It looks like 2008 is going to end poorly with respect to the economy and jobs. If you follow the news it almost sounds like there are no jobs out there, but there are if you know where to look. One such place is in health care where shortages are common. This may be due to not enough people having the proper education to qualify for a position and also due to people retiring who currently work in the field.

There are different ways to become an RN. A shorter way to become an RN is to complete either a nursing diploma program or an associate’s degree in nursing program. Both of these options can allow someone to become an RN. Another option is to pursue a four year bachelor’s in nursing degree. Which one you choose will likely depend on your time frame and career goals.

If you need to start working sooner rather then later then the shorter diploma or associate degree option may be best. If you only have a goal to be a nurse and not go into management then this option may be a great choice. If you later decide to get a bachelors degree you can find many transition programs. A common one is an RN to BSN Online degree many nurses are completing.

If you have the time and know for sure you want more career opportunities then earning your BSN (four year) degree from the start may be a great idea for you. This will give you an opportunity to go into management and other career opportunities those with a lesser degree may not have.

Whatever choice you decide a key thing to do now is to compare all your options. This includes nursing schools and type of programs. Once that is done you can start applying for different schools.

Remember that all the schools will have different requirements to be accepted into their programs. In many cases you to get accepted into a nursing school you will need to take and do well on the nursing entrance test (NET) or other test. To prepare for a test one would be wise to good nursing study guides to help them do well. So to start the new year of 2009 off to a great start, you would be wise to take the time now to gather some information to help you make a good career decision.