Is Nursing a Good Career for the Future?
Nursing, as a career, is a highly respected field. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are 2.7 million registered nurses in the country employed in long-term care institutions, nursing homes, physician offices, and hospitals. There are many awesome reasons to pursue a career in this rewarding, constantly growing, and exciting field. Let's take a look at nursing's required education, training, and job outlook to see if this is the right career for you.
Nursing Shortage
An aging population has mostly caused the steep demand for nurses because an aging general population requires skilled healthcare. It's estimated there will be a shortage of more than one million registered nurses by 2022. Nursing education programs need to increase students that are graduating from nursing schools in order to successfully deal with the nursing shortage. However, not everyone who applies is right for a nursing career.
How to Become a Nurse
Due to the shortage of nurses in the country, almost every state, every city, and every hospital in the nation is looking for trained professionals to fill these positions. Even though you need additional schooling to become a registered nurse, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree.
You can start with a lower degree and work your way up. Additionally, the shortage of RNs in the country has created plenty of incentives through grant programs, universities, and hospitals so finding a suitable program could be easier than you think..
Associate Degree in Nursing
Out of the several routes you can take to become a registered nurse and get an entry-level job in the field of nursing, getting an associate degree takes considerably less time compared to options such as Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
In addition to helping you launch your nursing career; an Associate Degree in Nursing also sets the stage for more advanced education down the road. An Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) should give you a solid career foundation in the healthcare field.
Requirements for an Associate’s Degree in Nursing
As per the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, there are more than 1000 Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs in the United States. There are a few requirements to enrol for ADN programs in the US.
Preparation for a nursing career starts in high school. In most cases, you will be required to provide a high school diploma or GED for admission into an ADN program. To be accepted into these programs, you must already have classes in biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology.
Licensure
Upon graduation from nursing school, nurses must be licensed in order to practice. The Registered Nurse or RN licensure process is similar in most states. Nursing students have to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain RN licensure.
Nursing students take the board exam after they have completed their registered nursing educational requirements. Nursing grads looking for RN licensure are required to apply for the examination and licensure. The student seeking RN licensure is required to send the application to a particular state licensing agency, depending on where they plan on practicing.
Essential Skills for Nurses
An Associate’s Degree in Nursing should teach students how to perform medical tasks, operate technical equipment, and incorporate evidence-based research in their practice. These clinical competencies are essential to performing tasks such as wound care, administering medication, and IV insertion.
However, for nurses to have good interactions with patients, their families, and colleagues, they need to exhibit a broad range of soft skills such as patience, initiative, flexibility, adaptability, problem solving, critical thinking, and professionalism.
Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. Choosing to become a nurse could be a smart decision. The growth potential, as well as the importance of this field, has made the education component in the nursing field more manageable. You could start by earning an associate degree.
Are You Ready to Learn More?
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? If you want to earn an Associate Degree of Nursing, ECPI University offers this degree program at an accelerated pace. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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