The demand for personnel in the healthcare industry is increasing. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment in healthcare occupations will expand by 16% between the years 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than the average growth projected for all other occupations.
Registered nurses, often known as RNs, are one of the types of healthcare professionals that are in high demand to care for an aging population. They are extremely sought after.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A REGISTERED NURSE?
A healthcare provider is considered to be a registered nurse if they have successfully completed a nursing education program and is in possession of a valid nursing license. The main thing that makes registered nurses different from each other is where they choose to specialize.
Still, nurses can show potential employers that they are trained in a certain field by taking nurse education courses and getting credentials in those fields.
TYPES OF REGISTERED NURSES
Different types of registered nurses fall into different categories according to the fields in which they specialize. The following is a list of some of the several types of registered nurses that are available in the United States:
Critical Care Nurse / ICU Nurse
Nurses who specialize in critical care work in intensive care units (ICUs) and critical care units (CCUs). Critical care nurses are sometimes referred to as intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, and vice versa. They are experts in providing care to patients who are hospitalized for serious diseases and require supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The AACN is also in charge of making sure that nurses who work in intensive care units and critical care units have the right certifications.
Public Health Nurse
Nurses who work in the field of public health may find employment with government agencies, nonprofit groups, and other types of organizations that promote public health by providing educational opportunities and screenings. In contrast to registered nurses who work in private practices, those who work in public health are primarily concerned with the treatment of entire communities. The Certification in Public Health exams are given by the National Board of Public Health Examiners and can be taken by registered nurses who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant work experience in the field of public health.
Medical-Surgical Nurse
The majority of the time, medical-surgical nurses will be found working in hospital settings, where they will manage multiple patients on a daily basis, often between five and seven. Certifications for these nurses are given out by the Medical-Surgical Nurse Certification Board (MSNCB) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Addiction Nurse
RNs who specialize in addiction are sometimes referred to as substance abuse nurses. They may have chosen this line of work because they or a loved one has struggled with addiction to alcohol, or other substances. Alternatively, they may have witnessed someone they care about struggling with addiction. Recovery centers, hospitals, and outpatient care facilities are all common places of employment for addiction nurses. The International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) is in charge of giving nurses who work in the field of addictions certifications.
Occupational Health Nurse
An occupational health nurse will most often be found working in a clinical environment. However, they may also be employed full-time as nurses by large corporations. A large manufacturing corporation, for instance, would hire an occupational health nurse to help prevent injuries, manage workplace health issues, and administer workers’ compensation and family medical leave. These are all important aspects of workplace safety and health. The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) has a program that lets people get certified.
Neonatal Nurse
A premature newborn, an infant who was born with a life-threatening or persistent condition, or an infant who was born before their due date are the focus of a neonatal nurse’s care. They might work in a critical care unit, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; pronounced “nick-you”), trauma unit, or some other type of medical facility. The AACN is in charge of the certification process for these registered nurses.
Cardiovascular Nurse
Cardiovascular Nurse Cardiovascular nurses are employed in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, coronary care units (CCUs), and physician practices to provide medical attention to patients who suffer from heart disease. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the organization in charge of certifying nurses who work in the cardiovascular field (AACN).
Gastroenterology Nurse
Nurses who specialize in the field of gastroenterology provide assistance to patients who suffer from gastrointestinal ailments that affect the stomach and digestive tract. They could offer assistance to physicians while they are performing endoscopies and colonoscopies. The American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN) is the group in charge of certifying nurses who work in gastroenterology.
COMMON STEPS TO BECOMING A NURSE
Complete a nursing education program that has been granted accreditation. You will need to have either a nursing certificate earned from an RN school that is approved, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing in order to become a nurse.
To become a registered nurse in the United States, one must first take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
You need to get a license to practice in the state where you want to work. The requirements are different in each state. Find out more about the specific standards that each state has for RN licensing.
WHAT DO RREGISTERED NURSES DO?
The responsibilities of a registered nurse (RN) might change significantly based on where they work, how long they’ve been a nurse, and the field of nursing in which they specialize. Most of the time, registered nurses have both clinical and administrative responsibilities.
REGISTERED NURSES CLINICAL DUTIES
Performing condition assessments on patients and checking their vital signs
Engaging in consultation and cooperation with several other healthcare providers
Participating in the formulation of care plans for patients and performing such functions
Providing patients with the medications and treatments that have been prescribed to them by physicians and other healthcare professionals is a priority.
Providing instruction to both patients and the relatives of those patients
The Registered Nurse is responsible for a number of administrative tasks.
The responsibility of directing and supervising other healthcare professionals, such as licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and medical assistants,
Controlling and keeping an eye on the apparatus used in medicine
Putting patients through diagnostic testing and reviewing their results
Keeping a record of a patient’s medical history and symptoms
WHERE DO RNS WORK?
Registered nurses can be found working in medical offices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, as well as in the public sector and educational institutions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) did a study on registered nurses and found that most of them work in hospitals.
HOW MUCH DO RREGISTERED NURSES GET PAID?
Location, level of education, the kind of employer one works for, the amount of experience and a variety of other factors all influence salaries. A registered nurse in the United States can anticipate a pay check of approximately $6,900 per month on average. In conclusion, the average registered nurse in the United States earns an average yearly pay of $82,750, which is much more than the average annual salary for all jobs in the country.
CONCLUSION
The average annual pay of a nurse in the United States of America is higher than the national average salary for all jobs, and this is only one of the many benefits that nurses in the United States of America receive. If becoming a registered nurse in the United States is something you’re really considering, you should read this article.
