Medicine in general and nursing in particular are demanding fields requiring a high level of education and skill. As with most professions, there are various levels of nursing education and a variety of skill sets for each level. While many persons enter the nursing profession as practical or licensed nurses, with minimal training and certification, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing opens up many professional avenues to those individuals willing to purse the degree.

The expansion of the healthcare industry requires skilled individuals to manage patients in areas of direct care. In the past physicians have been the primary providers, giving orders to nurses who performed assessments and dispensed medication. In the last two decades, in many areas of medicine nurses have moved to more of a primary care provider role. Examples of these primary roles are specialized nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, who deliver direct patient care with a physician as a backup provider if the case becomes complicated.

Many hospitals, clinics, and obstetrician-gynecologists employ certified nurse midwives to treat obstetrical patients and deliver babies. A physician is available should the patient develop complications or if a Caesarian section is required. These nurse midwives begin their career with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing before proceeding to midwifery school, where they receive a master's degree and can even advance to a PhD in nursing. Similar scenarios are true for neonatal nurse practitioners in pediatrics and certified nurse anesthetists in anesthesiology.

Most people entering the medical field are anxious to get a certificate and seek employment as quickly as possible. However, it is important to remember that a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing will pay dividends in both seeking a job and in salary and advancements once a job is acquired. Opportunities for both men and women in the field of nursing are currently phenomenal, when the proper training and skills sets are available. While lesser degrees in medical assisting, practical nursing, and even an associates nursing degree are speedy routes to employment, more opportunities with job growth and salary increases await those who obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.