Nurse as a Career - Top Nursing Facts

Before anyone thinks about getting into a career in nursing, I truly belive that they should be aware of some important nursing facts before enrolling in a nursing school.

I am not just talking about the basic personality aptitude it takes to be a nurse like caring, having a good head for mathematics and science but about the nursing industry.

Knowing these facts will help you decide whether nursing as a career is right for you.

1. Currently, there is a nursing shortage and many nurses have to work over time


2. Hospitals are looking more and more for nurse specialists


3. There is a nursing shortage


4. Patients can and will test your patience. If you are not patient or understanding of others, life as a nurse will be very difficult.


5. Entry level nurses usually earn around $45,000 a year.


6. Nurses are still perceived as simple assistants to doctors even though their actual role includes direct patient care, case management and more.


7. BSN nurses are becoming the preferred over registered nurses.

I know that this is a bit off topic but I felt the need to write this because most nursing schools only have limited space every semester and it would be a shame to have someone take a spot and end up changing their career after a couple of years working as nurse.

Another Hospital in the Nurse Search Status

A registered nurse friend of mine was telling me today about Houston Healthcare being in need of nurses due to the rising admission rate they have been experiencing.

I found this to be an interesting case as most of the nurse shortage in the U.S. happen in smaller cities. Atlanta for example has a very competitive nurse market and there is no shortage there.

Emory University hospital turns down nursing applications on a weekly basis and Piedmont hospital has such a large nursing database that they only need to make a couple of phone calls to get a nurse.

Getting back to the point, Houston Healthcare started out with 30 RN and 5 LPN positions available in June and have so far only been able to fill 11 of the RN positions but have been able to fill all of the LPN positions.

Looking at the current economy, you would assume that the jobs would have been filled by now but it is not the case. Of course, if the hospital in question is not using a nurse placement agency with a good list of registered nurses then the process would be slower.

If they are using such an agency and still not able to fill these position then it is something we should all worry about.