What It Means To Be A Registered Nurse
The work of a registered nurse (RN) can bring benefits to a person. Aside from a good compensation, a registered nurse also has the opportunity to learn from her working environment, thus advancing her career.
RNs comprise the most number of workers in the health care industry. They rank higher than licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants. In fact, in most cases, licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants need the supervision of RNs in performing their tasks. RNs oversee the tasks in a hospital environment.
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While RNs are well compensated at the workplace, they oftentimes work under challenging conditions. They work on weekends, on holidays and keep an on-call status when off duty. Their job also exposed them to medical hazards. If they are not careful, they might suffer from the same illnesses as those of the patients they care for. This probably explains the lucrative salaries they get.
The Tasks of RNs
The tasks of a registered nurse vary, depending on the hospital where he is employed. Generally, they cater to the needs of patients in different situations, like in the operating rooms, in ambulatory care, intensive care units, clinics and health centers. This wide coverage of an RN's job enriches his experience and makes it easier for him to advance in the nursing profession if they want to.
Specifically, the work of an RN includes the following: Making notes of a patient's medical history, designing a health care plan for the patient, managing the tasks of licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants, giving advice to families of patients, providing emotional support to patients, and overseeing the entire operation of a particular department in a hospital setup.
The RN Education
The health care profession takes its foundation on the existence of RNs. A degree in registered nursing opens a lot of doors for students to venture into other medical professions.
What are the required academic requirements to be an RN? At least one of the following programs should be completed: Associate in Nursing degree, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Nursing
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Diploma.
Of these three, the Associate's Degree in Nursing is the most popular program to take before becoming a registered nurse. It takes two to three years to complete. This field provides the student an entry level to other benefits, like tuition refund and a chance to get a two-year Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. An Associate's Degree is also a good training ground in terms of non-clinical education.
