The health care industry is expected to expand rapidly over the next decade and it is already experiencing a shortage of trained professionals. If you have ever visited a hospital or medical clinic, you know that just about everything in the health care universe rotates around the nursing profession. Nurses assist patients with injuries and illnesses, help physicians with medical treatments, and keep the daily proceedings running in an orderly fashion.
Educational Programs for Nursing
There are many different ways you can enter the nursing career field, but just about all of them involve completing a nursing school program or earning a degree from a registered nurse school. You can enter the field as a nursing assistant or licensed practical nurse by earning a diploma or associate's degree through nursing programs offered at community and junior colleges. Nursing school programs offered at colleges and universities can lead to a bachelor's degree and a position as a registered nurse. There are also nursing degree programs offering opportunities to specialize at a graduate degree level. Nurses with a master's degree in nursing can work as nurse practitioners, nurse administrators, or other advanced occupations within the profession.
Job Outlook and Salary Range for the Nursing Profession
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nursing to be one of the fastest growing career fields through 2018. Positions for nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses are expected to expand by 18-22 percent during this time period. Salaries can vary based on level of training, experience, and education, but in 2009 the median annual salary for a registered nurse was $63,750 and the top 10 percent earned about $93,700. Nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses can expect to earn a median annual salary of $24,040 and $39,820 respectively.
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