Top Nursing Careers
Nurses save lives. That is what they do. They also help to protect their patients from further trauma and health problems and they serve as facilitators for the healing process. While nurse do not perform surgery they assist with it. No medical facility could exist without the valuable works that nurses do. Nurses keep the flow of many medical settings running smoothly.
At present there is a shortage of qualified nurses in the work force. For this reason this is an excellent time to consider pursuing a career in the nursing field. Not only will you be choosing a profession that brings healing and dignity to others but you will also be choosing a career that offers plenty of opportunities for growth for yourself, both professionally as well as personally.
Let us look at some information that is helpful to know if a nursing career is one of the paths you are considering for your life.
To begin with, the education you receive before you enter nursing school is essential. You must have graduated from high school and left school with good marks and an academic standing that is as good as possible. In particular your academic strengths need to be in the science subjects (biology and chemistry). You must also make a decent score on your SAT and do well on your nursing entrance examination.
Currently there are over 1,500 nursing programs in the United States that can be enrolled in. You can choose amongst three different routes to start your nursing career. You can study at a university for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing which will take you four years to complete. Or if you do not want to wait four years to start working you can go to a college and take a two year associate degree in Nursing or a Hospital diploma.
As far as entry level salaries goes, a full time employed resident nurse will make in the area of $46,800 a year while a staff nurse will earn around $42,000. If later on in your working career you decide to gain more education and obtain your masters or doctorate degree then your annual salary will jump to within the range of $61,000 to $63,000.
Once you become a nurse and have obtained the necessary license you can work in any number of different medical environments just as you can choose which specialty appeals to you the most. If you take a job in a hospital and do not find yourself enjoying the work then you can always look for a job in a setting that is more to your liking. For example, you might you might find work in a private company, a healthcare center, a research laboratory, an educational institution, a correctional facility or a private home. The opportunities are many when you set your compass to direct you down the path of becoming a nurse.
A nurse who finds work in a hospital must be dedicated, energetic, very patient and be able to wear many hats all at once. Hospitals are very busy places which make nurses very busy people! In order to work in a hospital as a nurse you need to be caring, compassionate and have quick reflexes. That is because in a hospital you never know what could happen next. Let us look at the many career opportunities that await nurses who look for employment in hospitals.
Nurses work closely with doctors as well as with other nurses. For that reason you need to be a team player and be very cooperative. In a hospital there are many different areas where you can find work.
If you would like to work in the operating room (OR) then you will be assisting the surgeon with the surgical procedure both in a direct manner as well as an indirect one. As an OR nurse you will also be responsible for making sure that all instruments and equipment are sterilized prior to surgery. Many nurses of this kind also prepare patients for surgery and monitor them during and afterwards.
Anesthesia is an essential element of surgery. A nurse anesthesiologist does not always administer the anesthesia but will do their part to help the patient to make them more comfortable as the anesthesiologist does his or her job. The nurse who specializes in perianesthesia will also be expected to keep watch over the patient during the procedure and then afterwards in the recovery room.
If you have a head injury or a neck injury and go to the hospital then you will see an otorhinolaryngology nurse. This nurse can help you if you have sustained an injury at school, at work or in a motor vehicle accident. To become this type of nurse you must first be a registered nurse (RN) and have either your Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) or your associate’s degree in nursing (AD). Besides working in a hospital you can also look for employment in a clinic, hospice or a home care agency.
Radiology nurses are in the business of cancer prevention. Cancer prevention is so significant in order that cancer can be detected and dealt with at the earliest stage possible. In order for cancer to be detected early tests must be conducted. The nurses that work the machines for these tests include radiology nurses. These nurses take the x-rays of patients and are responsible for ultrasounds, mammograms and sonograms.
We have listed nursing career options below to help you decide which specific nursing field might be best for you
Nursing Career As A Psychiatric Nurse
Nursing Career As A Mental Health Nurse
Gynecology/ Obstetric Nursing Careers
Home Health Care Nursing Careers
Registered Nurse and Other Nursing Options
Military and Uniformed Service Nursing Careers
