The 15 happiest nurse jobs (2024)

FAQs

What field of nursing is the happiest? ›

Working as an office nurse is one of the most relaxed options for RNs seeking a career change. Office nurses work in clinics with set hours and provide basic, non-emergency medical care.

Case in point, within all general areas of nursing, the Medical ICU, Trauma ICU, Peds ICU, Neonatal ICU, are perceived to require the highest skill set of nurses.

Many nurses in clinical roles report high burnout and low job satisfaction. But what are the best nursing fields? The roles with the highest job satisfaction include nurse educator, home health nurse, and nurse manager. These roles provide a balance between caring for patients and working with other nurses.

Private Duty Nursing

This career is absolutely perfect for introverts who want to help people, but do not enjoy frequent social interactions. Private duty nurses typically care for patients in their homes for a variety of reasons.

Occupational Health

One of the easiest nursing jobs to get into is in the field of occupational health. Occupational health nurses work in large industries, HMOs, and factories to treat work-related injuries and onsite illnesses. This type of nurse is employed to keep the workers on the job.

Occupational health nursing is one of the best nursing jobs for work-life balance. You can enjoy predictable hours and focus on preventing issues rather than tackling emergencies. Working in corporate settings, you'll contribute to employee well-being by managing health and safety programs.

Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have the least education requirements among nurses and therefore tend to make lower incomes than other nursing specialties. LVNs and LPNs can increase their income by getting an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in nursing.

What is the average age nurses retire? ›

The average nurse age is 46 years, according to the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey. On average, Americans retire around 62, although some nurses manage to retire in their fifties, and others extend their work life well into their seventies.

Office Nurse

One of the happiest nursing jobs is a position as an office nurse. Nurses who work in a physician or other outpatient office provide direct care to patients for chronic or non-urgent conditions.

The states that pay nurses the most are California, Hawaii, and Oregon, with California paying the most with an average of $133,340 wage per year. When looking at this list, it's also helpful to know that all three are in the top 10 for the highest cost of living as well.

The Buckeye State actually takes the cake as the longest state to get licensed in, on average, and with attractive Midwestern cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, many nurses in the surrounding states (and beyond) go through Ohio's long licensure process.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the nursing profession is the privilege of helping others in their time of need. Nurses have the unique opportunity to build meaningful relationships with their patients and be a trusted healthcare professional.