sarah.clark@hqeducation.com
HQ Education Columnist
With so many service and technical-related jobs being sent overseas, it's no wonder many Americans are concerned about the security of their careers. There are some jobs, however, that are unlikely to be sent to India, Eastern Europe, or any other offshore location, and nursing is one of them.
Registered nurses need to directly interact with the people for whom they perform a service, their patients. They can't dispense medicine, personally check on a patient, or take a patient's blood pressure from an offsite location. Like surgeons, and many others in the health services field, they must be in direct contact with a patient to do their job.
As it happens, nursing is also one of the fastest growing jobs in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From 2002 to 2012, the number of employed registered nurses is expected to grow by 37 percent. Compare that number to the average growth rate for all occupations, which is a mere 10 to 20 percent.
This growth is due in large part to an aging baby boomer population. More registered nurses (RNs) are needed to administer to baby boomers in operating rooms, emergency rooms, out-patient clinics, and assisted living facilities. Fortunately, RNs cannot administer to the needs of the ill through a phone line or high-speed Internet connection.
Education for Registered Nurses
RNs can be certified within two years at a community college that offers a nursing program. However, some say it is advisable to get a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN), which allows you to take advantage of more opportunities within the field. Those with BSNs will be suited for jobs that involve health education, hospital administration, and onsite health care services for companies.Many are also attracted to the field of nursing for its solid wages. The BLS says that the median annual earnings of RNs in 2002 was $48,090. The highest paid 10 percent earned more than $69,670.
While nursing may not be the right career for everyone, it's a job that appears to offer a significant amount of stability in a changing job market.
