Career Report in Nursing - Essay Example

Nursing has become a popular degree for most students for the past several years. This is especially so in third-world countries where nurses may earn a decent living. Coupled with this dream is another goal to land a job in the Western countries believed to give them a better opportunity. However, one has to qualify herself to be able to compete with the stiff requirement to be qualified as a registered nurse in the Western world.

Since ill patients depend on nurses, I am interested to venture in this since it is my dream to touch and provide comfort to people who are not well. To be qualified though, I have to be registered to make sure I deliver quality health care. This is for me to meet the educational requirements. Although, educational requirement depends on the country you are to be registered, nevertheless, in most of the globe, the completion of a bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree is the foremost requirement. A student may graduate with an earned diploma. The bachelor’s degree lasts for four years and is more comprehensive because it includes both theory and practicum to sharpen nursing skills learned in the four walls of the classroom. Practicum is done in the hospital and the community settings. The associate program, on the other hand, is taken for only two years with both theory and clinical exposure just the same but not as comprehensive as the bachelor’s degree. This makes most registered nurses go back to pursue a bachelor’s degree to meet the prerequisites and be selected for the nurse’s NCLEX examination (Baker, 2008).

Attached to the white uniform of nurses, I do understand that they have varied tasks since they comprise the biggest group within the health care system. Their job description includes the responsibility of maintaining an accurate and detailed report and records which should be reflected in their charting. This is to make sure everything done to the patient is recorded for a better continuity of care. An example of what should be reported includes the signs and symptoms that signal changes in the patient’s condition and the recording of vital signs and other medical conditions. Nurses are also liable to modify the treatment plans of their patients based on their condition and responses.  If they observe that certain medication proves to do the patient more harm than good such as in the case of agitation, then they must report it to the physician. Another is for them to coordinate with other healthcare teams like doctors, physical therapists, nutritionists, and others (Billings & Stokes, 1987). This is to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the care of a patient for better delivery of care. The above responsibilities are just a few of the many job descriptions of a registered nurse.

Registered nurses are among the professions with decent pay although rates depend on your State or country. Salary also depends on the position one holds. For example, nurse supervisors and chief nurses are paid more than ordinary staff nurses. Aside from this, health institution also makes a difference. Some hospitals and companies offer higher than the others with the same position level. 
Just like the nurses, individuals venturing into these allied occupations should have a basic knowledge of nursing subjects such as anatomy and physiology, fundamentals of nursing, health ethics, biology, and other basic medical subjects deemed important to the course.