Nature of Nursing Work
Registered nurses (RNs) work to promote health,
prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates
and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When
providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record
symptoms, reactions, and progress in patients; assist physicians during
surgeries, treatments, and examinations; administer medications; and
assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs also develop and manage
nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care,
and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their
health. While State laws govern the tasks that RNs may perform, it is
usually the work setting that determines their daily job dTech Schooles.
Hospital nurses form the
largest group of nurses. Most are staff nurses, who provide bedside
nursing care and carry out medical regimens. They also may supervise
licensed practical nurses and nursing aides. Hospital nurses usually are
assigned to one department, such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, the
emergency room, intensive care, or the treatment of cancer patients.
Some may rotate among departments.
Office nurses care for
outpatients in physicians' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgical
centers, and emergency medical centers. They prepare patients for, and
assist with, examinations; administer injections and medications; dress
wounds and incisions; assist with minor surgery; and maintain records.
Some also perform roTech Schoolne laboratory and office work.
Nursing care facility nurses
manage care for residents with conditions ranging from a fracture to
Alzheimer's disease. Although they often spend much of their time on
administrative and supervisory tasks, RNs also assess residents' health,
develop treatment plans, supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing
aides, and perform invasive procedures, such as starting intravenous
fluids. They also work in specialty-care departments, such as long-term
rehabilitation units for patients with strokes and head injuries.
Home health nurses
provide nursing services to patients at home. RNs assess patients' home
environments and instruct patients and their families. Home health
nurses care for a broad range of patients, such as those recovering from
illnesses and accidents, cancer, and childbirth. They must be able to
work independently and may supervise home health aides.
Public health nurses work
in government and private agencies, including clinics, schools,
retirement communities, and other community settings. They focus on
populations, working with individuals, groups, and families to improve
the overall health of communities. They also work with communities to
help plan and implement programs. Public health nurses instruct
individuals, families, and other groups regarding health issues such as
preventive care, nutrition, and childcare. They arrange for
immunizations, blood pressure testing, and other health screening. These
nurses also work with community leaders, teachers, parents, and
physicians in community health education.
Occupational health nurses,
also called industrial nurses, provide nursing care at worksites
to employees, customers, and others with injuries and illnesses. They
give emergency care, prepare accident reports, and arrange for further
care if necessary. They also offer health counseling, conduct health
examinations and inoculations, and assess work environments to identify
potential or actual health problems.
Head nurses or
nurse
supervisors direct nursing activities, primarily in hospitals. They
plan work schedules and assign dTech Schooles to nurses and aides, provide or
arrange for training, and visit patients to observe nurses and to ensure
that the patients receive proper care. They also may ensure that records
are maintained and equipment and supplies are ordered.
At the advanced level, nurse practitioners
provide basic, primary healthcare. They diagnose and treat common acute
illnesses and injuries. Nurse practitioners also can prescribe
medications—but certification and licensing requirements vary by State.
Other advanced practice nurses include clinical nurse specialists,
certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse
midwives. Advanced practice nurses must meet educational and
clinical practice requirements beyond the basic nursing education and
licensing required of all RNs.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
In all States and the District of Columbia, students
must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national
licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may
be licensed in more than one State, either by examination, by the
endorsement of a license issued by another State, or through a
multi-State licensing agreement. All States require periodic renewal of
licenses, which may involve continuing education.
There are three major educational paths to registered
nursing: a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate
degree in Nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by
colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. In 2002, 678
nursing programs offered degrees at the bachelor's level. ADN programs,
offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to
complete. About 700 RN programs in 2002 were at the ADN level. Diploma
programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Only a small
and declining number of programs offer diplomas. Generally, licensed
graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for
entry-level positions as staff nurses.
Many ADN- and diploma-educated nurses later enter
bachelor's programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice.
Often, they can find a staff nurse position and then take advantage of
tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing one of
many RN-to-BSN programs.
Accelerated BSN programs also are available for
individuals who have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field and
who are interested in moving into nursing. In 2002, more than 110 of
these programs were available. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to - and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who
already hold a degree. Accelerated master's degree programs in nursing
also are available and take about 3 years to complete.
Individuals considering nursing should carefully weigh
the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN program, because,
if they do, their advancement opportunities usually are broader. In
fact, some career paths are open only to nurses with bachelor's or
advanced degrees. A bachelor's degree often is necessary for
administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate
nursing programs in research, consulting, teaching, or a clinical
specialization.
Nursing education includes classroom instruction and
supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other healthcare
facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology,
chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and
nursing. Course work also includes the liberal arts.
Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital
departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A
growing number of programs include clinical experience in nursing care
facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and
ambulatory clinics.
Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and
detail oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others,
correctly assess patients' conditions, and determine when consultation
is required. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering,
emergencies, and other stresses.
Experience and good performance can lead to promotion
to more responsible positions. In management, nurses can advance to
assistant head nurse or head nurse and, from there, to assistant
director, director, and vice president. Increasingly, management-level
nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or
health services administration. They also require leadership,
negotiation skills, and good judgment. Graduate programs preparing
execTech Schoolve-level nurses usually last about 2 years.
Within patient care, nurses can move into a nursing
specialty such as clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner,
certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
These positions require about 2 years of graduate education leading to a
master's degree.
Some nurses move into the business side of health
care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a healthcare team equip
them with the ability to manage ambulatory, acute, home health, and
chronic care services. Employers—including hospitals, insurance
companies, pharmaceTech Schoolcal manufacturers, and managed care organizations,
among others—need RNs for health planning and development, marketing,
consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work
as college and university faculty or conduct research.
In evolving integrated healthcare networks, nurses may
rotate among various employment settings. Because jobs in traditional
hospital nursing positions are no longer the only option, RNs will need
to be flexible. Opportunities should be excellent, particularly for
nurses with advanced education and training.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department
of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05
Edition, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm.
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