In addition to an aging population, the average age of a registered nurse is 50 , which means many active nurses are also quickly heading into their retirement years. There has never been a greater demand for highly trained, dedicated nurses. Though there are needs around the country, some states are experiencing and will experience greater nursing shortages than others. Projections indicate that in , the most significant shortages by far will be in California. Other states that will likely have shortages exceeding 10, registered nurses include Texas, New Jersey, and South Carolina.
Rural areas will also experience a notable shortage of qualified nursing candidates. Finding high-quality medical professionals to serve rural areas has always been a challenge. A higher nurse-to-patient ratio means more patients under the care of a single nurse. When a nurse has too many patients to juggle and not enough help, there is an increased likelihood that they will become exhausted and burned out.
Over time, a job they loved becomes a burden, and they lose the drive to perform it well. Nurse burnout can lead to a lower quality of care, or it might cause talented nurses to leave the profession altogether.
Overworked nurses are less able to devote an adequate amount of time to patient care. They may not have time to lend a listening ear, or they could forget what someone tells them. Or, they may even confuse the information one patient gives them with that of another. They may not spend as much time explaining medication guidelines or offering suggestions on home care.
Patients who experience an elevated nurse-to-patient ratio are also more likely to get readmitted for care within 30 days of their first encounter.
On the other hand, research has demonstrated a link between higher nurse-to-patient ratios and lower mortality rates for patients. There has never been a more critical time for men and women to join the global ranks of nurses. When you choose to begin a nursing program, you are entering a valuable and life-changing profession. Besides providing a fulfilling career, the opportunities in the U. And those are both essential responsibilities.
But one of the most rewarding things about nursing is that it offers a wide variety of opportunities for people with all interests and abilities. Believe it or not, you can work toward many different types of nursing , including a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nursing assistant, and travel nurse, among others. Each of these requires different levels of education and commitment. Let Vista College help you on your journey. Remote workers are becoming more important than ever in our changing world.
Learn more about this change and how you can benefit from Read More. They can work in schools, clinics, private homes, and assisted living facilities. They also specialize in different areas such as midwifery, cardiac care, geriatrics, family practice, labor, and delivery.
Due to the interconnected nature of our modern existence, we are all effected by the help and care nurses administer. Without nurses, everyday medicine would cease to exist. And that would have a grave impact on all of us. The national spotlight on the shortage of registered nurses , increased baby boomer population, and increased access to healthcare has generated strong interest in nursing to those seeking a career change or those new to the workforce.
With opportunities increasing, salaries climbing, and the demand for nursing services increasing now is the best time to join the nursing profession. The duties of a registered nurse vary depending mostly on the healthcare setting. However, most registered nurses consult with other healthcare providers, administer medication, educate families and individuals, monitor patients, and manage medical records. Registered nurses should also stay up-to-date with the newest technology to ensure that they are providing the best care to patients and support to other healthcare providers.
Other than taking care of patients, as a registered nurse, you can attain leadership positions. Additionally, you can also focus in one of the nursing specialties to advance your career.
Apart from medical duties, registered nurses require a combination of soft skills including teamwork, excellent communication, critical-thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Curious about where you might fit in as a registered nurse? Here are some different settings where RNs are commonly employed. Which one is the right setting for you?
Intensive care or critical care involves the treatment of patients who are suffering from critical or life-threatening conditions and need constant care.
Qualified nurses helping patients that are in need of intensive care may have the titles NICU neonatal intensive care unit nurse, ICU nurse or trauma nurse. These professionals are very important as they are tasked with the responsibilities of inserting life-saving IVs, caring for dying patients, and educating families on how to take care of loved ones with brain injuries and life support.
Working in hospitals is what often comes to mind when people think of nursing. According to a BLS report, 61 percent registered nurses were working in hospitals. Baby boomers are aging and a significant portion of the nursing profession is reaching retirement age. The U. Nurses have significant benefits and options. These include working in different medical specialties and finding employment in various workplaces for RNs.
For example, you can specialize in pediatrics and work only with children or work as a surgical nurse in the operating room. You may choose to work in a hospital, clinic, or school.
You can also become a correctional nurse and work in a prison facility or choose an alternate path with a government agency or large corporation. Additionally, there is more than one way to become an RN. You can enroll in a two-year program for your associate degree in nursing ADN. Though not required, more opportunities are available if you choose to earn a master's or doctor of nursing practice DNP degree.
Nursing offers many entry-level nursing options , specialties, and working environments. Read on for 16 reasons why choosing a career in nursing might be a meaningful path for you. Nurses do much more than perform medical tasks. As a nurse, you can make a real difference in someone's life. You can offer hope to people, sometimes during the worst time of their life. Nurses often counsel patients and families after a devastating diagnosis, celebrate with them when they receive good news, and become trusted confidantes.
Nurses can also improve their communities through volunteering. Activities included health fairs, health-related volunteering, raising or donating money, and traveling for volunteer work.
The National Center for Education Statistics ranks health professions in the top three associate degrees by the number of graduates.
Bachelor's degrees are in the top two. You can also choose to get your nursing degree through accredited online nursing programs , which means you can be located anywhere in the U. Since nursing is a hands-on profession, you will be required to both take classes online and complete in-person nursing clinicals at a healthcare setting. It's important to ensure the online program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Student debt can be overwhelming. Payback programs can take up to a decade to pay off. However, nursing students have many ways to get nursing school paid for. These include nursing scholarships and grant money from a range of organizations. Financial aid is available for students seeking an associate, bachelor's, master's, and even DNP degree. Also, many hospitals offer tuition remission programs for staff looking to go back to school. Several different nursing degrees allow you to enter the workforce quickly.
If you return to school to complete your bachelor's degree, you can do it while earning an income. Job satisfaction and career satisfaction are different. The first measures satisfaction with a specific job, while the second measures satisfaction with your career choice.
Each day can be different when you're working with patients. Whether you are working in a clinic, office, hospital, or within an organization, nursing is not dull. In the Survey of Registered Nurses by AMN Healthcare, data showed nurses had plans to work outside direct patient care , could work fewer hours depending on their situation, and some planned to go into travel nursing. In , Gallup started a decades-long survey to determine the most ethical and honest profession.
In December , for an impressive 19 years, Americans ranked nurses in the number one position.
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