How the Nursing Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Nursing is one of the most in-demand occupations today, and the need for more nurses will continue well into the next decade. By 2020, the health care field will need to add more than two million new licensed registered nurses into the work force, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration in the Department of Health and Human Services. As the population ages and expands, the need for nurses to look after the influx of new patients is clear, making nursing one of the most promising medical fields to join. Nursing majors prepare for a prosperous future in helping others by taking courses in pharmacology, nursing concepts for women, children, and adults, community health, and other topics related to ethical and efficient nursing practices. Nursing majors also must complete outside clinical work before graduating. This combination of professional work experience and intensive classroom education provides nursing majors with the knowledge and hands-on experience they need to seamlessly integrate into the work force upon graduation.
Best Career Paths for Nursing Majors
Nursing is a highly specialized field, but there are also many varying career opportunities within the nursing field that suit a myriad of preferences. The best career paths for nursing majors are:
- Registered Nurse. Registered nurses make up the largest portion of the health care industry, with nurses holding approximately 2.6 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses can work in nearly any health care setting, from small physician offices to bustling hospitals. Nurses provide insight to patients regarding the patientís illness, condition, or injury, and also discuss ways to help the patient cope and recover. They develop treatment plans or contribute to an existing treatment plan, using their extensive educational background in health care to determine what is best for the patient. Many specializations exist within registered nursing as well, and some registered nurses may choose to work exclusively in pediatrics, trauma units, or another area of focus. Registered nurses make an average salary of $62,450 annually, according to the Bureau.
- Nursing Home Administration. Nursing home administrators supervise other nursing home employees and ensure that the home is run efficiently without sacrificing resident comfort. They work with admissions managers to handle the records of those seeking admittance into the home, as well as with the nursing staff to make adjustments to living situations to keep the occupants at ease. Working in a nursing home allows nursing majors to make the experience of living independently as comfortable as possible for the elderly, particularly those with medical needs. Nursing home administrators make an average salary of $71,190 annually, according to the Bureau.
How to Market Your Nursing Degree
After years in nursing school and multiple sessions of outside clinical work, you have finally earned your nursing degree and are ready to practice professionally. However, you still need to sell the merits of your education to potential employers. Emphasize the value of your nursing degree by highlighting the most applicable skills you learned during your educational career. For example, tell employers about how your courses helped you prepare for your clinical work. In addition, mention all of the different tasks you tackled during your clinical work and how it helped you learn more about the profession as a whole. The best way to market your nursing degree is to prove to employers that the skills and knowledge you learned during college are applicable to the real-world work environment.
