Career Advice & News Center

There are many steps a nursing student must take in order to gain the skills and experience required to be a registered or licensed nurse in the ER, hospital or a primary care doctor's office. The responsibilities of this healthcare professional often require spur of the moment decisions and intimate knowledge of the position's technical, industry-specific aspects. In addition to the highly-specialized facets of a nursing career, workers in this field are often given the responsibility of comforting individuals, families and communities in times of distress.

During the month of November, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) recognized the role that nurse practitioners play in delivering personalized care to patients in the U.S. by establishing National Nurse Practitioner Month, the Progress News reports.

AANP points to the shortage of primary care providers, a contentious topic in the current healthcare reform debate, to emphasize the ways that nurse practitioners bring primary care to patients.

Specifically, these professionals are tasked with obtaining medical histories, conducting physical exams, ordering, prescribing and interpreting diagnostic tests as well as performing minor surgeries and other medical procedures.

Barbara Malloy, a pre-anesthesia nurse practitioner at Clearfield Hospital in Pennsylvania, told the news source, "There is still a growing need for healthcare providers, especially in rural areas throughout this country and beyond."

She added, "The growth of knowledge, skill and professionalism has been one of the most fulfilling adventures of my career."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the employment of registered nurses will grow by about 23% until 2016, which is a much faster growth rate than the average for all jobs.

As registered nurse Julie Hillyer told the Progress, "I love every minute of my career. Caring for our patients in a holistic manner and meeting their physical and emotional needs is a rewarding experience every day."