If you like helping people feel better and have minority status, you might be interested in learning about the demand for minority nurses. The demand for registered nurses and diagnosticians is projected to have an increase nearly double that of the national average across all occupations from 2012 to 2022. This means that nurses, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, are in demand. Since nursing requires direct communication with patients, nurses that are bilingual or multilingual are in high demand in some areas. Here’s a closer look at what recruiters want in nurses today.
Education Matters
Although it is possible to become an RN through an associate’s degree program at a trade school or community college, many employers prefer to hire nurses with a BSN. Pay for nurses that have completed a four-year degree program may be higher, and in many organizations nurses with a BSN are given hiring preference and more opportunity for advancement.
Many specializations are available in nursing, and more nurses today are choosing to pursue master of nursing programs. Master’s degrees for nurses include degrees for nurse practitioners and diagnosticians, as well as specialized master’s programs for those wishing to focus on fields such as:
- Neo-natal care
- Mental health psychiatric nursing
- Critical care
- Gerontology
- Anesthesiology
- Research
- Pain management
Bilingual Nursing
If you are a minority nurse fluent in two or more languages, you are likely to have higher earning potential than other nurses with the same education and credentials. In the U.S., the greatest need is for Spanish-speaking bilingual nurses. However, common world languages such as French or Mandarin are also beneficial, especially in areas of the country where immigrants who speak these languages tend to settle.
In order to better market your language skills as a multi-lingual nurse, you may wish to take courses in cross-cultural nursing. Nurses fluent in more than one language make great cruise ship nurses. Fluency in Spanish is a bonus for anyone wishing to take a job in public health or at a low-cost clinic. Bilingual nurses are able to increase the quality of patient care by communicating effectively with patients and sharing this information with doctors. Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities that have bilingual nurses on staff do not rely as heavily on staff interpreters, and patients are able to communicate their needs more directly.
Minorities considering a career in nursing should first consider whether they love providing healthcare to others. If you are passionate about this career field, then jump in with both feet. Make sure you have the necessary education to find the job you want, then use talents such as fluency in multiple languages to help your employer see how important you are to the organization. There is a demand for minority nurses and, with the right education, you can succeed in a career about which you are passionate.
