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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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