Career Outlook Nurses are the backbone of our health care system. There are currently more than 125,000 vacant nursing jobs in the United States. The demand for RNs is expected to grow rapidly over the next two decades. The projected RN shortage for the year 2020 is 800,000.

The Nursing Profession Nursing is one of the most respected professions in the United States. Nursing requires a unique combination of knowledge and skills. Physical Strength Critical Thinking Skills Knowledge of Science and Technology Interpersonal Skills Compassion

Opportunity In today’s health care climate, nurses have a variety of choices about where they work and they types of patients they care for.

What do nurses do? Basic duties: Patient assessment Implementing patient treatment Medication administration Providing basic care, emotional support, and education In addition to traditional bedside hospital nursing, career opportunities exist in…

Emergency medicine

Patient transport

Surgical nursing Medical research

Sports medicine

Volunteer organizations such as the Peace Corps and Jesuit Volunteer Corps

The armed services

Forensics Legal nurse consulting

Opportunities also exist in: business administration nursing informatics schools nursing homes physician’s office surgery centers clinics patient homes

Earning potential Overall, nursing salaries vary depending on a number of factors: Level of education (degree type) Years of experience in a chosen field State and city where you work Type of facility you work in in specialty you pursue RN Median Hourly Rate by State (2006) California: $31.88 Florida: $23.26 Georgia: $23.83 Illinois: $25.00 Ohio $24.00 Tennessee: $22.25

Earning potential Travel nursing $63,170 Hospital $53,450 Home health $48,990 Physician's office $48,250 Assisted living $48,250 Nurse practitioner $80,000 + Nurse anesthetist $115,000 +

Additional benefits Tuition reimbursement Signing bonuses Flexible scheduling Subsidized training and education Job security Endless opportunity for growth

Types of nursing degrees RN Diploma, 2 year program Associates, 2 year program Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN, RN) traditional 4 year program or accelerated (post-bac) 1-2 year program Master’s in Nursing (MSN, RN) Doctorate in Nursing (Ph.D)

What kinds of classes do I need to become a nurse? A large part of nursing curriculum consists of hands on clinical experience in places like hospitals, clinics, community agencies, and other health care settings. Classroom work includes instruction in: Chemistry Microbiology Human Anatomy and Physiology Psychology Nutrition Pharmacology Pathophysiology Technology/computers

Algebra Chemistry Biology Life science courses that include anatomy and physiology Psychology and/or sociology can be helpful as well, and may be required by your nursing program Foreign language English - effective written and oral communication skills are essential! What classes should I take to prepare for nursing school?

What you can do! Volunteer at local hospitals or nursing homes Shadow nurses Enroll in summer volunteer opportunities CCF Junior Ambassador Program Our local hospitals include some of the best in the nation: The Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center,

There are more than 200,000 male nurses working in the field today.