Nursing

The Profession
Nursing professionals provide preventative and restorative health care to patients in a variety of settings. Nurses work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illnesses. Registered nurses (RNs) are highly educated professionals who help people maintain good health and/or recover from illness or injury. Responsibilities of an RN can include: administering therapies and medications; participating in surgical procedures; managing units; teaching, assessing and counseling patients; responding in emergencies; and supervising others.

A nurse who has their undergraduate degree (BSN) can return to school for an advanced degree and specialized training in:

• Adolescent Health
• Adult Health
• Children with Special Health Care Needs
• Family Health
• Gerontology
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Midwifery
• Nursing and Healthcare Systems Administration
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatric-Mental Health
• Public Health
• Women's Health

Self-Assessment
Students who wish to be nurses must be able to accept responsibility to direct patient care, delegate duties for care as appropriate to others, supervise others, and determine when consultation is necessary. As advocates for patients, families and communities, nurses should be caring and sympathetic. Nursing is a science that requires in-depth knowledge, skills and understanding. Nursing deals not only with a person's biological needs, but their psychosocial and cultural needs as well.

Exploring Options
Changes in health care trends, an aging RN workforce, increases in job opportunities in many settings have increased the demand for more nurses in the workforce than ever before. RNs can work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long term care facilities, private homes, business and industry, HMOs, public health agencies including rehabilitation and government, schools, and the armed forces. Look here for salary information.

School of Nursing Programs
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Master of Nursing (MN)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Doctoral (PhD)