Is Furthering Your Education Worthwhile?
So is the theory that education leads to a worthwhile career actually true? The Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps detailed databases of labor statistics from across the United States and a simple examination of the data reveals some very interesting information that may help you assess the usefulness of further education.
Let's begin by looking at the median weekly salary by educational attainment:
- Less than a high school diploma........$465 ($24,180 per annum)
- High school graduate, no college.......$630 ($32,760 per annum)
- College or Associate degree...............$836 ($43,472 per annum)
- Bachelors degree................................$1209 ($62,868 per annum)
- Higher degree.....................................$1546 ($79,872 per annum)
The message here is very clear, with earnings increasing dramatically with increasingly higher educational attainment. The math is very easy and if we assume a working life of 40 years then a high school graduate can expect to earn an amazing $1,884,480 less than someone with a higher degree over their working lifetime!
If we assume that a bachelors degree and a higher degree takes, say, 7 years of study with 36 weeks per year of study time each comprising of 35 hours a week study time then this equates to a total of 8,820 hours of study in total. Simply dividing this number of study hours into the increased earning potential above means that each study hour is worth a colossal $213.66!
Try the math for yourself, adjusting the figures to your planned educational attainment level and you will quickly see that those long hours studying are the equivalent of receiving over $200 for each and every hour!
Still not convinced?
Ok, let's look at the unemployment rates by educational attainment for September 2009:
- Less than a high school diploma...............13.7%
- High school graduate, no college..............10.0%
- College or Associate degree....................8.1%
- Bachelors degree or higher.....................5.0%%
Again, this shows a very clear pattern and the higher the educational qualification then the lower the unemployment rate with the rate for a high school graduate exactly twice as high as that for someone with a Bachelor's degree or higher. While this data is for all occupations the Bureau of Labor Statistics also provide unemployment statistics by industry and this clearly shows that the lowest unemployment rate of all industries is for hospital workers at just 1.6%! The conclusion is obvious since medical staff such as doctors and nurses tend to be the most qualified of all hospital workers and therefore a higher education qualification will mean increased job security and far more pay.
Interested in a Career in Nursing?
Once you are convinced of the benefits of higher education then it is necessary to select the correct course for your needs. This will primarily be dependant on the kind of career you have in mind. If you wish to stay within a pure nursing environment then the rewards are likely to be lower than if you wish to pursue a managerial or leadership career in nursing. This is backed up by statistics from the Bureau which clearly shows that salary rates are almost always higher for managers irrespective of which industry you work.
In nursing you have a choice dependent on your current qualifications and your particular aspirations. Whichever route you take you can expect to find a challenging and innovative course with state of the art laboratories in addition to library and computer resources that are second to none. Nursing, virtually more than any other profession gives you the chance to both touch, and be touched by, the lives of others and make a real difference to their lives.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Nursing Course
There are numerous factors to consider when considering the choice of course and these include:
- What are the entry criteria and qualifications? These may vary from institution to institution and you should check carefully that you meet the criteria fully to avoid disappointment.
- How much flexibility does the course have? There should be an element of choice in selecting courses that actually interest you and which will also help you advance on your chosen career path. Check also if there are opportunities to design learning experiences that are individualized to you, such as clinical experiences.
- Some courses also offer the chance to work in a number of diverse environments such as acute care, clinics, heath centers etc. This can be a real advantage if you have yet to decide on your chosen career path.
- How well qualified are the faculty? Are they well qualified to Masters or Doctoral level or even leaders in the field in which they teach?
- Check out the available resources such as libraries, laboratories, IT, and medical technology. Again these vary enormously from faculty to faculty and can make a real difference when you start your studies.
- What is the accreditation status of the faculty? This means that they have been subjected to an independent check of their teaching and training facilities and also the effectiveness of the teaching methods.
These are just some of the factors to consider and it is also worth visiting your short list of possible intended faculties to get a feel for the place. Is there a vibe of real learning and interest in the subject matter? Do students seem genuinely motivated and do they engage with faculty staff positively and openly? Once you have enrolled on your chosen course then you have started on the path to a very rewarding career.
The future is very bright for nursing and the nursing profession generally. A world shortage of skilled nurses, higher salaries for higher qualifications and a rewarding career helping others, are all reasons to choose a course of higher education in nursing - check out the available courses and get on the road the a brighter and rewarding future now!
