Nursing is a rewarding and challenging career that offers the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, providing care and support to patients of all ages and backgrounds.
If you’re considering a career in nursing, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right major. A good nursing-related major can give you a solid foundation in the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in nursing school and beyond.
What is nursing?
Nursing is the practice of caring for the sick and injured. Nurses provide a wide range of services, including:
- Assessing patients’ needs
- Developing and implementing care plans
- Administering medications
- Providing wound care
- Educating patients and their families
- Advocating for patients’ rights
Why is it important to choose a good major for nursing?
Choosing a good major for nursing can help you succeed in nursing school and beyond in several ways:
- It can give you a strong foundation in the sciences. Nursing is a science-based profession, so it’s important to have a good understanding of biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Many nursing-related majors offer courses in these subjects, which can prepare you for the rigorous coursework in nursing school.
- It can help you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Nurses need to be able to think critically and solve problems quickly and effectively. Many nursing-related majors teach these important skills.
- It can give you exposure to different aspects of healthcare. Many nursing-related majors offer clinical rotations, which allow you to gain hands-on experience in different healthcare settings. This can help you learn about different nursing specialties and decide which one is right for you.
What are the different types of nursing degrees?
There are two main types of nursing degrees:
- Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN): This is a two-year degree that prepares you to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN). LPNs/LVNs provide basic nursing care to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN).
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): This is a four-year degree that prepares you to become an RN. RNs are the most common type of nurse and provide a wide range of nursing services.
Some nursing schools also offer accelerated BSN programs for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field.
What are the different nursing specialties?
There are many different nursing specialties, each with its own focus. Some of the most common nursing specialties include:
- Adult health nursing: Adult health nurses care for adult patients with a variety of medical conditions.
- Pediatric nursing: Pediatric nurses care for children from birth to adolescence.
- Critical care nursing: Critical care nurses care for patients who are critically ill or injured.
- Emergency room nursing: Emergency room nurses provide care to patients in emergency situations.
- Obstetrics and gynecology nursing: Obstetrics and gynecology nurses care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery.
- Mental health nursing: Mental health nurses care for patients with mental health conditions.
- Oncology nursing: Oncology nurses care for patients with cancer.
What are the job prospects and salary outlook for nurses?
The job outlook for nurses is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of registered nurses will grow 9% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to be driven by an aging population and increasing demand for healthcare services.
The median annual salary for registered nurses was $75,330 in May 2020. The highest-paid registered nurses worked in hospitals, where they earned a median annual salary of $80,010.
Nursing-related majors
Here are some of the best majors for nursing:
- Biology: Biology is a broad field that studies life and living organisms. Biology majors learn about the structure, function, and growth of living things. This knowledge can be valuable for nursing students, who need to understand the human body and how it works.
- Chemistry: Chemistry is the study of matter and its properties. Chemistry majors learn about the composition, structure, and properties of matter. This knowledge can be helpful for nursing students, who need to understand the chemical composition of medications and other substances they will encounter in their practice.
Anatomy and physiology: Anatomy and physiology are the study of the structure and function of the human body. Anatomy majors learn about the different parts of the body and how they work together. Physiology majors learn about the different processes that take place in the body, such as respiration and digestion. Both anatomy and physiology are essential for nursing students, who need to have a thorough understanding of the human body in order to provide care to their patients.
Microbiology: Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Microbiology majors learn about the structure, function, and growth of microorganisms, as well as the diseases they can cause. This knowledge is important for nursing students, who need to understand how to prevent and treat infections.
Nutrition: Nutrition is the study of food and its effects on the body. Nutrition majors learn about the different nutrients that the body needs and how to get those nutrients from food. This knowledge is important for nursing students, who need to understand how to help their patients maintain a healthy diet.
Psychology: Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. Psychology majors learn about the different theories of personality, development, and mental illness. This knowledge can be helpful for nursing students, who need to understand their patients’ emotions and behaviors in order to provide them with the best possible care.
Sociology: Sociology is the study of human society and social behavior. Sociology majors learn about the different social groups, institutions, and processes that make up society. This knowledge can be helpful for nursing students, who need to understand the social factors that can affect their patients’ health.
Public health: Public health is the study of the prevention of disease and the promotion of health. Public health majors learn about the different factors that affect public health, such as environmental conditions, social determinants of health, and access to healthcare. This knowledge can be helpful for nursing students, who want to make a difference in the health of their communities.
Other majors that can prepare you for a nursing career
In addition to the nursing-related majors listed above, there are a number of other majors that can prepare you for a nursing career. These majors include:
- Health science: Health science is a broad field that studies health and healthcare. Health science majors learn about the different aspects of healthcare, such as public health, nutrition, and pharmacology. This knowledge can be valuable for nursing students, who need to have a broad understanding of healthcare in order to provide the best possible care to their patients.
- Pre-nursing: Pre-nursing is a major that prepares students for nursing school. Pre-nursing majors typically take courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and nutrition. This coursework can give students the foundation they need to succeed in nursing school.
- Liberal arts majors: Liberal arts majors, such as English, history, and philosophy, can also prepare you for a nursing career. Liberal arts majors teach students important skills such as critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. These skills are essential for nurses, who need to be able to think critically, communicate effectively with their patients and other healthcare professionals, and solve problems quickly and effectively.
Factors to consider when choosing a major for nursing
When choosing a major for nursing, there are a number of factors to consider, including:
- Your interests and passions: What are you interested in learning about? What are you passionate about? Choose a major that aligns with your interests and passions. This will make you more likely to succeed in your studies and enjoy your career.
- Your career goals: What are your career goals? Do you want to work in a specific area of nursing, such as pediatrics or oncology? Choose a major that will help you achieve your career goals.
- The strength of your academic record: What is your academic record like? If you have strong grades in math and science, you may want to choose a more challenging major, such as biology or chemistry. If you are not as strong in math and science, you may want to choose a less challenging major, such as health science or pre-nursing.
- The cost of tuition: How much can you afford to pay for tuition? Choose a major that is affordable for you.
- The location of the school: Do you want to stay close to home or are you willing to relocate? Choose a school that is located in a place where you want to live and work.
Conclusion
Choosing the right major for nursing is an important decision. By considering the factors listed above, you can choose a major that will help you succeed in nursing school and achieve your career goals.
