Faculty, medical surgical and public health nurses in great demand

The average nurse in Georgia is 48 years old. Each year, more nurses are retiring or choosing to reduce the number of hours they work each week. In a field where there's already a shortage of qualified professionals, the situation is becoming critical.

"One of the biggest demands is for nursing faculty," said Linda Easterly, BNS, MS, president of the Georgia Nurses Association. "If we don't get people in the pipeline and get them educated, we'll continue to face critical shortages."

Those who teach in nursing schools across the state generally come into academics from clinical practice. Nurses who teach in associate programs, such as training certified nurse assistants and licensed practical nurses, may not need to hold a master's or doctorate degree, but post-graduate work is required to teach in four-year programs. It's best to check with the particular institution to determine what degree and qualifications are required.

"There's also a whole push by the Georgia Nurses Association and the governor's office to improve the processes for nurses to become faculty," Easterly said. "we really do need to get more people into nursing programs."

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In addition to faculty, Easterly said that the field of public health nursing is facing a critical shortage. These nurses may work in health clinics and schools, or they may serve on disaster-response teams.

"These public health nurses were the ones who responded to Hurricane Katrina last year," she said. "They were on the front lines and were crucial to helping with this and other disasters."

Easterly said that many hospitals face shortages in the medical-surgical nursing arena, as well, with more people undergoing surgery. Nurses are also needed in settings outside of hospitals: home health care, clinics, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

"The field of nursing has broadened beyond the hospital setting," she said. "There are so many choices for the nurses of today."

There are all levels of nursing available today, from certified nurse assistants and licensed practical nurses to registered nurses and management. Within these fields, nurses specialize in pediatrics, oncology, cardiology or geriatrics.

Men are entering nursing in greater numbers, she said. "They're realizing that it's a challenging and rewarding field. The more men that come into nursing, the more men are exposed to it. They're finding that it's an excellent profession and that they can excel."

Nursing jobs are not just hospital-based anymore. Nurses work in the legal profession and in insurance as case managers. They also work on site for manufacturers and in physicians' offices.

"Technology is also important to nurses today," Easterly said. "From using computers to chart medications to working with baby monitors in labor and delivery, being comfortable with technology is a vital part of the profession."

The field of nursing has a great diversity of options for those interested in caring for people.

"There are plenty of roles in health care today for every level and skill," she said. "Just about every institution in the state has a need for more nurses."