Registered nurses are responsible for several things. Being a registered nurse takes a lot of patience, dedication and a heart of compassion. Registered nurses are responsible for maintaining things such as; wound care, medical records, administering medications, establishing treatment plans, observation of patients and daily vitals. Registered nurses also consult with the doctors, perform diagnostic tests and educate patients and family members about their specific condition. RNs also develop and manage nursing care plans, advising patients and their families on proper care and steps to improve or maintain their health. While state laws govern the scope of nursing practice, it is usually patient needs that determine a nurse’s daily job activities. Professional nursing responsibilities have changed over time. Nurses today are valued members of the health care team who bring their own body of knowledge and compassion to the process of health care. Nurses work in collaboration with physicians and families because a patient has rights and say about his or her care. Going to school to become a registered nurse has different enrollment choices. There are many selections to choose from.
A student who wants to pursue nursing can go to a vocational school to get obtain a license for practical nursing or attend a university or community college to get degree for registered nursing. An undergraduate normally will go to school only for a diploma in nursing. The most common route for a registered nurse licensure is by enrolling in a hospital based accredited school of nursing. The first degree that a student can receive is an associate degree. An associate degree takes two or three years to complete. The degree is offered by community colleges or hospital-based school. This prepares an individual for a defined technical scope of practice or entry level. The final degree that an individual can receive in nursing is a Bachelor of Science. A Bachelor of Science degree is only offered by four year universities. Some community colleges offer a bachelor’s in science also but most of the community colleges do not. A bachelor’s in science prepares the graduate to engage in the full scope of professional nursing across all health care fields. The first two years of college for a Bachelor of Science degree a student will study the following courses; psychology, human growth and development, biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, nutrition, and anatomy and physiology. The final classes a nursing student will student in college for a bachelor’s in science focuses more on adult acute and chronic disease; maternal child health pediatrics, psychiatric/mental health nursing; and community health nursing. In every state, students must graduate from an approved nursing program, and successfully pass the national licensing examination test. Nursing school isn’t easy and normally takes 4 years to complete.
Depending on your location background checks are also necessary. The Salary for a registered nurse in the state of Louisiana is around 70,000 dollars. The highest paid state in the United States currently is California. Registered Nurses in the state of California has an average annual salary of $101,260 yearly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2018 nationally, a registered nurse’s average annual salary was $66,530, while the middle 50% earned between $52,250 and $77,970. The lowest 10% of registered nurses earned average salaries of $43,970 annually, while the top 10% of earners brought in $93,700 in annual pay. Nurses with the minimum required education generally start out toward the lower end of the scale, progressing toward the top end with advanced nursing education and training. Overall, job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be good. Generally, registered nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) will have better job prospects than those without one. Some employers are asking Nurses with associate degrees to go back and obtain bachelors. I do think after a certain amount of years dedicated to the company, an employer could offer that as an appreciation gesture for the employees’ term of service.
