Nursing As a Career

Introduction to Nursing as a Career

Nursing is a career within the healthcare sector that deals with the provision of care to individuals, families, and communities in order to maintain, recover, or attain quality of life and good health. Specifically, the nursing profession assists in the protection, optimization, and promotion of abilities and health, easing suffering through diagnosis and treatment of diseases and other adverse health conditions, prevention of injury and illness, and advocacy on issues that affect the health of communities, individuals, populations, and families. The main professional skills required in nursing include discipline, detail-oriented skills, good organization skills, excellent communication skills, compassion, time management skills, and the ability to work as a team. Junior nursing practitioners do not require any work experience; they get experience as they work. However, nursing in managerial positions requires at least three years of experience in both clinical practice and administrative duties. The top organizations that offer nursing jobs are hospitals, nongovernmental organizations, government institutions such as the Pentagon, relief agencies such as the Red Cross, and health insurance firms. The average income for nurses is between $43,000 and $63000 per year (John Hopkins University, 2013).The demand for the nursing profession, compared to other professions such as information and communication technology, is relatively low as few people are willing to study, resulting in a shortage of nurses in America and other developed countries. Although most students are not opting for a nursing career, there are high prospects for career growth as the nursing profession gets modernized and information technology is embraced in most of its procedures. Further, with the shortage of nurses and high demand for nursing services, there are high chances that the career is going to be very marketable in the future. Since the need for quality health care is universal, the nursing profession is not limited to any geographic area, and so, as a nurse, I will be able to get a job in my locality. The main career pathways in nursing are nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse educator, nurse researcher, advanced practice nurse, patient education specialist, administrator, and legal nurse consultant. Nurses can advance and get a promotion by advancing in their education and after gaining enough experience in clinical practice (Vallano, 2008).

Educational Requirements for Nursing

There are three main academic options that one can undertake to become a nurse. These are a bachelor’s degree (BSN or Bachelor of Science in Nursing), a diploma from an accredited hospital or nursing program, and an associate degree in nursing. The most useful nursing education options are a Bachelor of Science in nursing, which takes 4 years, and an Associate degree in nursing, which takes two years. These degree programs are useful because they are versatile and offer one an opportunity for career growth and advancement. The Tuition fee for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is approximately $60,000 per year, although the amount may vary depending on variations in factors that affect the economy. I expect to get my tuition fee and money for other expenses from my parents, loans, and scholarships. Being a practical profession and one that deals with human lives, nursing students are required to undergo internships in order to gain the requisite experience that would assist them when practicing nursing care. I have two friends who practice nursing in public hospitals, and the advice they can share is that nursing is a call that requires discipline, compassion, and honesty in order to provide high and satisfactory services to clients (Royal College of Nursing, 2013).

Personal Qualities for a Successful Nursing Career

Based on my understanding of nursing career inventory and self-analysis, I have the qualities that make me a competent nurse. I am compassionate, caring, honest, hardworking, easy to learn, responsible, and friendly, so I can associate with patients, deliver quality health care, and empathize with their conditions. As a nurse, I will be dealing with individuals, communities, families, and populations that will be seeking quality health care and well-being. I value nursing because it will give a chance of fulfilling my passion of assisting the society by providing preventive and curative health services, raise awareness about different health issues to communities and advocating for health needs of individuals and the society in general. A nursing career is well-paying and has positive future prospects for high financial benefits. As such, I will earn enough money to sustain my family and cater to my luxury needs, such as vacations (Vallano, 2008).

Conclusion

Nursing profession calls for more than just passing exams in the classwork. It should reflect the passion one has for helping others. Nursing practice is a field that is guided by the set work ethics, and also the ethical standards that a person aspiring to be a nurse must uphold.

References

John Hopkins University. (2013). Tuition &Fees.Retrieved from

http://nursing.jhu.edu/admissions/tuition/index.html

Vallano, A. (2008). Your career in nursing. New York, NY: Kaplan Pub.

Royal College of Nursing.(2013). How to become a nurse or midwife.Retrieved from

http://www.rcn.org.uk/nursing/becomenurse

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