Join the Health Care Boom: Get a Nursing Degree
by BJ Fairfax
bj.fairfax@careerschooldirectory.com
Career School Directory Columnist
If the field of health care and the notion of working to help others feel better intrigues you, consider career education in nursing. It can be your first step toward a career in the booming field of health care.
A
nursing degree can open doors to a wide variety of jobs, from tending babies in a neonatal care unit to helping cancer patients throughout their treatment. There's a national shortage of nurses, which means pay scales are climbing and job opportunities are increasing.
Career Education for a Nursing Degree
Before you can begin helping pediatric patients or soothing sick souls, you need to earn a nursing degree. In each state and the District of Columbia, nurses are required to graduate from an approved career training program and pass a national licensing exam known as the NCLEX-RN.
The type of career education you choose should depend on the amount of time and money you have to invest in a nursing degree, as well as where you want to work in the future. For instance, a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) gives you the broadest range of career options when you graduate. You can also secure entry-level positions in this field with a shorter
Licensed Practical Nurse degree (LPN). There are many specialties and training programs to choose from--and in some cases, you can even study online.
Your Career Training as a Nurse
No matter which path you choose, certain aspects of your career training are standard. For instance, you'll receive both classroom and clinical instruction in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. Courses typically include topics such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, behavioral sciences, and nursing.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nursing is the largest health care occupation, with around 2.4 million jobs. If you're looking to jumpstart your life with a career in caring, consider a nursing degree today.
Source
About the Author
BJ Fairfax holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She writes for a variety of print and online publications.
Posted on March 14, 2007 at 11:21 AM
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