To industry employees faced with outsourcing and downsizing, as well as to young men and women embarking on their first professional commitment, nursing is beginning to look like a secure and worthwhile career. In this climate, many people who previously may not have considered the nursing profession are now finding it a way to connect with people in need and to improve life and health in a world in which caring practices have been devalued. People also choose nursing because they are interested in the secondary goods of the job: security, shift flexibility, a limited workday, and a relatively high salary. The current trends toward higher salaries, higher nurse-patient ratios, and streamlining the path to RN licensure to ease the nursing shortage are making the nursing profession more attractive. The influx of people with various reasons for entering the nursing profession creates a challenge for professional nurses in critical care...

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