Is Healthcare A Good Field To Work In
Every job within the realm of healthcare involves helping others and improving lives, health and safety. The work can be challenging, but also rewarding. And, there is tremendous employment potential.
With a wide variety of career options and educational options, there will always be a demand for healthcare professionals. Choose from a variety of bachelor of science and bachelor of arts programs, or on campus, depending on your interest. Earn a degree in sociology, nursing, business or even explore IT programs to jump start or further your career.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , employment for those in healthcare occupations is expected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028.1 This is much faster than the national average. More jobs are expected to be added in the coming years across all healthcare professions than any other occupation groups. This tremendous growth is due mainly to the aging population. This leads to an ever-increasing demand for healthcare services.
In fact, nursing in particular is expected to grow by as much as 26% between 2018 and 20281. Within the field of nursing alone, there are many opportunities for a rich and rewarding career. You may wish for a career in nursing education or nursing administration. Or, consider a nursing specialty, such as nurse midwifery, cardiac care or geriatrics.
What Kind Of Nurses Get Paid The Most
Salaries for nurses vary depending on several factors, including years of experience, level of education and industry.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses in May 2020 was $75,330.2 In that same year, nurses in government and state, local and private hospitals were among the top earners. Ambulatory healthcare services , nursing and residential care facilities , and educational services in state, local and private sectors followed closely behind.2
For those looking to advance beyond a BSN, an accelerated RN to MSN program online can help position you for advanced practice or leadership roles. Learn more about types of nurses.
List Of Rn To Bsn Programs In New Hampshire
New Hampshire hospitals have already made BSN degrees mandatory for future job prospects and the state’s outlook on the need for a BSN or greater degree is not wavering. There are more than 5 RN to BSN programs in New Hampshire that can help prospective students, as well as on-the-job nurses to obtain the state’s new standard. As with any profession, the more qualifications you have to offer them more money can be earned, as well as job opportunities. Nurses in New Hampshire can find job opportunities in hospitals, supervisory positions, clinic management, and similar paths – positions that offer salaries at an average of $77,000 per year, depending on the position held and location.
Find RN to BSN Programs By City:
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Direct Entry Master’s In Nursing Admission Requirements
A grade point average of 3.0 or better is suggested. Previous course work and professional experience is taken into consideration. Experience in health care is not required. Prerequisite courses include Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology at the cellular level, and Statistics with a grade of B or better. Students who have not completed all prerequisite courses at the time of application may be admitted with the stipulation that all prerequisite courses are completed with a B or better prior to starting the program.
Knowledge of the basic processes and methods of research is necessary for students entering the DEMN program. While many undergraduate programs include a research methods course, if a student does not have a background in research, he or she should enroll in an introductory research course or introductory nursing research textbooks may be used as self-study resources prior to matriculation in the DEMN program.
Letters of recommendation should be substantial with at least one academic reference and two references from current professionals with graduate education background. Letters of recommendation from family or friends are not acceptable.
Is There Experiential Learning Within A Bsn Program

Some BSN programs do incorporate hands-on projects into their work. Southern New Hampshire University’s online program is one of them.
“Our BSN students have a few opportunities for experiential learning within the program,” said Kristi Dalby, DNP, RN, CNE, faculty lead at SNHU. “They have the opportunity to collaborate with a mentor to make an impact on a local vulnerable population in the Community and Population Health course. In this course, students work with a qualified mentor to assess community needs and develop, implement, and evaluate a health education activity in response to the needs of an identified vulnerable population. The health education activity is a fantastic learning opportunity that allows students to support their local community.”
There’s one program in particular geared toward nursing students.
“The BSN program also allows nursing students elective participation in the Higher Education and Real World Training program,” said Elizabeth Christman, DNP, RN, CNE, clinical faculty at SNHU. “This program provides students the opportunity to partner with other nursing and health professional students to solve real-world employer-based projects posed by healthcare industry leaders.”
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Does An Rn To Bsn Increase My Salary
Nurses with ADN qualifications have already demonstrated an understanding of the labor market in choosing an expanding career path, and many come to the RN to BSN program of their choice with an understanding that it’s time to broaden their career options through additional training. With a BSN, nurses are more likely to be chosen for jobs like charge nurse, nursing in the occupational health and safety capacity at a large worksite, or possibly a nursing home nurse.
Rn License For Nurses Educated Abroad
Canadian nurses may be licensed by endorsement without having to take the NCLEX. The exemption applies to those nurses who took the exam in English prior to July 31, 1995. Registered nurses who were educated in foreign countries other than Canada must be certified through CGNFS or have a course-by-course evaluation of their credentials.
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Rn To Bsn Classes & Courses
At Southern New Hampshire University, RN to BSN coursework covers an array of general education courses as well as nursing-specific courses in order to broaden an RN’s perspective on matters that concern a deeper specialty or an understanding of leadership. Some examples from the curriculum are:
- NUR 315 – Pathophysiology for Nurses
- NUR 400 – Systems Leadership for Continuous Quality, and
- IDS 400 – Diversity
Masters In Nursing Programs
Rivier University Graduate students pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing at Rivier University may choose from one of several tracks, including nursing education, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and leadership in health management systems. The nursing education track and the leadership track require 36 credits while the family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner tracks consist of 43 credits. In addition to core track courses, graduate students must complete clinical practicums at local healthcare facilities. The program generally takes two years to complete on a full-time basis.
Franklin Pierce University Franklin Pierce University confers the Master of Science in Nursing Education and the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership. The program generally takes two years to complete, with students taking two classes at a time, on a full-time basis. Part-time study is permitted. Students can fulfill degree requirements in a hybrid format with online classes and in the classroom at the Manchester, Lebanon, and Portsmouth campuses. The nursing department also features an RN to MSN program and a separate MSN program for students who have a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing.
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Does Rn To Bsn Require Clinical Hours
We believe that nurses shine when they’re out in the world whether it’s in an emergency room, a clinic or a residential care facility. This is why we have built our curriculum to include assignments that take students into their communities through clinical practice experiences. Please note that this is not the same experience that a registered nurse would have experienced in their pre-licensure program.
Our nursing program accreditor, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , defines clinical practice experiences as planned learning activities in nursing practice that allow students to understand, perform and refine professional competencies.
What Are The Best Healthcare Degrees
The wonderful thing about the world of healthcare is the incredible variety of paths that one can take. You may wish to choose a more research-based role, or perhaps you want a patient-centered career. You might be interested in government and politics and want to write policy or advocate for regulatory change. Perhaps community health is your passion. Whichever field you choose as your focus, the professional future in healthcare looks bright.
The opportunity to do rewarding, life-changing work abounds in the realm of healthcare, and the profession as a whole tends to pay better than other professions. In fact, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare occupations are supposed to grow by as much as 14% from 2014 to 20181. For jobs as medical and health services managers, that growth is expected to be 18%, with a median salary of $100,980 per year1.
Possible jobs in the medical and health services managers area include:
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What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Nurse
The first step to becoming a registered nurse is to earn, at minimum, either an associate degree from an accredited nursing school, such as a community college, or a diploma from a program offered by a certified medical center or hospital. If you are considering your journey to become a nurse, check with a local nursing school for their admission requirements. Nursing students and graduates of New Hampshire’s community colleges have pathway options as part of SNHU’s community college nursing partnership. Nursing students outside of New Hampshire may find that their local community college has a partnership with SNHU as well.
Associates In Nursing Programs

Manchester Community College Manchester Community College offers an associates degree in nursing that can be pursued through full or part-time study. Advanced placement is available for licensed practical nurses. As part of the curriculum students complete simulation labs and clinical experiences, which may take place during day, evening, and weekend hours. Clinical hours are completed concurrently with classroom components, integrating academic learning with real-world practice. MCC also maintains partnerships with four-year schools that can allow students to more easily transition into a bachelors degree in nursing. The associate degree nursing program at MCC is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and holds approval from the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.
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Tuition And Cost Of Attendance
At Granite State College, the tuition per credit hour is around $300. There are a variety of fees that are applied either per-course or per term, depending on a student’s course load – these range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per course. Students should also be aware of their responsibility to buy all books and materials that are necessary for their studies.
Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
This program prepares primary care family nurse practitioners with specialized knowledge and clinical competency to practice as licensed independent practitioners across the life span. FNPs practice in ambulatory and long-term care as primary providers to individuals, families, and groups. The UNH program prepares these advanced practice registered nurses to diagnose and manage acute episodic and chronic illnesses across the life span and simple-to-complex continuum. Health promotion, disease prevention, teaching, counseling, and coaching are emphasized. At the completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for national certification as a family nurse practitioner. Students are also prepared to enter doctoral study. Upon licensure, FNPs may practice autonomously as well as in collaboration with other health professionals.
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What To Expect From The Snhu Online Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Admission Requirements: MSN applicants must have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. All applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in an approved state of study where students reside and where clinicals will be completed.
Applicants must also have two years of full-time nursing work experience and identify at least one possible preceptor for clinical experiences. No GRE or GMAT is required. Application materials include an application, resume or CV, acknowledgement form, technical requirements, official transcripts, and proof of RN licensure.
State Restrictions: Southern New Hampshire accepts students from eleven states at this time: Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.
Study Plan: The MSN FNP track can be completed in a little less than two years attending on a full-time basis at two courses per 10-week term. Students have up to five years to complete the program track after completing NUR 600. The MSN program begins five times per year. All coursework is online and delivered in an asynchronous manner, and clinicals are completed at approved sites local to the student. A one-week immersion is also included in New Hampshire.
Nurse practitioner courses include Advanced Clinical Pathology Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning and Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber .
I Want To Work In Healthcare But Don’t Know What Job Is Best How Do I Figure That Out
Healthcare occupations are expected to add 1.9 million new jobs through 2028, more than any other occupation.1 There are many opportunities to help others within healthcare, as well. While educational requirements vary, each professional has the ability to impact lives and provide equity in care.
With online healthcare degrees in areas as varied as nursing, healthcare administration, health information management, public health and health sciences there is a way for you to use your talents and interests to make a real difference in the lives of others.
Start by considering your personal interests. Do you enjoy working with data or working with people? Are you detail-oriented? Enjoy leading teams and proposing strategy?
Then, consider your education so far. If you already have some college coursework under your belt, our admission counselors and academic advisors can help you decide how to maximize your existing education to get the most transfer credits. That may point you in a career direction you hadnt considered but may really enjoy.
Then consider what type of job you might like for your career. Are you a registered nurse looking to stay in the clinical setting or moving into a non-clinical role? Are you drawn to financial decision making and strategy? If so, perhaps one of our business degrees online, or on campus, and a position as a hospital administrator or office manager might be right for you.
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Rn To Bsn Salary Comparison In New Hampshire
Nursing professions in the state are experiencing about a 15% forecasted growth over the next decade, which often affects the salary that hospitals and clinics will pay for trained and qualified staff. Nonetheless, there is still a considerable wage gap between ADN-prepared RNs and BSN-prepared RNs. While data is not directly collected, we can assume that those nurses with an ADN start closer to New Hampshire’s base nursing salary of $47,000, and may reach a median salary of $65,000 over the course of their career. BSN RNs on the other hand, likely start closer to the $55,000 mark, and with additional credentials, may earn as much as $90,000 by the time they retire.
Rn Licensure By Endorsement
RNs who are licensed in one of the other 50 states may apply for licensure by endorsement. The application fees are the same of those who apply by examination. However, there is a continuing competency requirement. Nurses who have not practiced the minimum number of hours will need to complete a refresher course or retake the NCLEX. The Board site lists approved courses, all of which include 40 hours of instruction and 80 hours of clinical.
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How Much Does An Online Degree Cost
Estimating the true cost of an online degree depends on two main factors:
Because SNHU is a nonprofit university, were able to offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation: $320/credit for undergraduate and $627/credit for graduate degrees. So when you choose SNHU, youre already starting off with some of the most affordable tuition rates available. Then, well work with you to create a plan that can save you even more money on the path to your degree.
How Can I Become A Registered Nurse

Becoming licensed as a registered nurse requires an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or diploma, any of which require in-person training and labs as well as significant clinical hours completed at a healthcare facility for clinical experience.2
After successfully completing a pre-licensure program in the form of a diploma, ADN or four-year BSN program, graduates must sit for the National Council Licensure Examination . The exam is taken at a Pearson test center, with locations around the country and some internationally as well3. You must pass the NCLEX for licensure.
Once achieving nursing licensure, registered nurses should consider continuing their education. Due to the fast-paced and evolving needs of healthcare, there is an increasing demand for nurses with further education and training that comes from a bachelor’s or master’s degree.1 This increasing demand is emphasized by healthcare organizations.
An online nursing degree can be the best choice for those already working as a registered nurse, as it offers work-life flexibility. At Southern New Hampshire University, there are no set meeting times, and resources like the technology help desk and chat with a librarian are available 24/7. Asynchronous classes mean you can complete your tests and assignments on your own time and keep your life more balanced than a traditional classroom format would allow.
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