According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.6 million registered nurses in 2008 and that number is expected to increase by 22 percent within the next 10 years due to the growth of the health care industry. You can become a registered nurse by graduating from a diploma program, a two-year associate degree program (ADN), or a four-year bachelor program (BSN). ADN programs, which are offered at junior or community colleges, focus on nursing theory and clinical experience to quickly move students from the classroom into the workforce.

Jobs

The health care industry is expanding, and with an ADN you can find many entry-level positions in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics. Apply for staff nurse positions in hospitals; choose from a wide variety of practice areas, such as general medicine, intensive care, or labor and delivery. You can work on most floors that offer direct patient care. Among other responsibilities, you assess patients, administer medicines, and communicate with physicians, staff, and families. Learn valuable skills like putting in IVs or drawing blood. With time and experience, you may become a preceptor training new nurses or even a charge nurse supervising nurses on your unit. Hospital jobs involve long hours (usually 12-hour shifts) and some weekends and holidays. If you prefer traditional office-style workweeks, look for openings at clinics and physicians' offices, although they may be more competitive. Jobs in clinics and doctors' offices are usually associated with better work conditions compared to hospitals-lighter workloads and shorter hours-although not necessarily better pay. Job descriptions depend on the clinic's specialty-for instance, at an oncology center you may be educating a patient about his blood counts or administering chemotherapy. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities also offer opportunities for employment; you may find yourself administering tube feedings, inserting Foley catheters, or delivering medications to the residents.

Limits

Nurses with ADNs usually stay in patient care because they do not have very many options. ADN curriculum, unlike BSN programs, does not cover content in leadership, research or critical thinking. Clinical hours are limited and students do not receive much exposure to non-hospital clinical settings. Positions in management, research and education usually require a BSN. If you see yourself working in areas other than providing direct patient care, you may want to eventually want to get your BSN. The process may take as little as 18 months.

Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics