Career Analysis – Registered Nursing (Labor and Delivery)

Nursing is a profession within the healthcare division that is focused on the care of

families, communities, and individuals that helps to maintain or recover our well-begin and the

quality of life. Even though I do not work in this career field yet, I was motivated towards this

career because of my mother. I had the opportunity to experience what it takes to be a labor and

delivery nurse when my mother was preparing for another child. The experience was not joyful

as many set child birth to be. Through that experience, I realized that there will be moments

where the birth of a baby will not have a positive outcome. Thankfully through my mom’s

complications everything came together for the greater good. A nurse’s job is challenging and

emotional whether we realize it or not, but when I saw that nurse’s do more than just their job

with comforting my mother in her state of pain it had an impact on me. Through nursing I can

be more than just a nurse and what better way to do that is by helping a woman bring new life

into the world.

While conducting my research in the nursing field I found three special areas of nursing

that I was interested in. Concerning the nursing field recent research shows that, “Employment of

registered nurses is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the

average for all occupations” ("Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau

of Labor Statistics"). With that information I looked at registered nursing as my first option. To

reach this career goal, I have to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for my educational

requirements then take a full time standard schedule no more than 50 miles from my house

consisting of an hour and forty-five-minute commute daily at max. The hourly rate of thirty-one
dollars and ninety-one cents, and an annual income of sixty- eight thousand four hundred and

fifty dollars is a perfect entry level salary for me. The second option is to obtain my Master of

Science and take a part-time employment at a private practice with physicians, employed by a

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s) as a midwife, providing all necessary professional

care and services during women pregnancy and childbirth no more than fifteen miles from my

house. The hourly rate for a part-time midwife is thirty-two dollars and five cents with an annual

income of sixty- six thousand six hundred and sixty dollars. Then, my final option was earning a

Master of Science in Nursing as a Nurse Practitioner with a full-time schedule at a hospital

twenty miles away from home, obtaining patient’s medical histories and performing physical

examinations. The starting salary for this area is one hundred thousand nine hundred and ten

dollars.

With regards to outlining my three career options, I then created a decision criterion and

asked myself the following question of whether any or all the careers options was feasible goals

for me regarding my personal and work life. After analyzing each career path, I saw that I would

be able to reach the requirements for each career. From my own understanding a career in the

nursing field is very demanding, so having flexible work hours on a scale of five being most

important and one being least important it was at a five. Flexible hours are important to me

because I wanted a career that would enable me to meet my personal obligations and religious

responsibilities. For example, attending church services and having consistent devotions to

strengthen my connection and communication with God. Working close to home on my criteria

was equally important at a ranking of a three. A closer distance to work would allow me to work

productively, get a better night’s rest, and be less frustrated about traffic jams and all these would

result in a successful job satisfaction. The next most important criteria on my list was evaluating
 a job that has a substantial amount of benefits at the ranking of a three. According to American

Nurses Association, “…ANA's Personal Benefits…are here to help with six important programs

that every nurse must consider…to cover yourself in these critical areas of auto insurance,

financial planning, term life insurance, student loans solutions, long-term care insurance, and

professional liability insurance” (“ANA Personal Benefits”). Benefits offered by my future

employer indicates that their company values my overall health and my future. At the bottom of

my importance scale is my income level standards, balancing out at a two because I value a job

that is going to make me happy and challenge my intellect daily. I do understand money is an

essential asset of life, but I know I have a greater purpose in nursing than to just make what

others may call “good” money.

Figure 1. Decision Matrix

Flexible Schedule Close to home Benefits Income Standards

CRITERIA Total
Score Priority / Calc Score Priority/ Calc Score Priority Calc Score Priority Calc
value 5 value 3 /value 3 / value
OPTIONS 2

B.S. as a 3 5 3x5=15 2 3 2x3=6 3 3 3x3=9 2 2 2x2=4 34

Registered
Nurse
M.S. as part- 4 5 4x5=20 2 3 2x3=6 1 3 1x3=3 1 2 1x2=2 31
time Midwife
M.S. as a 2 5 2x5=10 2 3 2x3=6 2 3 2x3=6 2 2 3x2=4 26
Nurse
Practitioner

Thus, I recommend the Bachelor of Science in Nursing career because its income

standards of being a registered nurse is reasonable, jobs are located within 50 miles or less of my

home, it also meets my close to home criteria, so I can be able to balance a full-time work

schedule. Lastly, there are benefits available to secure my future when I am ready to start a

family. The starting pay of thirty-two dollars and ninety-one cents and a sixty-thousand-dollar

yearly salary is sufficient for my needs to be financially and emotionally stable because I want to
establish a career first, and have certain experiences before starting a family, and having room

for improvement. A career in the nursing field is in high demand and full-time positions schedule

are always available. A commute of 50 miles or less is reasonable with Interstate Highway (I-

95). Having a stable work schedule should enable me to stay in touched with my religious

responsibilities, and duties. I will be able to have benefits like health benefits, retirement

benefits, life insurance, student loans and more. If I have these benefits it will allow me to reduce

stress and maintain a stable life. With the options of my benefits, for example a student loan

benefit can help me save money and advance in my nursing career by going back to a four-year

school, minimizing my tuition cost, and earning my Master of Science to potentially becoming a

nurse practitioner or a nurse midwife. Therefore, my most feasible and rewarding choice of

career is to be a registered nurse in the labor and delivery field.

Figure 2. Argument Structure Diagram

Claim: I recommend the B.S. Nursing career because its income standards of being a
registered nurse is reasonable, jobs are located within 50 miles or less of my home,
which meets my close to home priority, and I can balance a full-time work schedule.
Lastly, there are benefits available to secure my future when I am ready to start a family.
Reason 1: Work Close to Reason 2: Salary Meets Reason 3: Potential for
Home My Requirements Benefits
 A commute of 50  I can stay financially  I have these
miles or less is and emotionally benefits it will allow
reasonable with stable. me to stress less
Interstate Highway  My salary is good and maintain a
(I-95). Carpooling enough to start a life stable life for myself
possible) by myself and plan  With the options of
 Having a stable for a family later in my benefits can help
work schedule life. me save money and
should enable me to advance in my
stay in touched with nursing career.
my religious  Going back to a
responsibilities, and four-year school and
duties earn M.S., with
student loan
minimize tuition and
school fees.
 Work Cited Page

"ANA Personal Benefits." Nursingworld.org. N.p., 2018. Web. 19 Feb. 2018.

"Nurse Midwives." Bls.gov. N.p., 2018. Web. 19 Feb. 2018.

"Nurse Practitioners." Bls.gov. N.p., 2018. Web. 19 Feb. 2018.

"Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics."

Bls.gov. N.p., 2018. Web. 19 Feb. 2018.