Careers in Nursing and as an Anesthesiology Assistant


After reading the provided articles and listening to our guest speakers discuss careers in nursing, you may be surprised to learn how many options nurses have in terms of careers beyond the typical hospital bedside. You find nurses in advanced practice as nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists, as well as in academics, public health, administration, informatics, politics/government, consulting and a variety of practice settings beyond the hospital.

In this discussion board, share your reaction. You must specifically address the following two questions (and follow-up) in your response: 

  1. What was something specific that you learned that you didn’t know before? Which source did you learn it from (e.g., which reading or which guest speaker)?
  2. Did the wide variety of nursing options surprise you?

After stating whether you were surprised about the variety, address at least one of the following:

  • Why do you think nurses have so many options when it comes to careers beyond direct patient care?
  • What aspects of their training do you think prepares them for these many options? 
  • Do you think any other graduate careers have as many options and why/why not?  

Feel free to post any other thoughts related to this topic. Responses may be only one paragraph, but no more than two.

After posting your response, read your peers’ thoughts and reply to at least one classmate.