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Top 10 Highest Paying Nursing Specialties
NursingLink
After nurses finish nursing school, choosing the right nursing specialty becomes their chief focus. With so many specialties to choose from, many prospective nurses find it difficult to just pick one, but with nearly every specialty requiring candidates to pass a series of exams and fulfill a period of on-the-job training, time is of the essence!
Pay should not be your only considering when deciding on a specialty, but the list below of the highest paying nursing specialties provides a good primer on which types of nurses have the greatest earning potential.
1) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist – $135,000
2) Nurse Researcher – $95,000
3) Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – $95,000
4) Certified Nurse Midwife – $84,000
5) Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse – $81,000
6) Orthopedic Nurse – $81,000
7) Nurse Practitioner – $78,000
8) Clinical Nurse Specialist – $76,000
9) Gerontological Nurse Practitioner – $75,000
10) Neonatal Nurse – $74,000
brRN
3 months ago
2 comments
My husband was reading over my shoulder and noticed her name 'iamrn90048'. According to him, 90048 is the zip code of an area around Beverly Hills or West Hollywood. $142k sounds less ridiculous if you picture what I do; young nurse putting in the "extra effort" and "long hard hours" to make the difference at some Beverley Blvd Cosmetic Surgery chop-shop. At least the patients come in pre-sedated. Even if I'm way off base, I can't imagine that what this girl calls 'nursing' has much in common with what the rest of us do for a living.
(Husband checked, don't know why he did, or how he would have known that anyway, but 90048 is the zip code for the area between Santa Monica Blvd, Fairfax, Melrose, and Wilshire.)
I should apologize; she may make a touch over twice what I do, but the cost of living in that area is at least quadruple that of where I live. She must really find it fulfilling to work with all the uninsured hard-luck cases down on Rodeo Dr.
NurseSuperior
4 months ago
2 comments
Where exactly do you work iamrn90048? I've been a nurse for 18 years and it's rare to find anyone that makes that amount of money. Especially after only three years.
iamrn90048
4 months ago
2 comments
I am an RN for 3 years and I am making 142,000 per year... On a bad year where I don't feel like working too much, I make 125,000 annually. I don't think these figures are accurate as different states have different salary brackets. I am fortunate to have worked with managers who value my passion for nursing because after 6 months as an intern RN I was promoted to charge. You know why? Because I volunteer for admissions and I provide moring care to patiets if I know my CNA is swamped, I create unit projects to help boost our patient satisfaction scores, I help figure out staffing when short staffed, I make sure that my charting is immaculate, and I never pass an order that should have been done on my shift to the incoming shift, finally I make sure my patients are stable, pain free, and poop free during shift change to help the next shift transition easier. Now, that is what I call loving the job instead of just coming to work hoping to get big bucks... You have to make a difference in order to shine. And when you do, your wallet will shine as well.
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5 months ago
14 comments
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Sylvia321
5 months ago
14 comments
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marnerne
7 months ago
22 comments
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krensink
10 months ago
2 comments
essentially you will be paid the same no matter what unit you work within a hospital.. a staff nurse, whether he/she be a psychiatric, L&D, or ICU nurse, will be paid whatever the hospital pays their RNs. you need to specialize by getting a MSN or move off the unit (nurse educator, etc.) to get paid more - or work MANY years and get paid big bucks for the experience alone. trying to figure out myself what graduate program to apply to that isn't floor nursing and can make good money...
kikilee123
11 months ago
2 comments
I have been a nurse 8 years and not once have made these numbers and I work in a hospital setting.
RNinSpfdMO
over 1 year ago
2 comments
I have been an R.N. with an associates degree. There are not many jobs out there right now for nurses that don't want to do "hands on" nursing that don't have a bachelors degree. The pay listed above is alot higher than most nursing jobs. I am currently looking for a job and have found that reputable places with good benefits pay in the 40,000s.
cathyreynolds
over 1 year ago
2 comments
Wow! Nurses are payed with those amount? Sadly I can't take how nurses do their training. But I'm sure it's all worth it for nurses since they've encountered a lot to be where they are. 2012 WSOP
Mskitty27
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
I am 28 with three kids it is imparative that I set an example for my girls that it's not to late to go for your dreams and most important I want them to look up at me and say I wanna succeed to!!
khaingzarchi
about 2 years ago
2 comments
Wow. this is very inspiring. i'm new in here and i just graduated from RN program and trying to take NCLEX on march 7th. Any tips? please, wish me luck and then after, laying a RN position. :)
charmlessgirl21
almost 3 years ago
4 comments
Hi, Nursing family! I need some advice: I'm applying to UCLA's Nursing Program next year and I'm asking all you young twenty-something nurses which field you feel is as stimulating and rewarding as it is LUCRATIVE. I'm leaning towards Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, but I'm not sure. Any thoughts or comments would be most helpful! Thank you:)
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mskbsn06
almost 3 years ago
23484 comments
Pyschiatric Nurse Practitioner, now that it is my favorite. I am working towards this goal.
schoolnurse39
almost 3 years ago
4 comments
A poster asks, "What about a National Registered Certified Medical Assistant. What do we stand for?"
As unlicensed, assistive personnel you stand for medical office staff working under the umbrella of the professional staff's (but not the RN's) license. RN's/LPN's/LVN's/CNA's are individually licensed and, therefore, are able to work independently and autonomously.