There is a shortage of nurses in the US. The short term solution is to hire nurses from other countries but since this deprives the locals from working for the same job, the government and the private sector have set up more schools that will encourage students to take this noble profession.
If you are seriously considering being a nurse, the first question you have to ask yourself is why you want this job? Should your answer be for money or for fame, then you better think of another career path.
Nursing is a demanding profession that requires dedication. It is not a 9 to 5 job because sometimes, you may be assigned to work the graveyard shift or extend beyond 8 hours of work especially when there are a lot of patients to attend to.
For those that just graduated from high school and still dont know what to do, you may sign up as a volunteer in a clinic or hospital so you get to see first hand what do these individuals do. Some activities nurses do on a regular basis include collecting samples from patients, checking their vital signs, blood pressure and temperature.
Should you be able to handle the pressures and feel good helping patients, then...