What can you do with a Nursing degree?

First, some facts. Of the Nursing graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 8702 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 93%, Nursing graduates have a substantially higher likelihood (+26%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 93%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 31% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Nursing graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Nursing graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from Colorado Technical University with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Systemwide Employee Heatlth Nurse Manager
Marshfield Clinic Health System
Nov 2020 - Present
The position of Systemwide Employee Health Nurse Manager directly utilizes the nursing knowledge and skills developed during the Bachelor's degree, as it involves managing health services and ensuring patient care quality, which are core components of nursing practice.

ABOUT

[NAME REMOVED] J. TheisenPhone: 715-851-2579E-mail: [EMAIL REMOVED]5658 Wildflower St Auburndale, WI 54412EducationBachelor of Science in NursingColorado Technical University4/2019Associate Degree in NursingNorthwestern Technical College 2009Work ExperienceSystemwide Employee Health Manager Full-time (11/20-Present)Marshfield Clinic Health System-Marshfield, WIStrong organizational and interpersonal skills Ability to determine appropriate course of action in more complex situations Collaborate with other department leaderships to ensure regulatory compliancyImplemented the CDC, CMS, OSHA regulatory compliancy for the entire health care system through the pandemic Hospital Supervisor Full-time (5/16-Present)Aspirus Wausau Hospital-Wausau, WIStrong organizational and interpersonal skills Ability to determine appropriate course of action in more complex situations Coordinate patient placement & staffing for a Level II trauma centerRespond to emergency situations (RRT, Code Blue) and assists as necessary. Hospital Supervisor Full-Time (5/11-5/16)ThedaCare Shawano-Shawano, WISupported day-to-day hospital operations in collaboration with multidisciplinary staff Coordinate patient placement & staffing for a Critical Access Hospital 25 bedsRespond to emergency situations (RRT, Code Blue) and assists as necessaryProvided care for patients & families in a Medical Surgical UnitManaged medication drips on step down patientsCritical thinking while assess patients, working in collaboration with providersStaff RN Full-Time (5/10-5/11)ThedaCare Shawano-Shawano, WIMedical Surgical DepartmentSpecial Care DepartmentProvided care for patients & families in a Medical Surgical UnitManaged medication drips on step down patientsCritical thinking while assess patients, working in collaboration with providersComputer SkillsEPIC Computer ChartingExcellent knowledge of Microsoft Office Access & ExcelAPI/Centricity Scheduling Program

What jobs can you get with a Nursing degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When we look at the job trajectories of individuals who have graduated with a nursing degree from different universities, it's clear there is a dominant path that many take after completing their studies. Most graduates land roles as Registered Nurses (RNs) across various healthcare settings. Overwhelmingly, these positions involve providing direct patient care, which necessitates utilizing the specific skills and knowledge acquired through their nursing education. The RN roles commonly reported include positions in hospitals, emergency departments, intensive care units, and pediatrics, where clinical skills such as patient assessment, medication administration, and care coordination are critical.

While Registered Nurse positions dominate the employment landscape for nursing graduates, there are numerous other roles that graduates have ventured into, ranging from Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to specialized roles like Critical Care Nurses and Clinical Educators. Many graduates in advanced practice roles utilize their foundational nursing education to provide specialized care or manage clinical environments. However, it's important to note that some positions, such as Nurse Manager or roles focusing more on administrative aspects of healthcare, may not engage the same level of direct nursing competencies daily. Some graduates have also entered into fields that apply their healthcare knowledge without necessarily falling under traditional nursing job titles, leading to a diversity in career paths within or tangential to the nursing profession.

In terms of relevance to their nursing degrees, the overwhelming majority of positions taken by these graduates directly utilize their training. Roles directly related to patient care—like RNs in various specialties—afford graduates the opportunity to apply their comprehensive knowledge and skills actively. Conversely, positions like Clinical Coordinators or Nurse Educators maintain ties to nursing education and practices, affirming their value of a nursing degree, though the everyday application may vary in intensity and focus compared to traditional nursing roles. On the other hand, jobs in management, sales, or other non-clinical roles do not offer the same depth of relevance to nursing, which raises questions about the direction some grads have taken.

To sum it up, while many nursing graduates stay true to core nursing functions and leverage their degrees in direct patient care roles, there's a spectrum of career paths reflecting the diverse applications of nursing knowledge in healthcare. As the healthcare landscape evolves and expands, graduates are likely to continue finding innovative ways to utilize their education, with a clear focus on patient outcomes remaining at the heart of the profession.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Nursing graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Nursing graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of nursing graduates, it's clear that many of them have successfully landed into nursing roles immediately after graduation, showcasing a progression that aligns well with their educational training. The typical first job after graduation tends to be a registered nurse (RN) position in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, or specialized care facilities. This is evident in the profiles where graduates from different schools quickly jump into RN roles, some even securing jobs in critical care settings right out of the gate. For instance, several graduates have taken positions as RNs in emergency departments or intensive care units just months after earning their degree. This reflects the demand for nursing professionals in today’s healthcare system and suggests that these graduates are well-prepared for the challenges that await them in the field.

Fast forward five or ten years into their careers, and the alumni from these nursing programs show a mix of continued advancement within nursing and diversification into related fields. Many nurses transition into advanced practice roles, such as nurse practitioners or clinical nurse educators, signifying a clear upward mobility and expansion of responsibilities. Others might branch out into specialized areas like critical care, pediatrics, or psychiatric nursing. However, there are also instances where graduates have moved into non-nursing roles, such as informatics or healthcare management, which can indicate a desire to shift focus from direct patient care. While most individuals appear to remain connected to the nursing profession in various capacities, there are a few who have veered completely away from the field, choosing paths in predominantly unrelated professional areas. Overall, it seems that nursing graduates typically find themselves within the nursing realm, making significant strides in both clinical and educational settings.

In summary, while most nursing graduates generally follow a successful trajectory in their field, there are scattered cases of individuals finding themselves in less relevant or unrelated careers, potentially due to a variety of personal or professional motivations. Overall, the majority appear to secure meaningful nursing roles early on and successfully advance within the profession over the years, aligning with the high demand for skilled nursing professionals in today’s healthcare landscape.

How hard is a Nursing degree?

A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing can be pretty challenging, especially if you're used to cruising through high school. You'll dive into a ton of complex subjects like anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology, along with hands-on clinical practice, which can be a whirlwind. There’s a good amount of studying, assignments, and exams, and the clinical rotations can really test your ability to manage time and stress. It’s definitely tougher than a lot of typical college degrees, so be prepared to put in the effort if you decide to go for it. But don’t worry, lots of people make it through, and it's totally worth it if you’re passionate about helping others!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Nursing.

Do Nursing graduates tend to make good money?

When you scan through the LinkedIn profiles of these nursing graduates, it becomes pretty clear that many have been making solid progress in their careers. A lot of them hold steady positions in reputable hospitals and healthcare organizations, which generally have a good reputation for decent salaries and benefits. Many have advanced not only into specialized nursing roles but also into positions like nurse practitioners and clinical managers, indicating they’ve moved up the pay scale significantly. For instance, graduates working in emergency departments, ICU, and other critical care settings typically earn higher salaries compared to general nursing roles. Also, those who are involved in traveling nursing have the potential to earn even more, especially during high-demand periods, as indicated by several profiles.

That said, some profiles reveal a more mixed picture. A few individuals appear to have taken on roles that may not offer significant financial rewards, like educational positions or home health care, which can sometimes pay less compared to acute care settings. Inconsistent job changes or taking on roles like a case management nurse, while fulfilling, may not always come with higher salaries. In general, it looks like a good number of these nursing graduates are well on their way to making decent money, but it really depends on their specific roles, specialties, and locations, along with how ambitious they are about advancing their careers.

What buzzwords do Nursing graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Nursing. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Nursing?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Nursing (ordered by the average relevance score of their Nursing graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
University of Pittsburgh 100 11
University of Louisville 100 18
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 100 11
Excelsior College 100 12
Austin Peay State University 100 11
Widener University 100 22
University of Missouri-Columbia 99 12
Towson University 99 29
San Diego State University 99 19
Florida Atlantic University 99 21
University of Virginia 99 19
California State University-Long Beach 99 11
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 99 10
Quinnipiac University 99 26
Fairfield University 99 23
Columbus State University 99 10
University of South Carolina Upstate 99 15
University of Scranton 99 10
Angelo State University 99 10
Aurora University 99 12
Auburn University at Montgomery 99 10
Viterbo University 99 10
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 99 15
Drexel University College of Nursing & Health Professions Division of Undergraduate Nursing 99 11
Galen College of Nursing 99 13
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) 99 11
Duquesne University School of Nursing 99 11
Michigan State University 98 16
Liberty University 98 24
Grand Valley State University 98 20
University of Delaware 98 20
Northern Arizona University 98 26
Northeastern University 98 20
University of Connecticut 98 15
Drexel University 98 18
Boston College 98 13
University of Massachusetts Lowell 98 11
Minnesota State University, Mankato 98 12
North Dakota State University 98 14
California State University San Marcos 98 16
New Mexico State University 98 10
Tarleton State University 98 10
University of Portland 98 20
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 98 10
Purdue University Northwest 98 11
Curry College 98 20
Mount Saint Mary College 98 15
University of St. Francis 98 10
Regis College 98 16
Clarkson College 98 10
University of Wisconsin-Madison 97 18
Brigham Young University 97 27
San Francisco State University 97 23
James Madison University 97 28
California State University-Sacramento 97 12
Illinois State University 97 13
Brigham Young University - Idaho 97 26
University of Cincinnati 97 22
Ball State University 97 12
Old Dominion University 97 13
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 97 15
University of Illinois at Chicago 97 15
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 97 20
Stephen F. Austin State University 97 17
Seton Hall University 97 10
New Jersey City University 97 10
Miami Dade College 97 19
West Coast University 97 126
The College of St. Scholastica 97 27
Molloy College 97 25
Indiana University Kokomo 97 10
Resurrection University 97 16
Penn State University 96 27
University of Central Florida 96 37
Texas A&M University 96 13
University of Florida 96 21
University of Arizona 96 15
University of Kentucky 96 14
The University of Alabama 96 16
University of South Carolina 96 14
University of New Hampshire 96 14
Boise State University 96 15
San Diego State University-California State University 96 12
Marquette University 96 13
University of San Francisco 96 33
University of Massachusetts Boston 96 19
Saginaw Valley State University 96 15
University of Missouri-Saint Louis 96 10
Ramapo College of New Jersey 96 16
Seattle University 96 22
National University 96 19
Bethel University 96 17
Creighton University 96 10
La Salle University 96 20
Midwestern State University 96 10
Saint Anselm College 96 10
King University 96 12
Mount Saint Mary's University 96 12
Mississippi University for Women 96 11
College of Mount Saint Vincent 96 14
Holy Family University 96 12
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 96 13
Samuel Merritt University 96 16
Arizona State University 95 42
Florida State University 95 13
Purdue University 95 24
University of Michigan 95 15
West Virginia University 95 18
University of Arkansas 95 29
Kennesaw State University 95 12
Sam Houston State University 95 16
The University of Akron 95 17
University of Miami 95 14
The University of Texas at El Paso 95 15
Loyola University Chicago 95 22
Azusa Pacific University 95 28
Capella University 95 51
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 95 19
California Baptist University 95 34
Winona State University 95 19
University of North Carolina Wilmington 95 12
Wilmington University 95 11
Salem State University 95 14
The University of Toledo 95 11
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 95 12
Stevenson University 95 10
University of Indianapolis 95 11
Valparaiso University 95 12
SUNY Brockport 95 12
Salve Regina University 95 10
MidAmerica Nazarene University 95 10
The Ohio State University 94 26
The University of Texas at Austin 94 22
University of South Florida 94 34
Western Governors University 94 227
San Jose State University 94 21
Kent State University 94 35
University of Pennsylvania 94 12
Texas Woman's University 94 39
Saint Louis University 94 18
Chamberlain University 94 250
Lamar University 94 16
University of Texas at Tyler 94 19
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 94 10
University of Michigan-Flint 94 14
Georgia College & State University 94 11
Bemidji State University 94 11
Pacific Lutheran University 94 11
Saint Xavier University 94 13
Jacksonville University 94 18
Wagner College 94 12
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 94 22
University of Detroit Mercy 94 16
Aspen University 94 10
Grand Canyon University 93 195
Auburn University 93 17
East Carolina University 93 36
Baylor University 93 13
Oakland University 93 23
Eastern Michigan University 93 14
California State University-San Bernardino 93 10
Texas Christian University 93 25
Northern Kentucky University 93 10
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 93 10
Villanova University 93 30
Indiana Wesleyan University 93 46
University of Central Missouri 93 10
Hunter College 93 18
Adelphi University 93 38
Sacred Heart University 93 15
Simmons College 93 10
University of Maryland School of Nursing 93 10
Ohio University 92 123
The University of Texas at Arlington 92 125
University of Rhode Island 92 27
Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis 92 11
Jacksonville State University 92 15
Olivet Nazarene University 92 17
Walden University 92 22
Union University 92 13
Mount Carmel College of Nursing 92 24
Loma Linda University 92 10
UT Health San Antonio 92 14
Southern New Hampshire University 91 25
New York University 91 17
Clemson University 91 21
Northern Illinois University 91 26
Weber State University 91 18
Indiana State University 91 14
South Dakota State University 91 16
Nova Southeastern University 91 33
Madonna University 91 14
Dominican University of California 91 13
Lourdes University 91 11
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 90 11
Western Kentucky University 90 10
University of Alabama at Birmingham 90 16
East Tennessee State University 90 20
University of Missouri-Kansas City 90 11
Case Western Reserve University 90 10
Davenport University 90 12
York College of Pennsylvania 90 13
South University 90 42
Cedarville University 90 15
Regis University 90 15
Chamberlain College of Nursing 90 116
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 90 44
Nevada State College 90 11
University of Phoenix 89 59
University of Washington 89 13
University of Utah 89 11
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 89 16
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 89 14
Winston-Salem State University 89 17
St. Petersburg College 89 13
Barry University 89 17
Herzing University 89 15
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center 89 17
Florida International University 88 22
Georgia Southern University 88 19
Montana State University-Bozeman 88 11
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 88 10
University of Nebraska Medical Center 88 13
George Mason University 87 18
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 87 13
Kaplan University 87 17
Immaculata University 87 15
Alverno College 87 13
Duquesne University 86 13
McNeese State University 86 17
University of Mississippi Medical Center 86 16
University of North Florida 84 14
Western Carolina University 84 10
University of West Georgia 83 13
Chamberlain College of Nursing-Addison Campus 83 14
Maryville University of Saint Louis 82 11
American Sentinel University 81 11
Thomas Jefferson University 80 12
Malone University 76 10
Georgia State University 74 14