RN Education - Registered Nursing Courses And Specialties

A career in registered nursing means job security and financial stability. Demand is still on the rise despite the recent economic downturn making nursing an attractive profession. Because the profession has proven to be one of the most resilient careers, more people are studying nursing in college. Many people who have been out of school for a long time are changing career paths and also going back to school to study nursing.

Those who are interested in becoming a nurse should know that there are typically two ways to earn registered nursing (RN) degrees. Individuals can either study at a two-year community college or at a four-year university. Students who graduate from a two-year community college will get an associate's degree while those who graduate from a four-year university will be granted a bachelor's degree. Graduates from either type of school are eligible to take the licensing exams. Their job descriptions are not different but those who have a bachelor's degree are more likely to hold supervisory positions.
Students who wish to be considered for nursing school should be aware that they must meet the minimum requirements for admission. Schools require prospective students to complete science prerequisites and other general education classes prior to applying. The four most common science prerequisites are anatomy, physiology, biology, and microbiology. Some of the required general education prerequisites include general psychology, nutrition, humanities, mathematics, English, and speech.
Students who are then accepted to RN programs must complete all of the requirements in order to graduate with a nursing degree. Some of the RN classes include pharmacology, nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, leadership and management, obstetrics nursing theory and lab, pediatrics, and mental health. Clinical training hours are done in hospitals or health care facilities in order to expose the students to actual nursing experiences in a hospital setting.
After graduating and obtaining a license from the state nursing board, nurses may choose to further their studies to widen their employment opportunities. A lot of registered nurses are going back to school in order to learn a specialty. This often proves beneficial for both the nurse and their employers. There is a high demand for nurses who demonstrate further knowledge in an area of expertise.
There are a lot of areas that nurses can specialize in and the following are a few examples:

• Acute nurses - Acute nurses take care of patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks
• Dialysis - Dialysis nurses care for patients who have undergone dialysis procedures
• Emergency - Nurses in emergency rooms take care of patients who need emergency attention
• Legal nurses - Nurses provide consultancy services in medical-related cases
• Orthopedic nurses - Nurses provide care to those who are suffering from musculoskeletal problems such as a fractures

If you would like to learn about attending RN schools, completing RN continuing education requirements, or just want to find a career that you love in the medical field then visit MedicalCareerBook.com.