MEMPHIS, TN - Ambre Huff is a precious commodity in the health care industry. She's a pediatric nurse practitioner at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center. A dedicated medical professional, Huff loves her job and her patients.
"Kids are amazing to work with," says Huff. "They always smile, no matter what. There's always something good with them. They're not negative and always have something positive to say. And they're always so appreciative of what you do for them."
There is a critical shortage of registered nurses in the U.S. right now. Analysts say at least a million will be needed in 2009. And the job pays well. The average salary for a registered nurse is more than $50,000 a year.
According to a new survey by U.S. News and World Report, other hot jobs in the future include firefighters, with an average salary of $44,000.
Educators are also in high demand. And the average salary for a teacher in the U.S. is $53,000.
Also on the list of best careers: librarian, locksmith, hairstylist and school psychologist.
While the money may be good in her chosen field, Ambre Huff says nursing is all about the people. And, she says, it's about the satisfaction of knowing she's made a difference in someone's life.
"You have to be dedicated," says Huff. "You have to care about people. And I think the best encouragement for going into nursing is knowing that you're changing lives. Not only are you changing your patient's life, you're changing their family's life, too."
Huff earned a four-year degree in nursing and went on to get a Master's to become a pediatric practitioner. But to become a registered nurse, you only need to take a two year associate's course and pass a national licensing exam.
You can access the full list of Best Careers in 2009 compiled by U.S. News and World Report by clicking here: www.usnews.com/sections/business/best-careers/index.html
