Essay On A Research On The Nursing Profession

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Introduction

Aspirations and goals are common among individual especially if one is in the process of defining and creating a path for his or her career. Some individuals will learn early in their lives what they intend to become, some will become a late bloomer. Some will want to defend other people’s lives as part of their future profession, others will want to care and spend time monitoring one’s health. In the United States, caring for other people’s health or taking up the profession of being a nurse is one the largest number in the healthcare line of work. The type of nurses around the world ranges from the basic provision of healthcare need to caring for acute diseases. Beyond caring, the responsibilities of a nurse also include educating the patient and their family, assist in conducting diagnostic tests, offering emotional support to the patient, keep details of the medical history of the patient as well as administer medication and treatment. This profession has become popular that it provided for different advanced education, training and exposure in terms of specialization. In this regard, this research focuses on what involves being a nurse, its basic educational requirements, specialization and required advanced training as well as the qualities and ethical practice that nurses has to live with while serving different people.

Educational Requirements

If an individual is set to becoming a nurse, one can already think ahead about the steps and procedures needed to prepare and develop skills and qualities of this professional. The educational approach is one of the considerations that an individual must look into especially if he or she is coming from different educational levels. The starting point of deliberation to how an individual can become a nurse is as early as during high school, a university of college nursing student or a working nurse who intends to take up postgraduate studies.
While in high school, it is important to consider taking up subjects in physical and biological sciences as some college or universities require such subjects prior to enrolling to nursing programs. Some schools are also offering subjects for specialized skills major that define the learning path of student, for example, learning skills that relate to wellness and health as these are basic knowledge in nursing programs. While in high school, an individual can explore the possibility of taking a 2-year nursing programs in order to prepare the knowledge for a registered nurse. These 2-3 year nursing programs are associate degree programs offered mostly in community colleges and allow trainings in nursing fundamentals. Other universities and colleges offer bachelor degrees in nursing that will give flexibility in the career of a nurse as well as added clinical experience. University offers various nursing programs that include child development, sociology, clinical and theory practice, physiology and anatomy. Furthermore, programs in the universities are offering training for leadership and management, specialized research and teaching. While studying in a college or university, individuals will have exposure in different nursing specializations such as public health, gynecology, pediatrics, emergency room and obstetrics. It is also through this study that a student gets experience in different kind of environment that a nurse will experience such as conditions that are stressful and high pressure situation that are critical in emergency room kind of nursing skills. Also, the entire experience in the university and colleges will allow an individual to become eligible as a registered nurse or a registered practical nurse. For those nurses who are already licensed and registered nurses, additional studies and advance in terms of knowledge are available for their eligibility to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are greater duties and responsibilities and range of practice .

Nursing Careers and Training (What They Do)

In order for nurses to accelerate their career path and gain additional knowledge, it is necessary for these individuals to identity the direction that they intend to focus on. Based on specialization, there are different professional path that one can concentrate on and hone their nursing skills and area of expertise. Among the types of career that nurses can explore include being a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Neonatal Nurse and Nurse Practitioner.
Registered Nurses complete college or university programs such as a bachelor degree, an associate degree or a diploma course in nursing program. Either of these programs is necessary in order for an individual to become eligible for licensure as well as acquire entry-level of service as registered nurse. All registered nurses should necessarily take licensure exam as mandated by all states. Before practicing the profession itself, a nurse must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX – RN) that covers basic nursing categories that include healthcare environment safety, promotion of health, physiological and psychological integrity. Other states are encouraging nurses to continue their learning through participation in a long-term education. A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) must undergo through diploma courses that investigates subjects relating to pharmacology, basic nursing, life span health care, medical terminologies and infection control. Also, individual aspirant who intend to embark on the career path of a LPN must go through the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX – PN). Once passed, a LPN is eligible to work through wide-ranging responsibilities of health care. These settings can include in hospice facilities, autonomous doctor’s office and other home health care institutions. The work of an LPN is at least 40 hours a week and can take place in different locations. Similarly, Neonatal Nurse as a profession requires a bachelor and masters degree that provides basic nursing programs and general education. Aside from this, an individual who intend to specialize in neonatal career in the future must have other science subjects in their program that include physiology, statistics, anatomy and microbiology. As neonatal nurses focus on the health of new born babies, it is necessary that the educational programs that they take on must include nursing tracks on healthcare delivery, human responses, administering medication and recording of vital information of infants. As the state dictates, it is necessary that the Nursing Accrediting Commission recognizes all educational programs that related to neonatal nursing. Other than the NCLEX – RN, a neonatal nurse can also take on certification provided by the National Certification Corporation. Individuals specializing in the profession of a Nurse Practitioner must have at least a master degree in order to become eligible for employment. Its expertise must range from occupational health, pediatric, women’s health, adult, acute, neonatal to geriatric and family. Considered as more advanced profession in the field of nursing, Nurse Practitioner aspirants must have license as both certified nurse practitioner and a registered nurse .

Qualities and Responsibilities of a Nurse

Generally, good nurses are compassionate, organized and patient. These individual are detail-oriented and have a good analytical and critical thinking skills. It is necessary that they have thirst for learning as this profession requires continuous learning in order to progress. In this kind of generation where technology evolves, it is necessary that math and science is an essential part of the skills of a good nurse as well as its exposure to technology. Good nurses must also exemplify empathy as they are facing the patients in their daily lives to whom they share emotions and care to distress them. Accompanied with being emphatic is the communication skills of a nurse especially these individuals face patients and family’s of patients from different age bracket as well as different culture and background. Furthermore, it is necessary that good nurses have strong and steady physical endurance as this profession is high in demand. Nurses may spend more than 12 hours in the hospitals or clinics to attend to the needs of the patients as well as to adhere to the requirements of the doctors. It is also important that a good nurse has a good team work skills as it is part of their responsibility to work with other health care teams and coordinate with other health care providers. With such good coordinating skills, good nurses should have the capability to convey the request of a patient and communicate the medical conditions of a patient to the other members of the team. More importantly, nurses must have dedication in their work in whatever circumstance that requires their attention and service .

Professional Ethics for Nurses

As part of the nursing profession, it is necessary that a good nurse live and abide with the defined code of ethics of nursing all the time. Nurses must have deep understanding, support and endorse the professional ethics of nurses in terms of clinical practice, education, administration as well as research.
In terms of clinical practice, all nurses must make the patient his or her main concern all the time. While caring and attending to their patients, it is important to demonstrate integrity and honesty. Nurses must deliver care to their patients while protecting their integrity. Although being emphatic and communication is essential when delivering nurse services, it is still vital that nurses recognize and treat with respect his or her clients all the time. If needed, nurse must initiate, sustain or cease his or relationship with the patient in a very suitable manner. With regard to education, nurses must inform and educate his or her patient while maintaining privacy and confidentiality. It is also the responsibility of the each nurse to educate and remind other nurses with regard to the ethical practices within their profession. Furthermore, each nurse must recognize and respect the contributions of the health team members. In terms of administration, nurses must have the awareness to promote and maintain an environment that suits the ethical responsibilities of the health team members. If necessary, nurses must provide fair decisions relating to sharing of resources and efforts. In the aspect of research, it is important that nurses who embark on nursing research maintain an honest, accountable and ethical research while sustaining the confidentiality and privacy of his or her subject .

Conclusion

Nurses are one of the important workers in the society who commit and devote their lives caring for their patients regardless of time and location. An individual who aspires to become a nurse must have the responsibility of understanding and exploring the possible career path that he or she intends to take. Among the considerations for such professions include the educational requirements, licenses and certifications that one needs to take in order to become an employable nurse. Beyond these, it is necessary that nurses maintain and improve their skills and responsibilities in order to appropriately care for their patients. All the time, nurses must adhere to professional ethical code of nursing as a respect for the profession and the trust that people are giving them to care for their lives.

Source Comparison

The sources of this research ranges from web information, reports and journals. Unlike the professional journals such as The Online Journal Issues and Nursing Ethics supported by group of professionals, the source of the web information with regard to topic comes from an account of an individual. The ‘Types of Nursing Degree Program’ web information, however, provided detailed information that is already informative for the aspiring nurses. Although this source is from an individual, the author has a BSN and RN certification. Furthermore, the report used in this study provides credible ethical information as the expertise of the institution is for the aspiring registered nurses as written in the document.

Works Cited

Raines, C., & Taglareni, M. (2008). Career Pathways in Nursing: Entry Points and Academic Progression. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 1-10.
Smith, K., & Godfrey, N. (2002). Being a Good Nurse and Doing the Right Thing: A Qualitative Study. Nursing Ethics, 301-312.
Wilson, B. (2012). Types of Nursing Programs. Retrieved from NursingJournal.org: http://nursejournal.org/articles/types-of-nursing-degrees/