My eldest daughter turned 23 a few months ago. My family has always commented how much she looked and acted like the childhood version of me. Sensitive, sensible, quiet nature, brown-black eyes, brown hair; so much was the resemblance that once, she handed me an old photo of me, inquiring why this photo of her was in black and white!

Unfortunately, like me, she also chose full-time employment over college right out of high school. I continue to point out the wonderful aspects of a nursing career to her, hoping she’ll recognize the bountiful opportunities and the honorableness of the profession. What other field can you choose:

• your hours, (days, evenings, nights, 8-10-12 hour days–many full time R.N.’s work three 12-hour shifts a week and have 4 days off)
• your setting (hospital, community health, doctor’s office, insurance company, home health, pharmaceutical company, educator, health care equipment sales, etc.)
• your status (full time, part time, PRN) Nursing is a career in which you can stop at the basics, (LPN – 18-month degree or ADN – two-year degree) or continue as far as you wish to go (bachelor’s – additional two years, master’s – add another two years, advance practice nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist)

The list of possibilities for career paths in nursing is infinite; specialize in OB, emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, oncology, women’s health, critical care …

Do you like to work with computers? One of the newer R.N. paths is “nursing informatics,” a job that combines nursing knowledge and skill with computer proficiency to identify nursing needs regarding computer programs and documenting, write or modify programs in healthcare facilities, and train staff to use the system.

What about forensic nursing? Legal nurse consultant? Don’t those paths sound intriguing?!!

Another optimistic fact: even with the downturn of the economy, the field of nursing is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2018. Experts predict we will see the creation of more new jobs in the nursing field than any other occupation. Ongoing technical advances in patient care technology including electronic medical records, and an increasing focus on wellness are only a few of the factors credited for this prediction (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010).

Among 22 types of professions ranked, nurses have topped Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics ranking every year but one since they were added to the list in 1999. The exception is 2001, when firefighters were included on the list on a one-time basis, shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (Gallup, 2009).

Few occupations can boast the excellent job opportunities projection in today’s economy as nursing can. Very few careers exist that can offer the broad spectrum of potential paths and superior income as nursing, and few occupations can claim the respect and trust, and provide the challenge and rewards as a career in nursing.

Reference:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Registered Nurses, retrieved August 11, 2010 from www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm

Gallup (2009). Nurses top list of most ethical and honest professions. Retrieved August 12, 2010, from www.gallup.com

- Sandi Schilli

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