💡 Why it matters: Nurses are the biggest group of health workers, and many countries need far more of them than they have.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Nigeria needs far more nurses than it has.
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦1.5M – ₦3.5M
- Mid-career
- ₦3.5M – ₦7M
- Senior
- ₦7M – ₦15M
≈ ₦292k – ₦583k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Check patients' temperature, blood pressure and pulse
- Give medicines and dress wounds
- Comfort patients and explain care to families
- Work with doctors to follow treatment plans
- Keep clear records of each patient's progress
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Compassion
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Stamina
- Communication
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- School of Nursing followed by a post-basic course
- Postgraduate nursing specialisation such as critical care
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Registered nurse degree apprenticeship (level 6)
- Start as a healthcare assistant or nursing associate, then top up to a degree
🇺🇸 United States
- Start as a nursing assistant or LPN (licensed practical nurse), then bridge to RN
- Hospital diploma programmes in some areas
🇨🇦 Canada
- Bridge from practical nurse (LPN) to RN
- Joint college and university programmes
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Biology and Chemistry at school
- 2Get into a nursing school or a university nursing programme
- 3Pass the nursing licensing exam in your country
- 4Work in a hospital ward or clinic
- 5Specialise in areas like theatre, children or emergency care
⏰ A day in the life
You begin your shift with a handover from the night team. You take patients' vital signs, give medicines on time, help a new mum with her baby and keep a frightened child calm before a procedure.