Pennsylvania, known as the Keystone State, was the birthplace for this country’s Constitution and its flag, and it was the second state to be admitted into the Union. The state, therefore, is filled with historical features, but cultural activities, small home-town areas and mountain trails offer modern diversity for the person who visits or lives here. Nurses can find numerous opportunities for employment or education in places such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Johnstown and Harrisburg; but, opportunities exist throughout the state in smaller towns such as Wilkes-Barre, York and Lancaster.

Becoming a Nurse in Pennsylvania

Nurses can earn certifications and an associate’s degree or a BSN or MSN through various schools located in Pennsylvania. A handful of the opportunities offered include DeSales University in Center Valley, where a nurse can earn a degree in programs such as adult care, family care and midwifery; Clarion University of Pennsylvania in Oil City, where a nurse can earn a degree in community health, education and management; and, Carlow College in Pittsburgh, which offers the MSN and BSN in programs such as case management, community health, home health and pathology.

Nursing Jobs in Pennsylvania

A sampling of Pennsylvania’s largest health care employers include Uniontown Hospital in Fayette County, Saint Vincent Health System in Erie, and Genesis HealthCare in Kennett Square. Select Medical Corporation, located in Mechanicsburg, currently operates 97 specialty hospitals, approximately 605 outpatient rehabilitation clinics and also provides medical rehabilitation services on a contract basis at nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living and senior care centers, schools, private homes and worksites. Salaries for nurses in this state vary, depending upon the experience of the nurse, the degree earned, and the job description and location. For example, an LPN in Erie can average about $36,000 per year, and that same LPN can earn about $39,000 per year. An RN in this state can average between $47,000 and $104,000 per year.