Nursing as a Career
Is Nursing a Good Fit for Me?
Did you know that, by the year 2020, there will be a severe shortage of nurses with as many as 800,000 unfilled positions? The nursing shortage varies according to time and geographical location but is expected to remain fairly constant over the next decade. As one of the largest healthcare occupations with 2.6 million employees, nurses have been voted "the most trusted profession in America according to Gallup's annual survey of professions for their honesty and ethical standards" for the eighth consecutive year.
Nursing is an unique mixture of art and science. As a caring and compassionate profession, nurses are involved with and have contact with people in a variety of health care settings. Nursing is a profession grounded in science dependent on knowledge and understanding of math and health sciences. As in most professions today, nursing requires competent computer skills.
Career Path Choices
One of the greatest benefits of the nursing profession is the flexibility and opportunity available. Today, only about 60% of nurses work in the hospital setting. Where are the rest of the nurses working? Opportunities and areas of nursing include:
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And this to name only a few!! As you can see, nursing career pathways can be individualized to your changing interest and desires. Your career can encompass opportunities in innovation and research, to the highly technical environment of the operating room, or the thrill of assisting with the delivery of a new life, to the emotional support needed for end of life care.
Job Satisfaction
The leading source of satisfaction for nurses comes from the ability to really "make a difference" in peoples' lives. Caring and helping others is often stated as the primary reason for entering the profession. Flexibility in scheduling is a factor nurses appreciate. Most nursing positions include the ability to work different hours and shifts, which can be ideal for young families. Besides caring for people and flexibility in schedules, salary is an additional benefit to the profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2008, the annual median income for Registered Nurses was $65,130. This includes the range of beginning nurses through professors and researchers.
Educational Requirements
Nursing is a profession for "lifelong learners." The typical career path begins at the Associate or Bachelor's Degree level. Many hospitals in the tri-state area are requiring a percentage of employees earn a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. However, a favorable option for many is to receive an Associate Degree and continue their education through an on-site program, paid for by the employer.
When choosing a nursing program, consider things such as campus atmosphere, technology, clinical offerings, faculty credentials, and Ohio Board of Nursing pass rates on the RN licensing examination.
Editorial provided by Jane Crenshaw RN, MS, Assistant Professor, The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences; Teresa Berter, BSN, RN, CPN, Clinical Instructor, The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences; Connie McFadden, RN, MSN, CNE, Assistant Professor, the Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
