| What
exactly is nursing?
Florence Nightingale wrote that nursing is “the charge of the
personal health of somebody.” That definition has been expanded
and redefined, but the basic philosophy is the same. Nursing protects,
promotes and optimizes a healthy lifestyle. Nurses help alleviate
pain and suffering through medical technology and clinical techniques.
The nursing profession is one of the most respected occupations in
the world. Everyone has some sort of interaction with a nurse in their
lifetime and it usually is a welcomed experience. Nurses specialize
in different fields within the medical profession and play a prominent
and vital role in the future of our healthcare industry.
Why should
I pursue a career in nursing?
It’s no secret that the medical profession needs dedicated people
who want to serve humanity in a positive way. Recent figures released
by the Department of Labor indicate a severe nurse shortage this year
and that trend will continue through 2020. The figures show that 382,000
new nurses will be needed by 2015 to keep up with medical needs of
the aging baby boomers as well as to replace retiring nurses.
Hospitals are
offering new nurses lucrative employment packages that include flexible
hours, shorter work weeks and excellent insurance, vacation and retirement
benefits. The pay is not too bad either. An LPN can earn around $37,000
before overtime and that doesn’t include bonuses or cash advances.
An RN can make $52,000 or more and a nurse with a BSN earns $60,000
or more in some cities. A nurse with a MSN earns over $65,000 that
first year and a doctorate degree is worth around $75,000 or more
depending on the hospital. Anyone who has a desire to make a difference
can enjoy a wonderful career as a nurse. Nurses can accept traveling
positions after their first year of service which means a nurse can
see the world and get paid at the same time.
Is the
classroom or online study better?
The classroom has always been the standard way to earn nursing certification.
Students assume they get more information and better instruction in
a classroom setting. Some students believe that the classroom offers
the best chance to get a great nursing position, but online study
has as much credibility as the classroom and offers student’s
flexibility, which is important if a student has a full time job or
family responsibilities. Online study can be incorporated into an
existing routine and can be completed at the students pace. The online
instructor gives each student personal attention through emails, chat
rooms and video calls.
Online nursing
courses are just as credible as classroom instruction, so finding
a job is never an issue when you earn nursing certification online.
Studying nursing online is a fast and flexible way to enter the nursing
profession and you can save money in the process. Online study eliminates
the activity fees and other charges that classroom study requires.
Overall an online nursing education offers the student several advantages
over standard classroom study.
Can I
do my clinical work online?
Students who study nursing online can complete their clinical work
in several different ways. Local hospitals host visiting instructors
so online students can do clinical work and some hospitals use staff
nurses as instructors, which gives the student even more flexibility.
Video demonstrations are also used, so some of the clinical work can
be done at home and the instructor is always available to answer questions
and provide clinical assistance. Completing the clinical work needed
for nursing certification is not an issue when you study online. Most
students enjoy the flexibility of online clinical study and they appreciate
the enormous amount of medical information they receive from different
nursing professionals while studying.
David Stone
Degree Finders
www.degreefinders.com
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