When did you become interested in nursing?

I became interested in nursing after my freshman year of college. I was Pre-Med and the fit just didn’t seem right for my long term goals. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but at the same time, I wanted to have a career. I love that nursing will afford me the opportunity to identify with something outside of mothering. Also, after a few years of work experience, I plan to go back to school and get my master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner, or possibly even get my Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I love that I have these choices!

What is your favorite part of being an RN?

I love that I am always learning! It can be frustrating at times to not know everything, but the learning and growth can be so rewarding because you really see the impact in people’s lives! As a nurse you get to be with your patients during some of their most vulnerable times–being a part of that and helping them through the process of healing, loss, whatever their situation may be is really fulfilling.

What has been particularly memorable about your job now or nursing school?

I can’t pinpoint one single patient. You see everything in nursing! Really, everything.

“You see everything in nursing! Really, everything.”

I love the growth that I have seen in myself throughout nursing school, and even now as a RN- I learn something new each day, and have so much left to learn. I also love knowing that I really helped someone in my day.

What is the “NCLEX-PN” exam?

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) are required to take the NCLEX-PN exam in order to become licensed. Each state has different standards that it requires for certified Registered Nurses.

• A strong sense of right and wrong
• Strong work ethic
• Ability to think on your feet
• Flexibility
• Organization!

What is something most don’t realize about nursing?

It’s a lot of work!

Thanks Becky! Best wishes to you in all of your endeavors!

For more information about nursing degrees and careers, visit My Colleges and Careers.

NATURE OF THE WORK

From Ambulatory care to Urology, there is something under the umbrella of nursing that could be right for you. Registered nurses (RNs) tasks include everything from recording patients’ medical histories and symptoms, educating patients on various medical conditions, providing support to patients’ family member, operating medical machinery, or administering medications.

RNs can specialize in various areas of patient care, like operating room nurses who assist surgeons, or according to specific health conditions, like diabetes management nurses. Other RNs specialize working with one or more organs or body systems (like dermatology nurses), or with a specific population demographic (like pediatric nurses who work with children).

Some RNs combine specialties. For example, a ‘pediatric oncology‘ nurse deals with children who have cancer.

Most RNs work as staff nurses as members of a team providing critical health care. Some RNs choose to become advanced practice nurses, who work independently or in collaboration with physicians. Examples include nurse anesthetists (who provide anesthesia and related care before and after surgical or other procedures) or nurse practitioners (who serve as primary and specialty care providers to patients).

Some nursing careers are limited in direct patient care yet still require an RN license. Some examples include forensics nurses (who participate in the scientific investigation of treatments), nurse administrators, (who supervise medical staff and maintain inventory), or nurse educators (who develop and deliver educational programs and curricula).

Some nurses move into the business management side of health care. In management, nurses can advance from assistant unit manger or head nurse to more senior-level administrative, which more often require a further graduate or advanced degree in nursing or health services administration.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s of science degree (BSN), an associate degree (ADN), and a diploma from an approved nursing program. Nurses most commonly enter the occupation by completing an associate degree or bachelor’s degree program. Prospective nurses then must complete a national licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license. Further training or education can qualify nurses to work in specialty areas, and improve advancement opportunities.

Advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master’s degree. Most programs require a BSN for admission and involve 2 years of full-time study. Furthermore, some graduate programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience as an RN for admission.

All nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Prospective students can expect to take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and nursing. Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery.

Licensure and Certification: Upon graduating from an approved nursing program, students must pass a national licensing examination, known as the NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination or by the endorsement of a license issued by another State. The Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement allows a nurse who is licensed and permanently resides in one of the member States to practice in the other member States without obtaining additional licensure. In 2006, 20 states were members of the Compact, while 2 more were pending membership.

All States require periodic license renewal. Foreign-educated and foreign-born nurses wishing to work in the United States must obtain a work visa in addition to passing the above stated certifications.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with 2.5 million jobs held in 2006.
• About 59 percent of jobs are in hospitals.

JOB OUTLOOK

Overall job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be excellent, growing by 23 percent and generating 587,000 new jobs from 2006 to 2016: among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation.

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $57,280 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $47,710 and $69,850. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,250, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $83,440.

Chiropractors treat problems related to the musculoskeletal system and believe this improves the nervous system and general health, all without drugs or surgery.

Like other health practitioners, chiropractors follow a standard routine to get information needed to diagnose and treat patients. They take the patient’s medical history; conduct physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations; and may order laboratory tests like X rays.

In addition to general chiropractic practice, some chiropractors specialize in sports injuries, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and/or nutrition.

Chiropractors work about 40 hours per week. Solo practitioners set their own hours (which often includes evenings and weekends) to accommodate patient needs. Like other health care practitioners, chiropractors in a group practice will sometimes be on call or treat patients of other chiropractors in the group.

AREAS OF STUDY

Some chiropractors use other alternative medicines in their practices, including therapies using water, light, massage, ultrasound, electric, acupuncture, and heat. They also may apply supports such as straps, tapes, and braces to manually adjust the spine, and counsel counsel patients on nutrition, exercise, changes in lifestyle, and stress management.

Similar careers include athletic trainers, massage therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists.

SHOW ME THE MONEY: CHIROPRACTOR SALARY

Median annual earnings of salaried chiropractors were $65,220 in 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,710 and $96,500 a year.

As in other types of independent practice, earnings are relatively low in the beginning and increase as the practice grows. Geographic location and additional qualifications also influence earnings.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Chiropractors must be licensed, which requires 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education, the completion of a 4-year chiropractic college course, and passing scores on national and State examinations.

Chiropractic programs require a minimum of 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience that culminates in the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic.

WHILE YOU’RE CRACKING THE BOOKS…

Many Chiropractic colleges also offer special diplomas for postdoctoral training in orthopedics, neurology, sports injuries, nutrition, rehabilitation, radiology, industrial consulting, family practice, pediatrics, and applied chiropractic sciences.

TYPICAL PERSONALITY TRAITS

Chiropractic adjustments require keen observation, considerable manual dexterity, but not unusual strength or endurance. Chiropractors should be able to work independently and handle responsibility. As in other health-related occupations, empathy, understanding, and the desire to help others are essential.

JOB OUTLOOK

Chiropractors held about 53,000 jobs in 2006. Most chiropractors (52%) work in a solo practice, although some are in group practice or work for other chiropractors. The rest teach, do research, or work in hospitals.

No matter what job or career field is chosen, there is some degree of customer service that has to be achieved. Phone companies have to listen to screaming customers and calmly talk to them about switching plans. Teachers have to deal with irate parents. Businessmen have to deal with angry stockholders when the cash flow isn’t great. All of these things require some the conscious decision to act positively and sometimes to conceal your personal feelings about the person or situation.

In the health care industry this responsibility is heightened to the most extreme degree because human life is at stake and people who emotional and vulnerable are involved.

But where does this elusive “bedside manner” originate from? Is it intuitive? Is it learned?

Dr. Pauline Chen believes bedside manner is part of the “hidden curriculum” in any medical career training. She also believes that it is something than can be learned. She cites a recent study where physician-teachers were assigned time to discuss communication techniques and the adoption of a caring attitude to students and the results were favorable.

Many believe that people learn their style of caring for patients from those who train them and coworkers. Classes such as “Intro to Patient Care” are often offered in medical training programs.

A doctor, like anyone else who has to deal with human beings, each of them unique, cannot be a scientist; he is either, like the surgeon, a craftsman, or, like the physician and the psychologist, an artist. This means that in order to be a good doctor a man must also have a good character, that is to say, whatever weaknesses and foibles he may have, he must love his fellow human beings in the concrete and desire their good before his own

W.H. Auden

Tips for providing excellent patient care