Nursing

Job Opportunities

Job opportunities for nursing (RNs) in all specialties are expected to be excellent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor:

• nursing jobs are expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014.
• RNs are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations.
• nursing jobs will be created as experienced nurses leave the occupation; especially as the median age of the registered nurse population continues to rise.
• job growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of medical problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care.
• the number of older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly.

Basic job responsibilities

The basic job responsibilities of nursing include:

• recording patients' medical histories and symptoms.
• helping to perform diagnostic tests and analyze results.
• operating medical machinery.
• administering treatment and medications.
• helping with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.
• educating patients and the public about medical conditions.
• providing advice and emotional support to patients' family members.

Other job responsibilities may include:

• teaching patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury.
• providing grief counseling to family members of critically ill patients.
• promoting general health by educating the public on a disease.
• running general health screening or immunization clinics and blood drives.

Work Environments:

A career in nursing offers many work environments, including:

• physicians' offices
• outpatient treatment facilities
• home health care agencies
• hospitals

Nursing careers can be specialized by work setting or type of care:

ambulatory care nurses — treat patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries on an outpatient basis, either in physicians' offices or in clinics.

critical care nurses — work in critical or intensive care hospital units.

emergency nurses or trauma nurses — work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening conditions.

flight nurses — are emergency nurses who provide medical care to patients who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical facility.

holistic nurses — provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aromatherapy, and biofeedback.

home health care nurses — provide at-home care for patients.

hospice care nurses — provide care for terminally ill patients outside of hospitals.

infusion nurses — administer medications, fluids, and blood to patients via injections into patients' veins.

long-term care nurses — provide medical services on a recurring basis to patients with chronic physical or mental disorders.

medical-surgical nurses — provide basic medical care to a variety of patients in all health settings.

occupational health nurses — provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses.

perianesthesia nurses — provide preoperative and postoperative care to patients undergoing anesthesia during surgery.

perioperative nurses — assist surgeons by selecting and handling instruments, controlling bleeding, and suturing incisions. Some of these nurses also can specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

psychiatric nurses — treat patients with personality and mood disorders.

radiologic nurses — provide care to patients undergoing diagnostic radiation procedures such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging.

rehabilitation nurses — care for patients with temporary and permanent disabilities.

transplant nurses — care for both transplant recipients and living donors and monitor signs of organ rejection.

RN's can also pursue nursing careers that specialize in a particular disease, ailment, or condition:

addictions nurses — treat patients seeking help with alcohol, drug, and tobacco addictions.

developmental disabilities nurses — provide care for patients with physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities.

diabetes management nurses — help diabetics to manage their disease.

genetics nurses — provide early detection screenings and treatment of patients with genetic disorders.

HIV/AIDS nurses — care for patients diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.

oncology nurses — care for patients with various types of cancer and may administer radiation and chemotherapies.

wound, ostomy, and continence nurses — treat patients with wounds; provide postoperative care for patients with openings that allow for alternative methods of bodily waste elimination; and treat patients with incontinence.

RNs can pursue a nursing career that specializes in treatment of a particular organ or body system:

cardiac and vascular nurses — treat patients with coronary heart disease and those who have had heart surgery.

dermatology nurses — treat patients with disorders of the skin, such as skin cancer and psoriasis.

gastroenterology nurses — treat patients with digestive and intestinal disorders, including ulcers, acid reflux disease, and abdominal bleeding.

gynecology nurses — provide care to women with disorders of the reproductive system, including endometriosis, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.

nephrology nurses — care for patients with kidney disease caused by diabetes, hypertension, or substance abuse.

neuroscience nurses — care for patients with dysfunctions of the nervous system, including brain and spinal cord injuries and seizures.

ophthalmic nurses — provide care to patients with disorders of the eyes, including blindness and glaucoma, and to patients undergoing eye surgery.

orthopedic nurses — care for patients with muscular and skeletal problems, including arthritis, bone fractures, and muscular dystrophy.

otorhinolaryngology nurses — care for patients with ear, nose, and throat disorders, such as cleft palates, allergies, and sinus disorders.

respiratory nurses — provide care to patients with respiratory disorders such as asthma, tuberculosis, and cystic fibrosis.

urology nurses — care for patients with disorders of the kidneys, urinary tract, and male reproductive organs.

RNs can specialize in various segments of the population, including:

• neonatology nursing — newborns
• pediatrics nursing — children and adolescents
• gerontology and geriatrics nursing — adults and the elderly

Nursing careers also include primary health care practitioners who work independently or in collaboration with physicians:

nurse anesthetists — administer anesthesia and monitor patient's vital signs during surgery.

nurse midwives — provide primary care to women, including assistance in labor and delivery.

nurse practitioners — provide basic preventive health care to patients and serve as primary and specialty care providers in mainly medically underserved areas.

Nursing careers that require little or no direct patient contact:

case managers — ensure that all of the medical needs of patients with severe injuries and illnesses are met.

forensics nurses — combine nursing with law enforcement by treating and investigating crime victims.

infection control nurses — identify, track, and control infectious outbreaks

legal nurse consultants — assist lawyers in medical cases.

nurse administrators — supervise nursing staff, establish work schedules and budgets, and maintain medical supply inventories.

nurse educators — teach student nurses and also provide continuing education for RNs.

nurse informaticists — collect, store, and analyze nursing data.

RNs may also work as

• health care consultants
• public policy advisors
• pharmaceutical researchers
• medical writers

Requirements

Registered Nurse (R.N.)

As an R.N. or registered nurse, you have taken an approved nursing program and passed the national licensing examination, the NCLEX-RN, which is required in the United States.

3 major paths to being an R.N.:

Bachelor of Science Nursing (BS/BSN)

A four-year nursing program offered at colleges and universities that prepare nurses to practice across all health care settings.

BSN graduates have the greatest opportunity for advancement. For example, a BSN is required for entry into a Master's program, which may lead to a career in management, or on to more specialized nursing positions such as clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or nurse researcher. A BSN is preferred and often required for military nursing, case management, public health nursing, forensic nursing and school nursing.

Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN)

A two-to-three year program offered at junior and community colleges, an Associate's degree trains and prepares nurses to provide direct patient care in numerous settings. Some hospital nursing schools, colleges, and universities also offer ADN programs.

Hospital Diploma

A two- to three-year hospital-based nursing program that prepares you to care for patients in a variety of environments.

You may also be interested in:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPNs)

Most LPN or LVN programs are about a year long and are offered by technical and vocational schools. LPNs care for patients under the direction of physicians and registered nurses.

They provide basic care, taking vital signs, temperature, blood pressure and pulse. They assist with bathing patients, monitoring catheters and applying dressings. (in Texas and California they are called Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). In some states, this position is also known as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

Accelerated Nursing Programs (Accelerated BSN, Accelerated MSN)

Many universities offer nursing programs for students who already have a Bachelor's Degree or a Master's Degree in a field other than Nursing.

Accelerated programs, which are often shorter than regular nursing programs, are ideal for individuals who are looking to for a career change to something that's perhaps more meaningful but are unenthusiastic about returning to school for four additional years.