No matter where I've lived in the good ole' U.S. of A., I've been told that there is always a need for nurses. But it's wonderful to live in a state that checks in as the #1 hotspot in the nation for them.

Being a nurse is far from easy, although many of them make it look that way.

There are big demands on the men and women who don the scrubs every day and help folks like you and me get through whatever it is that's ailing our fragile bodies.

From overstaffing to understaffing to mandatory overtime and, in some cases, the pressure to unionize, and ornery patients behavior, these nurses seem to be able to execute their skill at the highest levels despite some the oppositions.

According to our friends at, in the U.S., nursing occupations are some of the most lucrative careers with some of the lowest unemployment rates. That can be good for the nurse and for the people in the communities they serve.

In Maine, the occupation of nursing has made it's way to 'rock star' status.

Source: WalletHub

Wallethub and their crew took the time to come to this conclusion based on two key measures. Opportunity & Compensation and Work Environment.

Based on their findings, here are the top 5 best states for nurses

  1. Maine - The best!
  2. Montana
  3. Washington
  4. Wyoming
  5. New Mexico

Based on their findings, here are the top 5 worst states for nurses

  1. District of Columbia - The worst!
  2. Hawaii
  3. Vermont
  4. Alabama
  5. Louisiana

Some of the highlights in the state of Maine is that they are in a 3-way tie for first place for Most Nursing Job Opportunites per Capita.

Maine ranks #2 for the highest percentage of the population aged 65 and older by 2030. Florida ranked #1 and Wyoming followed #3 behind Maine.