Registered Nursing Programs

First and foremost, consider if the profession will help you to become self-fulfilled. As the nursing profession is all about taking care of other people, those individuals who have a nurturing side will truly find self-fulfillment with this kind of work.

After knowing that you really want to become a nurse, the second step is to find a school which is accredited to teach a nursing program. Make sure that the school you will choose has been accredited since it is a proof that it can provide you the best quality education.

Meanwhile, nursing schools offer three programs and these are the following with each description:

• Associate degree in nursing – this usually only takes two to three years to complete. After finishing Associate Degree in nursing, a person can already work in a hospital. This nursing program is the most popular because it only takes a shorter period of time for a person to finish studying his/her nursing course.
• BS (Bachelor of Science) nursing – after taking associate degree in nursing, the person should take another two years to have a Bachelor of Science degree
• Nursing diploma – after finishing Associate degree or Bachelor of Science degree, a student can already have his/her nursing diploma.

After finishing school and receiving your diploma, the law still binds you to take the National Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN). After passing from this test, you can now practice the nursing profession. Meanwhile, some states require a person to take their local NCLEX-RN even if he/she had already taken the examination in the past in another state.

Also, there are many states which require registered nurses to continue their education to further hone their skills and to know the latest development in medical science. Registered nurses are also required to renew their nursing license (RN license) from time to time.

Cost of nursing education

The cost for education will depend on the school and the state. Meanwhile, for those who want to spend less, they can go to community colleges which will only cost around $3,000 to $5,000 annually. On the other hand, a private school will cost more than $20,000 every year.

For those students who have a limited budget, there are many financial aids available (government-funded, non-government groups, and private entities) which can help them to finish their nursing education.

For those interested to have government financial aid, they have to apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The average salary of a Registered Nurse

The salary of a registered nurse will depend on the hospital he/she is working, the experience, the location, and the educational background. Meanwhile, the general trend is that nurses with a highly specialized skill get the highest salary.

In the US, the annual income of an average registered nurse is $57,000 and this may even increase if the person has more experience and provides specialized skills.

The advantages of being a Registered Nurse

As people have lost their jobs amidst the ongoing recession, registered nurses are spared from the massive layoffs since the demand for medical practitioners will always be in demand. (Since there will always be people who will need medical service.)

So for those people who want to have a reliable profession which will always be in demand, being a registered nurse is one way to ensure that there will be jobs always available no matter what is the current condition of the economy.

According to the latest survey, nursing is one of the most in demand professions from most part of the world including the US. And because of the high demand, the nursing graduates cannot compensate the number needed by hospitals to provide medical care for its patients.

Today, there is a nursing shortage and it has been estimated that the US need around 58,000 nurses before the end of 2016. Because of the high demand for this profession, many hospitals are even adopting various incentives to lure registered nurses to work with them. Some provide higher salary, financial assistance for staffs who want to continue on studying, work schedules which are not hard, and long vacation leaves.

The job description of a Registered Nurse

Registered nurses provide medical assistance to a person who is sick or injured. They also help doctors to take care of the patients in operating rooms, clinics, intensive care, ambulatory care, and other hospital settings.

While being a registered nurse may appear quite challenging, most people would say that this is one of the most rewarding professions since the main goal of this work is to provide care for those people who are in a condition where they needed help the most.

In terms of seniority, registered nurses are in higher position than nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses. In addition to this, they are also in charge of assigning duties to their subordinates to make sure that the patients from the hospital are well taken care off.

Meanwhile, here are some other responsibilities of a registered nurse:

• Making sure that medical ethics are being upheld by other staffs in the hospital.
• Maintaining a record medical history of a patient.
• Providing emotional support for patients and their families.
• Providing assistance to doctors to help the patients.