be found are numerous, some more obscure, and out of the spotlight than others, with the more familiar roles like doctors and nurses. For those people who have done their research and have decided to take the brave leap into becoming a nurse a whole world of challenging, satisfying work awaits.

As with any industry, however, there are so many different paths to take, each with its own levels of experience, interests, dynamics, and expectations. Nursing is no different. Therefore, whoever may be curious to know if there are some ways to maximize the amount of money that can be made in the field of work should do a bit of research before ultimately choosing what path to take.

To shortcut that research process here are some careers and strategies by which to thrive in nursing while maximizing earning potential.

Some of the Highest Paying Careers in Nursing

Nursing, some may be surprised to learn, is a very broad term designation in the medical industry. The RN listing is the entryway to many different designations that all build upon the foundational RN degrees and certifications.

Here are a few of the highest-paying nursing jobs:

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

The award for the highest paying nurse position goes to the certified registered Nurse Anesthetists. This position, as is implied from the title, is a very technical position that works to prepare and administer anesthesia to patients that are undergoing a variety of procedures. These nurses often work in collaboration with doctors and surgeons across the spectrum of healthcare providers.

With a projected growth rate of 9% for this position over the next 10 years, this won't be the position that draws the most demand, but the salary is significant, to say the least— $212,650 according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Surprisingly, there really isn't too much more schooling that needs to be done for this position that garners a high wage. A BSN with two years extra (as a minimum) of relevant care will get someone started.

Nursing Midwife

At $129,650 per year, a nursing midwife won't catch the anesthetists from a monetary standpoint, but still ranks very close to the top as being one of the highest-paying nursing jobs. The work is also very specialized to working with OB/GYN offices and clinics, so the variety of cases and patients is more predictable. Someone looking for more variety may want to look in another field, but there will be plenty of job stability.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses

It takes a special kind of heart and patience to work with some of the most vulnerable medical cases that come through medical offices— prenatal children. The work can be very emotionally challenging but the reward of seeing an infant's life improve can hardly measure up too many other careers in terms of fulfilment. Additionally, the role pays well also: $129,000 annually.

Strategies to Maximize Your Earning Potential

As in most fields of study, a higher education typically equals a higher-paying job. The same is true in the nursing profession. Working towards a Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) is not a quick or easy way to garner a higher-paying position, but it is a fairly certain approach.

Looking into specialized certifications is another way that someone can command higher salaries and open up new opportunities for advancement. Much of this has to do with the lower percentages of applicants so for anyone that has the time and skill, finding a job in this sector of nursing will bring a larger income.

Travel Nursing Opportunities

Travel nursing has become a very popular option for nurses across the world. The flexibility and demand for these temporary positions make them go fast, so it can be hard to actually get hired on, but when it does happen, the pay is great.

Travel nurses have the added benefit of getting to work in various healthcare settings nationally or even across the globe. Most of these are short-term positions though, covering for injury, pregnancy leaves, or strikes, and while these positions can sometimes turn into a long-term job opportunity, that is never a guarantee. This factor, on top of the strenuousness of moving around the country, can be dissuasive, but for those willing to live that way, the pay and benefits are impressive.