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Master's Degree In Nursing Aided L.A. RN In Career Objective

With job openings projected to further expand in the coming years, the opportune time to become a registered nurse (RN) in Los Angeles is now. By 2022, nearly 527,000 additional nurses will have already secured posts nationwide. This projection marks a 19 percent jump in the amount of RNs that provided care and educated patients in 2012.

LA-Health
(Photo Courtesy of Mindy Ofiana)

The government also reports that scholars that have earned a Master of Science in nursing degree should experience the best employment prospects. The academic achievement allows RNs to advance to senior-level administrative roles, such as chief of nursing.

Mindy Ofiana said her objective has long been centered on becoming an authoritative figure in the nursing field. "I am an intensive care unit RN by background. I chose the career path of being a nurse leader in management," said Ofiana, an assistant medical center administrator at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

"My mother was such an amazing influence on my life. She taught me so much about care and compassion and what being a nurse was all about."

What was your educational journey?

"I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and advanced my nursing leadership knowledge by pursuing a Master of Science in nursing at the University of Southern California."

How are your academic accomplishments benefiting you to this day?

"The skills I have learned assisted in my organization, influence, flexibility, decision-making and strategic planning."

What are you doing to further sharpen your skills and knowledge?

"I believe in lifelong learning by reading, attending conferences, learning from opportunities or challenges, taking risks and networking."

What is your message to those interested pursuing this field?

"Nursing is a very noble, rewarding, satisfying and totally fulfilling profession. Be prepared for the lows, such as the shifts, frustrations and physically and emotionally hard work, because the highs – which include a thank you from a patient or family member, the satisfaction in knowing you have helped someone get better, feel better, become better informed or prepared for end of life –  by far, outweigh the negatives."

Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist. Some news articles she has authored are archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

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