Carer’s Blog - Health Care

2 Responses to “Nurses….?”

1. US_DR_JD says:

   November 26, 2009 at 7:02 pm

   You can either be a RN or a LPN. The difference is RN’s go to school for 3 years to get their diploma degree. You can take the state boards and get your license. Many schools will push you to got for 4 years, but, you really do not have to. You can always go on later and pursue that when you really know if you want to. A LPN, licensed practical nurse goes for about 2 years, you do a lot of the same duties as a RN, but the RN has the Doctor reporting and assessment responsibility a little more. Most LPN’s go for that extra year later for the more Money, about 25% or more. Nurses can go on and get advanced degrees but there are so many that I really don’t know any more. Good Luck
   PS Nurse usually have no problem finding a job.
2. carrie says:

   November 26, 2009 at 7:37 pm

   Assuming by Nurse you mean Registered nurse there are three methods of study available to get the RN licensure:
   Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree-
   This is a four-year program [assuming two years of academics and two years of nursing courses are completed in that time frame] offered at colleges and universities. BSN graduates are prepared for leadership/management and more independent nursing roles such as community health. A BSN degree is required for acceptance into a master’s degree in nursing program or other advanced degree programs. Advancement opportunities in other areas are perceived to favor the BSN graduate. The BSN nurse is perceived to be the manager of care. One is prepared as generalist in terms of nursing care.
   Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) degree-
   This is designed to be a two-year program (assuming academic courses are completed concurrently) [normally now the general studies courses are taken as prerequisites in most programs, and this takes 3 years to complete] offered primarily at community or junior colleges. ADN graduates are prepared as generalists, but have the basic preparation necessary to work in many areas of nursing. Some hospital schools of nursing, colleges and universities also offer ADN degrees.
   Advantages of attending an ADN school include shorter term needed to achieve one’s goal of becoming a RN, more flexibility in scheduling, and affordable tuition costs. The ADN nurse is perceived to be skillful upon graduation from nursing school. Approximately 56% of all nurses graduate from a generic ADN program.
   Many ADN programs have an articulation agreement with universities and the ADN graduate may enroll in the accelerated ADN to Masters program. The advantage of getting an ADN first and working for awhile before pursuing further nursing degrees is that one can enter the workforce sooner, practice and earn while gaining experience and then return to school when one has gained skills and experience. There are considerable differences between the two programs in terms of the degree plan and tuition costs.
   Many ADNs also attend ADN to BSN programs after working as an RN.
   Diploma Nurse-
   This is generally a three-year nursing program provided in hospital settings. Many diploma schools are affiliated with junior colleges in which students take basic sciences and English requirements and some may be awarded an Associate Degree. In many of the diploma programs basic academic courses must be completed prior to starting the nursing program, so this can take as long as 4 years to complete. Advantages to this program are significantly more clinical training, and some hospitals will provide the course tuition-free if the student agrees to work for the hospital for a set period following graduation.
   RNs work in many areas of health care including all areas of the hospital, medical clinics, research facilities, insurance companies, as legal consultants etc.
   Following the BSN some nurses go to school for advanced practice dergrees, such as:
   - Nurse Practitioner (which see patients in clinics and hospital settings performing approximately 90% of the same functions as physicians) they write prescriptions, perform examinations, diagnose conditions, order and interpret diagnostic test.
   - Nurse Anethetist which provide anesthesia for operative and diagnostic procedures in operating rooms and other facilities. (Similar function to an anesthesiologist)
   - Midwife which provide prenatal care, deliver infants, and provide postnatal care during pregnancies.
   - Clinical Nurse Specialist these are highly trained specialist in particular areas of the hospital (such as the ICU) they also perform functions similar to a Nurse Practitioner, but usually on a more critical patient.
   Nurses also advance into administration, and with proper education become hospital administrators.
   Nurses with advanced degrees often work in education, teaching other nurses and health care professionals, and some work teaching patients.
   Many nurses who have been in nursing for several years have performed in many of these roles. I have been in nursing for over 30 years, and have worked as an RN generalist in medical surgical nursing, a specialty nurse in the OR and psychiatry, I have worked as a Nurse Practitioner, I have been an administrator of health care facilities, worked with colleges, universities and private organizations as an educator, and performed research.
   There really is no limit to the opportunities in nursing.