According to a New York Times article, nursing is one of the top five professions for those who want to change careers. It's easy to see why this is so.
or one, nurses are in high demand these days. The economy is currently very unstable, with the real estate market crash causing layoffs in many industries, from mortgage companies to construction, but there is a nursing shortage nationwide which is projected to continue for the next couple of decades, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Registered nurses also receive good wages, and they have a variety of specific areas to choose from -- whether in a hospital, clinic, nursing school, and others. This sounds better than many boring desk jobs.
And don't be discouraged even if the bachelor's degree you hold is one in a totally unrelated field. Because of the demand, there an now accelerated programs for a second bachelor's degree.
These type of programs can be completed within a year -- from one summer to the next. Other programs are a bit mre lengthy, but still only 18 months long.
Yes, that is a very intense program, and you will have to put everything else aside for that year. No work, and a very understanding family, are a requirement for success in a program like that.
You know however that by the end of those long 12 or 18 months, your efforts will be rewarded because by then you will have earned your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This career will provide opportunities for you to work in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, schools and even research facilities.
There are some courses that you will need to have completed beforehand, but since you already have a bachelor's degree, you will most likely have already taken at least some of them - psychology, history, English, and possibly the science and math that you will need.
Nowadays it isn't uncommon for an individual to obtain a second bachelor's degree through accelerated programs. According to a May 2007 article on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website, the courses are offered in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Guam - with 37 new programs in the works! They also found that in 2006, there were 8,493 students enrolled in these programs nationwide - up from 2,422 students in 2004. So clearly the popularity of these programs is skyrocketing in response to the great demand for registered nurses nationwide.
The web article also goes on to differentiate the second bachelor's degree students from those first time students. The career changers were found to be more focused and motivated on their goals. If you have these traits and are considering nursing as a second career, contact your State Board of Nursing to find the accredited programs in your area.
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