Public Health Discussion unit 8 - Research Paper Example

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH DISCUSSION UNIT 8 Public Health Discussion Unit 8 Educational PUBLIC HEALTH DISCUSSION UNIT 8 2Public Health Discussion Unit 8 Nursing, which dates back to the middle of the 19th century, is the largest of the health professions. There are many specific disciplines within the nursing profession. Registered nurses and pharmacists are the disciplines selected for this paper. Each of these two selections has different levels. Nursing has evolved to doctorates of nursing below which are nurses with masters degrees; registered nursing, licensed practical nursing and nursing assistant designations.

Due to the shortage of nurses, the number of care aides, who rank below the nursing assistant, has been steadily increasing. There are also various levels in the pharmacy profession, beginning with a pharmacy technician, and proceeding to a pharmacist with a Bachelors degree, a Masters degree, and even a doctorate degree, although this student has never noticed a doctorate designation beside any pharmacist listed on the duty boards. Registered nurses (RNs) most often train in community colleges and do hospital clinical rotations.

If they pass their exams they graduate and refer to themselves as graduate nurses. This, however, changes if government exams are written and passed after which they receive their RN designation and are then eligible to be licensed. In the United States pharmacists must obtain their doctorate from an accredited college or school of pharmacy. Bachelor degrees are not being awarded anymore (United States Department of Labor (2011). Registered nurses are considered the mainstay of hospital-based medical care.

Now that pharmacists require a doctorate, their work scope has expanded. They even give flu injections and prescribe medications. The selections are based on this student’s interactions with them.PUBLIC HEALTH DISCUSSION UNIT 8 3ReferencesUnited States Department of Labor. Occupational Handbook, 2010-11 Edition. Pharmacists. Retrieved on December 31, 2011, from http://bls.gov./oco.