Nursing Career Information

Nursing combines “the art of caring with the science of health care,” according to the American Nurses Association. Nurses work in a many different settings, including hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, schools and even in patients’ own homes. Many nurses specialize, by choosing to work with a type of treatment or work setting (such as surgery or emergency care); disease, ailment, or condition (such as oncology); organ or body system type (cardiology, for example); or population (children or the elderly), according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07 Edition (OOH).

In general, as a nurse, you will perform a variety of duties, including treating patients, teaching patients and their families about medical conditions and treatments, and keeping records of patients’ symptoms and medical histories. You may also perform diagnostic tests, and analyze the results of those tests. Since patients require care 24 hours a day, nurses must be available at all times. While this means you may need to work nights, weekends, or holidays, it also means you may have more flexibility in the hours you work.

In order to receive a nursing license, you must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the national licensing exam (the NCLEX-RN). If you’d like to advance to management-level nursing positions, you will most likely need a graduate or advanced degree in nursing or health services administration, according to the OOH.

Rising demand for nurses nationwide means job growth is expected to be faster than the average through 2014, according to the OOH. The combination of helping people and good job prospects makes nursing a career worth looking into.

Related Career Resources

Nursing Colleges and Schools

Nursing Outlook & Salary Information

Nurse Career Traits

How to Become a Nurse