Introduction: Job Title and Job Description
Nurse
Registered nurse (RN) is the first selected career for the analysis. RNs belong to the healthcare sector and are responsible for providing coordinated patient care and educating patients about the health conditions that should be addressed (“Registered nurses,” n.d.). Their work is fundamental for improving the nation’s health.
Detective
Detective is the second career for the analysis. They work in law enforcement and can be considered criminal investigators who find evidence about possible crimes (“Police and detectives,” n.d.). Their functioning is necessary for providing appropriate punishment to criminals.
Education/Training Requirements
Nurse
RNs work directly with patients and are responsible for treatment outcomes. For this reason, they should possess specific education and skills. Usually, the entry-level education requires the Bachelor’s degree in nursing (“Nursing,” n.d.). It guarantees that a person possesses the knowledge that can be used in real-life settings. At the same time, no experience in related occupations might be demanded by employers, which means that new nurses can find jobs regarding their diplomas.
Detective
As for the detectives, there is no unified list of educational demands. Typically, applicants should have a high school diploma to be hired (“Police and detectives,” n.d.). However, in some cases, federal agencies or police departments might ask for a college degree, usually provided by numerous community colleges (“Police and detectives,” n.d.). Moreover, candidates should be ready to attain a training academy to acquire instruction about laws, civil rights, ethics, and physical training (“Criminal justice,” n.d.). It ensures the high effectiveness of the detective and his/her ability to work in the selected sphere.
Characteristics of Occupation/ Person in Occupation
Nurse
Speaking about nursing, it is essential to admit that the RN works in highly complex conditions, making their occupation unique. First, nursing professionalism as the educational background, ethics, and competency are required (Cao et al., 2023). Additionally, nursing professionalism includes caring, altruism, orientation on culture, and inclusiveness (Cao et al., 2023). It means that a person should combine the ability to work in complex conditions with a deep knowledge of the subject and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Detective
Detectives should also possess specific skills to demonstrate high effectiveness. First, their job implies working with evidence, finding and analyzing it. It means that critical thinking skills are essential (“Criminal justice,” n.d.). Second, a good detective should have outstanding communication strategies to interact with witnesses or other individuals (“Criminal justice,” n.d.). Finally, the knowledge of the laws and the ability to interpret them is necessary (“Police and detectives,” n.d.). In such a way, a person in this occupation should combine the basic knowledge with the ability to use it in diverse settings to investigate crime scenes and formulate certain conclusions.
Trends and Future Outlook
Nurse
The current trends in nursing emerge as a response to the existing epidemiological situation and patients’ demands. First, the shift to evidence-based practice is one of the critical processes affecting the segment (Chien, 2019). Nurses should be ready to implement new methods based on scientific research and data.
Second, the new strategies and models that rest on environment-related theories are integrated into the occupation (Yatsu & Saeki, 2022). Third, digitalizing the sphere and using health informatics is the fundamental process (Yatsu & Saeki, 2022). This means that electronic health records and innovative approaches to providing care and diagnosing patients will be employed. For this reason, a nurse should be ready to study these aspects and acquire new professional skills to become a better specialist.
Detective
The occupation of a detective also alters under the impact of new demands. First, police-community interactions acquire more importance, meaning that a detective should be ready to cooperate with individuals representing specific groups to acquire additional information (Bartkowiak-Theron, 2019). Additionally, there are trends in detective education focusing on innovating the sphere to integrate new investigation methods (Bartkowiak-Theron, 2019). It will increase the effectiveness of a specialist and his/her ability to find credible evidence.
Finally, detectives are required to act considering the demands of diversity existing nowadays (Bartkowiak-Theron, 2019). In the interview, a specialist working in the sphere admits the importance of these changes and their impact on the occupation, which alters and becomes more complex and interesting at the same time. For this reason, in the future, a more device-oriented and scientific approach to collecting and analyzing data can be expected.
Salaries
Nurse
The salaries for registered nurses might differ depending on the region, experience in occupation, the scope of performed duties, and the healthcare unit. Thus, the official statistics say that the median pay in 2022 comprised $81,220 per year and $39.05 per hour (“Registered nurses,” n.d.). At the same time, the Nursing Journal admits that there is a sum of around $61,250-$129,400 annually for the lowest and highest-paid nurses (Morris, 2023). The median payment for an hour also ranges depending on the education, training, position in the unit, and duties (Morris, 2023). In such a way, RN’s salary is around 44% higher than other occupations in the USA (Morris, 2023). However, the interview shows that in some cases, the payment might not be sufficient due to the pressure and stress nurses experience during work.
Detective
The average salary for a detective also ranges in the state. The statistics show that in 2022, the median pay was $69,160 per year, with $33.25 per hour (“Police and detectives,” n.d.). However, similar to the situation with RNs, the salary might differ depending on the state. For instance, in Alaska, the average annual payment is around $113,420, and in Hawaii, they earn about $109,320 (DePietro, 2020). In such a way, the wages vary according to the local legislation, the unit where a detective works, his/her experiences, and the scope of tasks he/she should perform.
Geographical Areas for Best Employability Opportunities
Nurse
Currently, the healthcare sector experiences a shortage of RNs because of various factors. Burnout, pressure, poor working conditions, and stress impact nurses’ desire to continue working (Al Sabei et al., 2022). This means that a nurse can find jobs in various areas, and there are numerous employability opportunities. Thus, the most attractive states for career building include California, with an average salary of around $120,560, a projected RN employment growth of 16.7%, and a nurse workforce diversity index of 98.5 (Monti, 2023). Washington and New York are attractive areas because of the similar wages and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Detective
Detectives can also have numerous opportunities for employment and building their careers. However, the differences regarding the geographical locations can also be observed. The best employability opportunities exist in Texas, California, and New York (“Occupational employment and wage statistics,” 2023). The official statistics show that the hourly mean wage and the annual mean wage remain high, which might attract new candidates and give them a chance to build a successful career in the sphere (“Occupational employment and wage statistics,” 2023). Nevertheless, the outlined regions also have a high murder and violent crime rate, meaning it might be challenging for newbies and require additional consideration.
Where to Find for More Information
Nurse
Registered nurse is one of the essential occupations, meaning there are numerous sources of information about it. Thus, the official Bureau of Statistics, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, or similar resources can provide detailed information about the occupation. Furthermore, more information can be found by analyzing hospitals’ websites or specialized nursing journals. Detective
As for the detective, the situation is similar. The police report or the agency’s website can contain information about the occupation and how to become a specialist. At the same time, official statistics can be accessed using governmental websites and similar resources. Finally, both occupations are highlighted by the media as they are essential parts of the community’s work.
Specific Companies/Organizations Related to the Degree
Nurse
Currently, numerous nursing organizations and associations are designed to align collaboration between specialists. For instance, the American Nurses Association offers support, education, training, and protection to all nurses (Chiu et al., 2021). The National Student Nurses’ Association provides career development support to all would-be specialists (Chiu et al., 2021). In such a way, an RN has a wide choice of organizations and companies linked to its degree to acquire information about occupations and opportunities.
Detective
The same applies to detectives, as there are many criminal justice professional associations. For instance, the American Correctional Association (ACA) helps to support the operational standards and offers the training necessary for specialists working in the sphere (“About us,” n.d.). Detectives also cooperate with the FBI or similar agencies to ask for additional information about recruitment opportunities.
How This Occupation Fits the Lifestyle and Values
Selecting a career is vital to understanding a person’s personality. Thus, an individual’s values and attitudes might impact his/her vision and success in the chosen field (Sukiennik & Emeritus, 2014). Speaking about the given occupations, it is essential to admit that they both aim to support the stable work of communities, which requires loyalty and devotion.
Detectives and nurses are irreplaceable as they fulfill people’s basic needs for security and health. At the same time, they acquire the chance to work with individuals and ensure they feel happy. For me, it means that both occupations fit my values and lifestyle. Working with people is rewarding as it allows me to realize their needs, evaluate them, and determine what can be done to attain enhanced outcomes. Being a part of a community and helping it to evolve is essential for me, which means that the work of an RN and detective is attractive to me.
Personal Comments, Observations, Thoughts, Feelings
Nurse
Ending the discussion of the selected occupations, it is essential to admit the feelings associated with them. Usually, community members respect and value nurses as they realize these specialists’ contributions to their health. The same applies to detectives, as many feel gratitude and respect for their duty. In such a way, I should admit that selecting these careers might be challenging because of the high responsibility and pressure from society. However, being an officer or a nurse also means being respected. For this reason, I believe that the complex and expensive education or the difficult training is worth becoming a person whose job is critical for people around them and their health and protection.
Conclusion
Altogether, a registered nurse and a detective are the two occupations that are essential for contemporary work. The analysis shows that becoming these specialists requires education and training. At the same time, the salaries and occupational opportunities differ in various areas. From the personal observations and the interviews, it is also possible to conclude that the spheres are associated with stress, pressure, and lack of time; however, they remain rewarding as individuals feel their contribution to people’s lives, protection, and well-being.
References
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Criminal justice. (n.d.). What Can I Do with This Major? Web.
DePietro, A. (2020). Here’s how much money detectives make in every state. Forbes. Web.
Monti, J. (2023). The best states to work as a nurse. NurseJournal. Web.
Morris, J. (2023). How much do registered nurses make? NurseJournal. Web.
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