Nursing Careers
One of the most in demand careers in California is nursing. As the population continues to grow in California so will the demand for nurses. Over the next 15 years it is estimated that at least 115,000 nurses will be needed in California.
Nursing is referred to as a career that is both "high-tech" (nurses use computers, heart monitors, respirators and other specialized equipment in the course of doing their jobs) and "high-touch" (nurses work closely with their patients, providing compassionate hands-on care and emotional support). A nurse combines science and technology with people skills like communication, problem solving, teaching, and compassion.
Today's registered nurses (R.N.s) work to:
- Promote health
- Prevent disease
- Help patients and their families cope with illness, emergencies and long-term disease
- Save lives
- Act as advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities.
Nurses earn a good salary:
- Salaries for new RNs in California range between $62,000 and $74,000 per year
- The average hourly wage in California is about $30-36/hr for staff nurses
More experience and more education mean more money.
Sound nursing education includes:
- Understanding anatomy and physiology of the body
- Knowledge of drugs and their side effects
- Modern techniques of treatment and rehabilitation
- Communication and teaching
Many exciting and rewarding opportunities exist in nursing. Nurses can make choices about where they work and the types of patients they care for. Nurses also have choices beyond hospital nursing. Clinics, surgery centers, schools, large companies, colleges, and rehabilitation centers are just some of the areas where nurses work.
Find out more about becoming a nurse in California
