Nurses are often considered the backbone of a hospital system. They provide nurturing care to those in need, working tirelessly to bring comfort and healing to patients on their watch. But they are really so much more. They can be the comforting hand that holds yours as you go through a trying experience. They can be a wealth of information when you are trying to process overwhelming information. They can offer a warm smile when celebrating with you, or speak up for you as a patient advocate when you need it. They wear a thousand hats and carry even more responsibility in their jobs. So if your student has a caring heart, and a desire to care for others, nursing may be a career to consider.   Several factors, such as longer life expectancies, and a shortage of qualified individuals, have lead to an increased demand in nursing professionals at all levels. And in some states, nursing professionals only need an Associate's Degree, which makes the career attractive as well. Plus nurses have high earning potential. In fact, according to this US News report, "In 2012, registered nurses made an average salary of $67,930, which is pretty good pay compared with some of the other health care jobs on this year's list of the Best Jobs of 2014." If you think nursing may make sense for your student, meet with his/her counselor now for guidance on best courses to take in high school and beyond. For more information on how to get started with a nursing career, check out this informative link from Johnson & Johnson.