Careers in Nursing

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What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
 RNs are professionals licensed by the
state in which they work.
 RNs function as active members of the
health care team.
 RNs provide and manage care for
individuals who are ill and their families.
What is an RN? continued…

 RNs also work with healthy individuals

and families to educate them about
wellness and disease prevention.
 RNs work with patients of all ages
promoting physical, mental and social
well-being.
What is an RN? continued…

 RNs use observation and assessment skills

to support nursing diagnoses:

 Ex: Alteration in Skin Integrity related to bedrest

 Ex: Potential for Infection related to surgical
wound
What is an RN? continued…

 These nursing diagnoses help us to create

a plan of care for our patients:
 Ex: Turn and reposition patient every two
hours
 Ex: Change surgical dressing prn (as needed)
Where do nurses work?
The possibilities are endless!!

 Hospitals  Military
 Clinics/Offices  Helicopters
 Nursing Homes  Industries
 Hospice  Wellness Centers
 Schools  Public Health Offices
 Cruise Ships  Home Health Care Agencies
 What kinds of career
opportunities are available?
There are a multitude of specialties to choose
from including:

 Medical/Surgical - Care for a variety of ill or

injured patients and patients who have
undergone surgery.
 Critical Care - Care for critically ill or injured
patients of all ages.
Career opportunities continued…
 Labor and Delivery - Care for mothers and
babies before, during, and after delivery.
 Pediatrics - Care for ill or injured children.
 Cardiac Care - Care for patients with issues
involving their hearts.
 Geriatrics - Care for elderly ill or injured
patients.
Career opportunities continued…
 Neurology - Care for patients with illnesses or
injuries involving the nervous system.
 Dermatology - Care for patients with skin
conditions.
 Orthopedic - Care for patients with illnesses or
injuries to muscles and bones.
 Same Day Surgery/Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Recovery Room - Care for patients immediately
before or after surgery.
Career opportunities continued…
 O.R. - Care for patients in the operating
room during surgical procedures.

These are just a few of the

many possibilities you could
choose from after completing
a nursing program.
Advanced education adds options:
 Clinical Nurse Specialist - Provides care to
patients with complex illnesses or injuries and
often responsible for the continuing education of
staff nurses.
 Nurse Practitioner - Diagnoses and treats a
wide variety of patients.
 Research - Involved with research studies to
increase the knowledge base of the nursing
profession.
Advanced education continued…
 Nurse Midwives - Care for women during
pregnancy and deliver their babies.
 Nursing Professor - Teaches nursing students
in nursing schools.
 Nurse Anesthetist - Provides anesthesia to
patients during surgical and non-surgical
procedures.
Employment outlook:
is there a nursing shortage?
 This situation fluctuates and is impacted
by economic and demographic issues.
 Nurses delaying retirement due to economic
concerns can mean fewer opportunities for
new grads. But -
 Post World War II “baby boomer” generation
is aging and increasing healthcare needs.
Nursing jobs continued
 The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts
jobs for RNs will grow 19% by 2022 and that
one-half of the RN workforce will reach
retirement age by 2017.
 The Bureau projects the need for 525,000
replacement nurses in the workforce by 2022.
 State by state analysis predicts more of a
nursing shortage in the South and West.
Nursing jobs continued…
 Employers have become flexible in
scheduling options - nurses often work any
combination of 8, 10, or 12 hour shift on days,
nights and weekends.
 Many facilities utilize some form of self-
scheduling, allowing you to choose (within
unit guidelines) the shifts that you work.
 There are endless possibilities for
future nurses both male and female.
 How do I know if nursing
is right for me?
 Even in times of nursing shortage when
they are in great demand, nursing is not
right for everyone…
Qualities to be a good nurse:

 Do you enjoy health and science classes

and do reasonably well in math?
 Do you have an interest in learning about
the human body and how it works?
Qualities continued…

 Do you have a sense of compassion and desire

to help others?
 Do you like to teach people and share
information with others?
 Are you able to work well with others and do you
enjoy being around other people?
 Do you possess good decision making &
problem solving skills?
Qualities continued…

 Do you desire variety in career opportunities?

 Do you enjoy learning and analyzing things?

 Are you dependable and do you have good oral

and written communication skills?
What can I do now to prepare
for a career in nursing?
 Work hard to get good grades.
 Study science and math courses.
 Consider nursing camp if you’re in middle
school. (www.schooltocareers.org)
 Write to a mentor and read the profiles of nurses
at the ‘Advice Corner’ page of the NHNA site.
 Consider job shadowing.
 What type of education do
I need to become a nurse?
 You can still enter the field with an
Associate Degree in Nursing -
usually through a two year program at a
community college. After completion of
the program, graduates must pass the
NCLEX test to apply for state licensure
as an RN.
However – there is an increased
emphasis on obtaining a

 Baccalaureate in Science in Nursing

Usually a four year program at a college or
university. After completing the program,
graduates must pass the NCLEX test to
apply for state licensure as an RN.
Nursing Education options in NH
 The NH Community Colleges in Concord,
Keene, Manchester, Nashua, & Portsmouth
offer Associate Degrees in Nursing.

 Also – St. Joseph School of Nursing in

Nashua.
Education continued…
In N.H., B.S. Degrees in Nursing are offered at:
Colby-Sawyer College in New London
Franklin Pierce University in Manchester
Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Plymouth State University
Rivier University in Nashua
Saint Anselm College in Manchester
Southern NH University in Manchester
University of New Hampshire in Durham
Education continued…
 Masters of Science in Nursing
Typically a two year course of study after
obtaining a BSN degree – but there are some
‘direct entry’ Masters programs. MSN programs
are usually intensely focused on a specialty area
of study. Graduates of Masters programs often
function as Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse
Specialists, Nurse Midwives, Nurse Anesthetists,
Nurse Researchers or Nurse Administrators.
Education continued…
 In New Hampshire, Masters degrees are
offered through Franklin Pierce University,
Rivier University, Saint Anselm College
and the University of NH
More Information
To further explore nursing career options,
you may also want to review the various
nursing specialty websites listed at:
http://www.nurse.org/orgs.shtml

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