[kseniya]

Hi I am from Florida, I will like to become a nurse what do I need for that? Tell me please your expirience being at school, working at the hospital

[mpicray]

Hi, Kseniya!

You have made a good career choice. Nursing has been a strong profession for many years now and will only become more in demand as the Baby Boomers in this country start requiring more and more healthcare. (I heard someone describe the Baby Boomer generation as moving lthe demographics ike a pig through a python.) There is already a significant nursing shortage in this country and when us old nurses start handing the torch to you newer nurses it will get much more acute.

So to start with, decide what level of education you desire. I don't know what the educational opportunities are in the area of Florida you inhabit but most Community Colleges have some sort of nursing program. Some of them are better than others but you must make sure they are accredited.

You might also want to look into going to a 4-year college program to get your Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I've been waiting for years for the debate to be settled about whether this should be the entry-level requirement for nurses. I don't imagine the argument will end until the dire need for nurses has eased a bit. If I could recommend this course, however, I would. Having a BSN opens career doors that aren't as easy to move into without the degree.

It just depends on how much time and money you have. Either way, be prepared to work hard, study hard, and have lots of experiences that the general public can't even imagine.

In a hospital, especially, you work at the cutting edge between life and death. You will see humanity at it's best and worst. There is no greater courage than facing an "enemy" in the form of illness or injury that's inside you and you can't really run away from. At the same time, people get better, have babies, and sometimes, literally come back from the dead. To be a part of that is VERY satisfying and rewarding.

Good luck with your studies and congratulations on your career choice.

MP