Nursing is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country for many reasons, including increased demand for services because of the upcoming Affordable Care Act, expected to add millions of Americans to healthcare field tallies, as well as an increasingly aging population. As a result, supply can't meet the growing demand, and many great opportunities are currently vacant in the industry.

This provides a great opportunity for registered nurses or professionals with certifications in medical assistance, and taking a few steps to present yourself well can make you the perfect candidate for medical facilities in need.

Nursing jobs are expected to increase by more than 25 percent from now to 2020, which is almost double the projected increase in overall employment, according to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Skilled positions will especially rise in demand as hospitals increasingly put faith in extensive training. Higher rates of education have been attributed to lead to lower morbidity and mortality rates for patients, an expert told the news source.

Nursing also provides great financial stability for candidates, another great advantage of joining the industry. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers place the average nursing salary at $65,000, with specialty nurses expected to demand more than $100,000 per year.

"As the healthcare industry continues to transform, and the demand for health services rises, medical facilities are increasingly turning towards higher level nurses such as nurse practitioners, certified nurse specialists, and clinical nurse specialists to manage the patient load and make important care decisions," says Alison Kuhns, Managing Director of The Execu|Search Group's Healthcare division. "Many medical facilities don't just prefer a Master's Degree for their leadership positions, they require it.  As a result, if you are a nurse looking for career advancement, earning a Master's degree is the best way to accomplish this."

Demand for skilled nurses rising
Many hospitals are now requiring their nurses to pursue more education than ever, according to the news source, as more and more are looking to qualify for a program recognizing healthcare organizations for excellence in their field. Pursuing a Master's degree to become an advanced nurse practitioner can decidedly improve a candidate's salary and benefits, as more opportunities arise from the added education – in addition to being a nurse practitioner, they can also become clinical nurse specialists and case managers.

Especially high demand in the industry searches for registered nurses available to work in a variety of hospital departments including emergency rooms, pediatric facilities and oncology departments, as well as case managers, according to Amanda Cruse, Managing Director of the Healthcare division of The Execu|Search Group.

Candidates who decide they do not want to pursue a Master's, but still want to improve their knowledge in a specialized subject, can obtain additional training and education in a specific area, earning additional qualifications to bolster their resume and experience.

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which is expected to cause more than 30 million Americans to begin pursuing enrollment for health care coverage in the near future beginning in early 2014, is also expected to lead to a large increase in employment overall, especially for nursing. Those looking to join the nursing career should emphasize their education and specialized skills, giving hiring professionals a wide variety of abilities to examine and use to make their decisions.

Temporary employees are also in demand by approximately one-third of all hospitals, according to Health Care Global, with traveling nurses commonly desired to fill vacancies for periods of time that vary from weeks to years. Not only do temporary nurses allow hospitals more time to recruit nurses for permanent positions instead of rushing to decisions, but they also allow their employees more freedom in work and location.

If considering a specialty or graduate program, a candidate needs to weigh the advantages they can gain in their own career from various different paths, whether they go for another degree or additional certifications. The opportunity is there, with worthwhile benefits, should they choose to pursue them.