Nursing by Shana Melendez
Job Description
· Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
Professional Oranizations
· American Association of Colleges of
Nursing
· National Council of State
Boards of Nursing
Schools That Offer Nursing
Employement Opportunities
· North
Florida Regional Medical Center
Need More Information
· Registered
Professional Nurse (Career Examination)
· Sleep With This Book: A step by step guide to becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse is a
highly trained and skilled professional who cares for the sick and infirm. A
nurse helps to educate patients in issues of healthy living and wellness as
well as any current or chronic disease process and treatment. A nurse performs
treatments and procedures as prescribed by physicians, physician assistants and
nurse practitioners. A nurse combines science and technology with people skills
like communication, problem solving, teaching, and compassion. Nurses touch
people’s lives at a time when they need help. Nursing is one of the most
respected professions in the United States.
Many registered nurses are
general-duty nurses who focus on the overall care of patients. They administer
medications under the supervision of doctors and keep records of symptoms and
progress. General-duty nurses also supervise LPNs, CNA's. Nurses provide
medical care to, and support the recovery of, patients suffering from acute and
long-term illnesses, diseases such as diabetes or arthritis, or those requiring
surgery. They focus on the needs of the patient rather than the illness or
condition. They also promote good health and wellbeing through education. Nurse
work mainly in hospitals, although they are playing an increasingly prominent
role in the community, attached to a health centre or general practice and in
residential homes, specialist units, schools and hospices.
The advantages
of being a nurse are numerous. First, there is a large demand for nurse’s
nationwide, great job opportunities, and various nursing career choices.
Experts predict that nurses will create the second largest number of new jobs
among all occupations. At this moment, there are roughly 100,000 vacant nursing
positions in the U.S. Over the next 20 years, that number is expected to
increase to 800,000 vacant positions. There has never been a better time to be
a nurse. A nursing career offers many choices both in terms of specialty areas
and opportunities for advancement. With all this variety, there's almost always
something new and different for a nurse to do. And with the increasing
popularity of nurse travel jobs, nurses can work in an even greater variety of
settings and places.
Another advantage of being a
nurse is the money. The average Registered Nurse earns between $43,370 and
$63,360 a year. However, you can earn much more, depending on what career
decisions you make. Nurse Practitioners, for example, earn an average of
$71,000, while Nurse Anesthetists earn an average of $113,000 a year. The
majority of nursing jobs come with good benefits as well. Plus, in an effort to
attract and retain more nurses, many employers offer signing bonuses, as well
as family-friendly work schedules, and subsidized training
Nurses must
graduate from a nursing program. It takes about 2 years of college to finish an
associate degree in nursing. It takes about 4 years to finish a bachelor's
degree in nursing. And a nursing diploma program usually takes about 3 years.
Deciding what kind of training to get is important. Nursing education includes
taking classes and hands-on learning with experienced nurses in hospitals and
other places. After graduating, nurses need to pass a test to get a nursing
license. They have to take classes every few years to keep their skills
current.