This Week's Top Nursing Jobs and Headlines

Your twice-weekly roundup of nursing news, work trends, and opportunities

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses for nurses. This week, we break down new federal nurse salary data, why more clinicians are pushing to unionize, and a new apprenticeship model designed to help grow the nursing workforce, plus the latest nursing jobs available.

But first....

Featured Jobs

Have you applied to a job through Nurse Ascent? Forward us a copy or screenshot of your completed application and you'll be entered to win a $50 gift card!

🩺

CRNA, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian

Smyrna, DE

$270,000 - $335,000 per year

Apply Now →

☤

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Glens Falls Center

Queensbury, NY

$29.87 to $35.64 hourly

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♡

Nurse Practitioner - Family Medicine, Banner Health

Gilbert, AZ

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💉

Trauma Surgical Nursing, Mercy Hospital St Louis

Saint Louis, MO

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Nurse Practitioner, VitalCore Health Strategies

Jackson, MI

Apply Now →

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Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner (NP), AMN Healthcare

Lancaster, CA

Apply Now →

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Headlines in Healthcare

Where nurses actually earn the most may surprise you

New federal wage data shows nurse pay continues rising across the country, but where nurses keep the most purchasing power looks very different once cost of living is factored in, according to Nurse.org. While California leads the nation in raw RN pay at $72.25 per hour, Oregon ranks highest after adjusting for cost of living. The data also highlights the widening pay gap between RNs and advanced practice roles, with nurse practitioners projected to see 40% job growth over the next decade and CRNAs earning a national average of nearly $250,000 annually.

Massachusetts is launching new nursing apprenticeships

Four Massachusetts hospitals and colleges are partnering to launch new nursing apprenticeship programs designed to help students earn income while completing their nursing education, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. The programs, expected to open in early 2027, will support both LPN and RN pathways through paid on-the-job training combined with classroom education. Supporters say the model could help address staffing shortages by making nursing education more financially accessible and creating stronger pipelines into hospital systems.

More clinicians are pushing to unionize

Clinicians across the country are increasingly pursuing union representation as concerns over staffing shortages, burnout, pay, and retention continue to grow, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Multiple organizing efforts involving nurses, physicians, and advanced practice providers have emerged in 2026, including at hospitals in Wisconsin and Chicago where nurses say chronic understaffing and workplace pressures are affecting both staff well-being and patient care. Hospitals, meanwhile, are facing rising labor costs as workforce spending continues climbing nationwide.

Share your story & be entered to win

As part of our effort to spotlight nurses, we’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of Nurse Ascent! Share your story by filling out our quick interview form, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.

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