Nursing Careers: Become a Registered Nurse

Name: Michele
Job Title:Registered Nurse / Nursing Coordinator
Where: Ellisville, MO - USA
Years of Experience: 5 years as Nursing Coordinator, 20 years as Registered Nurse
Other Relevant Experience: Various CNA, Rehabilitation, and RN positions, including Hospital, Rehab, Home Health Aide, Hospice and Home Care, Charge Nurse, Evening Supervisor, Staff Development Coordinator, and Nurse Assessor for LTC Policies.
Annual Salary: The median nursing salary starts out just above $21.00 per hour and increases to almost $30.00 per hour after 20 years of experience.

Nursing careers are appealing for many reasons. One positive aspect of nursing careers is the opportunity to serve others through medical treatment and rehabilitation. Nursing careers also boast a glowing job outlook that has consistently risen along with increasing demand for registered nurses. Plus, nursing careers offer a wide range of employment options within various sectors of the health care field. When you become a registered nurse, you open the door to a variety of nursing career paths, including forensic nursing careers, traveling nurse careers, and nurse coordinator careers.

For the following Salary Story, we take a brief look at the career path of Michele, a registered nurse with 20 years of experience in the health care field. Interested in medicine and health care from a young age, Michele originally built up her knowledge and expertise as a registered nurse before moving to her current position as a nursing coordinator. She now teaches classes and provides management to nursing staff. Learn what an upper-level nursing career is like, and use PayScale’s research center to explore registered nurse salaries and get information on becoming a nurse.

Job Description - Nurse Coordinator

I research and prepare in-service materials, and teach in-services and CNA classes to nursing staff. I audit performance skills for nursing staff, and teach orientation classes, and also serve on CQI, safety, infection control and department manager committees.

PayScale: What made you interested in a nursing career?

At 13 years old, I had my tonsils removed. I was told in college that I should be an English teacher, but I always had a love for medical topics. I think both taking care of my mother when she developed peritonitis and my father passing away from cancer really influenced me to become a registered nurse.

Exercise Physiologist Salaries and Careers

Name: Sharleen Jones
Job Title:Exercise Physiologist/Wellness Consultant
Where: Moose Jaw, Canada
Employer: Self-Employed
Years of Experience: 10
Education: University of Regina. Bachelor of Physical Activity Studies. Additional  certification as Certified Personal Trainer, Professional Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant, Certified Exercise Physiologist.
Annual Salary: See PayScale's Research Center to find the average salary of a personal trainer and exercise physiologist salaries.

As more and more people look to "tone-up," fitness gurus are "tuning-in" to learn how to become a personal trainer, get certified as an exercise physiologist, or pursue other careers related to health and fitness. The fitness industry is a booming, multi-billion dollar industry. This means a positive outlook for the job growth rate of an exercise physiologist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fitness workers can expect a 27 percent growth in employment opportunities over the next 10 years. And while one career choice is to work at a club like 24 Hour Fitness, a wide range of career options exist outside of the corporate fitness world. Sharleen Jones is a certified personal trainer who is actually her own boss. Read on for her inside scoop on how to become a personal trainer, and check out PayScale's exercise physiologist and personal trainer salary data for more information on the average salary of a personal trainer and salary for exercise physiologist. 

How would you describe your job as a Certified Personal Trainer?
Sharleen: I provide clients with extensive lifestyle management programs based on their own genetic profile. Once they have enrolled in my program I coach and support them through their lifestyle changes. An initial consultation involves a thorough needs analysis, which gages a client's genetic dominances, past and present lifestyle habits, health challenges, goals and other special considerations.

Based on the analysis, I then recommend a "lifestyle plan" that will best meet their needs. A "lifestyle plan" will include elements of personal coaching, group support, teleconference support, web support, personalized exercise programs, personalized supplementation packages, restorative skincare programs, hydration programs, biofeedback stress management, comprehensive lifestyle education, goal achievement rewards like manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, etc.

Once, a "lifestyle plan" has been decided upon, the next step is to provide the client with a customized nutrition, exercise, and supplementation program. I'll also have a thorough orientation appointment with them to get them started off on the right foot. Over the ensuing 6 months I have regular contact with the client on a predetermined schedule through email, telephone or in-person communication. We'll review the previous program period, and create an action-plan for the upcoming week/month. I also offer in-person group services and group teleconference support, on a weekly basis, and I daily monitor an online forum for 24 hour client support.

As I am self-employed, my paycheck is dependent on how much business I generate. So, I do daily activities to generate business by putting up posters in my community, emailing specials to existing and potential clients, and offering free wellness newsletters and seminars. Local joint venture partnerships are a critical part of my business for referrals, so I also spend time developing and maintaining those types of business partnerships.

PayScale: How did you get started as a Certified Personal Trainer ?
Sharleen: I have always loved anything to do with health and wellness so it was a no-brainer to go into an activity-related field. I have always known that this is the area I wanted to work in. I am absolutely passionate about improving the health and lives of the people around me. After working in several related jobs I came to a few conclusions: I like to be independent with my work, I like to work with clients who are proactive and self-motivated, and I want to have a large sphere of influence. I want to be able to reach people all over the world, not limit it to my own little community.

By working in various jobs in my industry, I also learned first-hand some of the limitations of our line of work, and I wanted to be able to offer other health and wellness professionals an opportunity to work independently. So, last year I made the decision to work on my own and created a brand new fat loss and athletic performance program called The Balanced Body System. Not only are we helping change the lives of clients but we also offer an incredible opportunity for anyone with a passion for health and wellness to have a viable and thriving independent business that isn't dependent on fee-for-service, which can be full of hassles.

Clinical Dietitian Salaries

Name: Hope Gardner
Job Title: Clinical Dietitian, previously a Dietary Aide
Where: Columbia, South Carolina
Employer: Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital
Education: Master's of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from LA TECH University
Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Annual Salary: $45,000 (To see Clinical Dietitian salaries by years of experience, visit the PayScale Research Center. Also find information on other medical jobs, including Medical Laboratory Technician salaries).

Hope Gardner has found her perfect career fit, combining a love of food and a passion for helping people.  Beginning her career as a Dietary Aide, Hope is now a Clinical Dietitian, rehabilitating patients through dietary counseling. Here, Hope shares what she loves most about her job, and outlines a possible career path for anyone considering a job as a Dietary Aide or Clinical Dietitian.

Clinical Dietitian Job Description and Duties of a Dietitian:
Complete nutritional assessments of patients to determine if they are at risk of being malnourished, counsel patients on diets, importance of nutrition, also work with registered nurses (RNs), and physical and occupational therapists for the best possible rehab potential for a patient.

PayScale: How did you get started as a Clinical Dietitian?
Hope: "I love food and wanted to help people and didn't want to be a chef (late nights) or a nurse (hate needles). I'm perfectly right in the middle of both of these!"

Family Physician Salaries

Name: Margie C. Sweeney, M.D.
Job Title: Family Physician
Where: Louisville, KY
Employer: Central State Hospital
Years of Experience: 24
Education: M.D. degree from Indiana University School of Medicine
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for average physician salaries.

Family Physician Salaries

What career involves helping people of all different ages and backgrounds while earning a six digit salary? If you guessed family physician, you're right. We interviewed Dr. Margie C. Sweeney to find out what it takes to make it through med school and begin a successful career as a family doctor. If you've ever wanted to know how to become a physician, then this Salary Story is just what the doctor ordered.

Dr. Sweeney described the outlook for family physician jobs, factors that can affect physician salaries after residency, as well as the many career options available to family physicians. She also told us about why her family physician career is so rewarding. For those interested in average physician salaries and careers in the medical field, this interview is the right medicine!

Starting Salary for Physical Therapy Assistants

Name: Steve Brown
Job Title: Physical Therapy Assistant
Where: Caldwell, ID
Employer: Peoplefirst Rehabilitation
Years of Experience: 10
Education: A.A.S. (Associate of Applied Science) From Idaho State University
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for the median salary of physical therapy assistant professionals.

Starting Salary for Physical Therapy Assistants

What is the yearly salary for a physical therapy assistant? If you've pondered this question and what physical therapy assistant work settings are really like, then you don't want to miss this Salary Story with physical therapy assistant Steve Brown.

He walked us through the factors that can affect a physical therapist assistant hourly wage, the training for physical therapy assistants and how to find jobs in physical therapy assistant fields. If you're interested in this growing career and the pay scale for physical therapy assistants, this interview will guide you through the steps.

Dental Assistant Salaries and Career Options

Name: Melissa McKaig
Job Title: Dental Assistant
Where: Glendale, AZ
Employer: Westside Endodontic Professionals
Years of Experience: 4
Education: Associate Degree, The Bryman School in Phoenix
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for median dental assistant salaries.

Dental Assistant Salaries and Career Options

For those interested in dental assistant salaries and career options, this Salary Story provides a perfect introduction. In this interview, Melissa McKaig explains the difference between dental assistant and dental hygienist positions, and gives helpful info on the outlook for dental assistant jobs.

Melissa also discusses dental assistant salaries, certifications for dental assistants, requirements for dental assistant jobs, and how to become a dental assistant. If you're wondering how to earn the best dental assistant salaries and develop a successful career, open wide and keep reading!

Salary of Surgical Technologist

Name: Patricia Eder, CST/SA/CTBS
Job Title: Surgical Technologist/Surgical Assistant
Where: Kenosha, WI
Employer: Aurora Health Care
Years of Experience: 34
Education: Associate Degree +
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for median salaries for surgical technologist professionals.

Salary of Surgical Technologist

How much do surgical technologists make? In this Salary Story, surgical technologist Patricia Eder told us about her life as a surgical technologist, how education can affect the salary of surgical technologist professionals and the impact of HMOs on surgical technologist job listings.

When she's not performing the duties of surgical technologist pros, Patricia is busy keeping the world clean with her natural soaps at Patti's Potions. For readers interested in salaries for surgical technologists, or who want info on becoming a surgical technologist, this interview is the right procedure.

Nurse Anesthetist Salary and Salary Range

Name: Terry Freemark
Job Title: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Where: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Employer: Hospital
Years of Experience: 10+
Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for a Nurse Anesthetist Salary and Salary Range.

Nurse Anesthetist Salary and Salary Range

If you asked most people, they probably wouldn't be able to give you a nurse anesthetist job description. In this Salary Story, nurse anesthetist Terry Freemark solves the mystery. He describes his nurse anesthetist career and sheds light on nurse anesthetist study programs, the typical nurse anesthetist work schedule and factors that can affect the average nurse anesthetist salary.

Terry also covers the future of nurse anesthetist employment, a nurse anesthetist career description and the steps in preparing to become a nurse anesthetist. If you're looking for a challenging profession in a medical field, a nurse anesthetist career may be the perfect choice. As you will soon read, reparing for a nurse anesthetist career requires intensive study and training, but the outcome is a rewarding nursing position that plays a critical role in health care.

If you want to learn more about what to expect from a nurse anesthetist career and a certified nurse anesthetist salary, this interview will not put you to sleep!

Physician Assistant Salaries: A Day in the Life of a Physician Assistant

Name: Teresa Holler
Job Title: Physician Assistant
Where: Roanoke, Virginia
Employer: Self-Employed, Holler4Yourhealth.com
Years of Experience: 12
Education: Siena College, BA in biology, Touro College, BA physicians assistant program, Alderson-Broaddus, MA in medicine
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for median physician assistant salaries.

Physician Assistant Salaries: A Day in the Life of a Physician Assistant

For readers who don't want to endure years and years of medical school, but still want to work in medicine, this interview with physician assistant Teresa Holler may be the right prescription. She gave us an overview of different physician assistant jobs, direct entry physician assistant programs, the required education of a physician assistant and a day in the life of a physician assistant.

This interview also covers cardiology physician assistant jobs, colleges with physician assistant programs, how to find physician assistant jobs, physician assistant salaries, and the outlook for a physician assistant career today. Teresa told us what factors can affect physician assistant salaries and the typical physician assistant salary range. For those interested in physician assistant jobs or a medical career, keep reading!

What it Takes to Become a Chiropractor

Name: Steven Shoshany D.C, C.C.E.P.
Job Title: Chiropractor
Where: Manhattan, NY
Employer: Self-Employed
Years of Experience: 11 months
Education: Undergraduate CUNY NY, Post graduate Life, Chiropractic Atlanta Ga. Doctor of Chiropractic
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for the median chiropractor salary.

What it Takes to Become a Chiropractor

If you've ever wondered about the average chiropractor salary or what it takes to become a chiropractor, then don't miss this interview with Steven Shoshany.  This Manhattan chiropractor gave us a rare peek into chiropractic school, chiropractor jobs, factors that affect a chiropractor salary and how to become a chiropractor.

If you're interested in becoming a chiropractor, curious about the typical chiropractor salary or want to know what questions to ask a chiropractor, this Salary Story should bring your career goals into alignment!