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A Noble Profession

Nursing is one of the noblest of professions in today's world. If you have the desire in you to take care of people, you will find that nursing will give you plenty of opportunities to do that. Nurses are to be found in all kinds of health settings, from emergencies and accidents, to homes of the patients. They work with people from all backgrounds and different age groups.

Today there is a dearth of nurses in America. The U.S. government has been trying to fill in the gap by hiring foreign nationals, but scarcity still looms large. Being aware of certain facts related to a career in nursing would probably encourage young students in high schools or colleges to think of making a shift to this career.

- Nurses at the entry level earn even more than what several other professionals earn after their graduation from college. Statistics show that while nurses earn an average $45,000 each year, accountants' income is only about $41,000.

- Nurses can finish their graduation and get to work after 2 years, whereas in other areas, students get degrees in 4 years or so. Students enrolled in the Associate Degree in Nursing and Hospital Diploma can have the option of going back to school in future for getting a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

- In addition to working in the hospitals, nurses can also join schools, research labs, correctional facilities, private homes and companies. Occupational health nurses provide care and support to the people working in chemical plants, factories, and paper mills.

- In the U.S, the registered nurses, in addition to offering the general healthcare services, also guide the patients about diseases prevention. The nurses also work in advanced clinical specialties like neonatology, oncology, neurology, and family health.

- Nurses are not required to work more than 8 to 10 hours per shift as the chances of an error taking place increases if they are made to be on duty at a stretch for more than 12 hours.

- There is a higher demand for nurses in order to tackle the incidents of adverse outcomes of patients. A study has proven that higher resident nurses in a hospital would reduce the relapse rates of patients suffering from lung failure, ulcers, and kidney related diseases. The patients can be discharged without further incidents.

- Trained nurses can also apply in nursing schools to teach after having worked for a few years in a hospital.

Earlier nurses were not keen to come into this profession as they felt they were not treated well enough, and were also not that well paid. But times have changed with nurses shouldering newer and more complex responsibilities, and hospitals are offering better pay to make them stick to this profession. With the rise in aging population, demand for nurses is increasing day by day. A career in nursing brings with it a rewarding feeling of helping others as well as a job security with good income.