Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on caring for individuals, families, and communities from birth to death. Nurses work in various specialties independently and as part of a team to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care. There are many types of nursing degrees and programs that can be pursued, from vocational programs to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Nurses earn competitive salaries and benefits packages that vary depending on their level of experience, specialty, location, and other factors, with the average salary for registered nurses in the US being around $41,000-$45,000 annually.