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