Tennessee Career Guide | 2024-2025 83 variety of practice options outside of hos- pitals including doctors offices, schools, clinics, home health, and more. Nurses are needed nationwide, so gradu- ates are likely to have an opportunity to work in any location across the country. And because so many hospitals and other medical facilities are actively looking for nurses, positions are likely to be plentiful and salaries are likely to be competitive. Finally, nursing is a respected career field, with a high level of esteem. According to a recent Gallup Poll, more than 80% of Americans rated nurses as having “high” or “very high” honesty and ethical stan- dards4. Nurses have topped their list every year since 1999, except for 2001 when fire- fighters were rated higher after their promi- nent role in 9/11 rescue effort. When you choose to become a nurse, you choose a ca- reer that is not only needed it’s admired. Pathways to Nursing There are numerous pathways to becoming a nurse. Which path is right for you de- pends on several factors including the type of nurse you want to be, where you want to practice, how soon you’d like to practice, means for tuition or financial aid, trans- ferrable credits, and much more. If you are looking to enter the nursing profession as soon as possible, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) are two great options to explore. CNAs and LPNs/LVNs are not registered nurses, but these entry-level positions are excellent opportunities to begin working, earning, and gaining experience in a short amount of time. If you’re interested in becoming an RN and taking advantage of the numerous growth opportunities available to RNs, you have a few choices including, but not lim- ited to, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. ADN programs are typically two years in length and the fastest path to becoming an RN. If you are interested in earning your BSN or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) later in your career to take advantage of more career opportunities, convenient and affordable post-licensure programs are widely available. If, however, you are in- terested in beginning your nursing career with the most opportunities and earning potential available, a BSN is a great choice. BSN programs can range from 3 to 4 years and provide a more comprehensive cur- riculum to put graduates in a position to practice with confidence. Graduating with a degree is the first step. To work as an RN, graduates of an ap- proved nursing education program must also successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (RN), a computer adaptive test that is required for nursing graduates to be li- censed as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. Who Makes a Great Nurse? As a nurse, it is important to care about helping people and to be passionate about the human spirit. Nursing requires the ability to be compassionate and caring, as well as consider things from the patient’s perspective. Of course, you must also be a good listener. To provide outstanding patient care, nurses must use their clinical judgment, analyze patient data, collabo- rate with other members of the healthcare team to make critical decisions, and per- form in high-pressure situations – all while remaining calm. As a nurse, excellent communication skills are a vital part of the job and essential for your success. You must be able to clearly communicate – both verbally and non- verbally – as you will be working with pa- tients, families, physicians, healthcare pro- fessionals, and other members of the healthcare team – each with varying edu- cational, cultural, and social backgrounds. In addition, it is essential to have a tremen- dous work ethic and to be willing to go above and beyond – not only for your pa- tients but for your colleagues as well. If you think that describes you, you could be an ideal fit for an incredibly rewarding career in nursing. Links to Learn More About Nursing www.galencollege.edu www.nursingworld.org www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered- nurses.htm Tennessee’s Top Careers With over 30,000 nurse graduates over 30 years, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest educators of nurses in the U.S. Part of the HCA Healthcare family, Galen is helping increase access to quality nursing education and help stem the critical nationwide nursing shortage. With 100% of resources dedicated to nursing education, Galen’s 20 campuses in 11 states offer up to four in-person pre-licensure pro- grams: 3-year BSN, 2-year ADN, LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge, and PN/VN (may vary by campus location). Visit galencollege.edu for more information. The Information on this career is submitted by
