Nursing

Honesty and Ethics are Important to Nurses The recent annual Gallup Poll again found that nurses are the Most Honest and Ethical profession. In 2001, fire fighters took top honors after the events of 9/11, but nurses returned to the top and have stayed there ever since. As a nurse, you have the opportunity to save and improve lives, to teach people how to achieve better health, to advocate for patients to make sure they have the best health care, every day. Nurses have been pioneers, leaders and innovators in the development of our health care system.

Burn out is Not Just a Curse for Nurses Burn out for nurses is a big factor in the shortage of nurses. Too many nurses leave the field before they have worked for 3-4 years because they didn't have a good understanding of the demands of the profession before they got into nursing.

Nursing is a very demanding profession physically, mentally and emotionally. This is not a decision to be made spontaneously, but it can be one of the best and most important decisions you will make in your lifetime.

The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelors degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses. Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelors programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practices. In 2004, 417 nursing schools offered masters degrees, 93 offered doctoral degrees, and 46 offered accelerated BSN-to-doctoral programs. In 2004, there were 329 masters and post-masters programs offered for nurse practitioners, 218 masters and post-masters programs for clinical nurse specialists, 92 programs for nurse anesthetists, and 45 programs for nurse midwives.

Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations; job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough registered nurses.

Critical care nurses work in critical or intensive care hospital units and provide care to patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or pulmonary failure. Emergency, or trauma, nurses work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks, and strokes. Holistic nurses provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback, which are meant to treat patients mental and spiritual health in addition to their physical health. Medical-surgical nurses provide basic medical care to a variety of patients in all health settings. Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary and permanent disabilities.

Nursing has its hazards, especially in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and clinics, where nurses may care for individuals with infectious diseases. In addition, they are vulnerable to back injury when moving patients, shocks from electrical equipment, and hazards posed by compressed gases.

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