Health Care Career Paper

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Nursing: The Science You Practice with the Heart

Student’s Name

School of Health Sciences, Miami Dade College

HSC003: Introduction to Health Care

Professor’s Name

June 30, 2020

Nursing: The Science You Practice with the Heart

A registered nurse (RN) is the first line of defense when it comes to taking care of a patient. The service provided by this health care professional includes monitoring the patient's medical status, including diet and physical activities, as well as observing and reporting changes in the patient’s behavior, condition, and physical functions. Additionally, the nurse creates and maintains patient’s records, administers medication orally, rectally, subcutaneously, and intramuscularly. Overall, the nurse assists doctors in their work during patient’s treatments, performing a wide range of duties. They play a major role in hospitals, clinics, and private practices as well as caring for patients by providing emotional support to them and their families (Swanbamrung, 2015).

The objective of the Scope of Nursing is to give nurses guidance on matters linked to the scope of their clinical practice. When complying with the autonomous scope of practice, it is very important to take into consideration the most appropriate intervention for a client. It is always good to have a second set of eyes before arriving at a nursing diagnosis or ending up with a plan of care. The client’s well-being is the top priority, and to do so it is always recommendable to include the health care team in decision making. Being ahead of all the possible outcomes when determining whether a client would benefit from an activity, as well as knowing the risks, is key. An RN performs under the supervision of a physician who delegates in writing the dispensing of medicines other than certain controlled substances (Stiller, 2015).

The Code of Ethics for Nurses is a compendium of nonnegotiable ethical standards that every individual entering the nursing field has to comply with, as well as showing a full understanding and commitment to society. These provide protection for the public and security to keep the title as a registered nurse. The development of regulation in specific education related to evaluation of competence is what makes it possible to follow the guidelines to protect the patients and the nursing professional (Watt & McIntosh, 2012).

There are several ways that can lead to the licensure as an RN. In the path to becoming a registered nurse, the Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) is the most common route, and usually involves a two-year program at a community college. However, the proper education needed to become an RN can be gained by completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

One of the accredited educational institutions in Florida that offers the nursing program is the University of Florida (UF). The annual in-state tuition of UF is $21,131, and its admission rate is 46% (University of Florida, 2020). This university has a well-respected BSN program, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. Another well-known institution is the University of Miami, whose yearly tuition costs $66,274, and its admission rate is 38% (University of Miami, 2020). The University of Miami offers a variety of specializations including BSN, Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN), and DNP programs, and 94% of their BSN students pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt.

Enrollment in nursing school does not require previous experience in the field. The time it takes to complete the nursing program varies depending on the student’s educational background. An Associate’s Degree in Nursing can be completed in 18 to 24 months based on student’s availability to study. After that, passing the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) is a mandatory requirement from all boards of nursing territories and states of the U.S. Moreover, becoming a registered nurse can be achieved by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which include several options. For example, nurses who have an RN or ADN can earn the BSN in 12 months, for those who are not nurses yet, a standard BSN program can take up to 33 months, but with a bachelor’s degree in another field, the BSN can be completed in as few as 18 months.

The job outlook for registered nurses is projected to grow about 15% from 2016 to 2018, showing an accelerated grow compared to other occupations (Daly, 2015). This is predicted from several factors, such as the chronic conditions growing rates, obesity, diabetes, a rising demand for healthcare services due to the baby-boom population, as well as the longevity with the practice of healthier and active lifestyles. In reviewing several online job sites such as monster.com, and Indeed.com, as well as the various human resource pages of local hospitals, there is a wide range of jobs advertised for registered nurses. Some include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), General Nurse Practitioners, ICU Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse. The student will be working in the field by direct supervision in order to get practical experience while completing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. During a recent interview, a new graduate from a Master’s program in nursing assured me that there are many more avenues open for those who have higher degrees and that moving beyond an Associate’s degree is essential for a generous salary package (J. Hernandez, personal communication, May 3, 2019).

The entry-level salary for a registered nurse ranges from $21.39 to $35.08 an hour, and the nurse can start at an income of $52,000 annually, without taking into consideration overtime, bonus, or commission (Wimbush, 2019). However, an experienced registered nurse can earn an average wage of $34.24 per hour and make an annual income of $65,000 (Nurse.org, 2020). It is valid also to point out that the salaries vary per state or region within the United States. Once a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing is reached, which is a great foundation for a long-lasting learning experience, it opens plenty of opportunities for career development. Once established in the nursing field, nurses can continue furthering their education with a Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (Kane & Warner, 1999).

There are numerous national, state, and local professional organizations for nurses. These include the Central Florida Advance Nurse Practitioner Council, the Florida Association of Neonatal NPs, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the New York State Nurses Association, and the Colorado Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. To join as a student in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, members must be enrolled in an entry level program, and the annual fee is $55.00. Nursing Made Incredible Easy! is among the best nursing journals every nurse should subscribe to. What makes this journal so effective is the ability to break down challenging nursing concepts into user-friendly learning, by engaging the reader with fun color-coordinated artwork illustrations that denote nursing concepts with an intelligent sense of humor. This journal is published on a bimonthly basis, and the cost is $51.00 per year. Continuing Educational Units (CEUs) are required for RNs, more specifically 24 hours during each renewal period. Within these, two hours would be related to the prevention of medical errors, and two extra hours of domestic violence must be completed (Richt, 2003). There is no longer a requirement to take a test to complete the CEUs and get a certificate; the only condition will be completing a short evaluation of the course. NurseCe4Less is an accredited organization of continuing education where the will have to take an evaluation in a form of a reflection describing a change in practice as the outcome of what was learned from the course (Pillitteri, 2014). The courses will include a self-assessment that is optional and consist of study questions that can be taken while concluding the course evaluation.

Entering the nursing field will give me the tools, skills, and knowledge needed to be a great nurse. It will be a continuous challenge since the learning process is endless in order to gain steady understanding of the human body and its diseases. I see myself fitting into this profession because of my constant drive to learn, my passion for health in order to give medical attention, as wells as my mission to make a significant difference in the lives of others. The nursing career is gratifying and rewarding in terms of the joy it brings through learning the value of life, because every breath is a gift, and no one learns this lesson better than someone who nurses a dying patient day and night. Furthermore, the nursing career opens up diverse job possibilities to choose different paths.

Becoming a registered nurse is just the beginning of my goals when it comes to my professional and educational objectives. As to the strategies, being prepared is the first, meaning that since the very first semester of nursing school I am planning on being ahead of the game by having all the required material and managing my time the best way possible. Another great strategy that has helped me throughout the years in maintaining an excellent academic performance is having a study plan and staying organized. A “to do” list for me is a must because it helps me to prioritize my tasks accordingly. I am the type of person that has to wake up with a plan, because I feel the need to be productive, and this is not only for nursing school, but life in general.

To sum up, in the field of nursing many things come into play. We get to witness births, growth, death, illness, joy, sadness, hope, pain, suffer, anguish and love. It is not an easy job, but it is the one my heart wants to practice and be successful at. Even though nurses are not magicians and we cannot change the end of a patient, we can certainly make that end be as comfortable as possible.

References

Daly, J. (2015). Leadership and nursing: Contemporary perspectives. Contemporary Nurse, 15(3), 162-174.

Kane, J., & Warner, C. G. (1999). Touched by a nurse: Special moments that transform lives.

Lippincott.

Nurse.org. (2020). Highest paying states for registered nurses in 2020. https://nurse.org/articles/highest-paying-states-for-registered-nurses/

Pillitteri, A. (2014). Maternal & child health nursing: Care of the childbearing & childrearing

family (7th edition, International ed.).

Richt, B. (2003). On the needs of persons receiving elderly care. Lennart Nordenfelt.

Stiller, R. (2015) The doctor free office visit. Consumer Reports on Health, 27(8), 1-5.

Swanbamrung, C. (2015). Learning experience of student nurses through reflection on

clinical practice. Nursing, 150(5), 623-628.

University of Florida. (2020). 2020-21 Academic year undergraduate cost of attendance.

https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/cost/

University of Miami. (2020). Cost of attendance. https://finaid.miami.edu/cost/index.html

Watt, S., & McIntosh, B. (2012). The motherhood career slide. A recent study reveals

that gender perceptions have a negative impact on women's career progression in nursing.

Nursing Standard, 27(4), 62-63. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns2012.09.27.4.62.p9473

Wimbush, P.D. (2019. Entry level registered nurse salary.

https://careertrend.com/entry-level-registered-nurse-salary-13655328.html

Entry Level Entry Level Registered Nurse Salary

Patrice D. Wimbush

Updated August 20, 2019

Registered Nurse Salary

Patrice D. Wimbush

Updated August 20, 2019