Nursing is one of the most noble professions in our society and currently there are far more nursing jobs than there are those qualified to fill them. It's one of the most noble positions any of us can choose as a career. It requires a certain mindset and of course, there are educational requirements that must be met and vary according to your specialty. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of Hound.com and famed career coach says the demand will continue to increase as more people in the medical field prepare for retirement.
Nursing Statistics:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are current 2.6 million nurses in the United States and account for the largest healthcare occupation.
Many of these nurses continue their educations and go on to fill:
(1) Nurse Practitioner jobs
(2) Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs
(3) Nursing Instructor jobs; and
(4) Forensic Nursing jobs
Further, nurses can choose a level of specialty, such as those working with medical teams that research certain diseases or nurses who are specifically trained to provide not only care for terminal patients, but their families as well. Many nurses prefer a classroom setting and become nursing instructors while others become critical care nurses or pediatric nurses.
The growth rate in the nursing industry through the year 2016 is expected to increase by 48% for nurses working in physician's offices; 33% of nurses who work in the home health care industry 25% for those opting to work in nursing home environments and 17% for those who choose hospitals as their settings. Another important factor, according to A. Harrison Barnes, is the ability to switch professions with just a bit of specific training that complements what the nurse already knows.
The reasons for choosing the nursing industry are as varied as the nurses themselves. Many wish to make a difference in another's life while others are passionate about the medical field as a whole and want a career in medicine. Today's technological advances open a world of possibilities for nurses. Many treatments that traditionally were done in more sterile settings are now being performed in patients' homes. This, of course, explains the need for home health care nurses.
Because of the unique work schedules, many nurses are realizing they can easily work their careers into their domestic lives. It is not uncommon for nurses to enjoy flex time opportunities, part time work schedules that still provide a significant income and there are always those who prefer to travel and become what is known as traveling nurses. Many also opt to enter the military as nurses. This is another way nurses are able to travel while pursuing their careers.