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Why Get Your Nursing Degree Online?

As our population ages, we will need to have a strong system of qualified healthcare personnel to assist manage all aspects of health care management - especially nurses. The nursing industry will see a worthy amount of growth in the next ten to fifteen years when the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age and transitions in to nursing care facilities. The baby boomer generation is considered to be one of America's largest generations ever. There is a nationwide shortage of nurses, and this shortage is predicted to reach 500,000 by 2020.

Registered nurses constitute one of the largest healthcare occupations, with 2.3 million jobs. More new jobs are anticipated to be created for registered nurses than for any other occupation. Registered nurses known as RN's work to sustain health, prevent disease, and support patients who are dealing with illness. They are advocates and health educators for the community, their patients and the patient's families. Registered nurses deal with direct patient care. It is their job to observe patients, record symptoms and track patient progress. The also assist to assist doctors during surgery, treatment, and examinations. They are also required to administer medications, and assist in convalescence and therapy. The setting a registered nurse works in somewhat determines their regular duties. Hospital nurses form the largest group of nurses. Hospital nurses provide bedside nursing care and carry out medical regimens. They also may supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides. Hospital nurses usually are assigned to one department, such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, the emergency room, intensive care, or the treatment of cancer patients.

There are three different nursing degrees that lead to an RN. To become an RN, nurses need to graduate from a 4-year Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing, an Associates of Nursing, or a Nursing Diploma program offered by hospitals. They also need to pass a national licensing examination. A registered nursing degree has a national licensing section that makes it easier to get licensed in multiple states. This is helpful if a nurse gets recruited elsewhere. According to the Dept. of Labor Statistics, registered nurses will be in worthy demand for the foreseeable future. The average salary for a nurse is approximately $48,000 with the higher 10% making upwards of $69,000 annually.

There are three different nursing degrees that lead to an RN. To become an RN, nurses need to graduate from a 4-year Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing, an Associates of Nursing, or a Nursing Diploma program offered by hospitals. They also need to pass a national licensing examination. A registered nursing degree has a national licensing section that makes it easier to get licensed in multiple states. This is helpful if a nurse gets recruited elsewhere. According to the Dept. of Labor Statistics, registered nurses will be in worthy demand for the foreseeable future. More new nursing jobs will be open than jobs in any other field. At this time, there is a shortage of qualified nurses to even come close to filling the projected demand. The average salary for a nurse is approximately $48,000 with the higher 10% making upwards of $69,000 annually.

Though nursing jobs are generally in high demand across the country, LPN positions in hospitals are declining. LPN positions in long term care facilities, however, are in as much demand as other nursing categories. Licensed Practical Nurses are mainly creditworthy for direct patient care. Nurses' aides and others assist LPN's in some of the duties they perform. LPN's take their direction from doctors and registered nurses (RNs) and nurse managers. Typically, an LPN is creditworthy for taking vitals signs, administering injections, application of bandages and dressings, and the monitoring of patients. Work duties can also include feeding patients, collecting samples and providing patient hygiene. LPN's work in a variety of settings like hospitals, outpatient facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics and home care. LPNs with many years of experience may supervise nursing aides and assistants.

Course work in the LPN program includes physiology, chemistry, obstetrics, pediatrics nutrition, biology, anatomy, first aid and nursing classes. Becoming an LPN is the fastest path to a nursing career. If you have the qualities required to be a nurse and want a well paying job, getting an LPN degree in nursing is a worthy way to secure your professional future. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (http://www.bls.gov/) the median income for LPNs as $31,440 in 2002. The range was $22,860 to $44,040 based on geographic setting and job knowledge.

To become a nurse, you will need education and a nursing license. Graduates must complete a state approved practical nursing program and pass a licensing examination. An LPN certificate can be accomplished in less than a year. Some RN students become LPNs after finishing their first year of study.

The healthcare industry is experiencing a worthy amount of job growth. Jobs in the field of nursing are abundant worldwide. Unfortunately, not only are there not enough nurses, there are not enough nursing educators. This causes a high degree of competition for those wanting to get in to a nursing program. Potential nursing students are finding it difficult to locate programs, and when they do, there are often wait lists. The wait is worth it, however. Since qualified nurses are in high demand - and will continue to be, the wages too, will continue to rise. These job opportunities are expected to be very good. This is an explosive time for the nursing industry. Anyone involved in nursing is going to have steady work for years to come.

Samantha Sebring is an inhouse writer for Online Degrees Today.com. She has been writing distance learning education pieces since 2005.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

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Keywords:

nursing nurses registered care nurse jobs patients need demand lpns


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