Running head: THE PERFET JOB

The Perfect Job Katie Pytka College of DuPage Composition I Elizabeth Anderson 12/11/13

The Perfect Job The Perfect Job Definitions ADN Associates Degree BSN Bachelors Degree

Post-secondary nursing program a program you would take at the nursing department at your college to become certified Vitals your heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, and temperature LPN Licensed Practical Nurse (lower than a Registered Nurse, but higher than a Certified Nursing Assistant Occupational hazards possibly hazards that can occur on the job Oncology the study of cancer and how it spreads Neonatology a pediatrics aspects focusing mainly on newborns Nephrology the study of normal kidney functions RN Registered Nurse

Introduction What would the world be like if there was a shortage in nurses at a hospital? No patient would get the proper care they deserve. Luckily, with technology constantly advancing there will always be a need for nurses. Care will be more advanced too, and each patient will get better treatment then they do now. With more cures and treatments being discovered constantly; care will be more efficient and the hospital stay will be shorter for each patient. Every nurse should be passionate about their jobs; thats why nursing is not only a great career choice with many advancement opportunities, but also it gives a feeling of impacting someones life for the better.

The Perfect Job Required Education If one is really serious about becoming a nurse, there is a lot of education that they need to go through before they can actually work in a hospital. Generally, there are 3 different

educational paths to take. There is the option of getting a diploma at a hospital school of nursing, an Associates Degree (AND), or a Bachelors Degree (BSN). One of these can be earned in as little as 3 years. Going into this field, one must be aware that most hospitals are starting to change their education standards, and that all nurses will eventually be required to have a BSN ("Registered Nurse (RN)," n.d.). Before starting all of that, the most important thing will be a high school diploma, and then complete a post- secondary nursing program. The entrance requirements are different for each school. Contact a nursing school to find out their admission requirements. Along education, a nurse also needs the following qualifications; they should be caring and sympathetic; able to accept responsibility, supervise others follow procedures precisely, and determine when consultation is required ("Nurse," n.d.). In almost all nursing programs, some form of the following courses should be taken; anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and other social and behavioral sciences, as well as liberal arts. All programs must include a supervised clinical experience in a hospital setting ("Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered," 2012). Education is very important in nursing. All technology and treatment plans for each patient we have now would not be possible without any education.

Role of Nurses/Daily Duties

The Perfect Job Every nursing experience is slightly different, but they do have many similarities as to what would occur on a typical day. Nurses provide direct patient care. They can present health information to large groups of people, perform urgent procedures in a possible emergency, and

also teach each other. Their general duties are to assess patients physical, mental, and emotional health status; this involves taking down vitals, as well as assessing patient family background. They also need to help design and carry out treatment plans for each patient. It can include giving medications or bandaging a wound, while also monitoring the results of the treatment; see if any medical problems arise or have been taken care of. They also need to maintain patient records and supervise LPNs ("Nurse," n.d.). Nurses also need to be able to tell the family the patients treatment at home ("Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered," 2012). The chart above shows a general list of daily duties a nurse would have to perform.

Working Conditions Just because there a different work environments, doesnt mean that everything is completely different. There are also many different types of working conditions. A nurse doesnt just have to work at a hospital; she can work in nursing homes, walk in clinics, prisons, schools, and other places. They require a lot of physical activity. They often stand, bend, and lift. It can also be emotionally demanding. Every part of nursing also has different types of occupational

The Perfect Job hazards. Occupational hazards for nurses are similar to those of other health care workers. They can include contact with patients who have infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis; injury from instruments, chemicals, and gases ("Nurse," n.d.). Due to the technology advancement occurring in the medical field, every nurse need to go to some on the job meetings during their work day. A typical nurse has to go to about 2 or 3 meetings per day. They usually discuss things that are changing and new plans for patients (L. Patronda, personal communication, April 19, 2013). A nurse in a typical private office can dress in business casual, but when with patients wear a lab coat. The nurses wear kid colored scrubs. The different color scrubs helps recognize who is who (L. Patronda, personal communication, April 19, 2013). Every aspect of a typical day is important in the nursing field. If one person makes a mistake, it impacts everyone there. Communication is key between nurses.

Continuing Education Since there are many other options in the nursing field, some extra schooling may be required. Laura Patronda, a nurse at the child oncology center at CDH, said that she is currently studying at the University of Illinois in Champaign to get her masters degree. She also stated that continuing nursing hours every 2 years is required. Teaching actually gives hours as well. With some extra education and since nursing has so many opportunities, working in almost any specialty field is a choice after college. These are just a few examples but it is not limited to just these; addiction nurse, cardiovascular nurse, critical care nurse, genetics nurse, neonatology nurse, nephrology nurse, and rehabilitation nurse ("Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered," 2012). To make it more general they can choose to specialize in certain areas, such as surgery (assisting in the operation room), pediatrics (working with children), critical care

The Perfect Job (working in the intensive care unit), psychiatric nursing (working with the mentally ill), or

geriatrics (working with the elderly). Nurses can work with individuals, families, or communities ("Nurse," n.d.). To go higher up in nursing there is more education required. There are many options to get that schooling, like going to college to get a higher degree, or possibly working with technology to try and create new medicine.

Salary Having many opportunities isnt the only perk in working in the nursing field. The way is great too. The average annual wage of RNs was $64,690 in May of 2010. In private general practice, nurses earned about $66,650 annually. Office of physicians earned about $62,880, local hospitals earned about $62,690, home health care services $60,690; and nursing care facilities about $58,180 ("Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered," 2012). The chart above shows the average annual salary rates for nurses in different specialties. Nurses can also earn some extra money. They can work on call which is they are ready to work at the moment they are needed. Earnings will vary on education level,

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experience, and type of work place ("Nurse," n.d.). Average salary also depends on what type of work place you are in. On average, more money is made in a hospital than a private practice and the night shift generally pays more (L. Patronda, personal communication, April 19, 2013). Sometimes a job with great pay may not have much of a job outlook. That is the complete opposite for nursing. Employment for RNs will grow approximately 26% from 2010 to 2020. This is mainly because of technological advances. Overall, job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be excellent. Employers in some parts of the country and in some employment settings report difficulty in attracting and keeping enough registered nurses. Job opportunities should be excellent, even in hospitals because of the relatively high turnover of hospital nurses. To attract and keep qualified nurses, hospitals may offer signing bonuses, family friend work schedules, or subsidized training. In physicians offices and outpatient care centers, registered nurses may face greater competition for positions because their jobs generally offer regular working hours and provide more comfortable working conditions than hospitals ("Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered," 2012). The great pay is just a perk of a job that is bound to be loved throughout ones entire life.

General Work Schedule Depending on the work place, some nurses get to make their own schedules and some get assigned; because patients in hospitals and nursing care facilities need round the clock care nurses in these settings usually work in rotating shifts, covering all 24 hours. They may work nights, weekends, or holidays ("Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered," 2012). Office, occupational health, and public health nurses are more likely to work regular business hours ("Registered Nurse (RN)," n.d.). A typical nurses working hours in private office would be

The Perfect Job generally 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. More hours are given on the weekend and during holidays. Generally working Monday to Friday (L. Patronda, personal communication, April 19, 2013).

Conclusion Nursing is a great career path. It has great benefits and the job outlook is excellent. I have always wanted to be a nurse and didnt know why, and then one day when learning more about it, it finally hit me. It was a way to give back to my grandmother who never got the proper care she deserved when she got diagnosed with Dementia. I agree, it is a hard job, but it definitely is worth it. With technology constantly advancing, I know I will make an impact in the nursing field somehow. Additional Resources http://www.nursecredentialing.org/default.aspx - The American Nursing Credentialing Center http://www.registerednursern.com/ - Registered Nurse RN http://www.idfpr.com/profs/info/Nursing.asp - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

The Perfect Job References Nurse. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2013, from Career Cruising website: http://www2.careercruising.com/careers/profile-at-a-glance/302

Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses. (2012, March 29). Retrieved December 10, 2013, from United States Department of Labor website: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm Patronda, L. (2013, April 19). [Personal interview by the author]. Registered Nurse (RN). (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2013, from Explore Heatlh Careers website: http://exploreheathcareers.org/en/Career/21/Registered_Nurse_RN