Registered Nurse Career Research Essay

Ever since I was a little girl I always wanted to be a nurse and help people who were ill. As I got older, I got more information and decided that I wanted to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Registered nurses care for patients and educate them on health issues to prevent future illnesses. Along with technical skills necessary for the medical profession, registered nurses must have people skills to work closely with patients and their families. Becoming a RN entails formal education from a state-approved nursing school and state licensure. There are generally three educational approaches to becoming a registered nurse. Registered nurses usually train by completing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program in nursing. Less commonly, registered nurses prepare for the occupation by earning a diploma in nursing. Graduates of any of these programs are generally eligible for licensure and entry-level employment as registered nurses. Nursing students may choose from a variety of education options to become a registered nurse. Some teaching hospitals offer 3-year diploma programs in nursing; however, these programs are rare. Most RN’s earn associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees in nursing. The skills needed for this job are people skills, emotional stability, CPR, First Aid and a second language would also help. I plan on taking French throughout the university so I’ll be considered trilingual and I plan on updating my CPR and First Aid yearly. San Diego City College’s nursing  education program offers associate’s degrees for students who want to become RNs, as well as a program for LVNs seeking RN certification but not the degree. Students learn through classroom study and clinical experience in health care facilities. It will take two years with open admission and the tuition for in-state is $898. San Diego State University’s School of Nursing offers programs that train entry-level RNs as well as provide working professionals  with advanced studies to continue their education and careers. All bachelor’s degree students must take part in an international learning experience. It’s a four years with a 30% acceptance rate an d the tuition for in-state is $6,578. There are four general duties a RN does on a daily basis. The first duty is evaluating a patient’s physical, mental and emotional health. Also an RN’s job is to take vital sings. The second duty is designing and carrying out a treatment plan for the patient. Also bandaging wounds, giving medicine and injections that need to be given. The third duty is to monitor the results of the patient’s treatment to make sure it’s working and the patient is happy with it. Also a RN tells patients about they’re medical options and health issues such as nutrition and personal hygiene. The last duty is to complete and organize records about the patients. RN’s job opportunities are in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and basically any public health building. Also there are many organizations that recruit nurses to go to other countries. England and the U.S are two of the many countries that do this. The salary for a full-time nurse is $35,000 to $60,000 a year. Benefits include paid holidays, paid sick days and dental care. Casual (on call) nurses earn $17 to $35 an hour. Nurses work in hospitals, nursing homes, walk in clinics, prisons, schools, ect. Hazards of the job include contracting an infectious disease from a patient and injury from instruments, chemicals or gases. Nurses also get injured from violent patients and their families. They work irregular hours, nights, evenings and holidays with 12-hour shifts. Job demand is high because of the storage of nurses in Canada and people are always getting sick. People will always get sick therefore nurses will be part of the future. According to national data  published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for nurses is expected to increase 26% by 2020, which is much faster than the average occupation. The BLS further states that registered nurses with at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are expected to have the best job opportunities. Prospective students are encouraged to conduct  independent research to determine actual job growth rates, which vary according to location, education and experience. Many employers have instituted hiring policies which require all RNs to have BSN degrees. Others will employ RNs without a BSN, but require new RNs to complete their BSN degree within a certain amount of time. My goal is to become a registered nurse and to dedicate my life to helping people. I’m determined to ​  become a nurse to touch lives not only as a provider of health care but also as a teacher. I am committed to excelling personally and professionally in all that I do and to serve as a role model by leading a healthy lifestyle. I came to this goal as a result of my family background and my life experiences. I have a strong work ethic. I am very loyal and trustworthy and always the person my friends, family and co-workers would go to for advice or to empathize. I love helping people and have a big heart. I am the kind of person who will give you my lunch to someone who has no money to eat. I’ll take that extra five minutes and listen to a patient when I am pressed for time because health care is not only to provide treatment, but it’s also expressing patience and being a great listener. When I was looking into career options, nursing attracted my attention for a variety of reasons, you could go anywhere, work with adults, children, in public health, prisons, physicians’ offices, schools, factories, and were only limited by your level of education; I found that nursing could be whatever I wanted to make of it. People need nurses in all aspects of life. If I were to ever feel â€Å"expended out† in one area, I could educate myself and expand into another field of nursing. If I needed to move to another country, I could transfer and easily find my niche there. The sensation that you feel when you know you accomplished your goal to aid an individual is priceless. The potential is endless in this field, from specialty areas to general population, and from  newborns through geriatrics. Nursing is probably the most personally rewarding job there is. Bibliography Occupational Outlook Handbook. â€Å"Registered Nurse.† [Online] Available http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/21/Registered_Nurse_RN January 12, 2015 Registered Nurses [Online] Available http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm​ January 12, 2015