[Insert presenter name(s)] [Insert name of school] Careers in Nursing © 2013 Andrea King, VNSA BTN Director ‘13-’14

Agenda What is an RN? How to Become a RN Nursing Shortage and the Future of Nursing Where do RNs work? Advanced Education Is nursing right for you? Career Opportunities

RNs are professionals licensed by the state in which they work. RNs function as active members of the health care team. RNs provide and manage care for individuals who are ill and their families. RNs also work with healthy individuals and families to educate them about wellness and disease prevention. RNs work with patients of all ages promoting physical, mental and social well-being. What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?

RNs observe and assess the patient in order to create a plan of care RNs perform a lot of skills (some of which Physicians do not know how to perform) –Vital Signs, Physical Assessment, & Patient Interview –Administer medications, administer injections, & insert IVs –Urinary Catheters & Enemas –Feeding Tubes, Nasogastric Tubes –Wound Care –Help to Manage Pain –May help to delivery babies –May assist in surgeries –TEACH! –Many more! What is a Registered Nurse (RN)? Continued…

The possibilities are endless! Where do nurses work? ☤ Hospitals ☤ Clinics/Offices ☤ Nursing Homes ☤ Hospice ☤ Schools ☤ Cruise Ships ☤ Military ☤ Helicopters ☤ Industries ☤ Wellness Centers ☤ Public Health Offices ☤ Home Health Care Agencies

What kinds of career opportunities are available? There are a multitude of specialties to choose from including:  Medical/Surgical - Care for a variety of ill or injured patients and patients who have undergone surgery.  Critical Care - Care for critically ill or injured patients of all ages.

Continued… Career Opportunities Neurology: Care for patients with illnesses or injuries involving the nervous system. Dermatology: Care for patients with skin conditions. Orthopedic: Care for patients with illnesses or injuries to muscles and bones. Same Day Surgery Post Anesthesia Care Unit Recovery Room: Care for patients immediately before or after surgery. O.R.: Care for patients in the operating room during surgical procedures. These are just a few of the many possibilities you could choose from after completing a nursing program. Labor and Delivery: Care for mothers and babies before, during, and after delivery. Pediatrics: Care for ill or injured children. Cardiac Care: Care for patients with issues involving their hearts. Geriatrics: Care for elderly ill or injured patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Provides care to patients with complex illnesses or injuries and often responsible for the continuing education of staff nurses. Nurse Practitioner - Diagnoses and treats a wide variety of patients. Research - Involved with research studies to increase the knowledge base of the nursing profession. Nurse Midwives - Care for women during pregnancy and deliver their babies. Nursing Professor - Teaches nursing students in nursing schools. Nurse Anesthetist - Provides anesthesia to patients during surgical and non-surgical procedures. Advanced Education Adds Options:

There is currently a shortage of nurses worldwide, which is the result of several factors:  Aging nursing population many nurses are retiring.  Post World War II “baby boomer” generation is aging and requiring more medical care.  Affordable care act is going to call for a need for more nurses especially in rural areas because nurses will be “running” these primary care clinics What’s all this talk about a nursing shortage?

The future has never been brighter for a career in nursing. Salaries are expected to increase due to the nursing shortage. Future nurses can expect a high degree of job security. A variety of nursing positions will be readily available to future nursing school graduates. What does all this mean for the future of nursing?

Future of Nursing  Employers are becoming more flexible in scheduling options—nurses often work any combination of 8, 10, or 12 hour shift on days, nights and weekends.  Many facilities utilize some form of self-scheduling, allowing you to choose (within unit guidelines) what shifts you work and select your days off.  There are endless possibilities for future nurses both male and female. Continued…

How do I know if nursing is right for me? Although there is a nursing shortage and nurses are in great demand, nursing is not right for everyone…

Do you enjoy health and science classes and do reasonably well in math? Do you have an interest in learning about the human body and how it works? Do you have a sense of compassion and desire to help others? Do you like to teach people and share information with others? Are you able to work well with others and do you enjoy being around other people? Do you possess good decision making & problem solving skills? Do you desire variety in career opportunities? Do you enjoy learning and analyzing things? Are you dependable and do you have good oral and written communication skills? Qualities to be a good nurse:

What can I do to prepare for a career in nursing? ☛ Work hard to get good grades. ☛ Study science and math courses. ☛ Consider job shadowing.

Your Logo What type of education will I need to become a nurse? Usually a two year program at a community / technical college. After completion of the program, graduates must pass the NCLEX test to apply for state licensure as an RN. Usually a four year program at a college or university. After completing the program, graduates must pass the NCLEX test to apply for state licensure as an RN. Usually a two year program offered to graduates of a Baccalaureate program. These programs are usually intensely focused on a specialty area of study. Graduates of Masters programs often function as Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Midwives, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Researchers or Nurse Administrators. Masters of Science in Nursing Baccalaureate in Science in Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing

References

Questions? Don’t be shy! Do you have questions about nursing? Nursing school? Applying to nursing school? The college experience in general?

[Insert Name] –Current [insert year] nursing student –[Insert address and/or phone number] [Insert Name if Applicable] –Current [insert year] nursing student –[Insert address and/or phone number] [Insert Name if Applicable] –Current [insert year] nursing student –[Insert address and/or phone number] Contact Info

THANK YOU!