| Nursing is a field that has always been known for job | | | | standard 8 hour shifts. Outside of the hospital and |
| security. Even in tough economic times, nursing | | | | long-term care setting, nurses can work regular hours |
| shortages persist. Hospitals may reduce the number | | | | in physician's offices, mental health centers, schools |
| of nurses to save money, but that reduction in no | | | | and health departments. |
| way reflects the need for well qualified nurses who | | | | Becoming a registered nurse requires earning a |
| can provide exceptional patient care. A registered | | | | degree or diploma in the field and taking a state |
| nurse performs patient care duties under the | | | | licensing examination. The good news is that there |
| direction of a physician. The nurse carries out a | | | | are several avenues to earning nursing credentials. An |
| physician's orders regarding medication administration | | | | individual who is interested into getting into |
| and patient care. A nurse must be able to assess | | | | professional nursing quickly can enroll in an associate |
| patient needs, write care plans, monitor progress and | | | | degree program at a community college or junior |
| respond to emergencies in a calm and competent | | | | college. The associate degree can be earned in two |
| manner. | | | | years. Associate degree nurses take courses |
| There are numerous reasons to consider nursing as a | | | | necessary to meet the requirements for the licensing |
| career. Nurses earn better than average pay. Entry | | | | exam, but do not take a lot of electives due to the |
| level registered nurses earn starting salaries in the | | | | length of the program. Another option is a hospital |
| neighborhood of $40,000 per year. A nurse who | | | | diploma program. Nursing students in these programs |
| becomes a specialist in an area such as | | | | can complete the diploma in two to three years in |
| anesthesiology or one who chooses to become a | | | | this type of program, which is structured similar to |
| nurse practitioner can eventually earn a six figure | | | | the associate degree program. The bachelor of |
| salary. Flexibility in scheduling is another reason to | | | | science in nursing program takes four years to |
| consider nursing as a career. While nurses work | | | | complete and is offered by colleges or universities. |
| evenings, weekends and holidays, schedules can | | | | Within the bachelor's degree program a nursing |
| often be adjusted to meet the nurse's needs. Some | | | | student has the opportunity to take some electives |
| nurses prefer working shifts such as three 12 hour | | | | and additional nursing courses to prepare for a role as |
| days which allow them to have more consecutive | | | | a nursing administrator. All three programs prepare |
| days off between shifts. Others may prefer working | | | | nurses to sit for the state licensing exam. |