Is nursing for me?
There are several career
self-assessment resources available online.
One useful site is:
http://www.rileyguide.com/assess.html
What are the different types of nurses?
There are several types of
nurses.
·
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
- CNAs provide hands on care to people who are unable to take
care of themselves. This may include
such tasks as feeding, bathing, and dressing patients, as well as assisting
nurses with diagnostic tests and clinical procedures. Typically, CNAs
work under the direction of a nurse and carry out duties assigned by the
nurse. Work sites may include nursing
homes and hospitals. Training involves a
five-week program offered by the American Red Cross (
·
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) – LPNs are responsible
for patient care on a personal level.
They are usually responsible for monitoring patients’ vital signs and
performing procedures such as dressing wounds, giving enemas, treating bedsores,
and administering prescribed medicines. LPNs work under the supervision on an RN or a physician in
many different types of settings, including doctors’ offices and
hospitals. Training usually involves one
year of classes at a hospital or a technology center. In the
·
Registered Nurses (RNs) – RNs have direct responsibility for patients, under
the supervision of a physician. They are
involved with patient assessment, diagnosis, creating a care plan,
implementation of the plan, and continuous evaluation of the patient’s response
to the plan. RN training requires three
to four years of college, as indicated in the next question, below. In 2007, median salary for RNs was about $59,000.
What are the different ways I can become a Registered
Nurse (RN)?
·
Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN or AAS in Nursing) – Students take approximately one year of
prerequisite courses, followed by two years of nursing school. Upon graduation, students take the board exam
to become RNs.
·
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Students take approximately two years of
prerequisite courses, followed by two years of nursing school. After graduation, students who pass the board
exam become registered nurses. A BSN is
required for entry into a master’s degree in nursing program.
Please note that
What are the differences between Associate Degree RNs
and BSN RNs?
Starting pay is often the
same for those with either degree. However, the BSN has more opportunities for
advancement, as well as working in more technical, specialized areas of
nursing. Additionally, only BSNs may
continue into graduate school to earn an MSN (general MSN or nurse
practitioner). There are several local
programs designed for nurses who have the associate degree to earn a BSN, often
while working.
What can I do as an RN?
You can work in various
settings with a variety of clients.
Examples include:
·
Hospital nursing
(e.g., intensive care unit, pediatrics, emergency/flight, labor and delivery,
psychiatry/mental health, oncology, ambulatory care, surgical, neurology)
·
Office/Clinic
nursing
·
Community/Public
health nursing (government, private agencies, schools)
·
Occupational/Industrial
nursing
·
Home health
nursing
·
Long-term care
facility nursing
·
Travel nursing
·
Nursing
supervisor/manager
·
Hospice nursing
·
Insurance
company nursing
What does the job market look like for the nursing
profession?
The job outlook is
promising. There are currently more job
opportunities than there are nurses to fill the positions. This shortage allows nurses to be more
selective in choosing their practice settings.
In 1996, 1,971,000 RNs were employed in the
Want to learn more?
Visit these helpful
websites:
http://nursing-education-tn.org
08/18/08