Registered Nurses Require College Education

Answer 1

There are many indications that registered nurses are on a career path that will expand in prominence and responsibility in the near future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job prospects for RNs are excellent. Additionally, there is a strong need for experienced RNs to serve as college instructors. Nursing schools are having to turn away applicants because there are not enough instructors.

The requirements of the U.S. health care system are primed to give more recognition to the nurse practitioner, the nurse who has background and training to serve as head administrator for a clinic and to prescribe medication.

These indications come together to give major importance to the courses that nurses take in their initial training for their bachelor's degree. That coursework and the nurse's clinical experience will prepare the RN for graduate school and the host of advance specialties and careers. Bachelor's degree training includes the lot of science courses that cover chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition among others. There will also be a a fair sampling of psychology courses and statistics along with thematic nursing courses.

Later in their careers, RNs develop specialties. Pursuing their practice as nurses, they are specifically licensed to take continuing education courses. These courses provide them the skills upon which to specialize. Nurses may want to concentrate in midwifery. They may find psychiatric nursing favorable to their particular calling. Clinical care nurses specialize as advance practice nurses in different areas.

If nurses had an idea of or desire for a certain specialty, they would make sure that they receive as much education and clinical practice in the area as possible. The more psychology courses one takes as an undergraduate, the more preparation one would have for entering psychiatric nursing. For the nurse interested in the administrative areas, he or she could take accounting courses and courses in leadership to prepare for a future administrative role.

RNs average wages of $57,000. After ten years, mid-level careers that include nurse case manager, emergency room registered nurse, and charge nurse average up to $66,000. Advance care specialty nurses make wages around that similar level. Nursing managers and directors command over $72,000.