Nurses forge unique career paths outside hospitals

Gina Peck racks up hundreds of miles a week on her odometer, criss-crossing the state to check on clients with profound disabilities.

As Mario Bailey works his way up from surgical technician to registered nurse, he gets some curious looks, as there are only a handful of men in his nursing classes.

Elaine Irwin and Tammy Beall don't even help their patients recover - they help them die in peace and without pain.

They all reflect the changing face of nursing in Anne Arundel County, as the profession becomes more broad and diverse.

Only a slight majority of Maryland's 76,000 nurses work in hospitals, the traditional...