Could this be the best occupation for 2009?

Here's a rarity in today's lousy economy.

There's a occupation that's in such high demand, those having the qualifications are actually being offered PERKS from companies in dire need of their services.

What do you think that cherished occupation is?

Could it be some new sort of computer scientist? Someone well-versed in how to "green-itize" polluting companies? Or maybe something in the entertainment industry to help us take our collective minds off of the hellish economic news we're being bombarded with every day?

Nope. Ir's none of those.

The occupation in uber-demand right now is none other than...

Nurses.

Yes, that's right. Nurses are in such high demand right now that certain health facilities are offering them flat-screen TVs, GPS devices, and $1,000 gift cards to hire on. There's a nationwide shortage of them, and competition for their services is fierce.

Residential Home Health in Michigan offers nurses a chance to win a free one-year lease of an SUV. And Milwaukee's Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare gives applicants $50 gas cards just for interviewing!

The Labor Dept. expects 233,000 new positions for registered nurses to be created each year through 2016.

So if you're one of the unfortunate ones who are now jobless, this might be something to think about.

And you might want to look into a few of the strongest stocks of some of those growing companies needing nurses and home health aides so badly. Gentiva Health Services (GTIV), Amedisys (AMED), LHC Group (LHCG) and Almost Family (AFAM) come to mind there.

Well, while it may be true that nurses are in high demand... stocks were certainly NOT in the same situation today.

The Dow plummeted over 245 points, while the Nasdaq swooned a tad over 53. Obviously, both indexes need "nursing" back to health quickly.