Using Skills And Interests To Explore Your Career Path ✓ Solved

Using Skills and Interests to Explore Your Career Path

This assignment requires you to write a two-page paper, formatted according to APA Style, detailing your exploration of a potential career based on your personal interests and skills. You will reflect on assessments taken previously and conduct additional research to develop a comprehensive understanding of your prospective occupational field. The paper should include the following aspects for your selected career: the occupation you are researching, the nature of work performed, the typical work environment, education and certification requirements, median salary, related careers of interest, and whether it aligns with your current degree program. Proper APA formatting is essential, including a title page and body, and the paper should be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font. This reflection aims to help you identify possible career paths that suit your interests, skills, and educational background, guiding your professional development and decision-making.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Exploring a Career in Nursing: An In-Depth Analysis

Based on my results from the O*net Interest Profiler taken during week 3, I have identified a potential career pathway in nursing. This profession strongly aligns with my interests in helping others and engaging in scientific and health-related activities. To deepen my understanding, I explored the Occupational Outlook Handbook to gather relevant information about the role of registered nurses (RNs), which is a promising career within my degree field of healthcare.

Registered nurses (RNs) are vital members of the healthcare system, providing patient care, education, and emotional support. Their responsibilities include monitoring patient health, administering medications, collaborating with physicians, and educating patients about health management. RNs typically work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and community health organizations. The environment can be demanding, often requiring shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The nature of the work involves physical activity, critical thinking, and emotional resilience, as nurses frequently deal with life-threatening situations and distressed patients.

Educationally, becoming an RN generally requires completing an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Additional certifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) are often required or preferred. Licensure is mandated, achieved by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The median annual salary for registered nurses in the United States was approximately $77,000 in 2022, with higher averages in urban and specialized settings (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Related careers that interest me include nursing specialties such as nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist, which require advanced education but offer broader responsibilities and higher compensation.

This career choice directly aligns with my current degree studies in healthcare and my passion for patient advocacy and scientific inquiry. Exploring this profession has reinforced my commitment to pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with the goal of obtaining licensure and eventually specializing in pediatric care. Understanding the roles, environment, and educational pathway of registered nurses provides clarity and motivation for my academic and professional journey.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). Occupational outlook handbook: Registered nurses. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
• American Nurses Association. (2023). Becoming a nurse: Education requirements. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-force/education/
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Nursing workforce data. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/data-research/nursing-workforce
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2023). NCLEX examination. https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm
• Health Resources & Services Administration. (2022). Nursing employment trends. https://www.hrsa.gov/nursing
• Johnson, M. (2020). The role of nurses in healthcare: A comprehensive overview. Journal of Nursing Practice, 36(4), 341-348.
• Smith, L., & Williams, P. (2019). Educational pathways for registered nurses. Nursing Education Perspectives, 40(3), 193-198.
• Walker, J. (2021). Advanced nursing roles and certifications. Nursing Leadership Journal, 34(2), 45-50.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Nurse workforce and Medicaid. https://www.cms.gov
• Fitzgerald, K. (2023). Work environment and job satisfaction among nurses. Healthcare Management Review, 48(1), 12-20.