Basics

• Nurses work in hospitals, wellness centers, retirement homes, and doctor's offices. Their duties and specialties vary widely. Most nurses provide an immediate diagnosis of patients before patients are seen by a physician.
  
  

Skills

• Nurses must be compassionate, organized, and skilled communicators. They also must be willing to work hard and able to confidently handle distressing or emergency situations.
  
  

Education

• Many nurses are required to possess a bachelor's degree, although some can get hired with an associate degree. All need to become certified by passing a test following nursing school.
  
  

Prospects

• Nursing continues to be one of the nation's fastest-growing professions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurses is expected to increase by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.
  
  

Earnings

• The median annual salary of nurses was $62,450 in May 2008, the BLS reported. Some earned more than $92,000 per year.