Which job would you rather do? Help a young guy find his place in the world.
**Both career choices suit my interests. I would like your personal opinions on each please.**
Registered Nurse: Job Profile & Salary
http://www.usnews.com/img/jobs_43._228x153-mm.jpg
Overall Score: 8.2
Number of Jobs: 711,900 Median Salary: $64,690
Unemployment Rate: 5.5% Job Satisfaction: MEDIUM
Overview
From the delivery room to the hospice center, there are few parts of the medical lives of Americans untouched by the skilled hands of nurses. As one of more than 2.7 million registered nurses on the job today, you'll be tasked with treating and educating patients, explaining prescriptions and procedures, administering medication, or managing medical records. While many RNs work in hospitals or physicians' offices, more are finding jobs in public health, home care, or alternate care settings such as rehabilitation centers, schools, or businesses. There is also plenty of specialization within the field. You could focus on the care of patients following heart surgery as a cardiovascular nurse, or even aid in treating brain or spinal cord injuries as a neuroscience nurse.
Even in a tough economy, nursing has flourished compared with most other occupations. Thanks in part to an aging population, job growth is expected to be much faster than the national average. The greatest job growth will be in physicians' offices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse employment growth of 26 percent between 2010 and 2020, adding 711,900 more positions. Solid employment growth and a wide range of job prospects help make registered nursing a top healthcare job, as well as the No. 1 career on our list of The Best Jobs of 2012.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median annual wage for a registered nurse was $64,690 in 2010. The best-paid 10 percent of RNs made approximately $95,130, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $44,190. The highest wages are reserved for personal care nurses, or those working for private-sector pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturers. By location, the highest-paid positions are clustered in the metropolitan areas of northern California, including municipalities in and around San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco.
Salary Range
75th Percentile Wage: $79,020
Median Wage: $64,690
25th Percentile Wage: $52,980
Training
At a minimum, an entry-level nursing job requires a bachelor of science degree in nursing, an associate's degree, or a diploma program administered in a hospital. The two-year associate's degree can be a quicker and more economical route, but many graduates of associate's programs eventually aim to complete a bachelor's degree for a more comprehensive nursing education, and experts say that the bachelor's degree is fast becoming the industry standard. For those who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a different field, accelerated B.S.N. degree programs can last from 12 to 18 months. Students must also pass a national licensing examination known as the National Council Licensure Examination, and may have to meet other requirements which vary by state. Many nurses choose to pursue master's degrees in advanced practice nursing specialties, such as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.
Reviews and Advice
"Even though there's great growth potential, the market is still competitive," says Donna Cardillo, RN, a speaker known as the "career guru" for nurses. She recommends nurses use both traditional and virtual tricks of the interviewing trade, including printing business cards for the interview process (many nurses don't) and keeping up-to-date profiles on social media sites like LinkedIn. The most effective job leads, however, come from one-on-one contacts that can be found by joining professional organizations like state chapters of the American Nurses Association or other specialized professional groups. For older job seekers looking to enter the field, Cardillo recommends they play up their experience in non-nursing fields, as those experiences can show a more diverse set of skills. Another tip: Look beyond the hospital. Nurses are fanning out into a host of jobs, ranging from rehab and long-term care facilities to nurse-run community clinics, schools, or corporations where preventative care and wellness are becoming a bigger focus—and a bigger source of jobs. "The whole job market is shifting," Cardillo says.
Job Satisfaction
Upward Mobility: Average
Stress Level: Above Average
Flexibility: Average
Physical Therapist: Job Profile & Salary
http://www.usnews.com/img/jobs_46._228x153-mm.jpg
Overall Score: 6.9
Number of Jobs: 77,400 Median Salary: $76,310
Unemployment Rate: 5.5% Job Satisfaction: HIGH
Overview
This hands-on career is also one of the fastest growing. As one of the 198,600 physical therapists in the United States, you might work in a clinic, hospital, or private office, and your patients could include an aging athlete, a recent accident victim, or a young person with lower back pain. It's your job to test and measure their coordination, muscle strength, range of motion, and motor function. From your examination, you must determine a strategy for treatment, so they can regain mobility, be relieved of pain, or learn to live with a disability. You may consult with other medical care providers, including physicians, occupational therapists, and social workers.
Job opportunities look good in the field, and employment is expected to grow much faster than average thanks to rising demand for such services among aging baby boomers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects physical therapist employment growth of 39 percent between 2010 and 2020, with the field adding 77,400 more jobs. Thanks to good job opportunities for physical therapists, it lands at No. 8 on The Best Jobs of 2012 list.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median annual wage for a physical therapist was $76,310 in 2010. The best-paid 10 percent of workers in the category made approximately $107,920, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $53,620. The highest wages are found in physician offices or hospitals. By location, the highest-paid positions are clustered in the metropolitan areas of McAllen, Texas, Madera, Calif., and Fairbanks, Ark.
Salary Range
75th Percentile Wage: $90,350
Median Wage: $76,310
25th Percentile Wage: $64,230
Training
At a minimum, you'll need a master's degree and a state license to become a practicing therapist. Many students currently pursue a doctor of physical therapy degree (DPT), and new graduates taking the national licensure examination in the field after 2017 will be required to hold such a degree. Most doctoral programs last three years, compared with two or two and a half for a master's. Many licenses also require continuing education in order to stay certified.
Reviews and Advice
On-the-job internships are a required part of any physical therapist's training, and experts say that's the place to make the connections that will land you a job. "It's a unique opportunity for students to pay attention to what they like or don't like," about the job or a particular type of practice, says Janet Bezner, deputy executive director of the American Physical Therapy Association. Starting the job hunt while still in school is key, she says, as is narrowing the type of patients you'd like to treat, be they orthopedic, pediatric, geriatric, or another demographic, as well as the size and style of practice that will best suit you. She also advises applicants to highlight other skills in addition to their PT education and training. For example, Bezner notes a variety of skills, from a Pilates certification to an MBA, can add something extra when joining a practice. Plus, she says the current environment is a "buyer's market," so applicants have more room to tailor their job hunt to their own specifications.
Job Satisfaction
Upward Mobility: Below Average
Stress Level: Below Average
Flexibility: Above Average
For your very much appreciated time...
http://i.imgur.com/bno0U.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...60338481_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...76474176_n.jpg
