In the News; Mass Layoffs Return, Why Aren't You Considering a Career in Healthcare?

Cisco, Lockheed Martin, and Borders announced layoffs this week; a combined total of 23,000 more jobs lost to a weakened economy.¹ Concerned you'll be next? For those who may be next on the chopping block or for those choosing a new career, nursing can be the answer. Nursing is the topmost degree field projected to increase in demand through 2018 and beyond. Healthcare offers job security.

Here's what the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say about careers in nursing, "Overall job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting...Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average and, because the occupation is very large, 581,500 new jobs will result, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation."

Furthermore the Bureau of Labor Statistics cite, "Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly." ²

A career change to nursing, compared to most other professional vocations, is a relatively easy transition. Education and training varies from 9 months for diploma and certificate programs, to one year for LPN programs to two years for an associate degree RN. Which will you choose? Some advantages of choosing a career in nursing are;

• mobility; nurses are in demand throughout the United States
• variety in work environment from work at (your) home positions to assignments in law offices as legal nurse liaison in personal injury cases
• generous salary
• respected profession
• expansion of traditional nurse roles, i.e. Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) replace doctors at some facilities dispensing prescriptions and giving medical advice
• job stability
• flexibility in schedule (hours can be as flexible as two weekends/month)
• tuition assistance programs are plentiful. (see below)

And it's not only careers as a nurse. The Bureau also says, "Ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related." ³ If you're interested, start here. You can begin your career by checking for nursing schools in your state through the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. They have an interactive list of all nursing schools in the United States that are accredited. Also, you can check with your local community college or four year college for information. As a final resource, you may check with teaching hospitals in your area as well. Some have nursing programs in-house. But, no matter where you seek to enroll, make sure the school is accredited through the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

For scholarship information there's plenty through the federal government and state government. Also, your church, social club, and employer may offer scholarships or tuition reimbursement. Many military detachments offer scholarships for wives and dependents, and then look in your local library for scholarship awarded by race, religion, marital status and special needs. Don't forget to check with large corporations such as Microsoft, Target, and Apple, which are more liberal in scholarship requirement and awards. Tens of billions of dollars in financial aid go unclaimed every year.

As for online research, Johnson and Johnson offers partial tuition scholarships toward any degree in nursing. Then, look at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which offers full tuition grants with reasonable costs of $1931.00 annually and a monthly stipend of $1326.00 in exchange for service to chronically needy areas after graduation. Also, there's the United States' Department of Education which offers federal financial aid up to $5,500 annually via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid also known as the FAFSA ⁽you can apply online). They also offer the Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) which is special money reserved for the most chronically needy students (approximately $4000). FSEOG is applied automatically through the FAFSA for those eligible. Express extenuating circumstances to the financial aid office of the school chosen. Finally, all 50 state grants agencies via their state departments' of higher education offer additional funds up to another $2000. There's enough money to help with tuition, books and living costs to make training available to all who can meet this worthy challenge. Will you step into a career as a nurse?

Resources

1. Aaron Task video, Yahoo Finance,

2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, U.S. Department of Labor

3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, U.S. Department of Labor

4. Johnson and Johnson

5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration

6. FAFSA

7. Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

8. state grants agencies