A nursing degree teaches people how to care for themselves, help others, and enhance people’s comfort and health. As a nursing student, you will learn basic skills such as handling and using tools, providing personal assistance to patients, administering treatments, and other nursing services. You will learn about human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, social work, communication, and administration of medical devices. During your degree program, you will also study different aspects of advanced nursing, including legal issues, law, administration, administrative, organizational, policy, and leadership.
A nursing degree is very useful in choosing a career in health care. The first job that most aspiring nursing students get is with hospitals. In a hospital job, you will usually be responsible for the patient’s overall health condition and other aspects that affect it. Your job will involve evaluating a patient’s condition and recommending a course of treatment. You will help physicians prescribe the right drugs that will best treat the patient’s symptoms.
To become a nurse, you need to have the education, training, certification, and experience in the medical field to work as a nurse. A nursing degree program helps you gain the skills and knowledge needed to start your career in the medical field. A nursing career usually starts with working as an aide at a physician’s office for about two years to get used to the environment and working with patients.
After a few years, you will usually begin to work in a medical facility. Some nurses begin their nursing careers working in an acute care unit where they help patients who are in need of immediate care. Other nurses work in a long-term care facility where they provide care for long-term and chronic health conditions that require intensive medical attention. Other nurses may work in an assisted living facility where they care for residents who need constant supervision and help while they perform activities that involve independent living, such as eating and dressing.
As your career grows, you will usually be assigned more responsibilities. You may also start to work in a pediatric unit, a rehabilitation center, emergency room, acute care facility, or other type of hospital. As your career progresses, you may start to work with children who are elderly, suffering from mental illness, are on a transplant list, have a history of drug use or alcoholism, or are a victim of traumatic brain injury.
After you have graduated from a nursing school and obtained your nursing degree, you can begin to advance your career by taking continuing education courses. Your degree program can also prepare you for higher studies and licensing exams that will qualify you to work as a licensed nurse practitioner. This credential can help you advance in the job market when you complete your education and licensure requirements.
For those who want to be certified nurse anesthetist or nurse anesthetists, many colleges offer associate or bachelor’s degree programs for those seeking careers as these positions in the medical field. For those who want to specialize in a particular area of nursing, a master’s degree is necessary to become a registered nurse and become licensed nurse practitioner.
