Alvernia College - Career Services

What can I do with a major in Nursing ?

The Nursing major seeks to prepare graduates to think logically and creatively, act professionally and ethically, analyze ideas and situations, and solve problems encountered in their service delivery as practitioners, supervisors, and managers. Like many healthcare-related majors, the curriculum is designed to prepare students to perform a specific function within the health care delivery system. It seeks to provide strong, specific training targeted to a very specific job title. Students selecting this major typically have had some exposure to the employment field, either as a volunteer or as a patient.

Nursing education is offered in a variety of lengths and formats. Students interested in nursing should examine the differences between 2 year Association Degree (ADN), 3 year Diploma and 4-year Bachelor Degree (BSN) programs. Also available are "completion programs" designed for individuals who are already RNs, but lack the Bachelor's degree. Graduates are prepared to deliver healthcare to persons of all ages, families and community groups with sensitivity to cultural and environmental factors.

At Alvernia, the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) prepares generalist practitioners for a variety of health care environments. The RN-BSN Completion Program is designed for registered nurses who are graduates of a diploma or associate degree nursing program but lack the bachelor's degree required for administrative positions or admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, teaching or a clinical specialization.

Skills

Aptitude for science and health
Ability to make sound and quick judgments based on observation
Accuracy
Understanding of human behavior
Ability to work well under stress
Ability to work well with others
Physical stamina and strength
Good interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate with various ethnic, socio-economic and age groups
Good verbal skills

Values

Health
Integrity
Willingness to work beyond 9-5 schedule
Poise
Sensitivity to others
Empathy
Desire to help people
Flexibility
Ability to make the connection between technology and humanity

Leisure Activities

Attending health or nursing lectures/workshops
Volunteering in a hospital/hospice/nursing home
Reading medical or health-related journals
Working in a health-care facility

Strategies

Obtain internship
Volunteer in medical/health-care settings
Develop organizational skills
Take electives in psychology, advanced physiology, communication and technology
Develop management and leadership skills
Consider graduate school or advance practice
Gain experience in handling emergencies
Consider studying another language

For Nursing Majors:
Community Service Organizations
Career Titles
Professional Organizations
Web sites