Nursing Work, Nurse Work, RN and job description
A registered nurse is a medical professional that is responsible for patient care. Registered nurses care for ailing patients, assist in their recovery, and help patients maintain good health. Nursing work can be done in a variety of settings from small doctors offices, to intensive care units, to a patient’s home. Nursing work can also be done in a variety of age groups from young infants to geriatric care. A career in nursing affords an individual a lot of flexibility in work schedule, good pay, and a rewarding career in the health field.
Nursing work is often times done with people who are ailing or anxious about their medical health. Therefore, it is important to have a friendly demeanor and a positive attitude to put patients at ease and to form a relationship between the patient and the nurse. This way, patients will be more likely to ask questions and follow ups about their care plan.
Nurses are responsible for following the nursing process, known through the acronym ADPIE. The acronym is short for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
In the assessment phase, the nurse is responsible for performing a holistic assessment of the patient. Through the assessment process, a nurse evaluates complications as both actual and potential. An actual problem is already apparent, whereas a potential problem is a complication that could be anticipated as a result of the patient’s current condition.
In the diagnosing phase, the nurse makes a standardized statement regarding the patient’s health. The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association defines a standardized statement in North America. The purpose of these statements is for consistency in the terminology used to describe diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes.
The next phase is the planning phase. During the planning phases, as it sounds, the nurse creates a plan based on the assessment and the diagnosis. The plan includes a measurable goal in order to prevent the worsening of any of the patient’s present conditions.
The implementing phase comes after the planning phase. During the implementing phase the nurse creates an outline for the patient and educates the patient about ways to properly care for their health problem.
Last is the evaluating phase. During the evaluating phase the nurse examines the progress that is made toward achieving the goals established in the earlier phases. If there are complications in achieving the measurable goal, it is the nurse’s responsibility to make changes to the plan in order to make attaining the goal more feasible. During the entire process, the nurse records and documents any changes to the plan using standardized statements. This way, during shift changes, other nurses can follow the same care plan procedures with ease. Nursing work is a very rewarding career for any professional.
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In order to begin a registered nurse education, one must first attain a high school diploma and complete any standardized college entrance tests that may be required by the institution. Aspiring nurses can first choose among an associate’s degree bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and can even continue their studies in a doctoral program. Associate’s degree programs usually take two years. Bachelor’s degree programs usually take four years, and master’s degree and doctoral programs tend to take two to four years of additional graduate study.
Courses in associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing require a mixture of general classes and advanced specialized courses in the field. General academic classes usually include requirements in the humanities, general sciences, and college mathematics. These introductory classes serve as the precursor to more advanced courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition. Bachelor’s degree programs tend to offer a variety of additional courses with emphasis on patient care and nursing theory.
Throughout the registered nurses education it is expected to complete various laboratory activities outside of regular class hours in addition to practical experiences or internships. Practical experiences allow aspiring nurses to work under the guidance of experienced professionals, ask questions about the field, and gain valuable insights and skills that can help an aspiring nurse get a job after the completion of their program.
In addition to completing an accredited academic program, aspiring nurses must complete licensure tests. All graduate nurses must take the NCLEX-RN test offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in the United States. This examination covers many topics related to nursing including how to establish a safe and effective care environment, promoting and maintaining good health, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. Most of the questions on the examination are multiple-choice; however, recently more questions have been added to the test that are not multiple-choice and require additional critical thinking skills. The test is available in a Computer Adaptive Format, which means that questions increase or decrease in difficulty based on the test-taker’s question answering ability. After completing the test, the nurse will receive an official licensure through the state.
Along with the NCLEX-RN test, nurses can take board certification tests to add an extra credential to their degree. Board certification tests evaluate a nurse’s competency in a specialized clinical environment. For example, a nurse can become specialized in clinical and intensive care.
The cost of a registered nursing education from an accredited institution varies. Associate’s degree programs are usually offered by local community colleges and can range in cost from $10,000-$20,000. Bachelor’s degree programs at public institutions tend to range from $40,000-$60,000; however, bachelor’s degree programs at private institutions can cost in excess of $80,0000. Masters programs can cost anywhere from $20,000-$40,000, and doctoral programs tend to cost the same. These figures are estimated before considering financial aid through federal loans and grants and scholarships through the institution.
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Registered Nurse Salary | RN Job growth
In the United States, the demand for registered nurses is extremely high. The job outlook for registered nurses is expected to grow at 23% until 2016, and this growth rate is considered much faster than
average. Many experienced nurses are expected to retire, opening job opportunities for recent graduates. What is more, job opportunities are expected to be increasingly available in doctor’s offices, home health care services, and outpatient care. The job outlook for nurses desiring to work as clinical specialists, nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthesiologists is estimated to remain high as well. Knowledge of a foreign language can also help a recent graduate land a job because of the diverse array of patients needing health care assistance.
The registered nurse salary for 2010 is estimated at $62,000. The 75th percentile of nursing salarys is an average of $67,800, and the 25th percentile makes an average of $55,800. Salaries vary based on education, geographic location, and experience. Graduates with the highest degree levels from top institutions should expect the highest paying jobs. Salaries in urban and suburban settings are expected to be higher than those in rural areas.
With an excellent job outlook, registered nurses can anticipate a variety of job opportunities in the near future. With two year, four year, and advanced degree programs available, there are many options for those interested in beginning a career in nursing and furthering their education and climbing the professional ladder. What is more, jobs are available in a wide array of medical settings and specialized areas. The pay for registered nurses is relatively high, and for those with a positive demeanor that are interested in working with people can look forward to a rewarding career in the health field.
