Transcript File - Virginia Nursing Students` Association

Careers in Nursing
[Insert presenter name(s)]
[Insert name of school]
© 2013 Andrea King, VNSA BTN Director ‘13-’14
Agenda
1
What is an RN?
2
Where do RNs work?
3
Career Opportunities
4
Advanced Education
5
Nursing Shortage and the Future of Nursing
6
Is nursing right for you?
7
How to Become a RN
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
•RNs are professionals licensed by the state in which they
work.
•RNs function as active members of the health care team.
•RNs provide and manage care for individuals who are ill
and their families.
•RNs also work with healthy individuals and families to
educate them about wellness and disease prevention.
•RNs work with patients of all ages promoting physical,
mental and social well-being.
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
Continued…
• RNs observe and assess the patient in order to create a plan of care
• RNs perform a lot of skills (some of which Physicians do not know
how to perform)
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Vital Signs, Physical Assessment, & Patient Interview
Administer medications, administer injections, & insert IVs
Urinary Catheters & Enemas
Feeding Tubes, Nasogastric Tubes
Wound Care
Help to Manage Pain
May help to delivery babies
May assist in surgeries
TEACH!
Many more!
Where do nurses work?
The possibilities are endless!
☤Hospitals
☤Clinics/Offices
☤Nursing Homes
☤Hospice
☤Schools
☤Cruise Ships
☤Military
☤Helicopters
☤Industries
☤Wellness Centers
☤Public Health Offices
☤Home Health Care
Agencies
What kinds of career opportunities are
available?
There are a multitude of
specialties to choose
from including:
Medical/Surgical - Care for a
variety of ill or injured patients
and patients who have
undergone surgery.
Critical Care - Care for
critically ill or injured patients of
all ages.
Career Opportunities
Continued…
•Labor and Delivery:
Care for mothers
and babies before,
during, and after
delivery.
•Pediatrics: Care for
ill or injured children.
•Cardiac Care: Care
for patients with
issues involving their
hearts.
•Geriatrics: Care for
elderly ill or injured
patients.
•Neurology: Care for
patients with
illnesses or injuries
involving the nervous
system.
•Dermatology: Care
for patients with skin
conditions.
•Orthopedic: Care for
patients with
illnesses or injuries to
muscles and bones.
•Same Day Surgery
Post Anesthesia
Care Unit Recovery
Room: Care for
patients immediately
before or after surgery.
•O.R.: Care for
patients in the
operating room
during surgical
procedures.
These are just a few of
the many possibilities
you could choose from
after completing a
nursing program.
Advanced Education Adds Options:
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Clinical Nurse Specialist - Provides care to patients with complex illnesses
or injuries and often responsible for the continuing education of staff nurses.
Nurse Practitioner - Diagnoses and treats a wide variety of patients.
Research - Involved with research studies to increase the knowledge base
of the nursing profession.
Nurse Midwives - Care for women during pregnancy and deliver their
babies.
Nursing Professor - Teaches nursing students in nursing schools.
Nurse Anesthetist - Provides anesthesia to patients during surgical and
non-surgical procedures.
What’s all this talk about a nursing
shortage?
There is currently a shortage of nurses
worldwide, which is the result of several
factors:
Aging nursing population many nurses
are retiring.
Post World War II “baby boomer”
generation is aging and requiring more
medical care.
Affordable care act is going to call for a
need for more nurses especially in rural
areas because nurses will be “running”
these primary care clinics
What does all this mean for the future of
nursing?
•
The future has never been brighter for a career in nursing.
•
Salaries are expected to increase due to the nursing shortage.
•
Future nurses can expect a high degree of job security.
•
A variety of nursing positions will be readily available to future nursing
school graduates.
Future of Nursing
Continued…
 Employers are becoming more flexible in scheduling options—nurses
often work any combination of 8, 10, or 12 hour shift on days, nights and
weekends.
 Many facilities utilize some form of self-scheduling, allowing you to
choose (within unit guidelines) what shifts you work and select your
days off.
 There are endless possibilities for future nurses both male and female.
How do I know if nursing is right for
me?
Although there is a nursing shortage and nurses are in great
demand, nursing is not right for everyone…
Qualities to be a good nurse:
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Do you enjoy health and science classes and do reasonably well in math?
Do you have an interest in learning about the human body and how it
works?
Do you have a sense of compassion and desire to help others?
Do you like to teach people and share information with others?
Are you able to work well with others and do you enjoy being around other
people?
Do you possess good decision making & problem solving skills?
Do you desire variety in career opportunities?
Do you enjoy learning and analyzing things?
Are you dependable and do you have good oral and written communication
skills?
What can I do to prepare for a career in
nursing?
☛Work hard to get good grades.
☛Study science and math
courses.
☛Consider job shadowing.
What type of education will I need to
become a nurse?
Associate
Degree in
Nursing
Baccalaureate
in Science in
Nursing
Masters of
Science in
Nursing
Usually a two year program at a community / technical college.
After completion of the program, graduates must pass the
NCLEX test to apply for state licensure as an RN.
Usually a four year program at a college or university. After
completing the program, graduates must pass the NCLEX test to
apply for state licensure as an RN.
Usually a two year program offered to graduates of a
Baccalaureate program. These programs are usually intensely
focused on a specialty area of study. Graduates of Masters
programs often function as Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse
Specialists, Nurse Midwives, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse
Researchers or Nurse Administrators.
Your Logo
References
www.NHNurses.org
Questions?
Don’t be shy! 
Do you have questions
about nursing? Nursing
school? Applying to nursing
school? The college
experience in general?
Contact Info
• [Insert Name]
– Current [insert year] nursing student
– [Insert e-mail address and/or phone number]
• [Insert Name if Applicable]
– Current [insert year] nursing student
– [Insert e-mail address and/or phone number]
• [Insert Name if Applicable]
– Current [insert year] nursing student
– [Insert e-mail address and/or phone number]
THANK YOU!