Nursing is an excellent choice for men and women interested in a healthcare career. Projected by the U.S. Department of Labor as the fastest growing occupation in the economy, few other professions offer its range of opportunities, geographical mobility, and security. In fact, the U.S. Healthcare Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) estimates a shortage of several hundred thousand nurses by 2020, which should make the profession increasingly attractive.
Nursing enables candidates to positively impact all parts of society -- infants, teens, adults, and the elderly. Nurses promote health, provide care that prevents disease, help patients cope with illness, and serve as advocates and health educators for patients, families and communities. In fact, nurses make up the largest segment of the healthcare work force at 29 percent. In hospital settings, there are four nurses for every physician.
Opportunities in nursing offer diverse choices in work settings, including hospitals, home health agencies, community health clinics, long-term care facilities, corporations, and schools.
As a nurse, you also can expand your options by working as a clinician, case manager, researcher, or teacher. With a nearly nine-percent faculty shortage nationwide, there are numerous academic and clinical research opportunities for doctorally prepared nurses.
Salaries for degreed nurses have increased due to the growth of healthcare, complexity of health problems and medical technology, and the shortage of nurses. Advanced Practice nurses with graduate education earn even higher compensation.
where do registered nurses (RN's) work?
Hospitals:
- Care for Children
- Newborn Nursery
- Birthing Rooms
- Emergency Room
- Operating Room
- Intensive Care Unit
- Coronary Care Unit
Communities:
- Clinics/Healthcare Offices
- Schools
- Nursing Homes
- Home Care/Hospice
- Wellness Screening Program
- Prevention/Education Programs
- Public Health
See more information on Nursing as a Career
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