Monday, February 7, 2011

5 Options for Successfully Becoming an RN

Becoming an RN or Registered Nurse means belonging to the biggest health care group there is. They have at their fingertips the fulfilling job of aiding those needing medical care. The modern world has an increasing requirement for the skills provided by a nurse.. If you've decided to become a Registered Nurse, you will need to take some steps before you can begin in your new career.

The possible steps of the RN schooling
  • In the case that the individual has a high school diploma or even a GED, they can go through a two year nursing program at a local college, receive an ADN and then get the NCLEX exam and become a registered nurse.
  • An individual could go to a medical assistant program, which is a similar program to the RN program. Then while practicing as a medical assistant, they could take the Registered Nurse program. This is a very good route, simply because it will allow the individual to get started in the nursing field and earn money, while training in another program.
  • Another possibility is to take a a CNA training program and benefit from the short amount of time spent to get the certification. Just like case with the medical assistant, the Registered Nurse program can be attended while the individual is working and earning money.
  • Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing opens a lot of doors to the different health care fields. Consequently it's preferred by most people prior to becoming RNs.
  • For everybody who is really excited to get started fast, an excellent option is accelerated training.. Getting a BSN through an accelerated program is going to prepare a person for the NCLEX exam in twelve months. This is an excellent choice for those that want to get in the marketplace in the near future.

The responsibilities of an RN

Becoming a Registered Nurse is the beginning of numerous obligations. They are the ones that help patients as soon as they reach the health care facilities. There are plenty of tasks an RN will need to perform and many of them are rather demanding both physically and emotionally.

Among other responsibilities, Registered Nurses are those that give medication, prepare the IV, execute phlebotomies, in addition to check vital signs. The RN is also the one that handles everything related to the patient and communicates it to the next shift.

Usually they work in a team, so it is essential that they have great communication skills and are able to take orders.

Nurses must have physical endurance to handle walking around for most of their shift. Every so often they may need to move a patient which will involve lifting movements. A very important thing to have for everybody who is going to be a Registered Nurse is a robust immune system. The constant exposure to several sources of illness such as infections and several sorts of different virus and bacteria make them susceptible.

Overall it is quite a rewarding profession both personally and monetarily. Great salaries could be earned by nurses that do their job in hospitals and also in private health care facilities. Becoming an RN is surely a job for the future because of the need for nurses these days.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Registered Nurse Requirements: Getting Your Degree

The Registered Nurse field is constantly expanding, with thousands of jobs added each and every year. There are specific requirements that each individual will have to meet to become a nurse and practice as a Registered Nurse. Some of these requirements will change based on state location and based on the kinds of jobs that future nurses want to hold.

The very first requirement you must satisfy to become a registered nurse involves schooling. While many people who enter into the field will begin with an associates degree, persons that wish to become registered nurses need to complete their bachelors degree. This degree typically takes four years and is going to prepare students for the tests they will take as they work to become registered. Courses that students are expected to take include basic science courses, like microbiology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Students also are required to take nursing-directed courses and will also learn different elements of nutrition and psychology. Individuals must attend an accredited college to complete their requirements to become a registered nurse - these are a few of the classes that are required by that accreditation.

Students must then work to pass the NCLEX-RN. This is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and it's required by every state in the united states. Other than this test, students must go through clinical hours as dictated by their state’s requirements for registered nurses. Students will find that they are going to have to find hands-on apprenticeships in a variety of healthcare situations to meet these requirements.

If you want to concentrate on a specialized area you may be required to become credentialed in the discipline. Even though it is not mandatory, most employers won't hire people who do not hold special credentials. The fields you might need credentials in include ambulatory nursing, pediatric nursing, and gerontology nursing. Look for credentialing courses and programs that are certified by the National League for Nursing (NLN) or the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC).

If you plan on going after an advanced care position you will need to take additional classes and work to receive your master's degree. Advanced practice nurses can hold many different positions that include nurse-midwives and nurse anesthetists. These types of jobs are often allowed to prescribe medication and perform more active physical care compared to the average nurse. There are particular licensure exams that must be taken, which will vary based on the state you reside in.

There are several registered nurse requirements, and for good reason. Nurses are often relied on to give treatment to patients and have to be proficient in their actions. There are many jobs for individuals who satisfy registered nurse requirements, with the field expected to grow by over 500,000 jobs in the next ten years. While it might take you over four years to obtain the education and pass the training requirements needed to become a registered nurse, you can know that there will be employment openings waiting for you upon completion.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Registered Nurse Job Description Depends on Work Environment


For anyone who is thinking about becoming a registered nurse you need to work to comprehend everything that will be expected of you as a specialist. Different aspects of registered nursing require different job requirements, changing the way you may look at the overall expectations of a nurse. Trying to fully grasp each registered nurse job description will help you to get a better idea of which facet of nursing you wish to look at and make a career from.

Generally speaking, nurses help patients to give them their fundamental care needs. Some nurses will work in hospitals, though most nurses will work in physician’s offices. The job expectations for each nurse will vary based on the area that they're in, the training they have acquired, coupled with their amount of time in the occupation. A few of the basic job expectations of a Registered Nurse include recording of vital signs and logging patient details. Nurses might need to review symptoms to help to analyze the patient's issues with the physician. Some nurses are likely to work with physicians with diagnostic tests, giving a more hands-on style of care.

Some nurses in these general settings will be given more responsibilities. Some nurses will have the ability to dispense medications and specific types of treatment to the patient. Nurses might be expected to speak with patients to help them better understand the treatments along with the medicine they are taking. They will also have to advise patients on any specific diet or exercise requirements or restrictions they might have. Certain nurses are even required to help patients with physical therapy, teaching them the moves they must make while at home to ensure a complete recovery.

There are some forms of nursing care which some people acquire specific certification and credentials for. This includes critical care nursing and emergency trauma nursing. Critical care nurses will work with patients that must be watched fairly often. Emergency nurses work in hospitals and emergency centers to initially asses the condition of the person that has been brought into the emergency room.

Individuals that choose to take on even more education and more important jobs will continue to work to become an advanced practice nurse. Advanced practice nurses will concentrate on a specific discipline to become a nurse anesthetist or a nurse-midwife. These kinds of jobs are a great deal more hands on compared to the average nursing position, hence the additional education requirement. These nurses will be expected to provide care to patients and will also be expected to give medications. Many are able to prescribe medication for their patients - this varies according to the state that the nurse practices in.

There is no way to narrow down the field into a singular registered nurse job description. Even the same exact nursing position across the exact same state can change based on the type of care facility the work is at in addition to the expectations those employers hold. Should you be looking into nursing, check with different nurses and different health care locations and ask them about their nursing job opportunities and the job descriptions of these positions.