Nurses were no longer untrained housekeepers but people trained to take care of the sick. These programs today last at least two or more years. The second is an Associate degree program that was suggested in 1951 as a solution to the acute shortage of nurses that came about because of World War II. Associate degree programs are offered in junior colleges as well as in colleges and universities. The third is the Baccalaureate Degree, which were established in universities. Most baccalaureate programs also admit registered nurses who have diplomas or associate degrees. Some programs have special curricula to meet the needs of those students. Some universities also offer nursing students the opportunity to pursue a self-paced or independent study program. Many accept transfer credits from other accredited colleges and universities, and offer students the opportunity to take challenge examinations when they believe they have the knowledge or skills taught in the course (Keen, Tammi pg. 154). .
When most people hear the word "nurse," they picture a woman dressed in white in a hospital setting. Nursing is so much more in the 21st century. Hospital nursing is just one of the many areas where nurses practice. Examples of other practice settings include home care, private practice, public health, extended care centers, clinics, offices, schools, military services, corporations, health related industries, hospice, occupational settings, and health and wellness centers (Whitehead, Dean Pg. 490). Nursing is poised to change the face of health care as never before. Demand for quality nurses continues to escalate. Yet many students don't realize the opportunities that await them.
Since the earliest times, men and women have been engaged in the practices we today call nursing. These individuals combined biological, nutritional, social, aesthetics, and spiritual support to optimize the health of their communities (Fairman, Julie Pg.