Nursing

Registered Nurses (RN) are key members of the health care team who plan, implement, and evaluate patient care. They have a great responsibility for the patient’s health. They put into action both the medical and nursing plan of care. Utilizing problem solving and critical thinking skills, Registered Nurses individualize these plans of care to their patients needs. Registered Nursing is a dynamic discipline that is a combination of “high tech” knowledge in the use of highly technical equipment and medications and “high touch” working with the psychological and social dimensions of health and wellness. Registered Nurses also focus on teaching good health practices to patients of all ages and their families to promote and maintain health. Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or a Physician. They help to carry out the patient plan of care by providing bedside care, performing basic treatments and giving medications. Psychiatric Technicians (PT) work specifically with patients who have a mental illness and with those patients who are developmentally disabled. Psychiatric Technicians work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, Physician, or Director of Services. They provide bedside care, perform basic treatments and give medications.  Nurse Aides work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. They provide basic bedside care.

Nursing is a highly flexible career enabling you to work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, home care, outpatient clinics, businesses, long term care, public health, schools, and even on Hollywood sets.

Within the hospital, there are a variety of areas where nursing can be practiced, including:

Emergency/Trauma – the pace is quick and the caseload varied                     

Labor & Delivery – caring for expectant mothers throughout the birth process

Nursery - caring for babies immediately after birth until they go home

Critical Care - caring for adults or children requiring specialized technology, medications and nursing interventions

Pediatrics – caring for children from young babies through adolescence

Medical/Surgical - caring for patents with a variety of medical diseases and post-surgical procedures

Surgery - caring for patients before, during and immediately after an operation

Mental health - caring for patients during a time of personal crisis

The hospital also offers registered nurses the opportunities to practice in a variety of roles that involve working within multiple hospital areas. These positions usually require at least a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree.

Nurse Educator - provides education to nursing staff and other health care professionals

Nurse Recruiter - works with every nursing department to recruit nursing personnel

Nurse Manger - manages the day to day activities of a patient care unit. The nurse manager provides the leadership to achieve quality patient care in a particular unit.

Infection Control Nurse - works throughout the hospital investigating and preventing infectious diseases

Non-Hospital Nursing Opportunities: (Some of these areas require a BSN)

School-Nurses - with a BSN and a school nurse credential, provide onsite health care, screening and health education to students

Business & Industry Nurses - work within a business setting treating job-related illness and injury, and providing health education to employees

Home Health-Nurses - provide a variety of patient care services in the home

Long-term Care Facility - in this practice setting, elderly and chronically ill patients are cared for over an extended period of time.

Hospice Care - the care of patients with a terminal illness, in their home or in a specialized patient care unit

Military/Federal Service - Either as a member of the armed services or as a civilian, nurses work in military hospitals around the world. They also work in Veterans hospitals or public health service clinics that provide health care to Indian populations

Public Health-Nurses - with a BSN and a public health credential work for public health departments and focus on health problems in a community or among a population of patients.

Transport/Flight Nursing - As a member of an emergency transport team, nurses care for critical patients being transported by ambulance or air, to a health care facility.

Expanded Roles for Nurses:

Registered Nurses wishing to assume an advanced leadership position may obtain a Masters Degree. This degree allows a Registered Nurse to develop clinical or managerial expertise in a specialized area in order to practice more independently. This additional education will enable them to assume patient care responsibilities beyond the scope of their basic education.

Clinical Nurse Specialist - works with patients, families and nursing staff to provide or coordinate care for patients with complex, serious, or chronic illness.

Nurse Practitioner - engages in independent decision making about nursing care needs of patients and works closely with other health professionals. They provide direct primary care to individuals in a variety of settings, including hospitals, offices and community agencies. Nurse Practitioners do physical examinations, take health histories and manage health problems.

Nurse Midwife - cares for mothers and babies during pregnancy and mothers after the delivery. Has the responsibility to deliver babies.

Nurse Anesthetist - administers all types of anesthetics and monitors patients during surgical, diagnostic and obstetrical procedures.

Nurse Educator - serves on the faculty of schools of nursing at a college or university providing both classroom and clinical instruction.

Nurse Executive - works as the chief nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations. This includes responsibility for the care of all patients and provides both clinical and administrative leadership for nurses and the organization.

Education

There are six career paths in nursing:

Associate Degree in Nursing leading to eligibility to take the licensure examination to become a Registered Nurse – approximately 3- 3 ½ years depending upon the program.

Bachelor Degree in Nursing leading to eligibility to take the licensure examination to become a Registered Nurse– approximately 4-4 ½ years depending upon the program. This course of study enables the nurse to have more job opportunities and to pursue a Master of Science Degree in nursing or another field.

Masters Degree in Nursing – approximately 1-2 years after the Bachelor of Science Degree.  With this degree the nurse is able to assume more expanded leadership roles as a Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, educator and administrator. To be able to practice as a Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist, the individual must take a licensing examination.

Licensed Vocational Nurse - approximately 12-18 months. The state requires a minimum number of hours. The length of the program is dependent on how it is structured. LVN programs can be found in community colleges and adult schools. Once the program is completed, the individual must pass a state licensing examination.

Psychiatric Technician - approximately 12-18 months. The state requires a minimum number of hours. The length of the program is dependent on how it is structured. PT programs can be found in community colleges and adult schools. Once the program is completed, the individual must pass a state licensing examination.

Nurse Aide - approximately 8-10 weeks, this depends on how the program is structured. For an additional two weeks, an individual can take classes enabling them to work in the home as a home health aide. Once the program is completed, the individual must pass a state licensing examination.

Average Starting Salary
(in Southern California, dependent on specialty and location of practice)

Registered Nurse - $39,000- 44,000 annually; Nurses with a BSN may earn 3-5% more to start in some organizations and specialties

Registered Nurse with a MSN - $60,000-$70,000 annually

Nurse Executives - $75,000-$90,000 annually

LVN - $29,000 annually

Psychiatric Technician - $31,000 annually

Nurse Aide - $18,000-$20,000 annually

For More Information Log on to:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

California Board of Registered Nursing click on nursing programs

California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians click on general information & education then California accredited schools

Minority Nursing the career and educational resource for the minority nursing professional

National Student Nurses Association click on career center

Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow click on resource info

Nursing Society click on Schools & Colleges for information about nursing educational programs acress the United States. Click on Career Map to learn about nursing as a career and high school requirements for college entry.