Considering a Career in Nursing?

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Som Seng

UMassOnline Som Seng The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts the U.S. will have a shortage of more than 800,000 registered nurses by the year 2020. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor supports this finding, reporting that there will be an approximately 25 percent increase in jobs through 2016.This plus the fact that Baby Boomers fast approaching retirement age will cause increased demand for heath care, it is no doubt the nursing profession will be in demand no matter what the economy.

So, is a career in nursing right for you?

Few jobs are as flexible as nursing. You can work where and when you want; and if you move, you can take your job with you. You can work full-time, part-time or stop working for a bit to continue your studies or have a family - then jump right back into the workforce. And salaries are on the rise. In the Bureau of Labor Statistics “May 2007 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Report,” the mean salary was $62,480 for registered nurses. Many employers offer flexible work schedules, childcare, education benefits, and bonuses. In addition, it is a very rewarding career with many opportunities for advancement.

Where to begin?

As an employee of UMassOnline, my first recommendation of course is to contact us so we can share information on our world class nursing programs.

If you are a registered nurse, you can earn your bachelor’s with one of our online RN to BS programs to broaden your career potential. Is autism an interest of yours? In the United States, there is a critical shortage of early intervention experts. Check out our Behavioral Intervention in Autism online program. This online accredited program will provide an understanding of autism and related developmental disorders to professionals working in the specific fields such as psychology, education, child care, speech and language disorders, mental health and human services.

More than ever, roles and responsibilities of nurses are increasing due to the growing demand for health care needs. Our online Master of Science Clinical Nurse Leader Program will prepare you for advanced nursing practice by building on your nursing education and clinical experience. If you’re interested in a more niche area, such as long-term care, service-supported housing, community-based services, marketing to an aging population, and health services for those requiring chronic care, you will want to check out our online Master’s in Gerontology - Management of Aging Services. The accredited online degree program offers students an advanced degree in the aging services field. We also offer an undergraduate and a graduate certificate program in gerontology if you do not have time to complete a master’s degree.

If you already have your master’s degree, but you are interested in sitting for a gerontological, adult, or family nurse practitioner certification examination, check out our online Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate. Also, if you already have a master’s degree and are interested in teaching, our online Nurse Educator Post-Master’s Certificate Program will equip you with teaching skills and strategies that address student, program, and patient outcomes as well as leadership skills to improve health care systems. Once you complete two years or more of full-time employment in the academic faculty position, you are eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator exam offered by the National League for Nursing (NLN).

If you have established master’s credentials and want to earn the highest professional clinical degree, the online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the program for you, and is only one of the few online accredited degrees available. Since the program is online, you can continue to work while completing your doctorate.

Below are links to our online accredited programs in nursing.