You’ve picked a great time to explore a career in nursing, because you’ve never been needed more! These days, many hospitals are reporting that 10 percent or more of their budgeted positions for registered nurses are vacant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for nurses is expected to grow much faster than other careers - at least 27 percent by the year 2014.
As the baby boomer population ages and their health care needs increase, as nurses retire faster than new ones come into the field - the demand for registered nurses only gets stronger.
Because of the high demand, registered nurses are now able to command a very respectable salary. According to Salary.Com, the median salary for a registered nurse in the United States is currently $59,061.
What does this mean for you? It means that with a degree as a Registered Nurse, you can earn a great salary and you have endless opportunities for employment in a wide variety of settings. You can work with children, with the elderly, in hospitals, in doctor’s offices, for the federal government, in resorts, on cruise ships, in the criminal justice system, in clinics, in schools, and in so many other places we can’t list them all. Because nurses are needed around the clock, you can pick what shifts you want to work, and if you need extra money you can work all of the overtime that you can handle.
That’s the good news. What’s the bad news?
The bad news is that plenty of other people have figured out that nursing is a great career, and enrollment at nursing schools has increased tremendously, to the point where many good nursing schools have long waiting lists. Competition to get into nursing school is intense these days, and most of the students who are accepted into the traditional degree programs have very high grade point averages.
Some four-year nursing programs and community college programs have waiting lists of three or four years - and that’s for students who have already finished all of their prerequisite nursing courses.
But don’t despair. The traditional degree program is no longer the only route to a nursing license.
These days, there are numerous paths that can be taken to reach your final destination as a registered nurse. We’re here to guide you.
Keep reading, and browse through our site, to find information on how to get into nursing school, take most or all of your nursing classes online, and how to finance your education.