2. The World of
an RN
Registered Nurses have an important role
in the medical setting.
To ensure quality of that role, one must
possess: Concern for Others, Integrity,
Dependability, Stress Tolerance, Self
Control, Attention to Detail, Cooperation,
Adaptability/Flexibility, Initiative, and
Independence
3. Job Description
Registered Nurses care for patients in a variety of settings;
hospitals, nursing homes and home care agencies all employ
RNs for patient care. RNs have a very important role and are
often the sole individual in charge during a shift in the facility.
Some nurses also are heads of departments, such as skin
care, infection control and general health, in medical facilities.
These professionals also work in offices and schools, doing
casework and providing health training and care to the public.
Many nurses work in public health clinics and perform routine
procedures such as vaccinations, saving patients the hassle of
paying a fee to see a doctor for the same work. Nurses show
caring and compassion to people; patience, kindness and a
gentle touch are necessary attributes to have.
4. • Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
• Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
• Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
• Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's
condition.
• Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and
conditions.
• Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a
particular unit.
• Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan,
implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
• Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
• Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education,
disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
• Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
5. Environment
Most RNs work in well-lit, comfortable healthcare facilities.
Home health and public health nurses travel to patients'
homes, schools, community centers, and other sites. RNs
may spend considerable time
walking, bending, stretching, and standing. Patients in
hospitals and nursing care facilities require 24-hour care;
consequently, nurses in these institutions may work
Uniform
nights, weekends, and holidays. RNs also may be on
call—available to work on short notice. Nurses who work
in offices, schools, and other settings that do not provide
24-hour care are more likely to work regular business
hours. Nurses wear uniforms. This is a fact of life. Some
patient care facilities use various colored scrubs to
denote nursing staff, while others give you carte
blanche to mix and match scrubs or other nursing
uniforms.
• Type and style of jewelry—usually very minimal
• Hairstyle – usually at the collar or secured; no crazy dye
jobs allowed
• Shoes and hosiery – comfortable shoes accordion to
style and color codes; same with hose if worn
• Colognes and perfumes – may not be allowed in clinical
or hospital settings
• Personal grooming – students may have rules regarding
fingernails and facial hair
• Display of tattoos and body piercing – most hospitals
have rules regarding body adornment
6. Required Education
& Training
There are three typical educational paths to registered
nursing
bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN),
an associate degree in nursing (ADN),
and a diploma.
BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take
about 4 years to complete. ADN programs, offered by
community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to
complete. Such programs are offered at West Los
Angeles College.
Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3
years. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three
types of educational programs qualify for entry-level
positions as a staff nurse. There are hundreds of
registered nursing programs that result in an ADN or BSN;
however, there are relatively few diploma programs.
In all States, the District of Columbia, and U.S.
territories, students must graduate from an approved
nursing program and pass a national licensing
examination, known as the National Council Licensure
Examination, or NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a
nursing license. Other eligibility requirements for
licensure vary by State. Contact your State’s board of
nursing for details.
7. Calculating drug dosages,
Medication administration
Nasogastric tube insertion
Urinary catheterization
Nursing students must demonstrate
technical skill proficiency during clinical
training as part of nursing school to
become licensed.
8. Tools & Equipment
Acute care fetal or maternal monitoring units or accessories — Bilimeters; Fetal
monitors; Fetal scalp electrodes
Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment or accessories or related products —
Electrosurgical devices; Grounding pads; Loop electrosurgical excision procedure
LEEP equipment
Flexible endoscopes or accessories or related products — Colonoscopy
equipment; Flexible sigmoidoscopes; Gastrointestinal GI endoscopes
Floor grade forceps or hemostats — Curved hemostats; Hemostats; Straight
hemostats
Peripheral intravenous catheters for general use — Double lumen catheters;
Peripheral angiocaths; Single lumen catheters; Triple lumen catheters
Technology used in this occupation:
Data base user interface and query software — IDX Systems software
Medical software — Eclipsys Sunrise Clinical Manager; Misys Healthcare
Systems software; QuadraMed Affinity Healthcare Information System; Siemens
SIENET Sky
Office suite software — Microsoft Office software
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Time accounting software — Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
9. As the largest healthcare occupation, registered
nurses held about 2.6 million jobs in 2008.
Hospitals employed the majority of RNs, with 60
percent of such jobs.
About 8 percent of jobs were in offices of physicians
5 percent in home healthcare services
5 percent in nursing care facilities
3 percent in employment services.
The remainder worked mostly in government
agencies, social assistance agencies, and educational
services.
10. Wages &
Growth
Median annual wages of registered
nurses were $62,450 in May 2008.
Employment services- $68,160
General medical and surgical hospitals- $63,880
Offices of physicians- $59,210
Home health care services- $58,740
Nursing care facilities- $57,060
Registered Nurse
2008 Employment- 2,618,700
2018 Projected Employment- 3,200,200
Change from 2008-2018- 22% (581,500)
So many areas to expand to with
being a certified RN including:
Nursing Instructors and
Teachers, Postsecondary, Chiropra
ctors, Surgeons, Podiatrists, Psychi
atric Aides, and many more fields!
11. National League for Nursing, 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New
York, NY 10006. Internet: http://www.nln.org
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 1 Dupont Circle
NW., Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036. Internet:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu
American Nurses Association, 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400,
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Internet: http://nursingworld.org
Registered nurses . Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11
Edition.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) , 1
Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036. Phone:
(202) 463-6930. Fax: (202) 785-8320.
American Nurses Association (ANA) , 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite
400, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: (800) 274-4262.
National League for Nursing (NLN) , 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor,
New York, NY 10006. Phone: (212) 363-5555.
