Career Tips & Advice

Is Nursing Right for You?

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated May 11, 2015. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Vocational Nursing

HERE ARE A FEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Nurses must be kind, caring and capable of providing quality clinical care. A college-level nursing program can help you get the training you need to become a nurse and help make a difference in people's lives.

If you think nursing could be right for you, keep reading to learn more about this profession and see if it's a good fit.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NURSE

Nurses work on the front lines of patient care and must be able to adapt to the changing needs of their patients each day. Typically, nursing duties can include:

  • Recording patients' symptoms and medical histories
  • Administering medications and treatments
  • Helping to set up patient care plans
  • Observing and recording patients
  • Operating and monitoring medical equipment
  • Performing diagnostic tests and analyzing their results
  • Teaching families how to care for and manage illnesses and injuries

WHERE CAN NURSES WORK?

Nurses are needed in many areas of the health care industry, and because of this demand, you can find them working in a number of different environments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses typically work in state, local and private hospitals; nursing and residential care facilities; physicians' offices; home health care services; and even the government.

WHAT IS THE CAREER OUTLOOK?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for registered nurses is expected to increase by 20% between 2012 and 2022. For practical nurses, employment is expected to grow 25% over the same period. This means both nursing roles are expected to grow much faster than the national average for all occupations.

WHAT ARE THE REWARDS AND CHALLENGES OF THIS CAREER FIELD?

For people with the right mix of personality and skill, nursing can be a highly satisfying profession. Nurses have the unique opportunity to help people each and every day. They get to work with their hands and challenge their minds with new situations frequently. This career can become challenging when nurses are required to work long hours or when difficult situations with patients arise.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: WHAT WILL I NEED?

To become a vocational, practical, or registered nurse, students must complete postsecondary-level education, such as a diploma or Associate degree. A quality program will help you build confidence in your skills through a mix of theory and hands-on learning.

IS NURSING RIGHT FOR ME?

The best way to see if nursing is a good fit for you is to visit one of our campuses and see our programs for yourself. If you think you might possess some of the skills and traits necessary to become a nurse, contact us today to learn more about our programs. You can also check out our online RN to BSN program if you're not located near our 16 campuses.

For more information about becoming a nurse, you can also explore the resources below.

Resources:

//concorde.edu/nursing-programs/nursing
//www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
//www.nurse.com/students/careersinnursing.html
//money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/registered-nurse

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.