Working Conditions and Job Outlook for Nurses

Job opportunities for registered nurses are likely to be very good. Through 2010, employment of RNs is likely to go for all occupations. As compared to other heath care sectors, employment in hospitals is expected to grow more gradually. Even though the strength of nursing care is expected to increase, demand for more nurses per patient, the figure of inpatients (those who remain for than 24 hours in the hospital) is however not increasing much. More measures are being taken on an outpatient basis. As a result, patients are being discharged earlier both in and outside hospitals. There is a rapid growth in hospital outpatient facilities like those providing same-day surgery, chemotherapy and rehabilitation.

Job opportunities in home health care are likely to grow rapidly. This is because of the growing figure of older persons for functional disabilities and technological enhancements, which made it possible to bring progressively more complex treatments into the home and consumer inclination for care in the home.

In 2000, nearly 2.2 million jobs were held by the registered nurses, as the largest health care occupation. Almost three out of five jobs in hospitals is in outpatient and inpatient sectors. The rest were typically in the clinics, offices and health practitioners, nursing homes, health happinesslifetime.com care agencies, schools, temporary help agencies and government agencies.

The majority of nurses work in comfortable, well-lighted health care facilities. Public health and home health nurses visit patient's homes, community centers, schools and other sites. They spend substantial time standing and walking. To deal with human suffering, stresses and emergencies, nurses need emotional stability. In nursing homes and hospitals, patients require twenty-four hours care, as a result, nurses in these organizations may work nights, holidays and weekends. Occupational health, office and public health nurses are expected to work for regular hours.

Nursing has its hazards, particularly in nursing home, hospitals and clinics where nurses are expected to care for patients with infectious diseases. Nurses must watch strict guidelines to protect against disease and other hazards like those posed by anesthetics, chemicals used for sterilization of instruments and radiation. Moreover they are susceptible to shocks from electrical equipment, back injury when shifting patients and dangers posed by compressed gases.

Hence, before enrolling in a BSN program, individuals must first consider the pros and cons of nursing, since by doing so they can broaden their advancement opportunities.

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