Nursing is one of the most diverse and largest professions in healthcare. In the United States, there are more than 2.9 million registered nurses and many millions globally (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Nurses are the healthcare practitioners who assume the responsibility for providing continuous care to patients and engaging in public health advocacy in different aspects of the society. Nurses are also responsible for health care research, creating and deliberating on health policies and management of various healthcare settings. Nurses work collaboratively with other medical care practitioners to ensure that service users receive high-quality care. Since nurses play various roles in medical care, they are a crucial aspect of healthcare and their demand in the United States remains high with projections that the demand will increase substantively. Some of the reasons that guarantee an increase in the demand for nurses include rising expectations of people seeking medical care, advances in healthcare technology, demographic changes where the aging population is increasing in many countries and the recognition that the health care system requires to have highly educated professionals. Moreover, career satisfaction with good earnings, high job availability and security also increases the demand for well-trained registered nurses.
Job Requirements
Nurses are required to plan and provide medical and nursing care to patients suffering from physical, chronic and mental illnesses in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Delivery of caring and compassionate care is one of the job requirements of a nurse. Caring and compassionate care is a holistic approach which requires nurses to be emotionally and physically present for patients by creating and maintaining connections with them and their primary caregivers. Caring and compassionate care foster patient satisfaction thus improving successful health outcomes as it reduces chances of pressure ulcers or incidences of hospital falls.
Nurses are also required to have adequate problem solving and critical thinking abilities (Papathanasiou, Kleisiaris and Fradelos 284). Nurses face diverse situations in practice that require them to think beyond what they learned in nursing school and make rational decisions. Nurses face situations that would mean life or death for their patient and this requires them to have adequate problem-solving skills. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are essential in nursing because every patient’s situation is unique and nurses must strive to provide them with high-quality care.
Nurses must understand the five-step nursing process which includes assessment, diagnosis and outcome planning, implementation and evaluation of patients. Patient assessment is the first step in delivering nursing care to patients which includes collecting and analyzing data about a patient which includes identifying factors that may affect their well-being ranging from physiological issues to sociocultural, economic and lifestyle ones. In diagnosis, a nurse seeks to understand the response of a client to potential or actual health conditions and needs. Outcome planning requires a nurse to set goals for the patient which should be achievable and either long or short-term depending on the patient’s care plan. In the implementation stage, a nurse is required to ensure continuity of care during the hospitalization period of a patient, preparation for discharge and ensuring that the care process is well documented. The status of a patient and the effectiveness of the care they receive from the nursing team should be evaluated continuously and modifications made as necessary.
Educational Requirements
To pursue a nursing course, an individual is required to have completed a high school diploma or its equivalency. Although entry requirements vary according to universities, individuals are required to have at least two A-levels or equivalent qualifications at level three with supporting subjects which include English, Math, and a Science preferably Biology. Completion of college-level prerequisites such as chemistry, microbiology, nutrition and other courses related to the nursing practice is also an essential educational requirement. Nurses should also have completed either an associate degree or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program (University of Illinois College of Nursing). Both degrees position individuals to become registered nurses and the main difference is the period of time each one takes. While the associate’s degree takes two years to complete, the bachelors one takes four years. Successful completion of the nursing board’s exam is the last educational requirement. The nursing board exam is written after one completes an accredited degree in nursing and it is the standardized method that nursing boards in various states use to determine if candidates are prepared for entry-level nursing practice.
Educational Costs
Prerequisite courses cost approximately from $9000-$12000. Prerequisite requirement varies between schools and programs that individual students undertake. Individuals in accelerated nursing programs have additional requirements and recommended courses which makes it more expensive compared to bachelor’s degree programs. For the associate degree nursing program, the tuition cost ranges from approximately $9000- $18000 (AB Technical Community College). The variation in costs is dependent on factors such as the use of technology in learning, tuition fee disparities for US residents and non-residents, uniform, professional certification exam and the choice of school an individual makes. The cost of the bachelor’s degree program ranges from $28000-$36000. The variations in costs are caused by regulations in specific schools of nursing, application fees, student services offered and cost of supplemental courses. The bachelor’s degree is more expensive compared to the associates because it takes a longer period of time. Other costs associated with nursing education include the cost of books and supplies which range from about $2000-$4000 and the nursing board exam costs which is approximately $500 (Imagine America Foundation).
Job Earnings
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the yearly median wage of a registered nurse in Washington is $79,810 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The Nurse Salary guide suggested that a registered nurse in the U.S. is currently earning $67,930 which is about $32.66 per hour, $1,306 weekly and $5,660 monthly. California has the highest pay rate for registered nurses who earn an average yearly salary of $94,120. Lowa state has the lowest pay rate which is about $52,540 annually (Nurse Salary Guide). The nursing profession provides an opportunity for a salary increase for individuals who advance their education to specialize in specific areas in medical care. Some of the highest paying specialists include nurse researchers, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist and orthopedic nurses amongst others. Therefore, individuals who seek to earn high salaries from the profession should choose the right specialty after completing their nursing school education (WOIS).
Job Availability
Due to the nationwide increase in healthcare demands, there is a shortage of registered nurses in the United States. Statistics indicate that the employment of registered nurses is expected to increase by 16% by the year 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The nursing occupation has been rated to have the highest growth rate when compared to other occupations. Some of the healthcare demands that have led to an increase in the demand for nurses include a growing patient population as the baby boomer generation gets older and hence begin seeking medical care for diseases associated with old age. The rise in the demand for specialized medical services has also led to a demand for nurses in the United States as the citizens are seeking the highest quality care possible (Anderson).
Conclusion
One of the reasons I want to become a registered nurse is because of the caring and compassionate nature of the job. Nurses spend most of the time with patients together with their caregivers giving them hope and assurance of better times. The ability to help somebody through a tough situation by being caring and compassionate is one of the key reasons I want to become a nurse. Secondly, I will gain career satisfaction as a nurse and be assured of good earnings. Nurses are the most trusted individuals in the healthcare system as they spend most of the time with patients during their treatment plans. Dealing with patients through their medical journeys from diagnosis to discharge and evaluation will be extremely satisfying for me. I also hope to specialize in one of the key areas of nursing and this will boost my earnings and enable me to lead a good life. Due to the increasing demand for registered nurses in the United States, the nursing profession provides me with high job availability and security.
Works Cited
AB Technical Community College. Associate Degree Nursing cost estimate. 2017. Web. 4 August 2018. .
Anderson, Nancy. College catalog 2017-2018. 30 July 2017. Web. 4 August 2018. .
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wages. May 2017. Web. 4 August 2018. .
Imagine America Foundation. How much does nursing school cost? 13 November 2017. Web. 4 August 2018. .
Nurse Salary Guide. Registered Nurse Salary. 2017. Web. 4 August 2018. .
Papathanasiou, Ioanna, et al. "Critical thinking: The development of an essential skill for nursing students." Acta Informatica Medica 22.4 (2014): 283-286. Web.
University of Illinois College of Nursing. Overview. 2017. Web. 4 August 2018. .
WOIS. Registered Nurses; The career information system. 30 July 2018. Web. 4 August 2018. .
