NURSING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND DEGREE PROGRAMS: HERE鈥橲 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Nurses are crucial to keeping the patient care experience running smoothly on the front lines and behind the scenes. These healthcare professionals are the connective tissue between doctors and patients 鈥 from recording vital signs to administering vaccinations to helping patients understand and implement treatment plans and so much more.
Learn how to go further in your nursing career and how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) can help you pursue leadership in nursing and find out about BSN career opportunities such as advanced nursing roles, BSN program benefits, nursing licensure and certification, and more.
Why Become a Nurse?
Nursing offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of patients, which can mean a high level of job satisfaction. Additionally, nurses at the BSN level or higher have the chance to take on leadership roles within healthcare, and amplify their scope of impact on the patient care experience and the quality of care delivered at organizational, or even system scale.
What Does a Nurse Do?
Depending on where a nursing professional works, job functions may vary, however, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses are responsible for providing and coordinating patient care, educating patients and the public about various health conditions, and providing guidance and emotional support to patients and their families.5
Most registered nurses serve patient care as part of a medical team, alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals. Some RNs oversee LPNs, nursing assistants, and home health aides. Nurses also may serve a particular patient population, i.e. geriatric nurses support elderly patient care. General nursing job duties can include the following:
- Assess patients鈥 conditions
- Record patients鈥 medical histories and symptoms
- Observe patients and record the observations
- Administer patients鈥 medicines and treatments
- Set up plans for patients鈥 care or contribute information to existing plans
- Consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- Operate and monitor medical equipment
- Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results
- Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
- Explain what to do at home after treatment
Where Do Nurses Work?
Nurses can work in a variety of medical and healthcare settings. According to the BLS, in 2023, 58% of nurses work in state, local, or private hospital settings, with the remaining serving in ambulatory healthcare service settings, including physicians鈥 offices, home healthcare, and outpatient care centers, as well as nursing and residential facilities, government and educational settings.2
Skills for Nurses
Nursing professionals rely on a broad range of skills to effectively support patient care delivery in the various healthcare settings nurses serve in. According to O*Net, these are just some of the key skills in nursing:3
- Active Listening鈥 Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking鈥 Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Speaking鈥 Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning鈥 Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Service Orientation鈥 Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness鈥 Being aware of others鈥 reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Complex Problem Solving鈥 Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making鈥 Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Time Management鈥 Managing one鈥檚 own time and the time of others.
- Inductive Reasoning鈥 The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions.
- Problem Sensitivity鈥 The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning鈥 The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Information Ordering鈥 The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules.
- Perceptual Speed鈥 The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
How to Become a Nurse
The field of nursing offers a number of entry points for various levels of nursing practice. This is why it鈥檚 important to first decide what kind of nurse you aspire to be.4听Those interested in supporting other nurses, physicians, and other medical staff on a team, and/or want to join the nursing field faster may consider a CNA or LPN/LVN path, which require a diploma or certificate. However, those interested in registered nursing would need to complete at least a degree at the Associate Degree in Nursing level.
Finally, those interested in breaking into more advanced nursing roles may want to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), in general, to pursue nursing leadership or a higher level of nursing practice. For many employers in healthcare, BSN and management roles in nursing go hand in hand, with BSN holders offered greater access to leadership opportunities. In fact, certain states such as New York have even enacted laws that require RNs to complete a BSN within ten years of licensure.5
Nursing Licensure and Certification
Beyond the required nursing education, there are licensure and/or certification requirements for each level of nursing practice. At the level of a BSN, licensure requirements entail passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and earning a state license. Once these requirements are achieved, a registered nursing professional can pursue a nursing role in a number of healthcare settings. 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is an RN to BSN completion option and applicants are required to hold their RN credential.
Prepare for Your Career as a Nurse
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program offers you the training to take your career to the next level. Take the first step on your way to a new career.
What to Look for in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program
Choosing the right school to pursue a nursing education is a big decision. The right career education and training can help you go further in the nursing field. Although many institutions may offer nursing degrees, it鈥檚 important that you look for the one that fits your goals and lifestyle.
A few core things to look for when considering聽聽programs include:
- Small class sizes. When learning to be a Nurse you want individual attention from your instructor.
- Real-world skills and expertise. Even in an online learning format, a real-world approach to nursing practice should be emphasized.
- Cost. Education is a major investment, but it鈥檚 an investment in your future. At 黑料不打烊, we participate in most financial assistance programs, both federal and state, as well as private financing. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify. For complete information on current tuition costs, please see the聽academic catalog.
What Will I Learn in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program?
The online BSN program at 黑料不打烊 focuses primarily on leadership, research, and education offering registered nurses the opportunity for professional growth and development through attainment of a higher degree.
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, graduates will be able to:
- Utilize effective communication with patients, families, communities, and colleagues for collaboration to achieve optimal health outcomes.
- Demonstrate clinical judgement in the delivery of evidence-based patient-centered care to promote and restore health for diverse populations.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices that support safety and quality nursing practice.
- Create a safe environment that promotes caring and professionalism with consideration for the patient鈥檚 cultural humility, societal beliefs, and practices.
- Apply current scientific and evidence-based knowledge and data interpretation to guide actions which promote human flourishing and enhance patient-centered care.
- Demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with the legal and ethical framework of nursing.
Start Training for Your Career in Nursing With 黑料不打烊
黑料不打烊 is experienced in turning out highly trained nurses who should be ready to confidently advance their careers. Learn more about the 黑料不打烊聽.
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Faculty and Students
黑料不打烊 takes a personal approach to preparing graduates for professional success. Our faculty members are experienced and passionate about helping you reach your career goals.
With students of different backgrounds and ages, you鈥檒l develop nursing skills in a robust community. 黑料不打烊 cares that you鈥檙e not just a student in a program. Your peers and teachers will know and care about you and your career aspirations.
Find Bachelor of Science in Nursing Training Near Me
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program is available聽online. Find out how online nursing education benefits your career goals.
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