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Earning Potential - Nursing Degree Source

Due to the fact that there is currently a nation-wide shortage of nurses in the United States, the earning potential for nurses has never been greater. Nurses are routinely being offered sign-on bonuses for various job positions. As well, depending upon a nurse's qualifications, she may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary.

Some job positions offer recruitment bonuses other than money to nurses who agree to accept the job. These can include tuition repayment assistance, daycare assistance, and relocation assistance, among others. Cash bonuses can be anywhere from $2,000 up to $20,000, which is dependant upon the job position and location.

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) (as the title may differ depending upon where you are located, though the two titles designate the same status) is on the lower end of the earning scale. These nurses have just a year of schooling under their belts, and their salaries reflect that. The average yearly salary for a LPN is about $38,000. This figure can be higher for nurses working in larger cities or more affluent hospitals or it can be lower for nurses working in lower-income areas.

Taking the time to earn an ASN is definitely worth it if a nurse is interested in earning more money because RN's have much higher salaries than LPN's. LPN's can do nearly the same duties that RN's can do (specific duties vary depending upon location), however, RN's are accorded a higher status as well as managerial duties. Therefore, RN's have more earning potential than LPN's. This is true even as far as LPN's who have been in their positions for many years. A newly graduated RN will still most probably earn more than any veteran LPN. The median salary for a RN is $58,000 though many RN's may earn much more than that. Some earn up to nearly $65,000 per year.

Nurses who specialize in certain areas of study by earning a Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) typically earn more than conventional RN's. For example Nurse Practitioners (NP) earn a rather nice salary. The average salary for NP's is close to $79,000 per year. People who earn their MSN's with a specialty as a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) have an even greater income potential. The median income for a CRNA is about $140,000.

Nursing is generally a well-paying career, especially for those nurses who take the time to invest in more education. For more information, see www.careerdegreesource.com.