There are several career self-assessment resources available online. One useful site is: careeronestop.org. Additionally, students can schedule an appointment with the PSCC Counseling Center for career counseling.

There are several types of nurses:

• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) – CNAs provide hands-on care to people who may be unable to take care of themselves. This may include such tasks as feeding, bathing, and dressing patients, as well as assisting nurses with clinical procedures and diagnostic tests. CNAs usually work under the direction of an LPN or RN and carry out duties as assigned. Work sites include hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care. Training in the Knoxville area is a month-long course offered by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology 
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) – LPNs are responsible for patient care on a personal level. They are usually responsible for monitoring patients’ vital signs and performing procedures such as dressing wounds, giving enemas, treating bedsores, and administering medicines. LPNs work under the supervision of an RN or a physician in various settings, including doctors’ offices and hospitals. Training usually involves one year of classes at a hospital or technology center. In the Knoxville area, this program is offered by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology 
• Registered Nurses (RNs) – RNs have direct responsibility for patients, under the supervision of a physician. They are involved with assessing and diagnosing patients, creating and implementing care plans, and evaluating the patients’ responses to the plans. RN training requires three to four years of college, as explained in the next question, below. 
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs) – NPs provide clinical care for patients and are authorized to diagnose medical conditions, order tests, prescribe treatment, and educate patients. Duties vary depending on the NP’s specialty and on the regulations in the state where the NP works. (In Tennessee, NPs must work under the auspices of a physician.) A Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) is required to become in NP.

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN or AAS in Nursing) – Students take approximately one year of prerequisite courses, followed by two years of nursing school in which students take about 9-12 credits/semester. Graduates take the board exam to become RNs.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Students take approximately two years of prerequisite courses, followed by two years of full-time nursing school. After graduation, students who pass the board exam become registered nurses.

Starting pay is often similar for those with either degree. However, the BSN has more opportunities for advancement, as well as working in more technical, specialized areas of nursing. There are several local programs designed for nurses who have the associate degree to earn a BSN, often while working. These are called RN to BSN programs.

RNs work in various areas, including:

• Hospital nursing (intensive care, pediatrics, emergency/flight, labor and delivery, psychiatry/mental health, oncology, ambulatory care, neurology, and many more)
• Office/Clinic nursing
• Community/Public Health nursing (government, private agencies, schools)
• Occupational/Industrial nursing
• Home health nursing
• Long-term care facility nursing
• Travel nursing
• Nursing supervisor/manager
• Hospice nursing
• Insurance company nursing

The job outlook is very promising, as there are currently more job opportunities than there are nurses to fill the positions. This shortage allows nurses to be more selective in choosing where they would like to work. According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, there were 3,130,600 RNs working in the U.S. in 2021, and the prediction is that 3,326,000 RNs will be working in 2031. That is a growth of 6%, with 203,200 new openings each year. Tennessee currently has 9.09 RNs per 1000 population; that is slightly lower than the national average. The occupation of Nurse Practitioner is expected to grow faster than any other profession in the U.S. in the next ten years: 46%!

The decision about which schools to apply to should be made early, as the requirements for the different nursing schools vary significantly, particularly among the BSN programs. The interested student should visit all schools of interest and talk with their representatives in order to make a good choice. Many students apply to more than one nursing school simultaneously to improve their chances of being accepted. A full list of Nursing Schools in Tennessee can be found at: http://nursing-education-tn.org.