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> Registered Nurse
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INTRODUCTION TO CAREERS IN NURSING
Never has Nursing looked so good to so many! The jobs are there and the need is great. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (November, 2001), it is projected that there will be a need for 1,000,000 new nurses in the U.S. by 2010. Many other countries around the world are also experiencing this same kind of nursing shortage.
Nursing, as a profession, has always been a very dynamic career with changes that are on-going. This is especially true in the areas of technology and scientific advancements. Yet nurses know that by choosing nursing THEY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE EACH AND EVERY DAY! Few jobs can make such a statement. As a result, the rush towards a nursing career is occurring throughout the nation. Persons’ of all ages are eager to become nurses, and patients of all ages are eager for a nurse’s skill, competence and caring touch. Patients want to trust that the nurse will care for them as an individual with unique emotional, physical, social, spiritual and cultural needs. To serve a patient and the family in such a caring way requires compassion, competence, and a strong knowledge base which results in the ability to think critically, act quickly and use sound judgment. Today’s nurses work in a variety of settings from hospitals, clinics and long term care facilities to industrial and community settings.
EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS TO A CAREER IN NURSING RESULTING IN LICENSURE
A student interested in nursing has a very important choice to make in selecting a nursing program that is right for her/him. This is not a simple task since persons can become nurses with one, two, three or four years of education, but this choice is not easily differentiated. It may help to think about what kind of a nurse one wishes to be. All persons go into nursing because they want to help others, but the level at which they may assist others may depend on the education they receive.
There are four levels of undergraduate nursing education. One leads to licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and three levels lead to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). A brief description of these educational programs follows:
1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) — Student enrolls in a one year program usually in a vocational-technical school. Following licensure by exam, this nurse typically performs routine nursing tasks under the supervision of an RN. They commonly work in hospitals, nursing homes, long term care (LTC) facilities or clinics.
2. Associate Degree Nurse (AD/ADN) — Student goes to school for two or three years in programs which are usually offered at junior and community colleges. This nurse is prepared to provide direct patient care in several settings, but most frequently in hospitals, nursing homes and long term care facilities.
3. Diploma Nurses — Historically very popular, hospital-based nursing programs, they are now almost extinct except for a few remaining states. They are customarily three year programs which are now frequently affiliated with junior colleges for general education and science credits. In the past, most did not award a degree in nursing which was transferable to another institution; therefore, they closed.
4. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS/BSN) — Student is educated in a four year college or university, and is prepared to practice nursing across all health care settings. These include, but are not limited to, hospitals, long term care facilities, clinics, the military, business, industry, the community and public health agencies. This program while the longest in years may actually be the shortest route to becoming a professional nurse. The bachelor’s degree in nursing is required for entry into public health nursing and graduate education in nursing, which is the preparation required for leadership, management, and independent roles in clinical practice (eg., nurse practitioner), teaching and research.
RN licensure is conferred by successfully completing the national licensing exam (NCLEX), which is offered in all 50 states.
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