According to government employment statistics, "employment of registered nurses is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012."

Statistics

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.3 million registered nurses in the US in 2002, the largest number of workers of any healthcare occupation. Most of them (3 out of 5) work in inpatient and outpatient departments in major hospitals. A recent study from BLS found nursing that "more new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses than for any other occupation."

Income

The average salary for a nurse was around $48,090 in 2002.RNs working in employment services had the highest median salary, averaging $55,980; those working in nursing care facilities had the lowest at $43,850. While this is a salary for full-time nurses, one in 5 RNs only works part-time. Almost all employers offer additional benefits to RNs, including bonuses, free childcare, and continuing education.

Types of Nurses

There are over 200 nursing fields in the US, of which some of the best-paid areas include:

Ambulatory care nursing

Camp Nursing

Cardiac nursing

Case management

Clinical research nurse

Critical care nursing

Emergency nursing

Forensic nursing

Gastroenterology nursing

Genetics nursing

Geriatric nursing

Home Health nursing

Hospice nursing

Legal Nursing

Maternal-child nursing

Medical-surgical nursing

Military and uniformed services nursing

Neonatal nursing

Nurse anesthetist

Nurse-midwife

Operating-Room nursing

Pain management and palliative care nursing

Preoperative nursing

Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Public health

Rehabilitation nursing

Renal dialysis nursing

School nursing

Travel nursing

Urology nursing

Utilization management

Wound care

Job Duties

The job obligations of a nurse have a lot to do with the place where she works. Obviously, a plastic surgery nurse will not have the same daily responsibilities as a genetic nurse. However, because most of the nursing jobs have to do with patient care, some common duties apply:

• Monitoring symptoms and progress in patients.
• Bedside nursing care.
• Assisting doctors during surgical procedures and treatments.
• Treating common illnesses and injuries, including the administration of medications and injections, first aid, inoculations, and follow-up care.
• Helping to clean, feed, and walk patients.
• Keeping records and slides as directed by medical staff.
• Supervising nursing assistants, helping with training, and assigning/scheduling duties.
• Daily management of patient caseload.
• Coordinating pre and post-op patient care.
• Routine laboratory work.
• Maintaining accepted infection control norms.
• In some cases, ordering of equipment and supplies.
• Other miscellaneous duties depending on setting.

Career Overview

Nursing is a demanding and stressful job. It requires professionals that can be both caring and detached, able to cope with the daily stress of dealing with sick and dying patients. Nurses should also be detail-oriented, have excellent communication skills, and the ability of supervising others when necessary. Because nurses spend long periods of time either walking or standing, and can sometimes be required to move patients or heavy equipment, the job can also be physically demanding.

Nurses usually work rotating shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays. Many are also on call, which basically means they can be asked to work on short notice.

Opportunities for career advancement include positions as head nurses, assistant director, and health services administration.

Training and Education Required

There are two types of nursing degrees: Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPNs usually work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. While all states require a minimum of a nursing degree from an approved institution, additional requirements vary considerably, so you should find out what your state-specific requirements are before taking the plunge.

Registered Nurses

There are several degree options for those interested in becoming RNs.

• Diploma curriculum (work/study programs offered by a small number of hospitals around the country) - 3 years.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – 2 years - 700 such programs exist in the United States
• Bachelor's of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) – 4 years –There are 678 nursing schools nationwide
• Nursing Doctorate – 3 years for students who already have a Bachelor’s Degree in another field

Licensed Practical Nurses

• Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing – 12 to 18 months for students who already have a Bachelor’s Degree in another field.

Many LPNs go on to become RNs while taking advantage of tuition reimbursement offered by hospitals.

Nursing undergraduates take many courses also assigned to medical students, including anatomy, chemistry, and physiology. Supervised clinical experience is a required part of the curriculum and it can be completed anywhere from hospital departments to nursing care facilities and ambulatory clinics. RNs and LPNs must pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN licensing examination, which then has to be renewed every 3-5 years (depending on state).

Advanced Degree Programs are available to nurses who wish to move into a specialized field, such as midwifery or mental health nursing. This usually requires a higher degree (BS) and up to three years of additional schooling.

Finally, nurse practitioners may be able to prescribe medications in some states, provided they meet additional educational requirements.

The Advantages

• The chance to make a difference in the lives of others.

• Competitive salaries.

• Recession-Proof Career - By study estimates, there is a shortage of about 50,000 nurses nationwide and over 300,000 worldwide. Add to that the unlimited employment opportunities in different fields and the fact that layoffs are infrequent, and you have one of the most important reasons why this career is a popular choice.
• Variety of Career Choices – Few careers offer the diversity than nursing does. Nurses can work in physician's offices, schools, private homes, insurance companies, and educational institutions. They can be legal and forensic consultants, clinical researchers, sales reps for drug companies, and military members of staffs. The choices are truly limitless.

The Disadvantages

• While there are many positives about a nursing career, there are also negative issues that should be taken into account. Some of these include:
• The hazards of contagious diseases (such as hepatitis and AIDS), accidental needle sticks, direct contact with radiation and chemicals, and back injury from dealing with heavy equipment.
• The commitment to working around the clock, including weekends and holidays.
• The fact that a high level of education and experience does not necessarily guarantee a higher salary –This is especially true of staff nurses, who may get stuck on assisting positions where there's little chance for advancement.
• For those working in mental healthcare facilities, there is also the threat of unstable patients, including the ever present danger of bodily harm.
• Regular exposure to dust, fumes, unpleasant odors, loud noises, etc.
• Many nurses cite frustration of not being able to "help" everyone as one of the major drawbacks of the profession –This comes as a result of healthcare politics, bad nurse to patient ratios, and the reality of having to face their own mortality.

To Sum It Up

Nursing has become one of the most sought-after professions of the past decade and will continue to grow as the years go by.

External Links:

• National League for Nursing - Nursing education
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing - Graduate and accelerated nursing programs