A Career in Nursing

Because of the economic slump affecting the job market in 2002, many newly minted college graduates are joining the ranks of the unemployed. They're moving back in with Mom and Dad; they're enrolling in graduate school; they're accepting unpaid internships just to get a foot in the door.

A select few, however, are looking forward to a bright future. They're commanding hefty signing bonuses and salaries; they're enjoying flexible work hours; they're reaping the benefits of generous tuition reimbursement plans. Nursing graduates know that their jobs will never become redundant and that their hard-won skills will always be in demand.

Just look at the numbers Employment opportunities for registered nurses will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). If current trends continue, rising demand will outstrip the supply of registered nurses by 2010. And according to the Division of Nursing of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there may be as many as 114,000 unfilled nursing jobs. Starting salaries for entry-level staff nurses range from $30,000 to $45,000, depending on the area, plus generous benefits, according to the American Student Nurses Association.

Where to Start
If you'd like to become a nurse, you must graduate from an approved nursing program and then pass a state licensing examination. You can pursue your degree in nursing in one of three ways:

1. Diploma programs: Some hospitals offer this program, which involves on-the-job instruction. However, diploma programs are much less common nowadays and account for less than 10% of all basic RN education programs.

2. Associate's degree in nursing: Many community colleges and junior colleges offer this type of degree, which usually takes two to three years to complete.

3. Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN): Offered at four-year colleges and universities, this degree takes four years to complete.

In addition to being the degree recognized by the AACN and other leading nursing organizations as the minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice, the BSN is the most likely to give you the types of skills you'll need to advance in the field. It is essential for nurses who would like to be supervisors or case managers.

Many nurses choose to get an associate's degree first, and then get a BSN while working. Many hospitals have tuition-assistance programs that will cover a large portion of the tuition costs—if not pay for all degree-related costs outright—in exchange for a commitment that you will stay at that institution for an agreed-upon length of time.

Advanced Practice Nursing
The role of advanced practice nurses is growing as the demand for high-quality, accessible health care increases. Advanced practice nurses typically have a master's degree. To enroll in a master's program, you need to have a BSN. There are four major categories of advanced practice nurse:

1. Nurse practitioners conduct physical exams diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries and, in general, provide the same care that a primary-care physician would. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medicine in all states and the District of Columbia, and in 18 states, they may practice independently, without physician collaboration or supervision.

2. Clinical nurse specialists normally work in hospitals or clinics, and provide care and education in a particular specialty or sub-specialty of nursing practice, such as cardiology, oncology or pediatrics. They provide and/or manage patient care through assessment, diagnosing, planning and recommending interventions for health problems, health promotion, and preventive care.

3. Certified nurse-midwives provide prenatal and gynecological care, and deliver babies in the hospital, in birthing centers, or at the patient's home. In 1999, certified nurse midwives attended 9% of all births in the United States, according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

4. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are anesthesia specialists who practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and the like.

But a career in nursing is not limited to these options, as varied and challenging as they are. People who have nursing degrees have gone on to pursue careers as nurse lawyers, researchers, consultants, professors, or hospital administrators. The knowledge and skills you gain in a nursing degree program will certainly bring a new dimension to many different careers throughout the health care industry.

Provided by Tricia Lawlor, MS, Director of Admissions and Outreach, School of Nursing & Health Studies, Georgetown University.