Becoming a Registered Nurse
Registered nurses, treat and educate patients on a variety of medical conditions, provide emotional support, help preform diagnostic tests and analyze results and administer treatment and medications. Generalized work activities include: assisting and caring for others, documenting/recording information, getting information, making decisions and solving problems and communicating with supervisors, peers and subordinates. The average wage for registered nurses is $60,000. Nurses occupy the largest healthcare occupation. There are three typical education paths for Registered nurses. First, (BSN) a bachelor's degree in nursing. Second, (ADN or ASN) an associates degree in nursing. Lastly are certificate and diploma programs. Each program takes about four years to complete. Once students have completed their program they must take the NCLEX-RN (national council licensure examination for registered nurses) to obtain their licenses. There are also different types of nurses besides registered nurses for example (LPNs) licensed practical nurses who most of the time work under a registered nurse. After LPNs there are (CNAs) certified nursing assistants who work under the LPN and RN. Specific work assignments vary from one nurse to another. Their duties are determined by their setting and patients. Registered nurses may specialize in certain settings, types of treatments or specific health conditions. There are so many options for nurses, they can work in hospitals, doctors offices or even travel to different areas and provide care.
Since I was very young, I've wanted to become a registered nurse. I feel like this is a very easy career to fit into my lifestyle. To me a nursing career is one of the most flexible careers you could have. If you wanted a nine to five job, you got it. Or, if you wanted a nighttime job, there it is. However, most nurses choose to work longer shifts and then have time off. I do plan on having a family which wouldn't be a problem because nurses schedules are flexible. This is an occupation that guarantees steady employment. I would like to become a specialized nurse because there is a certain area I want to work in. That area is labor and delivery. To me, this is one of the most amazing miracles in life and I would love to be able to experience it every day. Being a registered nurse is a high stress job. Nurses are on their feet all day, have to work well under pressure, be good at multitasking, endure exposures to harmful substances and experience emotional exertion. Lately, I have been thinking about exploring the nursing field after obtaining my degree. I would like to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners can have more variety with what they want to do. Many people ask me how I've always known what I wanted to do. When I first decided this is the career I wanted, I volunteered at hospitals to get a feel for what it was like. Although there are certain areas and settings I don't like working in as a specialized nurse, I can choose my area. Sometimes you just get that feeling where you know this is what you're supposed to be doing, and that first time I walked into the labor and delivery ward, I knew.