Nursing is a time-honored profession, and in today's world of modern medicine it can also be a lucrative profession. There is no doubt that a nurse must be dedicated and diligent. If you really aren't the kind of person who can give that extra ounce of energy, nursing is not a career you will enjoy.

But, if you like helping people and are interested in science and medicine, this field may be for you!

Nursing also gives you a lot of options regarding work environment. Most people think of a nurse as the person who stands next to your hospital bed, but nurses today have a lot more options and it is easier to find a work environment that suits your tastes and preferences.

Private Duty Nurses work with one patient in the hospital or at home to help them recuperate from an illness or to care for a patient with a chronic or terminal illness.

Hospice Nurses work with a patient and family to ease the dying process and communicate with doctors and other medical staff regarding medical issues. This care allows the patient to stay at home and be more comfortable during the final days of his or her life.

Operating Room Nurses are in the thick of things, and must understand the use of modern operating room equipment, the type of procedure the doctor is doing and the kinds of tools the doctor will need. The nurse must be ready to assist the doctor on a moment's notice.

Trauma Nurses work in large hospitals and handle trauma patients who may come in by helicopter or ambulance from automobile accidents, train or airplane crashes, fires or other major events. Some trauma nurses also work in the helicopters that are dispatched to pick up the patients.

Institutional Nursing for schools and colleges is also a growing field for nursing jobs. These nurses treat everything from a cold or flu to a sprain or sports injury and often get to know their charges very well. It is a great place for someone who loves kids or just likes less stress on a daily basis. These jobs can also include placement in a women's shelter, homeless shelter or other non-profit outreach organization.

Home Health Care Nursing has evolved. Today, home health care nurses work in rural, suburban and urban areas, traveling from patient to patient to care for and monitor the patient's needs and communicate with doctors and other medical staff. This home care allows the patient to remain at home, with family, or alone, and still get the care they need. Nurses can now use mobile monitoring equipment to monitor everything from heart rate and blood pressure to blood sugar for diabetics and more, so the nurse can treat one patient and check on another one in the car on the way to visiting a third patient.

Hospital Nursing is also a brave new world. Nurses learn to use and monitor new equipment every day, and have the responsibility to care for patient's recuperating from surgery or illness. Their daily care and interaction with the patient has a major impact on how fast the patient recuperates and on the patient's attitude. There is nothing like the feeling you experience when you walk in the door to start your morning shift and your patient says ?Boy, am I glad to see YOU?. Years after a hospital stay, patients will still speak fondly of a favorite nurse who eased the discomfort of their hospitalization.

It's all in a day's work!

If you think nursing is for you, look into local nursing schools and get started on the path to nursing.

With a short supply of qualified nurses to staff our hospitals, schools, hospices and other facilities, another pair of hands would be most welcome!