Why Become A Nurse?
Historically, doctors and nurses have been looked upon as saviors of humanity. Their selfless devotion to their profession has inspired many students to seek a career in healthcare. The nursing profession has grown in leaps and bounds, and has outpaced many other occupations. In addition to serving their communities, nurses are highly specialized individuals requiring years of education and training, which may lead them to long and satisfying careers. More recently, despite economic uncertainties, the occupation has withstood all adversities and has grown in terms of job availability. The United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 26% growth rate between 2010 and 2020 in the occupation. This is a faster growth than the average for all other occupations. In 2010 alone, there were in excess of 2 million nursing related jobs. The number is predicted to go up in the future.
Types Of Nurses
There are several types of nursing professions a student may choose from. They type of nurse a student wants to become will depend on their education, training, and experience. Nurses perform various roles, functions, and duties in a hospital, clinic, private practice, and other healthcare facilities. The following are some of the different types of nurses a student can study to become:
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Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
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Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs)
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Registered nurses (RNs)
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Nurse anesthetists
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Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse anesthetists earned a median annual income of $173,580 in 2013. However, there were only 1840 of them in Pennsylvania in 2013. Registered nurses on the other hand for the same year earned a median annual salary of $66,010, however there were 124,750 of them in the state.
How To Become A Nurse?
The profession has become such a specialized field, so only nurses with a formal education will be allowed practice. Nevertheless, the profession accommodates those with program diplomas administered by a hospital as well as graduates with a doctorate degree. The following however are three most common academic pathways leading to entrance into the registered nursing profession:
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A program diploma
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An associate's degree
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A bachelor's degree
However, getting through the academic stage is not enough. Students who successfully pass the academic stage must take and pass a national licensing examination in order to become a licensed registered nurse.
Is The Profession For You?
If you are thinking of becoming a part of the profession, yet unsure whether you should become one or not, then consider the following personality traits as benchmarks or indictors of a successful professional:
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Detail oriented
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Emotional stability
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Patience
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Compassion
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Critical-thinking skills
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Organizational skills
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Speaking skills
Why Online Education?
Having an aptitude for nursing is one thing, taking time out of your busy work schedule and family commitments for schooling, is another matter. To accommodate students of various socio-economic backgrounds, various nursing schools in Pennsylvania (PA) are now offering online nursing programs. These degree programs are ideal for:
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Married students or those with full-time jobs
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Students who cannot commute
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Older students
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Students looking for lower cost alternatives
As long as these nursing schools in PA are accredited; degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded by them are as good as academic credentials from traditional campus-based schools. If you are a prospective nursing professional, make sure that you enroll in a program which is accredited. Furthermore, nursing colleges in PA may have different enrollment criterion and fees as well.