General Questions About Nursing?

Question

Hello,

A H.S. Kid making nursing one of his options when he graduates and

I just want to know more info on it before making my decision final

: ]

First thing,

Do nurses get good pay?

I know there are different types of nurses right now I am planning to be: Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner.

[Wha'ts the difference with these two , in terms of what they do, and what degree is required for them]

I also live in the California area

So what are they pay for those

Also as of right now I will only graduate with Pre-Cal

no calculus - Will that be a problem??

And after High School, Will the college I go to suggest the classes I need to take to becoming a nurse?

{If anyone can elaborate more on what I need to do after High School to become a nurse, I would greatly appreciate it : ]}

If anyone can answer these questions,

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Also sites providing info about nursing

and what you need to do to become one,

or different types of nursing I will also find useful too.

Thanks YAHOO ANSWERS.

Answer 1

To clarify what one of the previous posters put. Yes, nurse practioners are an advanced degree (master's level program). But they do NOT work under the direction of an MD. They do work in conjunction with one. But this depends on what state you are in. Every state's board of nursing has different rules. Also, the prescriptions written by an NP are not then signed by an MD. NP's go to school to have what's known as prescriptive authority. That means that they have been given permission by the state to write prescriptions. Although what they can write a prescription for varies from state to state. California happens to be a very progressive state and my understanding is that NP's have a lot of freedom there. I'm in Ohio and it's pretty restrictivehere

As for being and RN, there are two ways to go about it. You can either get a Bachelor's Degree or an Associate's Degree. I personally would recommend the Bachelor's if you want to pursue a further career in nursing (NP, Nurse Anesthetist, etc) because you will need it to go back for your Master's degree. My advice would be to talk to the local colleges and universities in your area.  Another good idea is to talk to some nurses at local hospitals. They can give some insight as to who has a good program. If you decide to go to a school that is not a major college or university, check with your State Board of Nursing to make sure that it is an approved program or otherwise you may not be able to take the board exam at the end of your schooling to get a license.

The nice thing about nursing school is that they train you in just about everything, so during the course of your studies you can try to figure out what field you want to be in. The other nice thing about it is that if you find you don't like your chosen field, you can always change and work in a completely different setting until you find what fits you best.  Good luck!

Answer 2

For general career information:  http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search 'registered nurses' (nurse practitioner/NP is briefly mentioned) or such.

For more info on NP:  http://www.aanp.org

Answer 3

You don't need calculus to become a nurse.   Just basic math and Algebra 2.   Nurses make decent money.   You can go to any state and find a nursing job, so if you marry someone who has to move you don't have to worry about finding a job for yourself.   The college counselor will tell you what classes you need to get into the nursing program.   Nurse practitioners have an advanced degree and still have to work under the direction of a physician but are able to make diagnoses and write some prescriptions (which are then signed by the M.D.)   I know an NP who does cosmetic botox injections.   If you want to make big bucks you should be a doctor.    

Answer 4

Before  highschool ends you should find a college in your area that offers nursing as a major.  I reccomend above all that you pursue your Bachelors degree from the start and don't bother pursuing an associates, it's a waste of time for your future career.

As far as pay goes the top paid nurses all hold a degree higher than a Bachelors degree. One of the highest paying positions in Nursing is an Anesthesia Nurse, they make in excess of six figures.  Go for nusing because men in this field excell as far as going up the corporate ladder part of nursing.  People only think about nurses as the one at the bedside, but their are many upper management type positions in the field.