Nursing is a medical field composed of of health professionals who attend to patients and assist physicians. Nurses may give shots and medications, monitor patients' conditions, comfort patients, etc. Nursing requires a strong back, a strong stomach, and emotional fortitude, as nurses typically have to do the hard physical labor and "dirty work" that physicians don't deal with in caring for patients.
The precise educational requirements for nurses varies by state and country. In Texas and other U.S. states, licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) must complete a two-year degree program; registered nurses (RNs) must complete a 4-year undergraduate degree. Nurse practitioners, who are educated to do a wide range of medical diagnoses and treatments and are often employed in lieu of physicians at clinics, must obtain a specialized master's degree.
Nursing assistants (who frequently work at nursing homes as well as hospitals) are para-professionals who may be required gain a certification that requires a few month's study before they can gain employment.
In the U.S., National Nurses Day is observed on May 6 and opens National Nurses Week, May 6-12.