RN Programs
The profession of nursing is best described through the task of taking care of individuals, families, and groups and also providing them with the knowledge of good hygiene habits to prevent them from various diseases. Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional nurse who provides medical assistance to sick and injured people and works alongside the physicians in the treatment of the patients. Each state has its own scope of practice defined for an RN, under the states’ Nurse Practice Act.
Registered Nurses are in a high demand in the entire United States and to overcome it many hospitals are providing with the provision of high salary, incentives, financial assistance, flexible schedules and vacation leaves to attract the RNs to work with them. A Registered Nurse is a valuable member of the medical team and is responsible for directing the practical nurses and the nursing assistants. To become a RN, first of all, you need to obtain a nursing diploma from the RN programs of the nursing schools and then you have to pass the NCLEX-RN examination to be able to practice. There are typically 3 RN programs offered by the nursing schools:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): 2-3 years
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): 4 years
- Nursing Diploma: 3 years
Night schools, online schools, and accelerated RN programs are also available to help you gain a RN license if you encounter problems in attending day-time schools.
The cost of the RN programs is dependent over the schools and the states. A community college would cost less than a private school. Also, financial aids are available for the students who can’t afford the fee structure. These may be either through government, or private entities, or non-government organizations.
Duties of RN
- Assisting the doctors in the treatment of the patients
- Attending to the sick and injured people
- Directing the LPNs and CNAs
- Educating the public about the good hygiene habits
- Keeping an eye on the patients’ health conditions
- Operating the different medical equipments carefully
- Performing the various health tests
- Providing emotional support to patient and its family
- Recording the proper medical history of each patient
Employment
Nurses have a duty of round the clock. So, the RNs also work in night shifts. RNs generally are employed at hospitals, physicians’ office, medical companies, emergency medical centers, laboratories, schools and clinics. In some areas, they also provide healthcare facilities by traveling to patients’ residence or clinics.
Wages & Remunerations
The wages and remunerations of RNs are generally high as compared to nursing assistants and practical nurses. It depends on the experience, the job location and the educational qualifications. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median salary of Registered Nurses in May 2010 was $64,690.
