Saturday, July 14, 2007

Become A Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse Career Overview

This article provides an overview of registered nursing careers and the requirements to become a registered nurse. This article will outline a registered nurses's job duties, salary levels, and employment prospects, as well as discuss the career's necessary skills, training, educational requirements, and licensing requirements to become a registered nurse.

Registered nurses assist patients in coping with illness, advocate for patients, families, and communities, and promote awareness of health-related issues. They report their patient observations to physicians, help surgeons perform operations, administer medications, and assist patient with rehabilitation. The range of tasks they may perform is restricted by State law, and determined by the type of facility they work in, including hospitals, physician's offices, surgical centers, clinics, long-term rehabilitation units, private homes, government agencies, schools, and worksites.

Job Skills

Registered nurses need to have well-developed communication skills, and the ability to observe accurately and make decisions accordingly. They must be willing to work with a team, as well as supervise others. Due to the intense nature of the work, registered nurses should be emotionally stable and have a sympathetic disposition.

Income

In 2002, registered nurses earned a median annual salary of $48,090. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10 percent, who earned less than $33,970, and the highest 10 percent, who earned more than $69,670. The highest annual salary was found in employment services, and the lowest was found in nursing care facilities.

Training and Education

In order to obtain a nursing license, which is required by all 50 States and the District of Columbia, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination. Candidates have three different options for educational paths leading to certification as a registered nurse. The first option is obtaining a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN). BSN programs are offered through colleges and universities and take 4 years to complete,. The second option is an associate degree in nursing (ADN), offered through junior and community colleges, which takes 2 to 3 years to complete. The third option is a 3-year diploma program administered by hospitals. All three types of programs qualify students to be hired as a registered nurse, but BSNs provide graduates with the most opportunity for advancement within the nursing profession. In fact many nurses certified through ADN or diploma programs go on to enter bachelor's programs.

Many different colleges and universities provide the training required to become a registered nurse. A good list of such institutions can be found on this page of college and universities offering information on Nursing Schools and related training.

Employment

In 2002, registered nurses held approximately 2.3 million jobs, making the occupation the largest in the healthcare field. A majority of jobs were held in hospitals.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of registered nurses is expected to increase faster than the average. More new RN jobs are expected to be created than any other occupation, mostly because of the need to replace aging registered nurses as they leave the profession. Factors such as the growing elderly population, general growth of healthcare, rising median age of registered nurses, increased emphasis on preventative treatment, technological advances will keep registered nurses in high demand.


http://www.education-online-search.com/articles/careers/nursing_careers/become_a_registered_nurse


Become A Parish Nurse

This article provides an overview of nursing careers and the requirements to become a parish nurse. This article will outline a parish nurse's job duties, salary levels, and employment prospects, as well as discuss the career's necessary skills, training, educational requirements, and licensing requirements.

Job Duties

The parish nurse is a nursing professional, typically a registered nurse (RN), who focuses on the spiritual, emotional, and physical, well being of individuals as they try to achieve wellness and manage their illnesses. A parish nurse focuses on the whole person rather than just the physical. Because of this, the spiritual and emotional components of an individual's well being are equally important to a parish nurse.

Parish nursing is not typical medical nursing with the administering of medications, injections, and monitoring vital signs. It is the integration of the practice of faith with the practice of nursing. The focus of the practice is the faith community and its ministry. The parish nurse works in conjunction with the pastoral staff and the congregation. The parish nurse works as an educator, counselor, referral agent, and advocate. Functions that may be performed by a parish nurse include:

  • Providing a faith-based perspective on health and wellness.
  • Helping members to understand the relationships between the body, mind, and spirit.
  • Visiting church members in their homes or hospitals.
  • Providing individuals with counseling on health-related issues.
  • Making referrals to other community resources and assisting people in obtaining needed health services.
  • Assisting members in adapting to changes in their lives.
  • Teaching classes on wellness.
  • Providing nursing services.
  • Providing health screenings.
  • Developing support groups within the church.
  • Training and coordinating congregational volunteers.
  • Acting as an advocate for health and wellness issues.

Parish Nurse Job Skills

Parish nursing can be an emotionally demanding job. It can also be immensely rewarding. Parish nurses need to be caring, sympathetic, and able to empathize with their parishioners. They also need to be able to deal with the stress and the emotional strain of dealing with troubled, sick, injured, and even dying parishioners. Parish nurses require good observational skills, listening skills, communication skills, and the ability to make decisions based on the assimilation and evaluation of information. They also need to be able to relate and communicate health and wellness topics, along with spiritual and emotional topics.

Parish nurses also need to be able to work with many different constituencies. They need to work and coordinate with the ministerial staff of their parish. They need to work with parishioners and volunteers. They also regularly interface with other, outside, health, counseling, and wellness organizations.

Parish Nurse Income

Most parish nurses would probably describe the rewards of the job as intrinsic and spiritual in nature, rather than monetary. Many parish nurses are unpaid volunteers. Others, however, do get paid, either by the church or the congregation itself. Precious little is published about what a paid parish nurse can expect to make for a salary. The most frequently published reports indicate that a typical half-time parish nurse might expect to make in the neighborhood of $15,000 a year.

Training and Education Required to Become a Parish Nurse

According to Marquette University, most parish nurses are registered nurses who have a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. Many have advanced degrees. RNs with BSN degrees are qualified to make independent nursing decisions and take independent nursing actions. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) would have significant limitations on the nursing functions that they can perform.

The requirements to become a Registered Nurse with a BSN degree are quite rigorous. All 50 States and the District of Columbia require that Registered Nurse candidates obtain a nursing degree from an approved nursing program. Bachelor of science degree in nursing programs typically take 4 years to complete. In 2002, there were 678 nursing schools in the United States that offered BSN degrees. There are also more than 110 accelerated BSN programs for individuals who already have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field. These programs typically last 12 to 18 months.

All Registered Nurse programs require both classroom study and supervised clinical experience in hospital departments. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that RNs pass a licensing examination (NCLEX-RN from The National Council of State Boards of Nursing or NCSBN). States require that Registered Nurse licenses be renewed. The time frame for renewal varies by state. Many states also have continuing education requirements as a requirement for license renewal. States may also have other state-specific requirements. Individuals interested in becoming a registered nurse should contact the Board of Nursing for their state to better understand the licensing requirements.

While there are no specific educational requirements necessary to become a parish nurse, most parishes and congregations look for nurse candidates who have additional training in parish nursing. Most nurses are not familiar with working with and for a congregation, nor are they familiar with the theological perspectives on health, healing, and wellness. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has recognized parish nursing as a specialty practice since 1998. The International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) has developed a standardized core curriculum including content on the theology of health as well as prayer and worship. The IPNRC indicates that over sixty educational institutions provide such content.

Employment

Parish nurses practice in congregations or faith communities of every denomination. Current estimates indicate that there are about 6,000 practicing parish nurses in the United States. The International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) indicates that over 7000 nurses have been prepared as parish nurses using their standardized core curriculum.

Outlook

There are no published statistics on the job outlook for parish nurses. Anecdotal information would indicate that the outlook for parish nurses should be favorable. The estimated 6,000 practicing parish nurses would cover only a small percentage of the total number of number of parishes in the United States. The majority of parishes are, however, small parishes, so the prospects of making a substantial income from parish nursing are probably limited.


http://www.education-online-search.com/articles/careers/nursing_careers/become_a_parish_nurse


Become A Nurse

Nursing Career Overview

This article provides an overview of nursing careers and the requirements to become a nurse. There are two types of nurses discussed in this article: Registered Nurses (RNs), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs).

While the two positions are similar, there are substantial differences in educational requirements and job responsibilities. RNs constitute the larger of the two occupations and the single largest healthcare occupation in the United States with in excess of 2.3 million jobs. In contrast, there are a little over 700,000 LPNs in the United States.

This article will outline both nursing professions, their job duties, salary levels, and employment prospects, as well as discuss the career's necessary skills, training, educational requirements, and licensing requirements to become a nurse.

Job Duties

The RN and LPN jobs are very similar. They work in the same types of healthcare facilities. Their job functions can also become very similar. In general, though, RNs have more responsibility and authority than do LPNs. Some of the more common job duties for RNs include:

  • Providing direct patient care including observing, assessing, and recording symptoms and progress in patients.
  • Assisting doctors during surgeries, treatments, and examinations.
  • Diagnosing and treating common illnesses and injuries.
  • Administering medications.
  • Prescribing medications depending on state certification and licensing requirements.
  • Developing and implementing care plans.
  • Educating patients on specific health care tasks and/or educating groups on steps to improve or maintain their health.
  • Supervising LPNs and nurses aides.
  • Supervising nursing activities, planning work schedules, and assigning duties. These activities are common for head nurses or nurse supervisors, but not all nurses in general.

LPNs tend to handle more of the basic patient healthcare needs under the direction of doctors and RNs. The job duties of an LPN include:

  • Basic bedside care and monitoring of patients, including taking vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration) and monitoring food and fluid intake and output.
  • Collecting samples for testing and performing routine laboratory tests.
  • Helping to feed patients.
  • Helping to keep patients comfortable by performing massages or alcohol rubs, and assisting with personal hygiene needs, such as bathing or dressing.
  • Administering medications, and starting intravenous fluids in states where this allowed.
  • Developing and implementing care plans.
  • Supervising nurses aides.

Many of the specific daily responsibilities of a nurse will be dictated by their specific work setting.

  • Hospital nurses make up the largest group of nurses. Hospital nurses are usually assigned to one department. They are responsible for bedside nursing care and carry out healthcare regimens.
  • Offices nurses work in outpatient facilities such as physicians' offices, clinics, ambulatory care facilities, surgical centers, and emergency medical centers. Their duties are more oriented toward preparation for and assistance with examinations, administration of medications and injections, dressing of wounds, assistance with minor surgery, and records maintenance.
  • Nurses that work within nursing care facilities manage care for residents, ranging from those recovering from fractures or other disabling injuries, to elders or those with Alzheimer's disease. They assess and monitor resident's health, and develop and monitor treatment plans. Their duties may also include a fair amount of administrative and supervisory work.
  • Home health nurses provide nursing care for patients in their homes dealing with a very wide range of health issues.
  • Public health nurses work in the government, schools, clinics and other community settings where they tend to populations, working to improve the overall health of the community at large.
  • Occupational health nurses work at work sites. They give emergency care, prepare accident reports, and arrange for additional necessary care.
  • Head nurses or nurse supervisors manage nurses and nurses aides. They plan work schedules and assign duties, deliver or arrange for training, and observe nurse/patient interactions. They also make sure that records are kept in an accurate and timely manner and may have responsibility for ordering supplies.

Job Skills

Nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding job. Nurses need to be caring, sympathetic, and able to empathize with patients. They also need to be able to deal with the stress of critical and demanding situations and the emotional strain of dealing with sick, injured, and even dying patients. Nurses require good observational skills, communication skills, and the ability to make decisions based on the assimilation and evaluation of information.

Nurses also need management skills to, at a minimum, be able to manage nurses aides. Head nurses and nurse supervisors require additional leadership and administrative skills as well as negotiating skills and, potentially, budgeting and financial skills.

Income

As of 2002, salaries for RNs were around $48,090, with the top 10% earning more than $69,670. Salaries for LPNs were around $31,440 with the top 10% earning more than $44,040. Earnings for nurses (both RNs and LPNs) vary by industry segment with the median annual incomes for the industries employing the largest number of nurses being:


Industry Median Salary
for RN Median Salary
for LPN
Employment services $55,980 $40,550
Medical and surgical hospitals $49,190 $30,310
Home health care services $45,890 $32,850
Physicians offices $44,870 $28,710
Nursing care facilities $43,850 $32,220

Many nursing employers also offer bonuses, flexible work schedules, childcare, and education benefits. About 1 in 5 RNs works part time.
Training and Education Required

LPN training programs last about 1 year and include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (caring for patients). In 2002, there were approximately 1,100 State-approved LPN training programs. The majority of LPNs get their training from technical or vocational schools. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that LPNs pass a licensing examination (NCLEX-PN from The National Council of State Boards of Nursing or NCSBN). States require that LPN licenses be renewed. The time frame for renewal varies by state. Many states also have continuing education requirements as a requirement for license renewal. States may also have other state-specific requirements. Individuals interested in becoming an LPN should contact the Board of Nursing for their state to better understand the licensing requirements.

The requirements to become a Registered Nurse are more rigorous. All 50 States and the District of Columbia require that Registered Nurse candidates obtain a nursing degree from an approved nursing program. There are three educational paths that students may take to obtain a nursing degree:

1. A bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN). Bachelor of science degree in nursing programs typically take 4 years to complete. In 2002, there were 678 nursing schools in the United States that offered BSN degrees. There are also more than 110 accelerated BSN programs for individuals who already have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field. These programs typically last 12 to 18 months.
2. An associate degree in nursing (ADN). Associate degree in nursing programs, which are typically offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. In 2002, there were about 700 such programs in the United States.
3. A diploma. Diploma programs are offered in hospitals and typically last about 3 years. There are only a small and declining number of such programs.

Advancement opportunities are typically broader for graduates of BSN programs. Many positions, such as nursing management positions, require a bachelor of science degree in nursing. There are RN-to-BSN programs allowing practicing RNs to complete a bachelor of science degree in nursing program while they are already working in the field. Taking such a route to a bachelor of science degree in nursing may allow an individual to take advantage of employer education reimbursement programs.

All Registered Nurse programs require both classroom study and supervised clinical experience in hospital departments. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that RNs pass a licensing examination (NCLEX-RN from The National Council of State Boards of Nursing or NCSBN). States require that Registered Nurse licenses be renewed. The time frame for renewal varies by state. Many states also have continuing education requirements as a requirement for license renewal. States may also have other state-specific requirements. Individuals interested in becoming an registered nurse should contact the Board of Nursing for their state to better understand the licensing requirements.

Increasingly, advanced degrees are becoming a requirement for those who are seeking management level nursing positions.

Many different colleges and universities provide the training required to become a nurse. A good list of such institutions can be found on this page of college and universities offering information on Nursing Schools and related training.
Employment

There are a very large number of people employed as nurses in the United States. In 2002, there were 2.3 million Registered Nurses and about 702,000 LPNs. Of that, the largest percentage work in hospitals with almost 60% of RNs and 26% of LPNs working in hospital settings. The other big employers of nurses include nursing care facilities, home health care services, and doctor's offices.
Outlook

Through most of the next decade, the need for LPNs is expected to grow about as fast as the need for all other occupations. The outlook for Registered Nurses is more promising. Throughout most of the next decade the need for RNs is very good with employment expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more new jobs are expected to be created for Registered Nurses than any other occupation.

The outlook for nursing job growth does vary by industry segment. Growth by industry segment can be expected as follows:

* Hospitals - Nursing job growth in hospitals is expected to be slower than other segments of the healthcare industry. It is expected that the number of hospital jobs for LPNs will actually decline.
* Hospital outpatient facilities - Facilities such as those that provide same-day surgery, rehabilitation, and chemotherapy are expected to see rapid growth in nursing jobs.
* Free-standing outpatient facilities and physicians offices - Since more sophisticated procedures are now being performed outside of the traditional hospital setting, nursing job growth in this segment is expected to be higher than average.
* Nursing care facility - With the aging of the US population, the availability of nursing jobs in nursing care facilities is expected to grow rapidly.

In general, one can expect the need for nurses to expand dramatically for the foreseeable future.

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About Nursing Careers

Many Registered nurses start off by studying a 2 year degree course, gaining their associate degree. They become registered and start nursing, and then are limited in how far they can progress in their career. They find that many of the interesting specialisms and entry to higher graduate positions, such as nursing management and clinical research, teaching and administrative positions require higher qualifications, and they have to consider studying further and gaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Many States offer tuition reimbursement programs for nurses who wish to work towards a BSN, as a highly educated nursing profession can ease the pressure on the health care industry, taking on some of the roles traditionally assumed by doctors. Indeed, there is support for nurses who wish to take graduate studies as well.

A BSN course will include subjects such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and nursing practice. Clinical experience can include time spent in nursing homes, public health departments, home help agencies and ambulatory clinics. Qualities such as leadership, team work, negotiation skills, communications ability and good judgment are fostered on a Bachelors course, helping nurses to assume a more management oriented attitude to their career.

Gaining a BSN will mean that promotion prospects are greatly increased, allowing management and supervisory promotion, and opening opportunities into clinical specializations. Salaries for RNs are in the region of $45,000 according to the US Department of Labor, but BSN graduates will be able to consider some of the higher salary regions, which can be as high as $65,000.


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