An Online Degree in Nursing: Your Path to a Compassionate Career

"Nursing," says the National Student Nurse Association, "is the largest health care profession with 2.6 million RNs in the US. A nursing job is both an art and a science. It lets you blend a scientific mind, technological know-how, a compassionate heart, and healing hands."

Nurses, the group says, make about $35-$45,000 to start, depending on location and specialty, plus additional pay for evening, night and weekend shifts. Add to that benefits like health, vacation, holiday pay, college tuition reimbursement, childcare, flexible scheduling and pension plans.

There are many nursing specialty areas to choose from. Usually you can match one with your special interests. Examples include surgery, emergency, pediatric, psychiatric, school, public health, and nurse-midwives.

Help new mothers in a third-world village, save lives in a cardiac-arrest unit, enrich lives in a senior home – and have all these experiences in the same career. Some specialty areas require additional experience, study or certification.

Nursing Offers Passport to Adventure

Because demand keeps growing, an Registered Nurse (RN) license, says the National Student Nurse Association, is like a passport to a guaranteed future. It’s a powerful tool for being able to work where and when you want, have a wide variety of experiences, and get good pay.

An online nursing degree from a nursing school includes study in nursing theory and techniques, the science and treatment of disease, and several specialty areas. It also includes hands-on clinical practice in hospitals or other settings.

More new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses than any other occupation predicts the US Dept. of Labor. You can prepare for one of them from any PC through distance learning with an online nursing degree, while accommodating your current commitments at work and home. See how.

Sources:

Nursing and other health careers

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: