If you are looking for an adventure in your life as you train for a career as a nurse then you might want to take a closer look at the state of Alaska! For a little bit of history, in 1959 Alaska became the 49th state in the U.S. It is the largest state of the 50 and is made up of a large percentage of wildernesses. It is not an easy state to get around in due to difficult terrain and often even more difficult weather. For this reason many people who live in Alaska use planes and trains to venture from one area of the state to another.
Anchorage is the largest city in the state. It is practically the size of the state of Delaware. This city needs more nurses as does everywhere else in the state. There are not as many nursing schools in Alaska as there are in other parts of the country but the education students receive is very good and will prepare them for their careers in the health care field.
A large percentage of the Alaska population is poor and is underserved. The need for qualified nurses is great. In particular the state needs those who are experts in these areas- nutrition, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, counselling, and prenatal care. If you have not thought of moving to Alaska in the past then you do not know what you are missing! The scenery is breathtaking and the cost of living is budget friendly, not to mention the fact that the residents are friendly and supportive of newcomers.
Nursing schools in Alaska have the right to build their own curricula where their programs are concerned. However it is essential that the registered nurse (RN) programs are approved by the state. For an Alaska nursing program to be approved it must offer at the minimum two year of learning on a full-time basis, an academic learning component that is based in theory and a clinical training component. Some of the subjects that will be covered in a nursing program include microbiology, psychology, medical ethics, pharmacology, social sciences, general nursing practice, medical and surgical nursing and mental health issues.
The University of Alaska in Anchorage offers a BSN program as well as an ADN program. The University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau is another worthwhile option for your nursing studies. Still another university you might want to do more research on in the state of Alaska is American Sentinel University.
The nursing schools in Alaska need nursing students. If you are ready to start a career that has lots to offer then keep Alaska in mind!
