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Are you considering becoming a registered nurse? It is a great career and a lot of people have went back to college to go after their dreams. Some people choose to earn a bachelors degree while other choose to start off with an associates degree. Both degrees can allow a person to become an RN. Many who start off with only an associates degree choose later in their career to return to school to complete an online degree from one of many progams at nursing schools.

What does a registered nurse do? Like most careers, it depends on what type of job the RN is doing, as there are many options available. Generally when most people think about RNs they see them directly working with patients such as in a hospital or doctors office.

Patients cares is not the path for all registered nurses as some later go on to supervisory positions and manage other RNs.

So what career options are available to registered nurses? Of course most RNs work in hospitals and help patients with treatments but in different departments. For example some work in surgery or the maternity room as well as other departments.

Some nurses work at Doctors office or in a medical center and assist the doctor. Other nurses may only work in a laboratory setting.

After someone leaves the hospital from surgery they may need to have a home health nurse visit their house to assist them. These types of nurses may work independently assisting many types of patients.

Where else do nurses work? Nurses may also work for companies as industrial nurses and occupational health nurses. Or they may work for the government or a private organization for public health.

Ordering supplies and maintaining the medical equipment may be a job responsibility for head nurses. They also manage nurses under them and plan their schedules.

Many registered nurses wish to advance their career but not in a management role as they may enjoy working with patients more closely as opposed to managing staff. These nurses may consider becoming a nurse practitioner or becoming a specialist such as a clinical nurse specialist.

If you plan on getting into a nursing school you may need to take and pass certain exams where using a nursing study guide such as NET exam study guides, which may help you get accepted into a school.

Investing is an ongoing educational experience. A commitment must be made to seek out and acquire quality information that will help to insure your long-term success. Investing is serious business, especially in these times of world crisis.

If you’re looking to invest in the stock market, you’ll probably choose individual stocks or mutual funds.  For most people, choosing the mutual fund route is better than picking individual stocks, especially if you’re new to investing.  

Stocks are volatile by nature. That’s the price you pay for superior returns.   If you can’t stomach losses for any length of time, you’ll probably be better off putting your money in government bonds or certificates of deposit.

A couple tips on mutual fund investing

Investing in mutual funds that have low turnover rates will minimize taxable capital gains distributions. If an investment in a mutual fund is made before a capital gains distribution date, the new investor is subject to the taxes on the capital gains the fund realized and distributed.

Growth or value?

Value mutual funds try to buy stocks that are underpriced relative to certain metrics.  Not everyone has the same conception of value, so make sure to read the mutual fund’s prospectus.  You may want a fund that buys dirt-cheap stocks but the fund may think that stocks with high dividends are value stocks.  You won’t know whether this is the case until you read their prospectus.

Growth is a component of value. It’s just that value investors don’t rely on growth. Growth investors seek capital appreciation. They want more and they are willing to take significant risks in order to get it.  Because of this, growth mutual funds usually fluctuate in share price more than value funds.

You should also check to see whether your mutual fund engages in short selling.  Short selling is a good way to hedge bets but it can also be very risky.

What to choose?

Which type of mutual fund you choose will depend on your risk tolerance.  If you prefer less risk, you might want to consider value funds instead of growth funds.  Just remember that you’re investing for the long haul.  Don’t worry too much about day-to-day price fluctuations.