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Registered Nurse - RNHow to Become a Nurse Most registered nurses work in comfortable healthcare facilities but may be required to work some nights, weekends or holidays. Registered nurses are often expected to deal with stress, heavy workloads and uncooperative patients and must follow strict guidelines to protect against disease and other dangers. The workplace is the determining factor for the job duties of registered nurses. For example, RNs that work in hospitals provide bedside care and administer medications. They may supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides and are usually assigned to one department. Registered nurses working in a physicians' office may prepare patients for examinations, administer injections and medications and maintain records. Nursing care facility nurses manage care for residents. They create care plans and are often responsible for administrative and supervisory tasks. Some registered nurses provide services to patients at home. They must be able to work independently and care for a broad range of patients. To become a licensed registered nurse you must graduate with a bachelor's degree, an associate degree or a diploma from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination - the NCLEX - RN ®. Nurses may be licensed in more than one state but to be recognized as a registered nurse by another state you usually need to pass the NCLEX - RN exam for that state. Currently eighteen States participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement which allows nurses to practice in member states without recertifying. States require periodic renewal of registered nurse licenses. Registered nurses make up the largest health care occupation in the US and more new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses than for any other occupation. California registered nurses are required to document completion of continuing education courses as a way of supporting their continued competency to practice. The requirement is that registered nurses complete a minimum of 30 hours every two years in subjects relevant to the practice of nursing. Courses must be taken from providers approved by the Board of Registered Nursing. The Board of Registered Nursing approves providers, not courses, and does not maintain lists of continuing education courses meaning that not every course offered by a recognized provider will meet the intent of the regulations related to continuing education for registered nursing practice. Most registered nurses work in hospitals but physician offices, nursing care facilities, educational institutions and government agencies also provide substantial job opportunities. RNs work to help patients cope with illness and prevent disease. Registered nurses that provide patient care are responsible for assessing, observing and recording patient symptoms, assist physicians during examinations and surgeries, administer medications and develop care plans. Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are offered by colleges and universities and take about four years to complete while Associate Degree in Nursing programs take only two or three years. Diploma programs which are mostly offered by hospitals last about three years and are not too common. The successful completion of any of these programs and a passing grade on the NCLEX - RN qualifies you for entry-level positions as a staff nurse. If you are not sure which education path is right for you please take into consideration that many registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma enter bachelor's programs to take advantage of the many opportunities available to BSN - educated nurses. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement if you enter a RN to BSN program and upon graduation you will have broader advancement opportunities. Accelerated BSN and MSN programs are available if you have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field and want to become a registered nurse. Accelerated BSN and MSN programs usually take between one and two years to complete. Registered nurse training includes both classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other healthcare facilities Classroom instruction includes but is not limited to courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition and nursing. Advanced registered nurses called nurse practitioners diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries and can also prescribe medications. To become an advanced practice nurse you must meet educational and clinical practice requirements beyond the basic nursing education and licensing required of all registered nurses. Emotional stability, the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies and other stress factors are of outmost importance if you consider a nursing career. The average salary for registered nurses is over $50,000 per year but can be higher than $65,000 in some areas. Employers usually provide medical insurance plans, bonuses, paid time off, disability and social security benefits. Nursing Scholarships |
Nursing Schools Turn Away More Than 30,000 Qualified Applications WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing released preliminary survey data which show that enrollment in entry - level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 13.0 percent from 2004 to 2005. Though this increase is welcome, surveyed nursing colleges and universities denied 32,617 qualified applications due primarily to a shortage of nurse educators. AACN is very concerned about the increasing number of qualified students being turned away from nursing programs each year since the federal government is projecting a shortfall of 800,000 registered nurses (RNs) by the year 2020. AACN's annual survey is the only resource for actual (versus projected) data on enrollment and graduations reported by the nation's baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in nursing. This year's 13.0 percent increase in enrollments is based on data supplied by the same 408 schools reporting in both 2004 and 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year of enrollment increases with 14.1, 16.6, 8.1, and 3.7 percent increases in 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. Prior to the five-year upswing, baccalaureate nursing programs experienced six years of declining enrollments from 1995 through 2000. Read more about the nursing shortage. |