Nursing is the largest healthcare occupation, with over 2.6 million people employed as Registered Nurses nationwide. However, the demand for nurses is still great.
Today’s major monday is an excerpt from “Consider a Career in Nursing” by Bethany Young. For the full article, click here.
Are you looking for a career that lets you help people every day? Are you interested in entering the medical world, but don’t want to spend years in medical school? Consider a career in nursing.
Education, skills
You will need at least an associate’s degree in nursing and have to pass the state licensing exam to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN).
Other opportunities for advancement allow you to specialize in a certain area, and you may advance to a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree, after which you can become a nurse practitioner (NP) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP).
Elaine Andolina is the director of admissions at the University of Rochester School of Nursing
(www.rochester.edu). She obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University (www.georgetown.edu) and worked in the pediatrics unit at Sibley Memorial Hospital, where she was promoted to head nurse position in the intensive care unit after one year.
A degree in nursing can open up many possibilities beyond working in a hospital. You can become a midwife, travel to care for people in their homes, conduct research, write freelance articles or teach classes.
Is it for you?
You might make a good nurse if you are detail-oriented and have interpersonal skills that help you interact with patients and gain their trust. Although this is a big part of what nurses do, you must also have aptitude for the sciences.
“It’s not just nurturing,” Andolina says. “You’ve got to learn anatomy and biology and microbiology.”
There is an especially high demand for males in the field. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, men make up less than 7 percent of nurses in the country.
Vital stats
National average salary: $61,000 (RN)
Pursue if: You have a knack for science and want to help care for people. If you’re interested in pursuing this career, getting early hands-on experience by volunteering at a hospice is one way to do so.
Are you majoring in nursing? Where and why? NextStepU wants to know! Please leave a comment about why you chose nursing and where you plan to attend school!
