Nursing

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FROM STUDY TO SKILLS

As a Nursing student you will be prepared to integrate principles from the humanities with the natural, biological, and behavioral sciences into practice in nursing or related fields. The field includes the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and provision of nursing therapy, along with planning, management, and research.

Experience in a clinical setting is an integral part of the School of Nursing academic program. By working alongside with some of the best nursing and medical professionals in the country, you will benefit from the knowledge and hands-on learning that is only possible through applying theoretical skills in practice.

Through the Nursing curriculum, you will acquire analytical, clinical, communication, and research skills, which will prepare you for both clinical and non-clinical positions.

Related fields include Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Business, Public Health, and International Studies.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Research and Clinical Skills

Designing experiments
Recording observations
Summarizing report and research findings
Evaluating data and results
Clarifying goals and problems
Translating theory into research plans
Solving quantitative problems
Utilizing clinical and laboratory equipment
Maintaining precision and accuracy

Problem Solving / Analytical Skills

Assessing needs and interests
Making projections from data
Gathering / categorizing data
Examining components of problems / ideas
Assessing risks
Interpreting ideas / events
Examining evidence
Utilizing interdisciplinary methods
Assessing alternative modes of analysis

Communication Skills

Transferring and utilizing clinical and research knowledge
Understanding and communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Counseling and advising
Motivating and empowering
Speaking and writing effectively
Influencing and persuading groups and individuals
Mediating / negotiating conflicts

BUILDING YOUR SKILLS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Employers seek out individuals who can demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills, initiative, and a strong work ethic. Student organizations and campus employment offer valuable opportunities to add to the skills you are developing in your classes. Most concentrations sponsor specific student groups like an undergraduate organization or an honor society. Other options include study abroad, off-campus employment or volunteering in the community. Finally, a summer internship may be the best way of all to test out a career field and develop marketable skills.

FROM SKILLS TO CAREER

The skills acquired through the Nursing curriculum prepare students equally well for clinical or nonclinical careers and can be used as building blocks for any number of career paths. The list below is a sample of careers undertaken by Nursing graduates.

Research and Clinical Skills

Radiation health specialist
Transplant clinical researcher
Nurse practitioner open book icon
Research Scientist open book icon
Medical librarian open book icon
Environmental protection specialist
Toxicologist

Problem Solving / Analytical Skills

Case manager, home health agency
Community injury control specialist
Precision quality control officer
Hospital risk management director
College administrator
Medical claims reviewer
Health insurance rate analyst
Policy analyst
Hunger policy analyst
Market researcher
Attorney open book icon
Informatics nurse specialist open book icon
Employment specialist
Public interest group director
Grants coordinator
Crisis center director
Software designer
Volunteer services director
College health services coordinator

Communication Skills

Counselor open book icon
Health educator
Genetics counselor open book icon
Rehabilitation worker
Psychotherapist open book icon
Social worker open book icon
Pharmaceutical sales representative
Medical equipment sales representative
Staff training and development specialist
School health counselor
Science teacher
College teacher open book icon
Science editor, writer, web writer
Health issues lobbyist
Congressional staff member

open book icon = Further Study Required

For more career information, see O*Net at http://online.onetcenter.org/

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

The School of Nursing offers degrees in professional nursing at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. levels. As undergraduates, students are admitted directly from high school, or as transfer students. All BSNs are eligible for state licensure.

The BSN program offers a liberal education balancing nursing courses with humanities, social and biological sciences. Clinical study is a required component for graduation. Courses include Professional Nursing, Research Approach to Nursing Science, Pathophysiology, Contemporary Issues in Professional Nursing, and Client Care Management.

The School maintains a CTools site for Nursing students, which lists available positions, internships, and scholarship opportunities specific to Nursing.

School of Nursing
Office of Student Academic & Multicultural Services
Suite 1160, 400 North Ingalls
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482
734-763-5985
www.nursing.umich.edu

NEXT STEPS / RESOURCES

To begin connecting to professionals in fields that interest you, create your own LinkedIn account:
www.careercenter.umich.edu/article/getting-started-linkedin

To identify internships or job opportunities, visit Handshake: https://careercenter.umich.edu/article/handshake

Maize Pages list hundreds of organizations for students to get involved in:  http://studentorgs.umich.edu/maize

On-campus jobs (work-study and non work-study jobs) are listed at:
https://studentemployment.umich.edu/JobX_Home.aspx

The Career Center
3200 Student Activities Building
734-764-7460
www.careercenter.umich.edu
www.facebook.com/careercenter.umich
http://twitter.com/careercenter
 

The Career Guide series was developed by the University of Michigan Career Center, Division of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. ©2011 Regents of the University of Michigan