The purpose of the pre-nursing society is to support all UC Berkeley pre-nursing students both academically and socially. The ultimate goal of this organization is to increase the number of pre-nursing students on campus in order to combat the looming nursing shortage in this country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment among RNs will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008. The pre-nursing society allows UC Berkeley students to take advantage of the country's demand for nurses by providing opportunities to learn about nursing specialties, academic and career pathways, and nursing schools through guest speakers and special programs. The society participates in volunteer events together and provides shadowing opportunities for students who wish to observe the field of nursing first hand. Pre-Nursing Society offers students a network of peers with shared motivations and provides solutions to pre-nursing challenges through social support and educational interaction. The pre-nursing society also works to increase student awareness and establish nursing as a critical and rewarding occupation in health care.