My best friend is nearly finished with her nursing degree, and she is very excited about the opportunity. She attends Maryville University, known for its stellar nursing program and fast track option for nurses to get into the field more quickly. She gave me a few minutes while waiting for her daughter at the bus stop to answer a few questions about this ever-growing career.

It’s important to note that my friend, while still in school, has had several nursing aid and home care aid positions as well, so her opinions do not reflect those of a person with zero experience.

What led you to this career choice?

After I had my daughter, I was sick all the time, always in the hospital. I had a bunch of crappy nurses and I knew I could do way better than them! I also love to take care of people.

What is the nursing job outlook right now?

I think the whole area is good. There are always going to be a demand for nurses, though there is always a high turnover. In St. Louis, we have a lot of hospitals.

What do you enjoy most about your training?

The clinicals, just getting to have hands-on time with patients.

What do you look forward to most about being a nurse?

The patient contact, for me. Taking care of people and making them feel better.

Would you recommend this job for others?

Most definitely! Myself, I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping people. There are sad things that happen, but there are a lot of good things, too. It’s really rewarding.