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Registered nurses (RNs) remain among the most in-demand professionals in today's job market, despite the current recession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nursing careers will grow at a rate of 23 percent from 2006 through 2016. And the field stands to generate 587,000 new jobs and hundreds of thousands of job openings as a result of experienced nurses leaving the profession. A registered nursing career (RN) can provide exceptional rewards, from a lucrative salary to flexible career paths. Work in a hospital or physician's office, or explore the country as a travel nurse. If registered nursing school is in your future, take a closer look at the registered nursing career paths you can take.  Work as a Registered Nurse in a Hospital In hospitals, registered nurses provide a broad range of patient care services, from administering medications to assisting in operating rooms to providing emergency room care. The BLS reports that hospitals employ 59 percent of RNs overall and pay the second highest median salary, $58,550. Hospital RNs enjoy significant career advantages. They gain extensive patient care experience, have the opportunity to supervise junior nursing staff, and receive specialized on-the-job training to prepare them for specific care settings, such as radiology, pediatrics or surgery. Become a Home Health Care Services Registered Nurse As a registered nurse in home health care services, you will provide care for patients in their own homes. This can include seeing patients recently discharged from the hospital who are recovering from certain illnesses or conditions, including cancer, surgery or childbirth. Registered nurses in home health care services enjoy significant autonomy. And the BLS reports that home health care nurses will see a 39 percent employment growth rate through 2016. If an RN degree appeals to you, and you can envision yourself in a role where you provide one-on-one patient care independently, a career in home health services might be the perfect choice for you. Bring Your RN Credentials to Nursing Care Nursing care facilities provide long-term medical care for the elderly. The job of a registered nurse in a nursing care facility might involve assessing the health of residents, developing treatment plans, performing medical procedures and supervising other nurses. As a nursing care RN, you will find the highest rate of job growth in specialized long-term rehabilitation units for patients who have suffered strokes or head injuries. Units that treat patients with Alzheimer's disease will also have a higher need for registered nursing school graduates, according to the BLS. Practice as a Registered Nurse in a Physician's Office One perk that many nurses do not find often—regular business hours. If you work in a hospital or other round-the-clock facility, you may have to work nights and weekend shifts. Physicians, on the other hand, typically run their offices on a nine-to-five schedule, with some offering patients extended office hours in the evenings or on the weekends. In general, however, weekday, eight-hour shifts are the standard. Registered nurses in physicians' offices perform a wide variety of duties that include assisting in examinations, administering injections, dressing wounds and performing routine lab work. Because the hours are better and the environment is generally more comfortable, you can expect greater competition for RN jobs in physicians' offices. Enjoy the Perks of a Registered
Nursing Career as a Travel Nurse Your degree from registered nursing school can lead to a highly rewarding career exploring the United States, one nursing assignment at a time. As a travel nurse, you agree to short-term assignments in the location of your choice across the country. In general, assignments can last as little as eight or as many as 26 weeks. To find work, nurses sign on with a travel nurse employment agency that staffs a particular health care facility. Agencies typically require applicants to have worked as a registered nurse for a certain period of time, such as a year. Job perks for travel nurses can include free housing, relocation costs, and sign-on and renewal bonuses. Serve Your Country as a Military Nurse The military needs nurses in times of both war and peace. Complete your registered nursing program, and apply for active duty or work as a civilian in a military hospital. As a military nurse, you will advance your knowledge of nursing and health care practice and receive career benefits such as specialized training, worldwide travel and registered nursing school tuition reimbursement. Military nurses serve all branches of the U.S. military and the U.S. Public Health service. Combine your RN degree with your desire to serve your country, and enjoy the rewards of a career as a military nurse. Start Your Registered Nursing Career Path Today Across the country, the ongoing nursing shortage continues to increase the demand for qualified registered nurses. This is good news for students looking to build a long-term career providing patients with the quality, compassionate care they deserve. From job growth to versatile, thriving career opportunities, registered nursing appears to have it all. Learn more about registered nursing programs and schools, and take that first step on your registered nursing career path today. Related Reading  Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
MedicalCareerInfo.com, 2009
EzineArticles.com, 2009
AmericanTraveler.com, 2009
PayScale.com, 2009
DiscoverNursing.com, 2009 |
