Planning a Pathway in Nursing - Research Paper Example

? Nursing Career Choices Nursing Career Choices In any clinical setting, nurses create the highest form of inspiration to students who are pursuing their higher education. They should be used as a motivation to the students as a way of increasing their perspective as well as broadening their scope. Every day, the nursing career becomes murkier with the health sector becoming a place for people seeking a chance to improve national health perceptions. There are studies that show that the clinical settings are mainly affected by the lack of appropriate content in the way students are taught. The lack of appropriate knowledge means that nurses will, at all times, be lacking in certain areas where they are expected to perform the best. Thus, student nurses require long-term motivational aspects that will make them enjoy their profession and help people more in the future (Buerhaus, Auerbauch, and Staiger, 2009). Many who have upgraded their Registered Nurse diplomas to a bachelor’s degree have cited an improved perception of their work and an eventful stint at their work settings; the bachelor’s degree just adds the required confidence to the nurse as a way of ensuring that they perform their duty as expected. However these nurses are quickly running out of options in their career path. Nurses provide at least 80% of direct patient contact, and thus expect to be trained well and awarded career options that will serve them for long-term benefits and not for the short-term goals alone (Marsland and Hickey, 2003). Rewards have limited most people from entering this education level and have thus led to attrition. However, this report will seek to search for three career options that a graduate holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can choose. Career Options A BSN prepared registered nurse (RN) has several options from which they can choose. For the purpose of this report, the three choices are public health nurses, military service nurses and long-term care nurses (Buerhaus, Auerbauch, and Staiger, 2009). These choices are entrusted to them because it is believed that the knowledge they hold at this level can be used for national service. There are reports that show that the more knowledgeable a nurse is, the higher the chances for their patients to survive. This is because they have a greater awareness that is helpful in the increase of a substantial survival advantage. It is also statistically proven from a research carried out by Metz, Fouad and Ihle-Helledy (2009) that at least 25% of all BSN graduates interviewed want to pursue a career in faculty role and 76% wanted to further their education to fit into the national grid. However, even as BSN they have a high chance of being recruited into the workforce and serve as nurses in the long-term care centers, as public health nurses or military nurses as they would prefer. Why These Choices It is projected that by the year 2025, the number of nurses required to serve the public will have increased to at least 1 million. The growing number of baby boomers has necessitated a review of the way nurses are registered given that at least 260,000 registered nurses will be required to cater for this increase (Buerhaus, Auerbauch, and Staiger, 2009). Further, an increase in the number of chronically ill currently placed at over 100 million, means that the current number of nurses is strained and the ill are not receiving the care they require. The increasing complexities in the medical world also require knowledgeable people in different areas who can multitask and help to alleviate any backlogs that may arise while ensuring the safety of the patients. Despite this increased need for nurses it is also reported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) that a large number of qualified undergraduate baccalaureate applicants are being turned down annually (Fang et al., 2011). They claim that the limited number of facilities as well as an inadequate number of faculties in the nursing field has limited the number of registered nurses that can be admitted at a time. As such, the number jumped from 3,600 in 2002 to 67,000 in 2010 which means that at least 66% of those who registered were turned down (Fang et al., 2011). This is obviously quite a startling figure. As a graduate holding a BSN, the careers stated herein need to be filled or else there will be a problem within the next 15 years. People need to motivate more students to join and seriously take this as a career that will be used to cater for the future generations. Further, the increasing wars that the U.S is getting involved in will require that people are there to cater for the casualties. If these positions are not filled, there will be a big problem that may even result to activities stalling in many public health centers (Marsland and Hickey, 2003). The number of qualified personnel required must be increased to help improve the health sector as it is a critical aspect of a national’s socioeconomic performance. Competence, a significant attribute in any profession, will also be lacking because of the increased workload and the lack of motivational pecks that would help to remedy the situation by attracting more students to enroll into nursing school. The BSN graduates have been trained to work under diverse conditions and this will only be ascertained if more can be enrolled into the nursing colleges. However for this to happen, they must be given the appropriate and adequate facilities that will enhance not only their competence but also their confidence (Metz, Fouad, and Ihle-Helledy, 2009). By choosing to engage in BSN-related careers, the nation is expected to enjoy better services from these professionals. ABSN has also been seen as a way of improving a nurse’s career and open a doorway of career opportunities. This is something that should increase the number of graduates each year. However, this has also been hindered by the increasing number of those already being turned down. However, those who are already qualified and hold a BSN have better chances and more improved benefits from which to reap. It will also open doors in the area of management owing to the increased knowledge that one has gained (Marsland and Hickey, 2003). As noted, the Medicare reimbursement program for acute care has been reduced; hence forcing more patients to opt for fee-for-service care. With such an expensive alternative, patients are brought in a little sicker than before and thus require highly specialized care than a BSN is qualified to handle (Metz, Fouad, and Ihle-Helledy, 2009). Therefore, the reasons why one should join the public health career option are numerous and should be marketed in a way that attracts people to register for these courses. Further, the nursing association should improve on its facilities and the accreditation process as a way of ensuring that more applicants are admitted into colleges to take this course. My Career Choice I wish to pursue the long-term nurse career path. The number of baby boomers and chronically ill persons are currently increasing in the American society. As such, the need for people to cater for this growing generation is enormous. Therefore, I want to be among those who choose to fill up the void that will be left by the retiring nurses. Further, the long-term patients require specialized care which will provide an opportunity for to exercise the theoretical and practical knowledge that I gained after acquiring the BSN. As a nurse, ensuring that patients receive the very best care at all times is the priority. This career offers a chance to showcase how important each individual is and how playing one’s role can help to improve the way people view the nursing profession. Serving this generation of patients will be a fulfillment of my long-term dream and will thus be made relevant by the acquisition of a BSN. References Buerhaus, P. I., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2009). The recent surge in nurse employment: Causes and implications. Health Affairs, 28(4), w657-68. Fang, D., Hu, E., & Bednash, G. D. (2011). 2010-11 enrollment and graduation in baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing. Washington, DC: American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN]. Marsland, L., & Hickey, G. (2003). Planning a pathway in nursing: Do course experiences influence job plans? Nurse Education Today, 23(3), 226-235. Metz, A. J., Fouad, N., & Ihle-Helledy, D. (2009). Career aspirations and expectations of college students: Demographic and labor market comparisons. Journal of Career Assessment, 17, 155-171. Read More