In this episode of Beyond the Bedside, Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, discuss the surprising new rankings from U.S. News & World Report and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on the best healthcare jobs in 2026.
While roles like nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and speech-language pathologist top the list, something shocking stands out — registered nurses (RNs) are missing entirely. With more than 4 million nurses in the United States, how can one of the most essential professions in healthcare be left off the list?
Betty and Rebecca dive into the bigger picture behind the rankings, including:
• the growing nursing shortage
• the rising cost of nursing education
• concerns about work-life balance and job safety
• the need for better public relations and recruitment for nursing
• how media coverage shapes public perception of healthcare careers
They also discuss what healthcare leaders, national nursing organizations, and policymakers should be doing now to address a workforce crisis that could impact patients, hospitals, and families across the country.
Despite the challenges, this episode also highlights why nursing remains one of the most meaningful and impactful careers in healthcare. If you’re a nurse, healthcare professional, caregiver, or someone considering a career in healthcare, this conversation sheds light on the future of the profession and why the story of nursing deserves to be told.
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