Nursing focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering, and prevention of injury and illness in the care of individuals, communities, and populations. Universities, medical colleges, hospital-based nursing schools and other educational institutions offer a broad range of study programs in nursing. On the undergraduate level, students can enroll in a Bachelor program in Nursing, which typically leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Diploma in Nursing are also highly popular undergraduate study paths. On the graduate level, Master in nursing programs prepares advanced practice nurses, nurse educators, and nurse administrators. PhD programs in nursing are more research-focused and prepare graduates for a teaching or research career, while Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are focused on clinical practice and prepare for leadership roles. There are also numerous courses in nursing available that can help healthcare professionals and students in their career development or serve as an excellent starting point for medical studies.

Nurses are highly sought after professionals, and one of the important benefits of a nursing career is the stability of demand on the job market. Nurses enter into professional careers faster than people with many other career paths, and they can choose to work in a great variety of settings. However, the benefits of taking a degree in nursing are much more than the strictly job-related career advantages. Nurses have the opportunity to help and comfort people and can enjoy a deeply meaningful and rewarding career.

Students of nursing programs typically take courses in physiology, anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology and other social and behavioral sciences. The choice of the various classes depends of course on the type of study program and specialization. To become an advanced practice registered nurse, clinical practice beyond the basic nursing education and licensing compulsory for all registered nurses is required. Some of the most popular specializations in the nursing profession include nurse midwifery, dental nursing, nurse anesthesia, pediatric nursing, emergency nursing, home health nursing, public health nursing, surgical nursing, nursing management, and nursing informatics, to name a few.

Nurses can have a career in all healthcare settings: hospitals, private clinics, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, medical offices, community health centers, and school medical centers. They also work in locations one wouldn't necessarily think of immediately, such as camps, homeless shelters, tourist destinations, and sporting events. Depending on their qualifications, nurses can have many different specializations and focus on various tasks. For example, nurses perform physical exams, administer medications and wound care, and provide health promotion and counseling. They also interpret patient information and coordinate treatment in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Some nurses conduct research with the goal of improving patient outcomes and practice.

The costs of taking a Nursing degree vary greatly and depend on several factors, including the country of study, the specific university, the type of program, and previous nursing experience. There are scholarships and grants available from both public and private organizations to cover tuition costs. Some nursing schools offer a discount for programs completed online.