Hospital Nursing

While a career in nursing requires a great deal of education, care and discipline, for the right individual, nursing can be a tremendously rewarding field.
 
Countless types of nursing jobs and responsibilities exist, so if you’re interested in this field, you’re likely to find something that suits you. Even under the umbrella of hospital nursing are various career paths from which you can choose.

Nursing Education

To enter nursing school, you’ll first need a high school diploma. Once you’ve received that, there are a few routes you can take that will prepare you for your registered nurse (RN) exam.
  • Accelerated BSN/MSN: This is for students who already have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and want to enter the nursing field. The program usually takes one year to complete.
  • Associate’s Degree: In two to three years at a community or junior college, you can earn an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) that will teach you very specific patient care skills in various areas of the healthcare field. This degree is usually more affordable than a BS/BSN and can open up doors to receive a bachelor’s degree later on if you’d like.
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Many undergraduate colleges or universities offer this four-year program. If you’re interested in military nursing, overseas nursing, school nursing or forensic nursing, this just may be the path for you. A BS/BSN also provides a path to master’s programs and more specialized nursing careers.
  • Hospital Diploma: Also a two to three year course, this hospital program is another route for learning direct patient care. Some hospitals with nursing programs work with junior colleges so you can simultaneously earn an associate’s degree anda nursing diploma.
  • Licensed Practical Nurse: Offered by vocational and technical schools, this shorter program (about a year long) will prepare you to work under a doctor and/or registered nurse to take blood pressure, apply bandages and provide other types of minimally invasive patient care.


Jobs in Hospital Nursing

Below are some common jobs offered in hospitals with nursing programs:
  • case manager nurses: For the extremely organized, the case manager nurse position requires nurses to assist patients who are usually under long-term care. Case manager nurses assist with things such as appointment-making and interactions with healthcare systems (often ensuring everything is cost-effective). An average salaryfor a case manager nurse is$48,000.

  • critical care nurses: Critical care nurses assist patients who have undergone serious medical situations, such as car accidents or heart attacks. These hosptial nurses must work well under pressure and be extremely compassionate with the patient, as well as his/her loved ones. The average salary for critical care nurses is $60,000.
  • emergency nurses: Not for the light of heart, emergency nursing requires nurses to think on their feet and aid with life or death situations on a daily basis. The average salary for emergency nurses is$59,000.

  • Labor and Delivery Nurses: AnL&D nurse's job is to aid a pregnant woman and her child before, during and after delivery. Average salaryfor this position ranges from$34,000 to $75,000 (depending on certification).

  • nurse practitioner: A nurse practitioner's work is similar to that of family physicians - they prescribe medications, provide general preventative care and work fairly independently (though they may have the official supervision of a doctor).

    Because of the growing tendency for doctors to specialize, the demand for nurse practitioners and the general care they provide is on the rise. A master’s degree is required for this position, and average salaries range from$67,000 to $70,000 (depending on certification).

  • oncology nurses: Oncology nurses administer chemotherapy to cancer patients, aid doctors in cancer patient care and help organize cancer treatment plans. An average salaryfor oncology nurses is$59,000.

  • psychiatric nurses: Psychiatric nurses work with patients with eating disorders, depression, addiction or other mental disorders. A basic-care psychiatric nurse assesses mental health needs and helps coordinate care plans.

    Advanced psychiatric nurses need master’s degrees and can diagnose and treat mental health patients. An average salary for psychiatric nurses ranges from$35,000 to $40,000 for basic-care nurses and $60,000 for advanced care.

Where to Find Hospital Nursing Jobs

First, try speaking with instructors and staff members at the school where you received your nursing degree. They may know good places for you to begin your job search. You can also consult organizations geared toward nursing communities, such as the National League for Nursing, to learn about job openings in all types of hospital nursing.
 
Registered nurse employment in medical and surgical hospitals (both private and public) is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2006 to 2016 - much faster than the growth rate of the average job. The high need for nurses means hospitals are often offering signing bonuses (some up to $14,000) for experienced nurses.
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