Writing a concise description of a nurse's day on the job is challenging. Whether registered nurses (RNs) specialize in acute care, enterostomal therapy or palliative care, they do it with a grace and nurturing manner that owes to their title as "angels who wear comfortable shoes." RNs make up the largest pool of professionals in the health care industry, and yet they are in higher demand than almost any other occupation. ... Nurses treat patients for every kind of illness and injury, and help educate the public on how to take better care of themselves and loved ones
It typically takes at least three years to become a registered nurse (RN). The most common pathways to the profession are to earn a four-year bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma administered through a hospital. Some nursing occupations, such as Nurse Practitioners and high-level managerial positions, require advanced degrees.
Nurses fill a variety of roles in different settings, and each specialization has distinct benefits. Nurse managers oversee a team on nurses and nursing technicians on the floor; they may no longer directly administer care, but they have more responsibility in the greater hospital/care center administration. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed to serve as primary care providers, and often specialize in such areas as pediatrics, geriatrics, or acute care. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia and other potentially risky pain medication, and are therefore highly compensated for their work. School nurses work in a school setting and generally work more regular hours than their counterparts in hospitals.
Nursing is a profession that requires long and rigorous hours of field work. Online programs are a great way to complement this hands-on training with coursework that is flexible, accessible from anywhere an Internet connection is available, and highly respected in the field.
