Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Healthy careers
The outlook for nursing jobs is very strong
Many people consider the right job one that provides both a sense of fulfillment and the opportunity to achieve financial security and stability as one’s career advances. Given that criteria, the field of nursing should make for an attractive career path.
The outlook for registered nurses, often referred to as “RNs,” is very strong. In its recent “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, issued a highly favorable employment outlook for registered nurses. Estimating the projected percent change in employment between 2018 and 2028, the BLS estimated that employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 12 percent during that 10-year period. That’s more than double the average growth estimate for all occupations.
While the outlook in terms of availability of work is strong for current nurses and those who aspire to one day follow this career path, that outlook should not alone compel people to pursue a career in nursing. Few fields can be as demanding as nursing, which means not everyone is necessarily cut out to be a nurse. The demands are perhaps best exemplified by examining the hours registered nurses may expect to work, especially at the beginning of their careers when they have no seniority. The BLS notes that hospitals and nursing care facilities require roundthe-clock employees every day of the year. That means nurses can expect to work long hours on nights, weekends and holidays. That requires considerable sacrifice on the part of nurses, and those aspiring to enter this line of work should consider if they’re willing to make those sacrifices before they enroll in a nursing program.
Estimates suggest the employment outlook for qualified nurses will be very strong over the next several years, which should compel more and more talented people to pursue this fulfilling career path.
The field of nursing is complex. Much like physicians specialize in particular areas of medicine, nurses often narrow their focus to certain disciplines within the profession.
Education is vital for anyone aspiring to become a nurse. The American Nurses Association notes that there are various requirements for licensure within the field of nursing. Such requirements typically begin in the classroom. When considering a career in nursing, aspiring nurses should recognize that there are various degrees they can pursue and that each of these degrees can pave the way to a rewarding career.
The online nursing resource Nurse.org notes that nurses who have earned their associate degree in nursing, or ADN, are the professionals most people first consider when thinking of nurses. ADNs speak directly with patients about their symptoms and conditions and monitor and record vital signs. An ADN is also qualified to administer medication and can offer advice on self-care after surgery and how to confront illness or injury.
ADNs work in a wide range of health care settings, helping to provide services for everyone from infants to the elderly. The American Nurses Association notes that the ADN is a two-year degree offered by community colleges and hospital-based schools of nursing.
The ANA notes that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS/BSN) is a four-year degree offered at colleges and universities that prepares graduates to engage in the full scope of professional nursing practice across all health care settings. En route to earning a BSN, students will concentrate on an assortment of disciplines that will benefit them throughout their careers. Psychology, human growth and development, biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, nutrition, and anatomy and physiology are typically the focus of the first two years of study. As students advance toward earning their BSN, they also will learn about adult acute and chronic disease, maternal/child health, pediatrics, psychiatric/mental health nursing, and community health nursing.
Nursing students pursuing a BSN will also study nursing theory, physical and behavioral sciences, and humanities. Health care economics and policy may also be studied as schools hope to educate aspiring nurses about the cultural, political, economic and social issues that affect patients and influence how health care is delivered.
Education is vital for modern nurses. The educational path that aspiring nurses take can determine where their careers will ultimately take them.