Nursing Degree

The medical industry is currently the largest growing industry in the United States, unwavering in the face of the recession. Nursing is one of the many healthcare occupations that is in dire need for more prospective employees, including nurses and representatives for the Boards of Registered Nursing in each state.

The shortage of nurses and other medical practitioners has caused a backlog in hospital emergency rooms. It has also lead to dangerous nurses continuing their practice for several years, with patient complaints going to the Boards of Registered Nursing unnoticed.

Nursing degrees are available from both online and campus-based schools. Anyone wishing to become a nurse must have a high school diploma or GED. In addition to preliminary nursing programs, master degree programs are available to registered nurses that are looking to expand their careers.

A nursing degree may be acquired in one of three ways. The first is a traditional bachelor degree, or 4-year degree. The second option is an associate's degree, which could take anywhere from 2 to 3 years to complete. The third option is mostly phased out, which is on-the-job training, where you work with other nurses as an apprentice and eventually qualify to take your certification test. Regardless, once you complete your education, you will want to pursue registration through your state's Board of Registered Nursing.

Personality traits that are required for nursing are compassion, common sense, the ability to think for yourself, the ability to handle stress and, and being able to maintain composure under difficult circumstances.