In many settings, such as hospitals and care homes, it is a nurse who is responsible for a patient's daily comfort and well-being. A nurse is a direct caregiver, the first to respond when a patient is in distress and often the liaison between patient and doctor. This makes nursing education a good choice for people who value interpersonal relations and who enjoy the role of caregiver.
Once a person is trained in basic nursing, there are an immense number of opportunities for promotion and specialization available. Most medical fields, such as surgery, pediatrics and radiology, require specially trained nurses, who often earn more than other nurses. Studying nursing can be the foundation in a career as a midwife, anesthetist, or home health nurse.
There are many routes of advancement for nurses, depending on what her goals are. It is possible to get a Ph.D in nursing, which is called being a doctorally prepared nurse. These nurses are usually specialists in their researched field and are often teachers. It is also possible to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are nurses who operate in much the same capacity as medical doctors, including seeing patients in-office and prescribing medications.
According to the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, a nursing shortage is on the rise. They predict that by 2025, the country will be facing a shortfall of 260,000 RNs. One of the largest reasons for this disproportion is the aging of the Baby Boomers, perhaps the largest generation in American history. Current trends suggest that there will be a need for nurses well into the half-century.
Income varies by geography and experience. However, it is nearly guaranteed that any nurse who works full-time will make a living wage. According to Allied Physicians, the average salary for a Licenced Practical Nurse, the least-trained of the nursing profession, is $33,500. This wage rises to near $80,000 for a nurse practitioner, and averages around $45,000 for a registered nurse. Specializing can also raise a nurse's pay grade.