With two and a half million men and women working as nurses in the United States, nursing is the largest occupation in the health care industry It is also one of the most dynamic, as new technologies, new medicines, and new approaches treatment are continually developed and introduced into the nation's hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities

Even in the midst of a global downturn that has affected nearly every industry in the United States and around the world the nursing profession remains much in demand Perhaps more importantly for anyone thinking about a career as a registered nurse (RN), the nation's need for nurses is expected to increase by more than twenty percent over the next seven years, creating more than half a million new nursing jobs that will need to be filled, as well as several hundred thousand more openings due to retirements in the current field of nurses

With nearly eighty million Americans now suffering from some form of heart disease, and almost a million and a half heart attacks occurring each year, nurses who specialize in cardiac care have seen an ever-increasing demand for their services Early and comprehensive care of such ailments as high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary disease are essential elements of life-saving medical treatment, and cardiac care nursing plays a critical role in providing that treatment

Beginning in the late 1800s there was a growing consensus that sanitarium patients had a right to proper nursing care Although it began simply as a movement to provide those mental health inmates with the health care due every ward of the state, it has evolved over time into a very specific branch of nursing science that places mental health nurses in a pivotal role with respect to the overall care provided to patients with mental problems

With the rapid aging of the American population resulting in more and more seniors in need of continuing medical care, the health care industry has responded by devoting more attention than ever before to the unique treatment needs of elderly patients The nursing segment of the health care industry has responded with equal vigor, and many nurses now focus their educational endeavors in the field of gerontology - the care of older adults

There are many different areas in which nurse practitioners serve patients, with some areas requiring a high level of specialized training and focus From geriatric care to pediatrics, each specific group that a nurse focuses on comes with its own unique set of challenges

Specialty areas in nursing care abound, and there are now so many particular fields of nursing care available that there is sure to be one available that suits any nurse's individual interests Much of the specialization is the result of advances in treatment methodologies and technologies that require increased focus to master

If the United States of America published a nationwide series of want ads, one of the top two ads we would all see would read, "Nursing professionals needed Now

Our modern understanding of the role of nursing has its roots in the care provided by Florence Nightingale and her nursing corps during the 19th Century Crimean War Although nursing had long been a necessity during times of war, it took Nightingale's treatise on the subject to being its transformation into a recognizable medical practice with agreed-upon standard practices

You may be one of the millions of Americans considering a career in the nursing industry, but just unsure about which area of nursing you want to pursue While there are still opportunities aplenty for lifelong careers in general nursing as a registered nurse, more and more nurses are choosing specialized nursing paths that allow them to focus on one area of primary care - often targeted toward a particular group in need