Is a Career in Nursing Right for You?

Are you curious about the human body? Passionate about helping people? Like to be precise and accurate in all you do? Can't see yourself in a stale 9-5 job? Not sure which job is right for you?

Sounds like you should consider a career in nursing!  And you're in luck—there's a nationwide shortage of nurses, which means there's a great chance you can land a job in the field.  Nurses are the backbone of every hospital or clinic. They tend to patients, provide comfort, give necessary vaccinations, prep for surgeries and sometimes spend more time with the patients than the doctors!  And as a nurse, your career options are almost endless.

Love babies? You can work in the Natal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, treating premature infants. Interested in solving crimes? What about working with law enforcement as a forensic nurse to aid in the investigation of violent crimes such as sexual assault and abuse?  What about caring for patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgery? Or caring for whole families and diagnosing illnesses as a family nurse practitioner? Maybe you don't want to work in a hospital or clinic—you can use your skills overseas as a travel nurse, vaccinating children or the homeless in developing countries. What if you love the clinic environment but don't want to practice nursing? You can manage nurses and oversee the business of nursing homes, clinics and hospitals as a nurse executive or CEO. Maybe even open your own clinic.

You may be wondering ‘sounds great, but how can I get a career like this?' Easy. Several Maryland colleges and universities offer accredited programs to prepare you. From short certificate programs to intensive four-year undergraduate ones, you can find a school that surpasses your desires.  In today's market, schools use the latest technology to train you for your future career. At some institutions, students practice their skills on simulated dolls that actually urinate, cry and even bleed.  When student apprentices are ready for the next level, some colleges even house nursing centers and hospitals on campus, giving their students a taste of a nurse's job in the real world, all the while, allowing students to aid needy people in their community. You will discover a gratifying and fulfilling career as a nurse. Your first step? Finding the perfect nursing school.

Editorial provided by Shernay Williams, Public Relations Associate for Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland.