Now Is A Good Time To Pursue A Career In Nursing. Why Not Take An Online Program?

By Sophia Peters

What is involved in studying online nursing? What jobs are there for nurses? What are the education requirements, and how much can you expect to earn after completion? These are some of the questions that you may have on your mind if you're thinking of a career in nursing.

What is Nursing about? Nurses are the human face of so much health care - providing direct patient care. They are the first point of contact as regards administration of treatment and conduct of diagnostic tests, and as such, they are incredibly important in the health care profession.

What is studied in a Nursing Program? Nursing education usually includes courses in anatomy, physiology, biological sciences, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, sociology, nursing, pharmacology, statistics, environmental and occupational health, and the liberal arts. But you can't learn everything about being a nurse online. Programs also include supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Nurses are found in so many settings, including: Hospitals - usually assigned to one department; Schools " caring for children and staff; Clinics/Centers/Healthcare Offices - caring for outpatients; Nursing Homes - caring for residents; Home Care/Hospice - providing nursing services to patients at home; Prevention/Education Programs. So there is plenty of choice in Nursing jobs.

Opportunities for nurses are increasing world-wide. In the USA, thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who are leaving as they reach retirement. With the world population living longer and so needing more care, jobs in health care are increasing, and will likely stay that way for many years to come. The US Department of Labor reports that employment of registered nurses is expected to grow over 20% up to 2016.

What are the education requirements? Nurses most commonly enter the occupation by completing an Associate or Bachelor's degree program. Individuals must then complete a national licensing examination. Licensed graduates of these programs then qualify for entry-level nursing positions. To be a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States, you must pass the relevant National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) or the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) in Canada. This exam tests that you have the knowledge and problem solving skills needed to provide adequate health care to patients and is needed in order to work in any health care facility. The NCLEX-RN is taken by both Associate Degree (ADN) and Bachelors Degree (BSN) prepared nurses and the pass rates are about the same for both ADN and BSN prepared nurses. Make sure that your chosen program prepares you for the NCLEX Nurse Registration exam. There are basically three types of program you can take depending on your qualifications and the time you want to spend.

Further training or education online for nursing can qualify you to work in specialty areas, and help advance your career. Many existing licensed registered nurses (RNs) with an Associate degree or diploma take online nursing programs at Bachelor's level, to enable them to assume positions of responsibility in a variety of health care settings. These can be administrative positions in nursing, but could also be other positions in home health, nursing education, or health care case management.

Your salary will obviously depend on your experience, qualifications and which job you have. But in the US, the median salary range for an RN with 1 to 4 years experience is $40,550 - $59.069 whilst in Canada it is C$38.744 - C$55,887 (source: PayScale).

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