How hard is it to become a nurse?

Although nursing is emotionally and financially rewarding, it remains a challenging field. However, the reasonable financial compensation and healthy job market make it a career worth considering.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the next decade, nurses will be in high demand with growth for new positions occurring faster than average when compared to other occupations.

The average hourly salary of a nurse is about $32. However, nurses have widely varying salaries on an annual basis.

• A registered nurse in California has a competitive base wage of $51 per hour, while those in Texas earn an average of $28 per hour.

• Some travel nursing agencies pay significantly more than the typical, with starting salaries of up to $50 per hour.

• Certified nurse midwives may make up to $120,000 each year.

As a result, there is significant variation in earnings for nurses based on experience, specialty, and location.

If you want to become a nurse, it is possible in as little as two years if you're full-time throughout the summer and continuing your education at a community college. You'll get an associate's degree in nursing after two years of study.

You may also go through the bachelor of science in nursing route, which takes four years to complete, and awards a bachelor of science in nursing upon completion.