Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Exploring Careers: Registered Nurse and Nurse Management

The individuals that answer your call button at the hospital or the emergency room professional that takes your vitals has completed training in the field of nursing. A wide range of professions is found within the field of nursing that range from registered nurses to head nurses (or managers) at a health care facility. A positive attitude, willingness to help others, and careful medical attention are requirements for those interested in pursuing a nursing career.

A Registered Nurse (Staff Nurse) analyzes, plans, executes, and writes down all of the nursing care regimens for an assigned group of patients within a facility. During examinations and certain procedures, staff nurses are expected to provide assistance. Depending on their job description, they may administer tests or give out medication. A certification is necessary in order to become a registered nurse, as well as an associate's degree. The average salary for a staff nurse is between $48,499 and $68,424.

A Registered Nurse for the Emergency Room is responsible for providing care for people who need emergency attention. The patient flow of an emergency care system is often determined by the experience and judgment of an emergency room registered nurse, as they play a role in establishing priority based upon a variety of needs. They will assess both physical and psychological factors. In order to gain employment as a registered nurse in an emergency room setting, an associate's degree, certification, and at least two years of clinical experience is required. Typical yearly salaries are found between $48,842 and $70,223.

An Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse is assigned to the ICU floor where patients with special recuperative needs usually reside. This type of job involves constant evaluations and assessments, as well as knowledge of the total intensive care nursing process. An associate's degree, certification, and at least two years of clinical experience are required for this position. ICU nurses usually make between $49,317 and $69,899.

A Critical Care Unit Registered Nurse (also referred to as a Coronary Care Nurse) is assigned to the CCU floor, where patients are in dire need of attention, as their prognosis depends on consistent, managed care. Nurses, who work on this floor, possess an associate's degree and have completed at least two years of clinical experience. The average yearly salary for a CCU Nurse is between $49,671 and $71,578.

Registered nurses assigned to an operating room are in charge of nursing care for patients undergoing surgery and other invasive procedures. Some will find themselves alternating between the role of a scrub and a circulating nurse. This particular nursing title earns between $51,389 and $72,210 on a yearly basis.

As for nursing positions in management, one may pursue a career as a Charge Nurse, who guides an entire nursing unit during an assigned shift. Knowledge of emergency procedures is necessary. An associate's degree and more than five years of clinical experience is required for one to take a position in this field. A typical salary is seen between $50,420 and $79,387.

A higher position in management is that of a Head Nurse (also referred to as a Nurse or Nursing Manager), who is in charge of not only planning and establishing nursing policies within a unit, but also serves as head of recruitment, selection, and training of clinical staff. This position of Head Nurse is set aside for a registered nurse that possesses at least five years of clinical experience in a related field. A Nursing Manager will also supervise nurses and clinical technicians, who then usually report to head management. The yearly pay for this position is seen between $68,140 and $97,497.

A Chief Nurse Anesthetist is in charge of managing and scheduling nurse anesthetists for the arrangement and secure procedures regarding anesthesia equipment. They are also expected to take a role in instructing students and holding demonstrations for interested parties. Conducting and preparing reports dealing with the data of specific anesthesia, drugs and techniques is also a requirement, as it is important to also note possible patient reactions. In order to be considered for this type of job, a master's degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing, professional certification, and at least seven years of experience is required. This job usually pays on the average of between $138,162 and $187,635 on a yearly basis.

Typical Nursing Courses

When considering a career in nursing, you may consider the courses that a student may encounter when pursuing a job in this particular field. Typically, a nursing student will take classes, such as General Chemistry, General Psychology, General Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Pathophysiology, General Education Natural Sciences (such as Sociology or Anthropology), Mathematics, and English Composition. Additional courses or training may include Fundamentals of Nursing, Pharmacology, Adult Nursing, Family Nursing, and Mental Health Nursing.

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