The responsibilities of a nurse often require a large reserve of technical skills, the ability to think quickly and decisively and an attitude that encourages healthy lifestyle choices. At a time when many Americans wake up to read about healthcare news in the headlines, jobs in the sector are evolving into new roles. For example, one career nurse has found that a wealth of experience with patients has qualified her for a new role of healthcare policy analyst.

Alice Bonner, a nurse who has spent more than 30 years building a resume within the industry, specialized in elder care during her entire career.

Last month, however, she became the director of the Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where she reviews policy briefs to ensure the proper care of the state's patients, the Boston Globe reports.

"I was a practicing nurse practitioner right up until the day before I took this job," Bonner told the news source. She added, "It's extremely helpful when you're looking at broad policies, to reflect back on how they would affect the patients you've known over the years."

The nursing veteran points out how professionals in her field have brought about improvements in patient care over the years and encouraged young professionals to continue seeking leadership roles in health policy.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the employment of registered nurses will grow about 23% from 2006 to 2016.