So my safety blanket Becoming trained as a registered nurse, or RN, can be a rewarding career step. RNs are always in need and there are multiple areas and specialties in which to work. There are specific educational requirements to become licensed and practice as an RN. In addition, each state or country can have their own licensing or credentialing process that you must complete to work there. Identification Registered nurses are medical professionals who work under the supervision of a physician. They administer medications, perform diagnostic tests, refer patients to care, assist in rehabilitation after surgery, as well as many other duties. RNs work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, doctors offices, schools, private agencies, community centers, corporations and insurance companies. You can find jobs where you work out of one location the entire day and you can find jobs where you travel to various sites. The types of work and work conditions you can find as an RN are numerous. Types There are general programs to prepare you to perform general duties in many of the aforementioned settings. However RNs also have the option of specializing. RNs can obtain training and certifications in pediatrics (working with children) geriatrics (working with seniors), maternity, mental health, surgical, wound care as well as many others. After becoming an RN there also are options to continue with your education to become a nurse practitioner, which enhances your career choices and salary. Time Frame To work as an RN you will need to obtain a degree from an accredited college. This can take anywhere from two to four years depending on the school you attend. These days many RNs continue on to a masters-level degree, which can take up to six years. Once obtaining a degree you must pass a national licensing exam. There are some states that will allow you to work after passing this national exam while other states require you to be licensed in that particular state. In addition to maintaining an active RN license, you must take continuing education courses (CECs) throughout your career. These courses allow you to specialize and stay on top of the latest medical knowledge. If you fail to take enough CECs you may not be able to renew your license. Considerations Nursing school is not easy. There are courses in anatomy and physiology. You must gain a basic understanding of the many diseases that can occur in the body as well as their diagnosis and treatment. This includes classes in chemistry, biology and other relevant sciences. You must also take classes in math to help learn to measure and administer medications and read diagnostic tests. There are classes in nutrition, ethics, effective communication and social sciences. Toward the end of your education you will need to complete many hours of hands-on training, working in community centers, hospitals and other health care facilities to gain the needed practical experience in working with patients. Most programs require that you maintain a grade point average of 2.5 to 3.0. Another consideration: Due to the demanding nature of nursing school, most students find it difficult to work while pursuing their degree. Potential Nursing can challenge you physically, emotionally and mentally. You may be caring for very sick or injured patients and required to work long hours. You may find yourself in life-or-death situations where you need to think and act quickly. For this reason it is often helpful to work or volunteer in some type of medical setting to make sure nursing is really for you. You can volunteer or work in a local hospital or physicians office. Talk to nurses in your community to get a sense of what their day is like. There also may be possibilities of shadowing a nurse for a day to really see what this job entails. If you still decide to pursue nursing but do you not enjoy direct care, there are options of working for corporations and insurance companies where they may be no direct patient care involved. Read more: Requirements to Become a Registered Nurse | eHow ehow/about_4618450_requirements-become-registered-nurse.html#ixzz1Y96Rc76W
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 02:10:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015