i just read this article that down plays the work and hard study that rn's all put in to obtain a degree in college or a university. i feel insulted and plan to write them. :angryfire and a i am trying to "edit" to stay legal here, it is the fact that nursing is lumped into the mind set of a "lower skilled job" that precisely burns me up.
no college? not necessarily a problem
report points to 16 good fields for lower-skilled workers
by andrea coombes, marketwatch
last update: 7:36 pm et oct. 27, 2005
san francisco (marketwatch) -- the reigning assumption among many americans is that teenagers go directly from high school to college, but that's not the way life always works.
just 27% of americans over age 25 hold bachelor's degrees or higher, according to 2004 census data. see the census data.
the report details 16 jobs, all in growing industries, that pay more than $25,000 a year, are available to workers holding an associate's degree or less, and don't require a significant amount of previous work experience.
those occupations include nursing, carpentry, bookkeeping, plumbers and electricians. (see full list below.)
"there's no question that the payoff for a college degree is highly valuable and getting more valuable every year, [but] there are major occupations with large numbers of jobs going wanting that pay reasonably good wages, and are within reach of working adults that don't yet have postsecondary education," rubin said.
some barriers to entry
but just because you don't necessarily need a college degree doesn't mean entry into these jobs is easy.
for instance, "registered nurse" tops the list of 16 jobs because it has the greatest number of projected annual job openings, but that job poses barriers for some lower-skilled entrants, including training programs that tend to be highly competitive and full-time.
"registered nurse is certainly an excellent paying occupation and an occupation where there are tremendous shortages," rubin said. but, he added, entry to the field usually requires at least three years of full-time study and "very, very strong math and science skills."
an alternative is to become a licensed practical nurse, another job on the list. certification is often available through part-time training programs, making that occupation a more manageable entry point into the nursing field for those needing to support themselves and a family.
