Nursing: Recession Proof, Rich In Opportunities And Rewards
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Besides being one of the hottest careers with many more jobs than applicants, nursing can't be outsourced overseas, and today offers good salaries and benefits. Nursing is much more interesting and challenging than in the past as nurses' knowledge, both of medicine and of the patients in their day-to-day care, is increasingly noted, used and respected by both doctors and hospitals.
There are two primary fast-track ways to become a nurse.
If you are a high school graduate who needs to work full time, the most practical plan might be to invest in 9 - 12 months in training at a community college or school of nursing to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or in some states, a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). This takes you straight to a job paying $26,000 or more, and with a median income of $32,700 to $42,000 per year depending on the state and job setting, such as hospitals or doctors' offices.
Tuition assistance is often among the benefits. Hospitals are the most likely to offer tuition forgiveness programs (helping pay off student loans taken during training) and tuition reimbursement for further study, making it much easier and affordable to continue toward your Registered Nurse (RN) or bachelor of nursing (BN) degrees. It will behoove you to continue your education ASAP because the U.S. Department of Labor job projects possible slower growth in LPN jobs at hospitals, which offer the best benefits. Home heath and nursing care facilities, which will need more LPNs, often don't offer tuition assistance.
If you have completed a BA in any field, you will probably be eligible to enroll in the growing number of fast-track nurse training programs. Most last a year to 18 months, though if you lack a background in science you may need to take some pre-admission courses.
Take a look at one of these one-year accelerated BSN programs at Creighton University in Omaha, NE, one of the first schools in the U.S. to design an accelerated BSN more than 30 years ago. Students learn how to manage and improve care in a number of clinical settings, including critical, outpatient, public health, mental health and home care. Students work with a BSN as they learn in clinical as well as classroom settings.
RN salaries start at more than $40,000 a year, with median salaries in the $53,000 to 64,000.range.