2023 Career Outlook for Registered Nurses in the United States
With borders gradually opening, more and more nurses are eyeing to practice their profession in different countries. It may be because of higher pay or a more comprehensive range of job opportunities and professional growth. Nurses are among the highest numbers of workers who flock and move to different countries.
In 2018, there were 1.5 million immigrant healthcare workers in the US alone! With such a high volume, does this fill all the nursing vacancies to the brim? Or is this number barely scratching the surface?
This article will present the career outlook for registered nurses in 2023. Please read this to understand the present status of nursing in the US and its gradual ascend to providing better benefits for nurses.
The nursing career in the United States is as lucrative as it sounds. You can use this article to determine whether job vacancies and the advantages of working in the United States suit your taste.
Nursing Status in the United States
As of 2022, there are over 2.9 million registered nurses in this country. This excludes nursing assistants, midwives, and other nursing professionals. Counted, the total number of nurses would double up to 5.3 million.
This is a significant increase from the 2.6 million registered nurses in 2012 and even more so compared to other countries such as Canada with 400,000, Japan with 1.6 million, and Germany with just over 400,000 nurses. Still, more is needed, as this 2-million workforce will need more reinforcement!
Nurses are also some of the most significant contributors to the US healthcare workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019 alone, 30% of hospital employment came from nurses.
With an increased number in the labor force, more and more nurses are influencing their leaders to promote better benefits and incentives for their profession. The following are the expected nursing career trends.
Nursing Future in The United States
Nursing trends in the US are moving towards a demand for a salary increase, technology integration, and the prioritization of mental health.
1. There is a greater demand for increased salary.
Nurses have always advocated for a better salary, and according to Fortune Education, the COVID-19 pandemic ignited nurses’ hearts to demand a more significant salary increase. This led to a 2% increase for registered nurses and 10% for nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses.
2. Technology is becoming more integrated.
With automation, licensed nurses can practice their professions easily and more precisely. Monitoring patients has become quicker with machines connected to patients’ vital signs, decreasing their response time whenever necessary and allowing them to work on different tasks for other patients.
Telemedicine and health records have also become more accessible with technology today. However, despite the seeming superiority of technology, nurses remain essential in the healthcare workforce as they will still be the ones to command these machines and make the final decision.
3. Mental well-being is prioritized more.
According to New Jersey State Nurses Association, 1400 nurses reported a 30% decrease in mental health since the pandemic began. This, along with other mental health concerns, was the spark that gave birth to the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, an organization created to promote a nationwide system change within healthcare organizations.
This initiative aims to reduce mental stress while advocating for the improved well-being of nurses and other healthcare professionals. With this implemented, more and more organizations are considering their nurses’ health while they care for their patients.
Perks of Being a US Global Nurse
If you are looking for job security as a travel nurse, the US is where you should be. These are the following reasons why:
Great pay.
The United States is one of the countries that give large salaries to nursing professionals. In 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can earn $77,600 per year or $37.31 per hour. Travel nurses get even higher, as Glassdoor averages an annual salary of more than $100,000.
The rate for nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners can also differ, reaching $123,780 per year or $59.51 per hour.
This rate could even increase per tenure, specialization, and academic achievement.
Fewer layoff risks. The United States expects to produce more than 194,000 nurse vacancies this year until 2030. Why you ask? This, among many reasons, is because of the increasing number of current nurses aging into their golden years and nursing schools needing to admit more students due to their lack of faculty and classroom space.
For the following reasons, the US needs more nurses today than ever. This means that once you secure a spot in the healthcare sector, you can be sure to stay put for an ample amount of time. Your organization will need even more nurses to fill vacant slots!
Career advancement.
While carrying your license, you can explore other areas, from public health to sales and even to the academic field. Better yet, your experience and expertise in the medical field today will assure you are well-equipped for future challenges in those other work options.
Flexibility of work hours.
Flexible work hours can also be implemented for the nurses, depending on the institution. This means you can still fulfill your oath of service while not sidelining self-care and other personal priorities.
If organizations adopt this setup, it will be a win-win situation for employers and employees like you. This is because various studies showed that flexible work hours attracted and retained more candidates – decreasing organizational costs while increasing revenue – and boosting current nursing employees’ morale and performance.
If Opportunities Abound, Where Do I Start?
The career outlook for registered nurses in 2023 and the coming years is said to be bold and bright. With your help, the good status of the US nursing profession can turn into an even better future. And with your choice of coming to the US, you open the door to endless opportunities for you to pursue.
With abundant reasons to migrate and practice nursing in the US, you may start thinking of how to begin meddling with the amount of paperwork and expenses needed. With pressure creeping up, you may ask, “Where do I start?”
Start Your US Nursing Dream with PRS Global
Look no further. PRS Global is here to give you the help you need. We will assist from the start of fixing your credentials until you acquire your vehicle once you set foot in the US.
We will ensure transparency with your application process, giving you the comfort that you are in good hands, all while boosting your confidence that your US nursing dream is at hand’s reach.
Give us a call, and we will take you through the whole process of starting your US Nursing career. You do not have to worry about where or how to start. Let us begin making your “one day” into your “day one”!