With the increased life expectancy of the US population, there's an ever-increasing demand for healthcare professionals, especially skilled nurses. Nurses are moving more and more to the front line of health care delivery; doctors are becoming increasingly specialized and nurses are stepping up to provide more direct health care to patients than ever before.

Nursing is a career for which the right qualifications are essential. You can study to many different levels and could continue to add to your qualifications while working as a nurse. As a qualified nurse, a wide range of career paths is available to you in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, at private homes, and in the leisure sector. Or you could diversify your education and become a nurse paralegal. If you decide to go on to do a nursing degree, you could become a nurse manager. Alternatively, you might want to specialize in areas such as Geriatrics, Primary Care, Trauma, Operating Room, Oncology (Cancer), Emergency Room, Midwifery, Gynecology or Psychiatry. America has some of the best nursing colleges in the world, offering undergraduate, post-graduate and post-doctoral programs in nursing. Programs are available to suit all learning needs so, if you are already employed or can't afford to study full-time, there are many part-time and distance-learning programs that you could be better suited to you. Salaries vary widely by region of the country, experience, education, and type of facility. With a 4-year degree in nursing, you'll have one of the highest starting salaries in any field. Private nurses tend to earn more but the financial and job satisfaction rewards are excellent for all nursing roles.