The good news is that all over the country there are programs in place to encourage high school students to consider a career in health.   Once such program to encourage students is at the North Louisiana Area Health Education Center where students are able to get hands on experience with a health occupation in exchange for high school credit.

“Students get a feel for each occupation,” North Louisiana AHEC youth program coordinator Ashley Frazier said. “The goal of AHEC of a Summer is to help high school students gain a greater understanding of health careers that will assist them in making informed decisions concerning their professional goals.”

“Rather than going to college and spending their money and time at school, they can do this 15-day program and narrow down their options,” Frazier said. “(During the program), almost half of the students always change their mind about what they want to do.”

Source: The Ruston Daily Leader

Over the last decade, salaries for nurses have gone up much faster than most other jobs at about 48% – this growth is not only better than inflation but also better than the majority of other jobs which have either remained steady with inflation or lost ground.

Below, we include the starting salaries and averages salaries for some of the more common nursing positions:

Registered Nurse

Starting salary:  $50,000
Average salary: $64,000

Nurse Practitioner

Starting salary:  $75,000
Average salary: $87,000

Licensed Practical Nurse

Starting salary:  $35,000
Average salary: $43,000

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Starting salary:  $68000
Average salary: $76,000

Certified Nurse Anesthetist

Starting salary:  $125,000
Average salary: $140,000

School Nurse

Starting salary:  $26,000
Average salary: $48,000

Certified Nursing Assistant

Starting salary:  $22000
Average salary: $28,000

Source:  Nursing Salaries List (College Crunch)

It serves all four branches of the military and Public Health Service. Uniformed students receive their usual pay and benefits. Medical students have a seven year obligation to serve after graduation. Only military nurses are accepted in the post-graduate nursing programs for Master’s degree or PhD completion. Some civilians who are employed by the federal government may be eligible for admission and receive their full salary while attending.

The university specializes in the extraordinary requirements of deployed troops. For that reason the school is year-round and the medical education contains an added 7700 hours of military needs training. Other programs are available with an emphasis on research into uniquely military clinical findings (post-traumatic stress, etc.). In 2006 a new program was initiated studying radiation biology.

For information about the opportunities, see them on-line

Want to go to the medical or graduate school of your choice? If it is in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, clinical psychology or nurse anesthesia there’s a scholarship waiting for you.

The most extensive scholarship plan is the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. Not only is this a free ride for tuition, but also comes with a monthly stipend, books, non-expendable equipment, and promotions. To qualify, students must have already be enrolled or received a letter of acceptance from a program in the United States or Puerto Rico, qualify for commissioned officer status in the Army Reserve, be a United States citizen, and maintain full-time student. What you owe them is full-time status and dedicated effort to get good grades, 45 days active duty for training, commission as a second lieutenant and its obligations post-graduation. Your first year of training after school is performed on active duty at an Army medical center.

To start the application procedure you will need the following:

• Letter of Acceptance to a Professional School (Four year scholarships only)
• Dean’s Letter stating that you are currently enrolled in the Medical School and are in good standing with a projected graduation date (For 2nd, 3rd & 4th year medical students).
• 3 to 6 Letters of Recommendation (You must provide your Army Counselor/Recruiter with the names, address and telephone number of these individuals). Committee Letter can count as all three (3) for 4 year scholarships only
• Copy of MCAT / DAT / VCAT / OAT / GRE results (which ever applies)
• Proof of Birth / Citizenship: Copy of Birth Certificate / Passport / Naturalization Cert.
• Official Transcripts from ALL Undergraduate and Graduate Schools attending or have attended.

A physical examination is also required. Your free physical exam will be provided.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To get started now contact your Army Health Care Recruiter

As an educator, I have seen hundreds of men and women of all ages and backgrounds make a bid for licensure as a Registered Nurse. Some I have watched struggle, others I have watched fly through school with an ease that is envious. While they certainly all had the desire, I believe some of them conducted themselves in a way that was more likely to ensure success. Here are some tips to ensure your success in nursing school.

1. Be Professional ~ Where other courses of study may tolerate more flexibility in dress, behavior and professionalism, nursing will not. Nursing has struggled to be regarded as a profession and we take the level of professionalism you bring to the student table very seriously. Abide by the dress code your school subscribes to at all times. Treat your patients, fellow students, professors, and nursing staff at clinical sites with respect. Be on time; both physically and with assigned work. While this may seem an easy tip to follow, many students falter here putting their success in jeopardy.
2. Develop a core study group ~ People tend to only remember 10% of what they read, 50% of what they hear and see, 70% of what they say and 90% of what they say and do. By developing a study group that meets regularly and works thru information in a myriad of ways, you will be better prepared. Try taking turns teaching the information to each other, act out the skills you’re being tested on as you talk thru them with your group and support each other. You will be more successful.
3. Limit outside obligations ~ I certainly understand, as do most nursing professors, that there simply is no way to avoid all distractions. While many nursing programs suggest you do not work while enrolled, for most students that is simply not a possibility. We all like to eat, have heat and pay our tuition! Balancing work, school and family can be rigorous. Scheduling your time can only be done by you. Do it wisely.
4. Be open to new ideas and concepts ~ A lot of what you learn as a student nurse is expected: how to take a blood pressure, change a dressing, dispense medications or place an NG tube. A lot more of what you learn as a student nurse is not expected. So much of what a nurse does is hidden from public view; it’s often those pieces that hang up a student. Embrace both the expected and the unexpected.
5. The Extra Mile ~ Know where you professors offices are and visit them often. Make sure you understand mistakes, not just adjust your answers. Go to open labs and additional study groups. Become involved in your local chapter of your National Student Nurses’ Association. Immerse yourself in the study of nursing and all its facets, you will be rewarded!

Success in school largely depends on you, the student. These tips in and of themselves won’t secure success; they will however, make it easier! Nursing is a challenging, noble profession; the work you put in now will reward you in the future.

You’re thinking about becoming a doctor but are put off by the many years of education and the likelihood of emerging in debt; the increasingly high cost of insurance; demanding hours. Maybe you should consider a medical career as a nurse practitioner.

The demand for nurse practitioners is enormous. Nursing in general is one of the ten fastest-growing fields in the U.S, spurred by the increased emphasis on public health, the ageing of the baby boomers and the retirement of existing nurses. Most health care institutions and other settings can’t fill their slots fast enough.

If you think a nurse practitioner is a glorified doctor’s assistant, think again. Today’s nurse practitioners, known as NPs, give complete physical examinations; care for people of all ages; manage chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes; order and interpret X-rays and other lab tests, give immunizations and provide essential patient education. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medication in all states; in 25 states, they are no longer required to practice under the supervision of a doctor.

As a nurse practitioner, you have a wide choice of work settings including hospitals, doctors’ offices, rural and inner city clinics and schools. Some NPs opt for private practice. You can specialize in pediatrics, family health, acute care, women’s health, anesthesiology, midwifery or occupational health. Some NPs are researchers, teachers or involve themselves in legislative work to improve the quality of health care. An NP is often is a patient’s primary health care provider. Many patients feel that nurse practitioners spend more time with them than doctors do.

To become a nurse practitioner, you attend an undergraduate school of nursing, get a B.A. and become a licensed registered nurse. Afterwards, you might work before beginning a one or two year NP program which leads to a Master’s degree. There are programs for college graduates who are not registered nurses, although these take longer than the standard Master’s program. The average annual salary for NPs is $75,000, depending on the part of the country and the ratio of NPs to available positions for them.
If becoming an NP is appealing, investigate it during high school. Besides math, take science courses including biology and chemistry. Volunteer at a hospital and tell the Human Resources staff that you are considering a nursing career. Or, volunteer at a doctor’s office or local free clinic. In any of these settings, you’ll find out quickly if you are stimulated or bothered by the atmosphere.

Take stock of yourself mentally and physically. The combination of demanding courses, on-site training and homework requires stamina. Watch science programs on television. ER and House don’t portray nursing entirely realistically but, if these programs are a turn-off, being an NP may not be for you.

Go online to several nursing schools and check out their requirements so you can be as prepared as possible. Read about nursing. Try to find a nurse in your community willing to mentor you and describe his or her experiences in the field.

The health industry is a wide ranging industry with a number of different options for those who are interested in pursuing a health related career. Just selecting a career in this industry can be overwhelming. Besides a number of different types of doctors, other careers in the health industry include nurses, technicians, laboratory employees, dietitians, nutritionists and even personal trainers. This is just a short list of the types of careers available in the health industry. However, before you even begin to narrow down your research to the type of career you wish to pursue and the educational process involved in embarking on this type of career, it is important to determine whether or not you are well suited for a career in the health industry. This article will discuss some of the important considerations you should think about before pursing a health career.

Your motivation for pursing a career in the health industry should be carefully examined. Wanting to help others is certainly a noble cause and a great reason for pursing this type of career but it is not the only worthwhile reason for pursing a career in this industry. If you are motivated by a love of math and science or even if you are drawn to the financial appeal of some careers in the health industry these can also be excellent reasons to investigate these careers. Basically, as long as you have the skills to excel in the career you choose and a dedication to succeed, any logical motivation is acceptable.

Next it is very important to consider the aspect of the health industry in which you would most like to work. This is important because there are a wide number of options available. Consider factors such as whether you want to work with children or adults, whether you want to work in emergency situations, whether you want to work in a preventative capacity, whether you want to assist people in making health related decisions or whether you want to work in a hospital setting. Considering all of these factors may help you to greatly narrow down your options. You may even want to consult with a professional who can help you to determine which careers are best for you based on your preferences and your aptitude.

Once you narrow down your options for careers in the health industry, you should investigate the educational process involved in starting a career in this capacity. During this research process you will learn how long it takes to prepare yourself for this career, the cost of obtaining any necessary degrees or certificates, when and where you can take classes and any pre-requisites for taking the necessary classes. Realistically evaluating whether or not you have the skills, time and money available to complete the education process will help you determine if this career is right for you.

Finally, it is important to also consider how a health career will impact your family and personal life. Many careers in the health care industry, especially those based in a hospital setting, require working odd hours for extended periods of time. This can be disruptive to your family life. Understanding the types of hours involved in the health career of your choice and considering how these hours will impact you and your family will help to prevent your career from negatively impacting you and your family.