Career Close-Up: Nursing

If there’s one profession that will probably never become obsolete, it’s nursing. It’s a fact of life: people will always have to deal with illnesses and patients will always need care. In fact, nursing is the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. with an increase of over a half-million jobs expected in the next decade. Due to an aging population and shrinking healthcare workforce, nurses are in demand now more than ever. Not only is nursing a fast-paced and interesting career, it is also a staple of the helping professions. Nurses leave an impact on patients’ lives and, indeed, save lives every day. If nursing is a career you are considering, be assured that you will most likely have options, benefits, and flexibility. With that in mind, there are many schools that boast prestigious nursing programs that can prepare you for this important career. Below, we focus in on the nursing profession and list some key schools where you can pursue this admirable course of study.

Hundreds of Paths: There are literally hundreds of career paths and specialties that those in the nursing profession can follow. As a registered nurse, you certainly are not boxed into working in an emergency room; many nurses actually open their own practices as Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) or work in specialty areas such as anesthesiology or childbirth. At the same time, you may find nursing professionals in urgent care offices, military positions, educational settings, triage units, and so many other interesting settings, not to mention in graduate programs seeking advanced degrees and certifications. Remember, famous founding nurse Florence Nightingale started on the battlefield during the Crimean War, not in a doctor’s office.

Location, Location, Location: In the nursing profession, you are not tied down to one location for the entirety of your career. Many nurses change demographics as they build their careers, and even work for visiting nurse organizations, traveling all over the country and world to share their caregiving skills. Nurses are needed internationally as well, from helping in developing countries that lack adequate healthcare to dealing with health crises like natural disasters or disease outbreaks. Without a doubt, nursing is a career that can open a literal world of opportunity, and one that stretches well beyond the walls of a hospital.

Make your Own Schedule: Flexibility is one of the great benefits of the nursing profession. Some nurses choose to work on weekends and have the week free, while others work a combination of hours; still others prefer to work overnight shifts or to be on call if they are needed. The point is, you are not relegated to a life of 9-5 shifts if you go into nursing. This flexibility can allow time for important things in life like self-care, downtime, family time, and travel. As in all helping professions, nursing is a position with a high burnout rate, so it’s vital to make time for yourself, and being in charge of your schedule is a huge help in that regard.

Schools to Consider: There are a lot of schools out there with good reputations when it comes to nursing. No matter what region of the country you are looking to attend college in, you can find a school that excels in this area of study. Below are a few schools from each region with stellar reputations for you to consider. Don’t forget to also contact a college or career coach to help you with the school selection process.

Northeast: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Columbia University, New York City; Villanova University, Pennsylvania

South: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Midwest: University of Ann Arbor, Michigan; University of Wisconsin, Madison; Ohio State University, Columbus

West: University of California, Los Angeles; University of Portland, Oregon

Written by Phil Lane

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