Nursing is an exciting profession filled with nearly limitless opportunities and possibilities. The content including in the Become a Nurse category will explore the field of nursing including explorations of specialties, career potential, and other aspects that make nursing such an appealing career.
![15 People Who Had the Biggest Impact on Nursing [Infographic] - great nurses](https://thenerdynurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/great-nurses.jpg.webp "15 people who had the biggest impact on nursing [infographic] 1")
Nursing has evolved and changed over time. It would not be what it is today without many influential and hardworking nurses. While you may know some of the more famous, such as Florence Nightingale or Clara Barton, you may be less familiar with others who impacted the nursing profession.
When I discovered nursing informatics, it was like a dream come true. I was completing my BSN coursework, and I began researching options to further my education in nursing. I realized fairly quickly that I wasn’t interested in most of the education pathways that many of my nursing peers were following. Somewhere in the midst of that research I stumbled onto “Nursing Informatics” and I knew it was for me. The stars aligned, the angels sang, and the fascinating world of healthcare information technology became my goal.
As a registered nurse, you may have career aspirations that surpass what your RN or BSN degree has prepared you for. You may be aware that the demand for nursing professionals with advanced skills continues to increase nationwide. The U.S. Department of Labor recently reported that demand for MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) degreed professionals in medically underserved areas is at an all-time high.
In 2012 “Nurse” was number 1 in U.S. News Best Jobs of 2012. Nursing is ranked number 1 for new jobs between 2010-2020. In a rocky economy, a career with steady rise of available positions is always attractive. My personal favorite reason why nursing is #1 is that nursing has consistently been ranked as number 1 in honesty and ethical standards by Gallop poll for the past 11 years. I appreciate a profession that’s trustworthy and honest.
Nurse Managers retain, recruit and manage nurses. They are also responsible for creating a work environment that allows nurses to function optimally. Nurse managers have the most challenging and important role in hospitals, according to Patricia Folcarelli, RN, MA, a member of the board for the Institute of Nursing Healthcare Leadership (INHL). Folcarelli states, “They’re acting as the CEO for the [nursing] unit. They take care of all the needs that a typical business would have, including staffing, budget, and the demands of the organization, while at the same time being mindful of the patient’s reactions.” A nurse manager is an incredibly demanding job and only certain nurses will be able to fit the bill. If you are currently pursuing a degree in nursing, you may be wondering how you can take your career to the next level. What makes an ideal nurse manager? It’s a combination of ideal personality characteristics and proper education requirements.
Many people may wonder if the healthcare field will be the right fit for them. Of coarse talking to any family, friends or acquaintances who work in healthcare can be more than helpful, but the only way to truly know for sure whether you will enjoy and prosper in a healthcare position is to obtain one yourself.
There are many healthcare careers in demand right now. So if you’re unhappy with your current profession, consider these 3 professions:
Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Family Practice Physicians
All kinds of people become nurses, but those with a technical mind and an eye for technology can really make the best kind of nurse. In addition, being a science geek certainly pays off, particularly if you enjoy chemistry, since you’ll have to take about two years of chemistry to get a bachelor’s of science in nursing. The best nurses have a bit of nerd and a lot of good communication skills. Since you have to work in a team, it’s good if you can talk to other people, including patients and doctors. So what other things do nerds have those typical nursing students don’t? Read on.
