Running head: WRITING ASSIGNMENT 6 1

Abstract

Nursing is the career choice I decided to research. It’s an important job within this society
and has had great impact with it’s improvement. I’ve chosen it mainly because I wish to help and
support people and due to my own experiences of supporting my grandparents. The information I
researched was the skills and abilities needed to be a nurse, some of the educational requirements
you need to learn in order for you to be a nurse, the yearly salary for two states specifically, and
the history of nursing (though briefly recorded here.). My family also has a small amount of
nurses within it, which is also a relying reason for why I wish to become one also.
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Nursing Study

I’m overall undecided in choosing a career in truth I want to be an artist, an animator or a

game designer but my main current choice at the moment is in nursing. One of the reasons why I

chose nursing is because I am able to help and support those who are in need. This research is

also a way to help me not only learn more about nursing but a small way to help me decide if

being a nurse is the right choice for me. I was overall drawn to this field out of the idea of being

able to help save lives and support the sickly, I usually watch over and take care of my

grandparents and that slightly has influenced my mindset on wanting to help others, there’s also

the fact that my aunt is a Registered Nurse so that also helps my interest to this field. It’s also

nice to know that you are making a difference in another person’s life. I myself find it strange

but I’ve never really been interested in being a doctor, probably because I don’t trust myself with

being in charge of surgeries and things similar to it.

To have a successful career as a Registered Nurse one must have critical thinking

abilities, because at times nurses will have to make important decisions that may benefit or harm

a patient, also according to Athena Career Academy (2016), “RNs are employed in a variety of

work settings and are therefore required to perform different responsibilities.” (“Typical Day in

the Life of a Nurse” The Duties of an RN, para. 1). This means that a registered nurse must be

prepared for whatever area they end up working in and must be able to adapt to whatever setting

they may be assigned to. There are also many medical tools that must be used within the field

and a Registered Nurse must be able to know what tool is needed to help a patient to make them

feel better. Another skill a Registered Nurse must have deals with working together with others

and patience, it’s an important factor as there will be some patients that may not be to

cooperative with you and not everyone you work with will be the most reliable or competent. It
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also important to be persuasive because there will be times when a patient may be unwilling to

take their medicine, it is crucial for a nurse to be able to help him or her to understand what is

best for their health and recovery and to be respectful to the patient regardless of the situation at

present. Speaking of which, there were times when my grandfather would be unwilling to take

the nebulizer for his respiration or even sleep at night, and I had to stay up with him until he was

willing to take it or even try to sleep. A nurse must also always pay attention to their patient, and

must watch closely and memorize their behaviors for problems or concerns, a nurse must be the

first to notice. Whenever it became close for my grandfather to use the nebulizer, he would

always begin to wheeze, it began low but would get more louder and frequent the more time

would pass, he also had a build up of mucus and whenever he would need to spit he would make

it known by making a gesture or by saying the word “spit” in his own language. This to me, goes

in line with Athena Career Academy (2016) when they say,

“Nurses must have active listening skills and sharp social perceptiveness in order to read

different settings and patients correctly. Analytical skills and quick decision-making

process also come in handy as each day brings new patient cases and environmental

changes that require you to be quick on your toes.” (“Typical Day in the Life of a Nurse”

The Duties of an RN, para. 2)

It also seems that nurses play vital roles in hospitals, clinics and other private practices. They

have many jobs which include, “communicating between patients and doctors, caring for

patients, administering medicine and supervising nurses’ aides.” (“What Does a Nurse Do?”

Career Overview) and many more. To be a Registered Nurse you need to gain a license for it,

meaning you must, “complete a diploma, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program in

nursing and pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-
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RN) to gain licensure.” (“What Does a Nurse Do?” Nurse Types and Education, para. 3).

Nursing also pays differently depending on what State you work in, ranging from an average of,

“$64,890” (“Highest Paying States For Registered Nurses,” 2018) in Florida to “$83,450”

(“Highest Paying States For Registered Nurses,” 2018) in New York

Nursing itself has been around predating the mid-19th century, professional nursing really

begins with Florence Nightindale, who according to K. Buhler-Wilkerson and P. D’Antonio

(n.d.) was “the well-educated daughter of wealthy British parents, defied social conventions and

decided to become a nurse.” (“Nursing” The History of Nursing, para. 1) which was a big deal at

the time because it was not a respectable career for a well-bred woman to pursue, it was only

expected to be done for sick family and close friends not for the open community. Nightindale

though had her own set of beliefs and gained the opportunity to express them during Britain’s

Crimean War with successful results, so successful that the British government requested

Nightindale to take a small group of nurses to a military hospital at Scutari, which is modern-day

Üsküdar, Turk. Due to their actions which included cleaning for sanitation, ventilating rooms,

cooking, and medically treating wounds death rates began to plummet. She became known

throughout the public as the “Lady with the Lamp” who according to K. Buhler-Wilkerson and

P. D’Antonio (n.d.), “made nightly rounds comforting the sick and wounded.” (“Nursing” The

History of Nursing, para. 2) Soon enough by the end of the 19th century her views were shared

throughout the entire Western world in the worth of educated nurses. Nightingale’s achievements

actually overshadowed other ways to nurse the sick, considering that most nursing usually took

place at home and were done mostly for family, friends, and respected people who were

considered to be effective healers. There were even times when men had to become nurses, these

times were during tragedies like cholera and smallpox. “For example, Stephen Girad, a wealthy
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French-born banker, won the hearts of citizens of his adopted city of Philadelphia for his

courageous and compassionate nursing of the victims of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic.”

(“Nursing” The History of Nursing, para. 3).

Overall being a nurse is one of the few ways to make a difference in the world and save

lives, and the need for nurses is gradually growing the more time passes. The medical profession

is constantly growing and more people are needed day by day as it continues to adapt with the

world. The job itself is difficult but pays well not only financially but mentally, knowing that you

are able to help individuals that are sick, wounded, or dying. It was also interesting to find out

about the origin of nursing and how it began. It’s a big responsibility for many and this study

was really interesting.

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References

Athena Career Academy (2016) “Typical Day in the Life of a Nurse”

Retrieved from, https://info.athenacareers.edu/blog/typical-day-in-the-life-of-a-

registered-nurse

“What Does a Nurse Do?”

Retrieved from, https://study.com/what_does_a_nurse_do.html

“Highest Paying States For Registered Nurses” (2018)

Retrieved from, https://nurse.org/articles/highest-paying-states-for-registered-nurses/

Karen, B. & Patricia, D. (n.d.). Nursing.

Retrieved from, https://www.britannica.com/science/nursing