Nurses in New York State provide a vital array of services. As the population ages and extended health care becomes the norm, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects U.S. nursing career opportunities to increase, growing faster than the national average between 2008 and 2018. For aspiring health services professionals, online nursing schools in New York allow individuals to continue working while studying.

The BLS reports the following data for nurses in New York State, as of May 2010:

• 169,710 registered nurses earned a mean annual wage of $74,000, higher than the national rate of $67,720
• 45,100 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses had a mean annual salary of $42,730

The BLS reports that RNs make up the largest portion of workers in the health care industry. About 60 percent of RNs work in hospitals, but other opportunities and positions are found in skilled nursing facilities, specialized clinics, or in advanced care specialties. A nurse's level of education affects earnings, career growth and scope of practice.

New York nursing schools: online and on-campus

The state is home to well over 100 nursing programs, with classes for nursing career advancement. Paths include LVN to RN, as well as RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Other courses are designed for nurses holding BSNs who want to pursue a graduate degree. Numerous certification and continuing education classes are available.

Online nursing schools in New York allow for flexible learning; as just one example, Mercy College offers an online RN to BS program. Some of these virtual programs complement on-campus training, while others are geared toward those who seek to explore nursing before gaining clinical experience.