So You Want To Be A Nurse
Being a nurse is the best job in the world. And when you think about it, it's not hard to see why! Just think of all the benefits that come from working at a hospital: receiving amazing shifts and shifts, able to be with sick patients around the clock, getting paid for your experience, making new friends along the way! That being said, there are many things nurses do that you might not even realize. If you still aren't convinced on what it means to be a nurse though, keep reading so we can tell you some of our favorite things about this fascinating profession!
Nurses care for patients in hospitals and nursing homes. Some of the most common jobs nurses take includes admitting patients, assisting in surgeries (yes, you read that right!), taking care of wounds and other injuries, providing pain management and comfort care, giving medication, bathing patients, making sure they are ready for discharge (when appropriate), helping them eat and stay hydrated, debriding wounds and removing biofilms from wounds that cause infections.
No job is more crucial than a nurse's for the sake of these patients. When nurses aren't around to take care of their patients, it results in them getting worse conditions. In fact, a study found that 21% of patients who died in hospitals would have survived if the nurse was better educated and trained.
Nurses are trained to recognize signs of distress in patients, such as trouble breathing or suddenly appearing symptoms (due to infection or other reasons). Nurses are also trained on proper ways of caring for their patients and how to recommend the right treatment or care. If a patient has a certain condition, nurses will always ask them whether they want to be transferred to another hospital where they can receive better treatment. Sometimes though, it's not really decided by the patient him or herself but by various factors like insurance coverage and family support.
Nurses not only need to be good at taking care of patients but they also need to know how to take care of themselves. This is because nurses are a vital part of a hospital's workflow. When nurses aren't able to work, the hospital suffers from being unable to provide excellent quality care. Nurses will go through rigorous training and education in order for them to become registered nurses. Then, certain voluntary certifications are available for them depending on what they plan to do with their career whether it be nursing anesthesia or psychiatric nursing. While these voluntary certifications are helpful, they aren't an actual requirement by any means though.
Nurses are usually required to go through several years of schooling and training before they're able to take care of patients. They need to be able to care for patients with sensitivity and compassion while still maintaining a professional demeanor. Nurses also need to be able to manage stress since the work can be quite stressful at times. Nurses are often expected to give up a big part of their free time for work and unpaid overtime especially in emergency rooms where there's always a high volume of patients needing attention at once.
They often need to deal with different kinds of ill people from all walks of life from newborns, children, adults, the elderly and even those who are not feeling so well anymore due to aging or sickness. Nurses also need to be mentally strong since they will often face death head-on in their line of work since that's just part of being a nurse. However, nurses are provided with emotional support from their colleagues and superiors to help them deal with these patients' conditions.
Anyone can be a nurse but there are some prerequisites in order to become one. Nurses usually need to have a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate. Then, they should enroll in an accredited nursing degree program and finish it within four years or two semesters depending on the program. After that, they will be able to take the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses) for consideration for becoming an RN. This exam is required in order to become a nurse and it's on par with passing the bar exam so you can trust that the test will be difficult and that you need to prepare well.
Nurses make up only 0.5% of all U.S. workers but make up ten percent of workplace injuries and illnesses accounting to over $1 billion in annual workplace losses each year, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nurses account for only 0.5% of workplace injuries and illnesses, but they account for ten percent of workplace losses totaling over $1 billion each year! What that tells us is that it's vital to be a nurse because the job can get pretty dangerous, especially when you're dealing with patients with infections.
Nurses make an average salary of around $66,000 annually and their top earnings are usually around $100,000 a year. The higher ranked you are as a nurse (like a head nurse or charge nurse) the more money you will make as well as your experience! If you want to become a head nurse or charge nurse though, there are extra certifications you need to take in order to qualify for that position. You also need to really enjoy your work as a nurse or you might find yourself quitting your job in a few years.
Nurses can still pursue other careers if they wish but it's important to know that nursing isn't just about being a nurse. Nursing is more of a profession than anything else and this profession comes with hard work, dedication and the ability to care for patients while handling stress. It's not an easy job and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to become a nurse but in the end, you'll be enjoying your career as a nurse.
If you liked this article, check out the rest of my nursing articles!
If you're interested in nursing schools, check out NURSING SCHOOLS HERE
If you like this article, pin it!
For more of my work visit: http://www.tutoringforfree.net/about/author/tiffanie-jones/ or like me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TutoringForFree.NET/
References:
Ehrlich, A. (2014, February 12). The Cost of Nursing Injuries and Illnesses. Retrieved February 13, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/us/the-cost-of-nursing-injuries-and-illnesses.html?_r=0#story-continued-1
Goldstein, S. (2016). Nurses are the third most stressed workers in America: Here’s how to avoid burnout and turn it into success. Retrieved February 13, 2016, from http://thinkprogress.
Conclusion
Most people don't love their jobs but it's usually because of their bosses or not having enough free time. Nurses on the other hand may not necessarily love the job all the time and feel overwhelmed from time to time. However, nurses are vital to our healthcare system and hospitals wouldn't be able to function without nurses.