Nurses are always in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is one of the "Top Ten" occupations with the largest growth and most opportunity. Nursing offers a wide variety of professional placements ranging from direct patient care in a hospital to doctoral-trained research positions to work with international public health agencies. Nurses are integral members of the healthcare team who work in collaboration with doctors, therapists, and other medical professions to provide care to patients.
The majority of Hamilton students interested in nursing will take the prerequisites to apply for an "accelerated" nursing program that awards a second bachelor's degree in nursing after only one year of study. The prerequisite classes vary somewhat, but many accelerated programs require:
These programs are sometimes called "accelerated programs for non-nursing graduates." In effect, the nursing school transfers three years of credit from your Hamilton degree toward the second bachelor's degree in nursing.
In recent years, many Hamilton graduates who chose nursing continued their studies at the master's level, studying either full-time or part-time, to practice as a certified nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are trained to take medical histories, diagnose and manage diseases, order X-rays and diagnostic tests, write prescriptions, and order referrals. Depending on what kind of work they enjoy, nurse practitioners can specialize in areas such as family medicine, adult health, pediatrics, acute care, women's health, oncology, surgery, etc. It should be noted that nurse practitioners can set up their own offices and are not required to work under the supervision of a physician.
Hamilton students considering a career in nursing may want to explore the summer internship at Burke Rehabilitation Center in White Plains, NY or may wish to gain hospital experience at a facility near their home. See Leslie North for information.
Several Hamilton graduates, both men and women, are currently enrolled in accelerated nursing programs at Columbia University, SUNY Binghamton, the University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Pace and Yale University.
Look at Ms. North's appointment calendar to identify a mutually convenient meeting time; then call 859-4584 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are available M-F on the hour: 9, 10, 11, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Please note: the Health Professions Advising office is located in Bristol #304.
