The demand for nurses and nurse specialists is very strong and salaries are rising to respectable levels. The variety of job settings such as home, hospital, school, community, industry, outpatient clinic, research center or long-term care facility provides for much diversity in the practice of nursing. In many nursing schools the number of men training to be RNs has exceeded ten percent. The most recommended programs for Furman students are those leading to the Bachelor's degree (BSN) in a 2 (years at Furman) + 2 (years in nursing school) arrangement. If a student wishes a dual degree from Furman and the nursing school, the arrangement would be 3 + 2.
The section in this box is copied from Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow (NHT) (www.nursesource.org/mission.html) The NHT is a coalition of 42 nursing and health care organizations working together to wage a communications campaign to attract people to the nursing profession. It is an awesome web page for anyone desiring information on the nursing profession.
“Nursing is poised to change the face of health care as never before. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment among RNs will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008. Demand for quality nurses continues to escalate. Yet many students don't realize the opportunities that await them.
Nursing practice areas
Hospital nursing is just one of the many areas where nurses practice. Examples of other practice settings include home care, private practice, public health, extended care centers, clinics, offices, schools, military service, corporations, health-related industries, hospice, occupational settings, and health and wellness centers.
Nursing specialty areas
Like few others, the profession of nursing offers a wide variety of specialties. From pediatrics to geriatrics, nursing's impact is felt across the lifespan. Here is a sampling of specialty areas from which you can choose:
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Professional Pathways
Nursing is no longer confined to the bedside. Today's nurses can now be found in professional venues once thought impossible. Nurses influence legislation, change health care delivery systems, write and publish, educate about disease prevention and health promotion, and participate on boards of directors. Here are some of the professional paths nursing can lead to:
| · Private ventures · Collaborative practice · Alternative care · Teaching · Community care |
· Journalism · Business · Sales and marketing · Law · Informatics |
Nursing Salaries
Financial compensation for nurses varies according to geographic location, type of nursing, years of experience and level of education. Starting salaries for entry level staff nurses range from $30,000 to $45,000 per year, plus additional pay for evening, night and weekend shifts. Benefit packages often include health insurance, vacation, holiday pay, college tuition reimbursement, childcare, flexible scheduling and pension plans. Clinical Nurse Specialists and nurses with advanced degrees make considerably higher salaries.
Applying to Nursing School
Students interested in finding out more about nursing school should start by visiting www.nsna.org or www.aacn.nche.edu. These sites offer links to nursing schools on-line. Nursing school requires a high school diploma and a sound academic standing in English, algebra, chemistry, biology and psychology. An understanding of computers and technology is a great asset. Leadership and organizational skills are equally important. You will do well in nursing if you can combine these skills and characteristics with a commitment to easing human suffering and a capacity to respond quickly in emergency situations. Getting along with people and good communications skills also are important since nurses relate to people from all backgrounds.
Students interested in studying nursing should apply to several state-approved and accredited schools of nursing. The nursing courses include classroom instruction and supervised clinical hands-on experience in health care settings. Students need good study habits and the ability to analyze and think through problems to be successful in nursing school. At the end of the nursing program, graduates must pass the state board licensure examination to become licensed as a registered nurse.
Educational Pathways to Becoming a Registered Nurse
RNs must first graduate from a nursing program to be eligible to take the nurse licensure examination [NCLEX-RN], the national licensing examination for RNs. There are more than 1,500 nursing programs in the
Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
This is a four-year program, offered at colleges and universities. BSN graduates are prepared for leadership, management, and more independent nursing roles. Advancement opportunities are greatest for the BSN graduate. A BSN is required for advancement into a master's degree in nursing program. You can also enter nursing with an associate degree or a diploma.
- Undergraduate Programs
- Baccalaureate Nursing Programs by Linda K. Amos, EdD, FAAN
- LPN to BSN Programs [pdf] Listing of Schools
- Articulation Agreements Among Nursing Education Programs
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
This is a two-year program (after pre-nursing courses are completed) offered at community and junior colleges. Some hospital schools of nursing, colleges and universities also offer ADN degrees.
Hospital Diploma
This is a two- to three-year nursing program based in hospital settings. Many diploma schools are affiliated with junior colleges where students take basic sciences and English requirements.
Below you will find several web sites that list the accredited schools of nursing in the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Links to Member Schools
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/memberservices/membdir.htm
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education's Accredited Nursing Programs
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CCNE/reports/accprog.asp
Listing of Schools of Nursing
http://www.nursingsociety.org/education/schoolsUS.html
Johnson & Johnson's Searchable Database of Nursing Programs
http://www.discovernursing.com/program_search.aspx
Accredited Nurse Anesthesia Programs
http://www.aana.com/coa/accreditedprograms.asp
National League of Nurses' Directory of Accredited Nursing Programs
http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/directory_search.htm
Nursing Schools (
http://www.nsna.org/career/nursing_schools.asp
Many Furman students who are interested in nursing plan to obtain their BSN and then immediately proceed into a Master’s Degree program. There are many areas of nursing in which one may specialize and there are benefits to having the Master’s Degree. Kathleen Dracup, D.N.Sc., RN, the Dean of the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing has written an excellent review on Master's Nursing Programs. The following link will take you to her essay: Master's Nursing Programs by Kathleen Dracup, DNSc, RN
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