Nursing is one of the most exciting professions you can choose. Nursing is also a growing profession. By the year 2015 hospitals and other care facilities will be looking for over a half million nurses! You could be one of those nurses!

There are three ways to become a registered nurse:

• BSN-a bachelor's of science degree in nursing, offered by colleges and universities, takes about 4 years to complete.
• AND-An associate degree in nursing, offered by community and junior colleges, takes about 2 to 3 years to complete.
• Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, take about 3 years to complete.

In all States and the District of Columbia, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination, known as the NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. (From the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Nursing is an exciting profession with an almost unlimited number of places to work and learn. You can choose the hospital in your own hometown or a medical complex in a major city. You can choose caring for newborn babies or researching a cure for cancer. You can choose flying a helicopter with a Trauma Unit or a military nurse on a Navy ship. Which one sounds best for you!

How can you decide? Let's use the process that many health care professionals agree is one of the best ways to successfully care for a patient.

As you consider different areas of nursing ask yourself these same questions as they apply to the nursing profession. All areas need nurses who are able to think quickly, make decisions based on facts, work as a team, and give timely care to patients.

Hospitals

Community

Long-Term Care

Academics

Ambulatory Care