Registered nursing programs prepare people to work as RNs. Students learn techniques and procedures of caring for patients and helping doctors. They learn to give medicine and treatments. They also learn to comfort and instruct patients.
Government studies predict that at least 1,000,000 new and replacement nurses will be needed by the year 2010! This is because many nurses will retire soon and enrollment in nursing programs is low. Also, more and more people in America are getting older and will need medical care. Therefore, nurses are more in demand than ever. As a result, hospitals and medical companies are encouraging people to become nurses.
As a nurse, you must be prepared for anything. You must be able to handle stressful situations and work with many kinds of people. However, many nurses feel great satisfaction with their work. This is because every day they help people and their families feel better, both physically and emotionally.
In nursing programs, you take courses in different laboratory sciences, including organic chemistry, biology, and anatomy. You also take courses in nursing theory, pharmacology, psychology, statistics, and nutrition. In addition, you take courses in caring for different kinds of patients. This includes patients who've just had surgery, older people, newborns and mothers, and children. You learn how to perform different tasks, such as prepping a patient for surgery, taking vital signs, and giving injections. You learn about keeping patients and medical tools sterile to prevent infection.
Most people become a nurse by getting their BSN degree, or bachelor of science in nursing. You can also become an RN by getting your diploma in nursing. Diplomas in nursing usually are offered through three-year programs coordinated through hospitals or community colleges. This means that you are qualified to work as a nurse but do not have a degree. These programs are less common.
Most four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in nursing. Typically you receive a bachelor's degree in nursing in four to five years. Some community colleges offer two-year programs in licensed practical nursing which can be transferred to a four-year college or university.
Graduate nursing programs typically offer advanced study in nursing practices while also allowing you to specialize in an area of care. Some specialties include maternal and child health, adult health, mental health, and public health. Surgical nursing and pediatrics are other specialties. In most cases, you get your master's in nursing with a concentration in the area you choose. Some graduate schools offer certificate programs. These are usually for people who already have a master's degree in nursing. If you'd like to examine, diagnose, and treat your own patients, you can also study to become a nurse practitioner. In general, graduate certificate programs take about a year to complete. Master's and doctorate level programs take from two to five years after you finish your bachelor's degree.
As a registered nurse, you can work in a variety of healthcare settings. You can work in private doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. You can also work for private medical businesses, and depending on your degree, advance to supervisory positions.