Nurses are essential in today’s healthcare system and take on an enormous amount of responsibility for their patients’ health and well-being. Of all nursing roles, registered nurses (RNs) are by far the most prolific. In Illinois, there are over 100,000 RNs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this number is projected to soar in the near future. Registered nursing is one of the professions with the highest job growth in the country, projected to grow by 19% over the next decade.
Registered nurses are not only becoming more numerous, but their role is rapidly expanding to meet the growing need for care. RNs are now entrusted to perform many of the tasks traditionally ascribed only to doctors, making it essential that they have the best training and education available. Therefore, there has been a strong shift toward higher education in nursing, and it is becoming increasingly important for aspiring RNs to earn bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and/or master of science in nursing (MSN) degrees. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have recommended 80% of the nursing workforce to hold BSN degrees by the year 2020.
Illinois is also home to major healthcare employers such as The University of Chicago Hospitals and Tenet Health. Nurses holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees can expect to earn at least $50,000 and up to well above $100,000 per year, depending upon experience and degree of specialization.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the education options in Illinois, take a look at the below list of the top four-year colleges and universities for nursing in the state.