subject: Registered Nurses - Helping To Keep Our Health System Safe [print this page] Registered Nurses - Helping To Keep Our Health System Safe
A registered nurse, normally abbreviated RN, is a health care professional who has successfully completed a comprehensive course of study from a recognized state-approved nursing institution, and who has sat and passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). During training, a Registered Nurse must undertake both classroom and hands-on practical experience in a busy clinical setting. You can become a registered nurse by undertaking a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a three year nursing diploma degree, or a 4-year Bachelor of Nursing degree (BSN). Note however that the 3-year diploma program is a very rare course.
As a registered nurse, you can work in a doctor's office, hospital setting (both private and public), a specialty care facility, home health care services, employment services, Nursing care facilities, etc. The job description of a nurse therefore will vary depending on the work environment but generally, someone in this occupation does the following tasks.
- Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care for patients as per the set nursing standards and practice
- Work hand-in-hand with other health care professionals
- Coordinate patient care
- Provide treatment and therapy e.g. medication, and monitor a patient's response to treatment and to the overall health care plan
- Promote health and help in preventing and controlling health by creating awareness through taking part in health education and in similar health care promotion activities in the community
- Answer questions that families and patients could have and enlighten them about the care and treatment given
- Supervise and coordinate the work of health care workers such as Enrolled Nurses, CNAs, etc
As mentioned, the job description and duties of an RN may vary from one state to another, and from one employment setting to another. While the general requirements are set by national standards, the state laws tend to vary, as do the requirements for some nursing posts, such as those that provide surgical and emergency care.
A career as an RN is one of the most exciting yet challenging ways to enter the lucrative health care field. Overall employment opportunities for Registered Nurse are expected to be great because of the aging population that need constant care, and a notable aging Registered Nursing workforce and a shortage of young RNs to fill the posts. In general, an RN with a minimum of a bachelor's degree has positive job prospects than those with an Associates degree.
