Career Pathways
Nursing
Nursing, often referred to as the heart of healthcare, is a dynamic and essential profession that touches the lives of countless individuals. Nurses are compassionate caregivers, vigilant advocates, and knowledgeable healers. Whether drawn to the field by a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, the potential for career stability, or the opportunity for lifelong learning and personal growth, nursing offers a fulfilling and rewarding career path.
Options for specialization
There are several expansive sub-industries within the field that are ever-evolving.
Opportunities for advancement
Projected growth in nursing is 38% from 2022-2032.
Desirable payscale
The median salary for nursing is higher than the median annual salary for all BLS measured occupations.
Charles Vergel de Dios, Acute Care Registered Nurse
Listen as Acute Care Registered Nurse Charles Vergel de Dios shares how he utilizes nursing skills in his practice.
Everything we learn from nursing school, we put into a 30-second meet and greet so to speak. Another skill that we use is patient-centered skill. Basically we put our patients first, before anything else. In the operating room, once we bring them in, we gotta make sure they trust us completely because in a way, their life is in our hands.
Discover your career opportunities
As the demand for nursing grows, so do the job opportunities. Here are a few job titles available to individuals with nursing skills:
| Entry level | Mid level | Senior level | Entrepreneurial |
|
| Chief Nursing Officer |  | |||
| Clinical Nursing Director | | |||
| Nurse Administrator | | |||
| Nurse Anesthetist | | |||
| Nurse Educator | | |||
| Nursing Midwife | | |||
| Nurse Practitioner | | | ||
| Registered Nurse | |
Nursing careers aren’t an A to B with a direct line drawn between them. There are so many different directions to go in. Even if you’ve gone down one path, you can pivot. That’s a common misconception in the nursing field…there’s lots of different ways you can pivot even after you’ve chosen a specialization.
Caroline Yacoe, career expert at edX
Learn about topics in nursing
Register for a course on edX to learn about a variety of topics within the nursing industry.
How can I acquire nursing skills and turn them into a career?
If developing skills related to nursing interests you, we recommend considering these steps:
Research is key when it comes to any career, and a career in nursing is certainly no exception. Take advantage of all the information out there, whether through browsing the internet for job titles, listening to industry-specific podcasts, or getting connected to professionals in the areas or positions that interest you.
One key part of the research phase is networking. This simple step is often overlooked and undervalued but can significantly impact your career trajectory. To clarify your career goals and aspirations, you must talk with professionals about what the work looks like.
You open a door of opportunity in your career by reaching out to professionals in your targeted fields, positions, and companies. Connecting with nursing professionals who could provide hard-to-find intel about the specialties or organizations of interest is invaluable.
Check out our Networking guide and Networking outreach samples for help getting started.
To supplement your understanding of what others are doing professionally, gain clarity on your own goals and aspirations. Ask yourself what interests you about nursing — the possibilities are endless.
There are a number of transferable skills that will serve you well in the nursing industry and beyond, as well as clinical skills that you’ll need to hone if you choose to pursue nursing as a career.
Transferable skills and qualities
Transferable skills are skills you carry from one job to another, enhancing your adaptability and versatility. Here are a few transferable skills that complement nursing well:
- Detail-orientation
- Critical-thinking
- Collaboration
- Empathy
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Flexibility
- Observation
Field-specific skills
Field-specific skills are vital in nursing as they equip you with the necessary tools to effectively address nursing challenges. These skills enable accurate record-keeping and patient safety, which are critical for responding adeptly to nursing issues. Here are a few examples of these skills:
- Providing high-quality patient care
- Taking and monitoring vitals
- Documenting family history
- Diagnosing illnesses and injuries
- Developing treatment plans
- Collaborating with the care team
The different types of roles within the nursing field require varying levels of education, training, licensure, and certification. Once you’ve explored which type of nursing role you want to pursue, you’ll need additional research to determine the level of clinical training to advance in that path. If you’re in the early stages of exploring, here are some options to informally explore more about the nursing field:
Self-education — If you want to learn asynchronously, informally, or casually about nursing career paths, self-education is a great place to start. Many approaches to this learning style support career goals, budgets, and time commitments. Here are some to consider:
- Informational interviews: Gain a greater understanding of nursing by speaking to nurses. Leverage your network or LinkedIn to see if you can chat with any nurses to learn more about their career trajectory, likes and dislikes within the field, advice, and insights.
- Online courses: If you prefer a more structured or socialized learning experience, online courses might be a good option. edX.org offers several instructor-led and self-paced nursing courses that may be of interest.
Degree programs — Pursuing a degree in nursing offers the opportunity to pursue the field of nursing formally and begin the journey towards becoming certified and registered to treat patients after completing your education. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills to address patient challenges and engage you in a rewarding career dedicated to improving the lives and health of your patients.
Interviewing for nursing positions will likely rely on behavioral interviewing questions. Stay informed about nursing best practices and practice formulating your responses in an organized, thoughtful manner. If you have experience handling a challenging patient situation, be ready to highlight the scenario and the impact that you have made. Potential employers will want to know both your nursing skills and transferable skills. Remember to be authentic and exude confidence during your interview.
Once you achieve your nursing career goal, celebrate your success. The career journey is full of ups and downs, and every victory deserves acknowledgment.
With that said, your journey doesn’t end here — it’s only just beginning. Give yourself grace and understand that careers are not linear. Here are some ways you could continue growing your nursing skills:
Continued learning — Always reference our course catalog on edX.org for continued learning opportunities. It never hurts to brush up on your skills, expand your knowledge within the industry, or learn about other subjects that could apply to your work, interests, or something in between.
Promotions — As the nursing industry continues to grow, so will future job opportunities. To position yourself well for promotions, you will need to stay current on continuing education opportunities and develop leadership skills.
Clinical nurse leader: Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) are responsible for overseeing the care of a group of patients. They implement evidence-based best practices for improving patient care and outcomes, provide direct clinical care in complex situations, and collaborate with many clinical and administrative professionals. CNLs have clinical decision-making authority to change a treatment plan if necessary.
Pivots — Make sure to regularly check in with yourself and your satisfaction with daily tasks. If you are dissatisfied in your current role, take stock of what you like and dislike about it; keep your eyes out for opportunities in your department, specialty, or organization, and pursue career pivots that optimize your background, skill set, and interests.
You are the eyes and ears of the doctor because you are with the family and the patient for 12 hours. What you see could be different than what the doctor sees when they come in…Your knowledge of what you’re seeing the patient do throughout the day could really change the plan of care….but also, as a nurse, you have all these different skill sets because you’re not just the nurse, you’re wearing multiple different hats.
Allie Foy, Pediatric Nurse
What are my next steps?
Start learning now
Register for a course on edX.org to learn about a variety of topics within the field of nursing.
Watch a session
Watch a relevant session on our Events Page to learn more about the industry and other professional’s experiences within it.
Charting new horizons: navigating career shifts from employee to entrepreneur
Whether you’re contemplating a professional transition, venturing into freelancing, or aiming to elevate your entrepreneurial prowess, Lydia’s presentation guarantees valuable insights and tangible strategies. View this webinar to get inspiration, motivation, and practical advice as Lydia guides you through the dynamic journey from being an employee to flourishing as an entrepreneur. The views and opinions […]
Designing for financial success: harnessing the power of fintech and UX design
In this webinar, we delve into the importance of user experience (UX) design in creating financial products, discover industry trends, and provide valuable insights into the ever-evolving job market. Our speaker Saurabh Bose is the Principal UX Designer at Backbase and has over 15 years of experience in designing innovative design solutions and entrepreneurial projects. […]
Strategies for success: establishing a Product Management foundation
View this insightful webinar where we unravel the secrets to early success in the realm of product management. Delve into the essential strategies and skills vital for junior Product Managers, providing a strong foundation for a thriving career. Senior Product Manager, Jess McPheron, will give us a closer look at his path to Product Management, […]
