5 Nursing Jobs That Are in Highest Demand
Nurses are some of the most in-demand jobs in healthcare today, but some are more coveted than others. Learn more about nursing jobs in this career guide.
If you’re interested in starting or are starting your education and career as a nurse, your career goes down many different paths. In this career guide on the nursing jobs that are in the highest demand, you can see which careers in nursing will be the most coveted by the healthcare industry in the future.
1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LCN)
LCNs are a step below RNs in terms of salary and education but still work closely with RNs and are critical in providing patients with essential nursing care. Many RNs begin as LCNs to gain experience before earning a degree and becoming an RN.
Facilities that offer long-term care need LCNs the most, including residential treatment centers, hospices, and rehabilitation centers.
2. Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs make up the backbone of the healthcare industry, and with a looming shortage of medical professionals on the horizon in the US, they’re about to become even more in demand. RNs perform various duties, such as observing patients, administering medicine, taking vitals, and performing and assisting procedures. Because RNs perform essential functions, their skills are in demand in numerous medical settings, from hospitals to clinics to patient homes.
3. Travel Nurse
A travel nurse doesn’t have a specialty, but they’re likely to become more common soon due to nursing shortages. Travel nurses move to different locations and facilities to temporarily fill in short-staffed facilities.
Travel nurses work on contract, but since they travel all over, hospitals usually offer relocation pay, temporary housing, and higher wages than standard RNs. Don’t be surprised if more RNs work as travel nurses and more hospitals employ them as nurse shortages become more common.
4. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
CRNAs have an important job in the healthcare industry as they’re responsible for assisting and prepping patients for anesthesia and procedures. They also administer other pain services, such as epidurals and nerve blockers, and work with various doctors, from surgeons to dentists.
Medical professionals use anesthesia for painful procedures, and CRNAs require special education and training. Therefore, they’re in high demand now and will continue to be in the future.
5. Telemetry Nurse
The primary responsibilities of a telemetry nurse are monitoring critical care patients, specifically those dealing with cardiac problems. Telemetry nurses know the latest electrocardiogram and telemedicine technology, and most of their patients are high-risk, necessitating extensive education and fast-paced skills. Since 2018, the demand for telemetry nurses in medical facilities has grown 65 percent.
Conclusion
The healthcare industry has faced many severe challenges over the past couple of years, and one of the most critical it faces soon is a shortage of nurses. Due to this shortage, RNs, LCNs, and CRNAs are some of the nursing jobs that are in the highest demand now, and the outlook is they’ll continue to be in demand over the next handful of years.
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Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
