Want to learn more about per diem nursing jobs in the state of Nevada? Find out why and how RNs, LPNs, & CNAs pick up PRN jobs in the Silver State.
Want to learn more about per diem nursing jobs in the state of Nevada? Find out why and how RNs, LPNs, & CNAs pick up PRN jobs in the Silver State.
If you are in the nursing field in Nevada, this guide is for you! Learn about average salaries for certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs), the highest-paying cities, the cheapest cities, the cost of living in the state, and more!
Plus, if you haven’t yet started nursing school, read on for a how-to guide to becoming a nurse in Nevada as well as a list of the top nursing programs in the state.
Want to become a nurse but aren’t sure how to go about it? Let us walk you through what you need to know to get started with your nursing career.
The first step is to decide which nursing license you would like to pursue: a practical nursing license or a registered nursing license.
Generally speaking, a practical nursing program is shorter and cheaper, which are initial advantages, but after graduation, practical nurses have less autonomy, more limited responsibilities, and lower salaries. Practical nursing programs take approximately one year to complete and prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Once graduates pass this exam, they receive their nursing licenses and can officially work as licensed practical nurses or LPNs.
There are different pathways to becoming a registered nurse, but the most common are the following: an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN). Although ADNs take approximately two years to complete, whereas BSNs take approximately four years, after completing either of these programs, graduates can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successful candidates then receive their nursing licenses and can begin working as registered nurses. Now, although RNs with ADNs earn more than practical nurses, they generally earn less than RNs with BSNs. Besides earning more than RNs with ADNs, RNs with BSNs also have more job opportunities and are better positioned to continue their studies, pursuing a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctorate of nursing practice (DNP).
Once you decide which type of license and program you want to pursue, read on for the best nursing programs in Nevada.
Since the last hurdle before receiving a nursing license is passing the NCLEX, a great indicator of a quality nursing program is a high first-time NCLEX pass rate. Therefore, to help you choose from the very best nursing programs in Nevada, we have compiled a list of the LPN programs with the highest first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates in 2022. For reference, the average national pass rate was 79.93% that year.
Source: Report 4 – Jurisdiction Program Summary of All First-Time Candidates Licensed in All Jurisdictions
Now, let’s take a look at the best ADN programs in Nevada. For reference, the average first-time NCLEX pass rate for ADN programs in the United States was 77.91% in 2022. The following ADN programs in Nevada all had significantly higher NCLEX-RN pass rates that same year:
Source: Report 4 – Jurisdiction Program Summary of All First-Time Candidates Licensed in All Jurisdictions
Nationwide, BSN programs have the highest average first-time NCLEX pass rates; in 2022, the national average was 82.32%. The following BSN programs in Nevada all boasted even higher NCLEX pass rates that year:
Source: Report 4 – Jurisdiction Program Summary of All First-Time Candidates Licensed in All Jurisdictions
Now you know which are the top nursing programs in Nevada. Click here for a complete list of approved nursing programs in this state.
Even if you have decided to become a nurse, working as a CNA is an excellent way to acquire experience in the nursing field and make money before or during nursing school. Of course, working as a CNA is an essential healthcare role in itself, and many people decide to work as CNAs long-term. That said, if you continue your studies to become an LPN or RN, you can significantly increase your salary
Training to become a CNA can take as little as four weeks, and there are even free programs available in Nevada. After completing a training program, graduates must pass the CNA State Board of Nursing Examination to obtain their CNA certification in Nevada.
Here is a complete list of CNA programs approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing.
How much do CNAs make in Nevada? Let’s find out! First, here are the average hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual CNA wages in Nevada:
Now, as valuable as averages are, not every CNA in Nevada will earn the average wage. Newly trained CNAs generally earn less, whereas experienced CNAs can earn quite a bit more. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the whole range of CNA salaries in Nevada:
Want to significantly increase your CNA pay? Here are the best CNA jobs in Nevada available now!
One of the factors that most affects CNA pay is location. Even within Nevada, CNA salary can vary by almost $4,000 annually based on this factor alone. Here are average CNA salaries in Nevada by location:
Want to know what other factors can affect CNA salary? Read our Ultimate Guide to CNA Pay [Updated 2023].
Did you know that Nevada is the fifth highest-paying state for LPNs? Here is how much you can expect to earn as an LPN in Nevada per hour, week, month, and year:
Now, you probably won’t earn this salary from the get-go; you’ll probably start out in the mid-forty-grand range and work your way up to the mid-seventy-grand range with years of work experience and nursing certifications. Here is the whole range of salary percentiles in Nevada from the lowest to the highest LPN salaries:
Per diem nursing jobs are a great way to significantly increase your hourly wage—even without twenty years of work experience under your scrubs. Browse the best LPN jobs in Nevada here!
Work experience is not the only factor that affects LPN pay. One of the main determinants—even within Nevada—is location. Here are average LPN salaries in Nevada by location:
Want to know what else can affect LPN pay? Read our Ultimate Guide to LPN Pay [Updated 2023].
Want to know how much you can make with an RN license in Nevada? Nevada is actually the tenth highest-paying state for RNs and the sixth best-paying state for RNs after factoring in the cost of living. We won’t keep you on the edge of your seat any longer; here are the average RN wages in Nevada per hour, week, month, and year:
Want to know what an entry-level RN wage is in Nevada or how much you can make after years of work experience and nursing certifications under your scrubs? Here is the whole range of RN salaries in Nevada from the lowest to the highest:
Browse the best per diem RN jobs in Nevada here!
Looking for the best cities for registered nursing jobs in Nevada? Here are average RN salaries in Nevada from the highest- to the lowest-paying locations:
Although where you live and how long you’ve been a nurse can give you a pretty good idea of your potential RN salary in Nevada, RN pay is quite a bit more complex than that. To learn more about the factors influencing RN salary, read our Ultimate Guide to Registered Nurse (RN) Pay [Updated 2023].
Now that you know how much you can make in Nevada in the nursing field, you are probably wondering whether your potential salary will be enough to cover basic living expenses. Is it expensive to live in Nevada? How much money do you need to live comfortably in Nevada? Read on for the answers to all your questions regarding the cost of living in The Silver State.
According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, updated in 2023, the living wage for a single adult in Nevada is $17.02 per hour at a full-time job. This hourly wage can cover a person’s basic living expenses as long as they don’t have any dependents to support as well. Do you have a partner and/or children to support? If so, your living wage will be significantly higher.
Here’s how much single parents must make per hour to support one or more children in Nevada:
Now, if you have a partner who is a stay-at-home parent, your living wage will be lower since you wouldn’t have to pay for childcare. If this is your case, here is how much you must make per hour to support your family based on your number of children:
Finally, if both you and your partner work, here is how much you each must make per hour to cover your family’s living expenses:
Want to know where all this money goes? The following tables provide the breakdown of typical living expenses in Nevada households based on the number of adults and children in the household and the role of each adult.
Here you can find basic living expenses in households with one adult with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2023. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/32
Here are typical expenses in households with two adults—one at home and one working—with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2023. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/32
Finally, here are typical expenses in households with two working adults with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2023. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/32
Just as CNA, LPN, and RN salaries in Nevada vary from one location to another, so does the living wage. In fact, basic annual living expenses can vary by almost $3,000. Here are the hourly and annual living wages in Nevada from the cheapest to the most expensive locations:
Source: Table created with data from the MIT living wage calculator.
Ultimately, the best cities in Nevada for nurses and nursing assistants are the ones in which the potential salary—based on the type of license—stretches the farthest. This table, with the annual living wage and average CNA, LPN, and RN salaries in each area, can help us determine the best city for each type of nurse or nursing assistant. Let’s take a look!
Table created based on data from the MIT living wage calculator and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Although Carson City does not offer the highest average CNA salary, it is the city in which a CNA salary stretches the farthest—offering CNAs over $7,000 above the annual living wage.
Carson City also offers the best cost-of-living-adjusted compensation for LPNs since the average LPN salary is nearly as high as that in Reno—the highest-paying location—but the living wage is significantly lower.
On the other hand, for RNs, the best-paying area is Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise—even after factoring in the cost of living in these cities.
Of course, when in Nevada, you have to visit the Entertainment Capital of the World. On the 4.2 miles of the Strip alone, you can find casinos, fine dining, shopping for all price tags, shows, and spas—to mention a few. One of the greatest attractions on the Strip, which also happens to be free, is the Fountains of Bellagio. This display of water, light, and sound covers 1,000 feet and soars 460 feet into the air. Plus, no matter how many times you visit the fountains, you will see a new spectacle each time.
Also, consider exploring Vegas from above, either from the 550-foot-tall High Roller, the second-largest Ferris wheel in the world, or on a helicopter tour! If you were looking for things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada, with kids, these two attractions would certainly be unforgettable experiences for the whole family.
Las Vegas is certainly not all Nevada has to offer. Here are some other must-see attractions in Nevada:
Hands down, Nevada is one of the best states for nurses—not only because of its high salaries for nurses but also because of its relatively low cost of living.
Plus, it doesn’t have too many nursing programs to choose from, but it has some quality options.
Aside from these practical considerations, Nevada also has a variety of attractions for all ages and interests. Aren’t sure if Nevada is the right place for you? Pick up some per diem nursing shifts and see how you like living and working in this state. After all, you don’t have to be a travel nurse to travel!
Explore and find where you would like to work
Connect to per diem shift opportunities in your area. High paying CNA, LPN and RN shifts are now available.
Pick Up ShiftFacilities who use Nursa fill 3 times as many open per diem shifts, on average, compared to trying to fill the shifts themselves.
Post a Shift
