With larger numbers of nursing graduates preparing to seek employment, cross-training through specialized online degree programs will help you stand out.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 25, 2010 ) Miami, FL – Not long ago, “economy” was a term indicating low cost, no frills. Today, the economy is in every day’s headlines, influencing lives in a major way. The last few months have proven that no business is immune to failure, and no job is forever. With current unemployment high and not likely to change direction soon, many are returning to school to begin life at a new profession. For these non-traditional students, planning for the future begins with choosing a degree program.
Unless you’re pursuing a personal dream career, education decisions usually begin with consulting job growth potential reports. Logically, the direction most students will take depends on where job growth is projected. Combined with the Obama administration’s emphasis on higher education, professions reigning at the top of the opportunity list have subsequently seen college enrollment numbers skyrocket almost overnight. Teach for America , one of many programs developed to remedy teacher shortages in low-income areas by providing alternative teacher certification, reports having received 35,000 candidates vying for 4,100 spots available in 2009.
Public response to recent economic forecasts have been likened to sounding an air horn in a herd of sheep. Presently, nursing and IT careers are reportedly at the top of the list. What will the impact of those predictions be for those now in training? Is it even possible to plan for the future anymore? With a little street-smart foresight, it may still be. Adding a bit of diversity now to your educational portfolio could one day be the flare that gets you noticed in a sea of applicants.
Though greater numbers of registered nurses seeking employment in the near future is almost certain, it’s unlikely that we would experience a glut of trained nursing professionals in search of work. However, just as in any industry, certain types of positions are more desirable than others, and for these, competition is sure to be high. As numerous qualified candidates join the workforce, the need to have a unique advantage, such as a specialization or a skill not commonly associated with traditional nursing duties, could alter the job landscape.
If forecasts prove to be accurate, a registered nurse with a certificate or Associate’s degree in a computer technology field could be the HR discovery of a lifetime, making for a much better investment as an employee than the candidate whose scope is limited to strictly nursing. The impending national shift to a networked health records system could make a nurse with information technology skills a highly valuable asset to a private medical practice. Likewise, a nurse that also has a medical coding background can significantly improve the overall efficiency of a medical office.
Though working nurses now are relatively secure in their professional future, the bar is being raised by the increasing number of their newly educated soon-to-be colleagues. Sheila Danzig, director of Degree.com, (http://www.degree.com) states that college courses available through accredited distance learning programs online have contributed greatly to enrollment increases. But, she is quick to add, learning has no shelf life, and current professionals can also take advantage of various online study programs, such as an Associate’s degree in a computer-related field, in order to add the extra impact that could greatly advance their career one day. On line study can be the ticket to a job in these troubled times.