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The explosion in opportunities for Nurses is expected to continue in to 2014 and beyond. The growing need for Registered Nurses and providers will only expand as the Kid Boomer generation starts retiring and requiring more care. There’s lots of types of nursing jobs. In this editorial, they will talk through the different Nursing job descriptions for those looking to enter the opportunities presented in the field of Nursing.
Here are some facts about the opportunities in the field of nursing:
- There’s roughly 2,694,540 licensed registered nurses in the United States
- Approximately 146,902 RNs are men only 5.4% of the total nursing population
- The average annual earnings for all full-time employed RNs are $46,800
- The average annual salary for a master’s-prepared nurse is $61,000; doctorate-prepared nurses average slightly higher at $63,550
- Average annual earnings for staff nurses are $42,100
The job outlook for RNs in all specialties is expected to only expand further. The need to replace nurses who are retiring will only generate further opportunity for those entering the nursing filed. As technologies advance in patient care more medical problems will be able to be handled by preventative medicine. This is a nice thing for those thinking about the field of Nursing.
- Nurse practitioners have average annual earnings of $60,126
The nursing field is definitely a sellers market. Lots of Hospitals and clinics are competing fiercely for registered nurses, those with specific specialties. The fastest growth is expected in outpatient facilities, same day surgery facilities, and rehabilitation centers.
The bottom line is, the nursing field will only grow over the next 10-20 years. For those thinking about a career in nursing, here are a number of the Nursing job descriptions to think about.
Registered Nursing Job Description (RN)
Registered nurses make up the largest percentage of health workers in the US. Nurses are typically the point of contact with the patients and families. In addition, they are the primary point of contact between the patient and the world of health care, both at the bedside and in outpatient settings. Registered Nurses perform patient evaluations, track patient vitals, and perform medical procedures such as IVs, and often administer medications. RNs are important to the Physician as they often are in touch with the patients status and well being.
Nurse practitioners are usually the primary care givers of their patients. Like physicians, Nurse Practitioners are the first ones to diagnose and treat disease and other medical issues. Nurse practitioners can also prescribe medication which is not allowed by Registered Nurses.
Nurse Practitioner
The education requirements to become a nurse practitioner need a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and often a Master in Nursing as well. Lots of times nurse practitioners will handle secondary roles as well in obstetrics, anesthesiology, and midwifery.
Some would argue that in the US they need more Nurse Practitioners than Physicians in the health care method. Some say this would help in reducing the cost of providing healthcare across the board.
Head Nurses are typically the Nursing managers in the healthcare scene. Their typical responsibilities range from work schedules to performance reviews for nursing staff. Other tasks include quality control, standards review, medication review, care reviews, and training.
Head Nurse or Nurse Supervisor
Licensed Practical Nurses Job Descriptions (LPN)
Nursing Managers and supervisors are critical in managing nurses in larger Hospital and clinical environments. For those interested in not all becoming a Nurse but also enjoy managing people, this is great job for you.
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), provide custom and personalized care to patients. LPNs typically document directly to either the Physician or RN. Most LPNs assist closely in the every day care of the patient hands on. Some LPNs administer medicine and IVs for patients. They often handle bed sores, enemas, bandages, and other hands on care for patients.
Home Health Nurses Job Description
Home Health Nurses provide their care in the patients home. It’s been found that lots of patients recover much quicker when they can recover in the comfort of their own home.
Some common uses for home health nurses are those recovering accidents, cancer, and childbirth. Home health nurses must be able to work independently and often supervise others such as home health aides in providing care to the patients in their homes.
Nursing Aides Job Description
Nursing aides, or nursing assistants perform most of their tasks under supervision of medical staff and other nurses. A number of the tasks include answering patient requests, delivering messages, serving meals, and help patients eat, bathe, and dress themselves. Nursing Aides provide skin care to patients, take patients temperatures, and vitals such as blood pressure and respiration. Lots of times they assist patients in and out of their beds.
Nursing Aides are also key in keeping patients rooms tidy and in order. It is important for patients to have somebody to rely on in assisting them to appointments and back and forth to their room. Aides are also key in reporting physical and emotional status to the other nursing staff and physicians when they notice changes in behavior that may indicate failing health.
