Being an RN is one of the 50 best jobs in the country, according to Money Magazine. Teaming with the Internet career site http://Salary.com, the magazine ranked careers using salary and job prospects as the primary criteria. The list identifies jobs with above-average growth rates projected for the next 10 years, based on data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The projected 10-year job growth for RNs is 29.4%. The three fastest-growing fields were physician assistant (49.7%), software engineer (46%), and physical therapist assistants (44.2%).
Overall, RNs ranked 47th on the list. Why so low? Despite a strong showing in job growth and salary categories, nursing received mediocre grades in four workplace categories: creativity (D), difficulty (C), flexibility (B), and stress (D).
The study was limited to positions that required at least a bachelor's degree and met several other criteria, including an average salary of $50,000 or above and 800 or more annual job openings. For a complete list, visit the Money Magazine Web site at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/top50/index.html.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHAEL TRINSEY