| Nursing is a highly regarded profession with high | | | | which provide one-year course towards becoming a |
| standards of honesty and ethics amongst various | | | | Practical Nurse or a Vocational Nurse. Once |
| other professions. Nursing has emerged as the largest | | | | graduated, the next important thing is to obtain |
| health care occupation with over 2.7 million jobs. With | | | | licensure for practice in the State of your preference. |
| over 100,000 vacant positions and a ever-growing | | | | Eighteen states participate in the Nurse Licensure |
| need for health care workers, the career outlook is | | | | Compact Agreement (NCLA) which permits a licensed |
| excellent for the nursing field. National Center for | | | | nurse to practice in any of the other seventeen states, |
| Workforce Analysis, an agency of the U.S. | | | | if they have obtained license to practice in one of the |
| Department of Health and Human Services predicts a | | | | states. License can be obtained by passing national |
| shortage of 808,416 nurses by the year 2020. Such an | | | | licensing exam NCLEX-RN for becoming a Registered |
| analysis and prediction is backed by very strong | | | | Nurse and NCLEX-PN for becoming Licensed Practical |
| reasoning and findings. Advancement in technology | | | | Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) as in |
| and medical field has resulted in an increased life span. | | | | Texas, California. LPN and LCN provide care for sick, |
| Elderly population is now living longer and more of | | | | injured and disabled under direct supervision of |
| them will require care and nursing. With more elderly | | | | physicians and RNs. |
| people in need of such care, demands rise for nursing | | | | Nursing career is full of opportunities for those who |
| force that can meet such needs. Also, the need for | | | | want to specialize and pursue higher education. A few |
| more skilled nurses is growing. With insurance | | | | popular specialties are AIDS Care Nurse, Ambulatory |
| companies stepping into the medical field to reduce the | | | | Care Nurse, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse, Case |
| cost of health care expenditure, demand for nurses, | | | | Management, Correctional Nurse, Enterostomal |
| outside the hospital setting has also risen. Not to forget | | | | Therapy Nurse, Gastroenterology/Endoscopy Nurse, |
| that the current nursing workforce is aging and many | | | | Genetics Nurse, Infection Control Nurse, Intravenous |
| are expected to retire over next 10-15 years only to | | | | Therapy Nurse, long-term Care Nurse, Managed Care |
| create a void, adding to the shortage further. So, | | | | Nurse, Nephrology Nurse and more, the list does not |
| nurses with a BSN degree can expect a securer | | | | end here. Most of the specialties do welcome RNs |
| career and better job prospects. | | | | with a BSN degree only. In addition, there is increasing |
| Nurses blend knowledge of science and technology | | | | demand for APNs. APNs are primary health care |
| with the art of care and compassion. Nursing provides | | | | practitioners, working independently or in collaboration |
| opportunity to save and improve lives, care for the sick | | | | with physicians. In most states, they are permitted to |
| and debilitated, educate patients and people towards | | | | prescribe medications. The four specializations for |
| achieving good health and above all, the feeling of | | | | APNs include Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) providing |
| helping someone in their hour of illness and need. There | | | | expert consultation in any of the above mentioned |
| is no greater service than caring for the sick and | | | | specialties; Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) administer |
| needy. Nurses are required to deliver basic duties, | | | | anesthesia and monitor patient's vital signs during |
| which includes but is not limited to providing treatment, | | | | surgery in addition to providing post-anesthesia care; |
| health education, emotional support, record | | | | Nurse Midwives (CNM) provide primary care to |
| maintenance, operating medical equipment in addition to | | | | females covering aspects like family planning, prenatal |
| counseling patient and their family about the | | | | care, neonatal care and assist delivery; and Nurse |
| management of their illness. Registered Nurses (RNs) | | | | Practitioners (NP) who provide basic preventive health |
| also run general health screening and immunization | | | | care to patient. NPs are primary as well as specialty |
| clinics, organize public seminars, motivate blood | | | | care providers in medically underserved areas. APNs |
| donation drives, etc. Three out of five nurses in the | | | | are lower cost primary care providers in comparison |
| United States work in hospitals. Most of the others | | | | to physicians. |
| work in clinics, home health, extended care settings, | | | | Advanced degrees available to nurses are masters |
| schools, colleges, universities, the public health services, | | | | (MSN), doctoral degree (Ph.D., EdD, DNS) and |
| and nonprofit agencies throughout the United States | | | | post-doctoral programmes. Doctoral degrees can |
| and many other countries. Nursing can be a challenging | | | | provide placements as a senior policy analyst, |
| job with continuous exposure to grief and suffering, | | | | researcher, health system executive and as a nursing |
| stress, work pressures, little or excessive patient | | | | school dean. |
| contact and occupational hazards including but not | | | | RNs may work as a staff nurse or become APNs. |
| limited to infectious diseases, radiation exposure, | | | | Also exisins are a few positions involving little or no |
| accidental needle sticks, chemicals, anesthesia, back | | | | direct patient contact. Such positions include Case |
| injury and emotional stress. Role autonomy and | | | | Managers, Forensic Managers (applying knowledge of |
| independence, innovativeness, technical knowledge, | | | | nursing for legal enforcement, like treating and |
| and teamwork are characteristics of this job, in addition | | | | investigating a victim of assault or abuse and similar), |
| to personal satisfaction and professional rewards. | | | | Infection Control Nurses, Legal Nurse Consultants |
| The nursing schools are a gateway to this profession | | | | (assist lawyers in medical cases by interviewing |
| and almost all of them require a high school diploma in | | | | patient, organizing records, and educating lawyers |
| addition to sound academic standing in English, Algebra, | | | | about medical conditions), Nurse Administrators, Nurse |
| Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology with a GPA score | | | | Informatics, Health Care Consultants, Public Policy |
| of atleast 3. Computer experience is an asset. | | | | Advisors, Medical editors and writers. |
| Leadership and organization skills are vital to this | | | | Career and job prospects are bright as mentioned |
| profession. Most schools shall still require you to clear | | | | above and with increasing demand and difficulty to |
| the National League for Nursing (NLN) Pre-admission | | | | hold up nurses in hospitals, many hospitals and |
| exam besides the SAT exam. Over 1,500 nursing | | | | corporate sectors have now started offering |
| programs in the US provide three different educational | | | | incentives like signing bonuses, subsidized training, open |
| paths towards becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). | | | | shift bidding. Open shift bidding is an emerging concept |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year | | | | where nurses can find vacant shifts at premium |
| program offered at colleges and universities. An | | | | wages and bid for same online. This also reduces |
| associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two-year | | | | mandatory overtime that many nurses have to do |
| program offered at many community and junior | | | | otherwise. Many employers now provide family friendly |
| colleges. Some hospital schools of nursing and | | | | work schedules and flexibility, again an indication of |
| universities offer an ADN degrees. Hospital Diploma is | | | | demand in such places. |
| a two to three year program based in hospital settings. | | | | RNs are earning anywhere from $37,300 to greater |
| Many diploma schools are affiliated with junior colleges | | | | than $74,760 depending upon qualifications and |
| where students take basic science and English | | | | experience, besides job locations. Median salary can |
| requirements. Opportunities are maximum with a BSN | | | | be appreciated as $52,330 annually. Entry level RN can |
| degree. BSN is a requirement for obtaining a master's | | | | earn from $30,000 to $45,000 annually. All this comes |
| degree or becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse | | | | with benefit packages including health insurance, holiday |
| (APN). The American Association of Colleges of | | | | pay, college tuition reimbursement, childcare, pension |
| Nursing (AACN) recognizes the BSN degree as the | | | | plans and much more. Expected shortage of nurses |
| minimum educational requirement for a professional | | | | over coming years is going to tilt the situation more in |
| nursing practice. Even though graduates can begin | | | | the favor of nurses and they can look forward to a |
| practice as an RN with an ADN or diploma, the BSN | | | | securer future with brighter prospects and rewards. |
| degree is a must for nurses seeking to assume roles | | | | Becoming a nurse is not just about money but |
| as case-managers or supervisors or move across | | | | dedicating your life to service mankind, caring for the |
| employment settings. Tuition fee depends on your | | | | sick and to be able to support them and their family in |
| college and state of residence, but financial aids and | | | | difficult times. The potential is enormous and |
| scholarships are available to take care of such needs. | | | | specialization options aplenty. Nursing as a profession is |
| There are technical and vocational schools as well, | | | | full of personal satisfaction and professional rewards. |