Alabama’s need for nurses is great, as the population in this state is 4.5 million and growing. Every major city and town offers nursing students a place to study, and the state actively supports continuous education and advanced certification options for its nurses.

Becoming a Nurse in Alabama

Some nursing schools in Alabama include the Auburn University School of Nursing, located in Auburn and in Montgomery. They specialize in adult care, anatomy, community health, nutrition and more, offering BSN and RN-BSN degrees. Bevill States Community College in Sumiton provides their students with LPN/LVN licenses and the RN certification. Jacksonville State University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers many of the same programs as Auburn University, but they also provide AIDS/HIV education, gerontology and rural nursing. A student can earn a BSN or MSN through several specialties at this school. The student can find many other schools in all areas of Alabama.

Nursing Jobs in Alabama

According to the Alabama Minimum Nursing Salary Matrix [PDF], the average salaries for LPN, RN and specialty nurses range between $19,000 and $41,564 annually for the first three to six years in the field. These salaries, however, would fluctuate depending upon expertise and location and size of the health facility. For instance, an emergency RN in Birmingham could make $70,000 per year, whereas that same nurse may make $68,000 per year in Dothan, Alabama. Some of the largest employers for nurses in Alabama include the University of Alabama Health System, with locations throughout the state; Huntsville Hospital; and Southeast Alabama Medical Center, located in Dothan.