According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics report for May 2007, there were 54,960 registered nurses working in Tennessee nursing jobs, making an average annual wage of $55,910, which is $26.88 per hour. This is over $20,000 higher than the annual average wage across industries in Tennessee reported at that time, which was $35,380, or $17.01 per hour. This report shows that registered nurses working in Tennessee nursing careers make considerably higher than average pay for this state and enjoy a better than average standard of living.
Prospective nursing students considering Tennessee nursing programs will be happy to hear that the nursing industry in Tennessee, as well as across the country, is in the middle of a massive expansion with an ever increasing demand for registered nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition, the nursing industry is currently experiencing one of the fastest growth rates of any industry in the nation. This report puts forth that the field of nursing will expand by 23% between 2006 and 2016, which will mean an additional 587,000 registered nursing jobs over the next few years. This anticipated growth is a response to the increasing demand for nurses as the country’s population grows, ages and lives longer, current registered nurses begin to retire, and the health care industry continues to move towards better utilizing the skills of nurses to provide patient services and keep the cost of health care as affordable as possible.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that job prospects will be the most plentiful for registered nurses holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Therefore, current or prospective nursing students may want to keep this in mind as they consider Tennessee nursing programs.