Nursing Jobs, Registered Nursing Jobs, RNs, Medical Jobs
Registered Nursing jobs are one of the fastest growing
allied health care groups. Over 1.2 million new RNs will be
added through 2014. The registered nursing specialty is
included here along with a sampling of resources from the all new 4th
edition of Health Care Job Explosion! and features
registered nursing (RN) working conditions, job outlook, training, employment,
earnings, and related occupations. Occupational groups are divided into primary and related occupations
so that individuals can investigate other fields for additional job
opportunities. Registered nursing jobs are available in most
communities and all major medical facilities.
Registered nurses constitute the largest health care
occupation, with 2.4 million jobs.
About 3 out of 5 RN jobs are in hospitals.
The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s
degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program.
Registered nurses are projected to create the second
largest number of new jobs among all occupations; job opportunities in most
special-ties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some
employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough RNs.
Registered nurses (RNs), regardless of specialty or work setting, perform
basic duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public
about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to
patients’ family members. RNs record patients’ medical histories and symptoms,
help to perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery,
administer treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and
rehabilitation.
RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury,
including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and
self-administration of medication and physical therapy. Some RNs also are
trained to provide grief counseling to family members of critically ill
patients. RNs work to promote general health by educating the public on various
warning signs and symptoms of disease and where to go for help. RNs also might
run general health screening or immunization clinics, blood drives, and public
seminars on various conditions.
RNs can specialize in one or more patient care specialties. The most common
specialties can be divided into roughly four categories—by work setting or type
of treatment; disease, ailment, or condition; organ or body system type; or
population. RNs may combine specialties from more than one area—for example,
pediatric oncology or cardiac emergency—depending on personal interest and
employer needs.
RNs may specialize by work setting or by type of care provided. For example,
ambulatory care nurses treat patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries
on an outpatient basis, either in physicians’ offices or in clinics. Some
ambulatory care nurses are involved in telehealth, providing care and advice
through electronic communications media such as video-conferencing or the
Internet. Critical care nurses work in critical or intensive
care hospital units and provide care to patients with cardiovascular,
respiratory, or pulmonary failure. Emergency, or trauma, nurses
work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening
conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks, and strokes. Some
emergency nurses are flight nurses, who provide
medical care to patients who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical
facility. Holistic nurses provide care such as acupuncture,
massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback, which are meant to treat patients’
mental and spiritual health in addition to their physical health. Home health care nurses provide at-home care
for patients who are recovering from surgery, accidents, and childbirth.
Hospice and palliative care nurses provide care for, and help ease the
pain of, terminally ill patients outside of hospitals. Infusion nurses
administer medications, fluids, and blood to patients through injections into
patients’ veins. Long-term care nurses provide medical services
on a recurring basis to patients with chronic physical or mental disorders.
Medical-surgical nurses provide basic medical care to a variety
of patients in all health settings. Occupational health nurses
provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses and help employers to
detect workplace hazards and implement health and safety standards.
Perianesthesia nurses provide preoperative and postoperative care to
patients undergoing anesthesia during surgery. Perioperative nurses assist
surgeons by selecting and handling instruments, controlling bleeding, and
suturing incisions. Some of these nurses also can specialize in plastic and
reconstructive surgery. Psychiatric nurses treat patients with
personality and mood disorders. Radiologic nurses provide care
to patients undergoing diagnostic radiation procedures such as ultrasounds and
magnetic resonance imaging. Rehabilitation nurses care for
patients with temporary and permanent disabilities. Transplant nurses
care for both transplant recipients and living donors and monitor signs of organ
rejection.
RNs specializing in a particular disease, ailment, or
condition are employed in virtually all work settings, including physicians’
offices, outpatient treatment facilities, home health care agencies, and
hospitals. For instance, addictions nurses treat patients seeking help with
alcohol, drug, and tobacco addictions. Developmental disabilities nurses
provide care for patients with physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities;
care may include help with feeding, controlling bodily functions, and sitting or
standing independently. Diabetes management nurses help
diabetics to manage their disease by teaching them proper nutrition and showing
them how to test blood sugar levels and administer insulin injections.
Genetics nurses provide early detection screenings and treatment of
patients with genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis and Hunting-ton’s
disease. HIV/AIDS nurses care for patients diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.
Oncology nurses care for patients with various types of cancer and may
administer radiation and chemotherapies. Finally, wound, ostomy, and
continence nurses treat patients with wounds caused by traumatic
injury, ulcers, or arterial disease; provide postoperative care for patients
with openings that allow for alternative methods of bodily waste elimination;
and treat patients with urinary and fecal incontinence.
RNs specializing in treatment of a particular organ or body
system usually are employed in specialty physicians’ offices or outpatient care
facilities, although some are employed in hospital specialty or critical care
units. For example, cardiac and vascular nurses treat patients
with coronary disease and those who have had heart surgery, providing services
such as postoperative rehabilitation. Dermatology nurses treat
patients with disorders of the skin, such as skin cancer and psoriasis.
Gastroenterology nurses treat patients with digestive and intestinal
disorders, including ulcers, acid reflux disease, and abdominal bleeding. Some
nurses in this field also specialize in endoscopic procedures, which look inside
the gastrointestinal tract using a tube equipped with a light and a camera that
can capture images of diseased tissue. Gynecology nurses
provide care to women with disorders of the reproductive system, including
endometriosis, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases. Nephrology
nurses care for patients with kidney disease caused by diabetes,
hypertension, or substance abuse. Neuroscience nurses care for
patients with dysfunctions of the nervous system, including brain and spinal
cord injuries and seizures. Ophthalmic nurses provide care to
patients with disorders of the eyes, including blindness and glaucoma, and to
patients undergoing eye surgery. Orthopedic nurses care for patients with
muscular and skeletal problems, including arthritis, bone fractures, and
muscular dystrophy. Otorhinolaryngology nurses care for
patients with ear, nose, and throat disorders, such as cleft palates, allergies,
and sinus disorders. Respiratory nurses provide care to
patients with respiratory disorders such as asthma, tuberculosis, and cystic
fibrosis. Urology nurses care for patients with disorders of
the kidneys, urinary tract, and male reproductive organs, including infections,
kidney and bladder stones, and cancers.
Finally, RNs may specialize by providing preventive and acute care in all health
care settings to various segments of the population, including newborns
(neonatology), children and adolescents (pediatrics), adults, and the elderly
(gerontology or geriatrics). RNs also may provide basic health care to patients
outside of health care settings in such venues as including correctional
facilities, schools, summer camps, and the military. Some RNs travel around the
United States and abroad providing care to patients in areas with shortages of
medical professionals.
Most RNs work as staff nurses, providing critical health care
services along with physicians, surgeons, and other health care practitioners.
However, some RNs choose to become advanced practice nurses, who often are
considered primary health care practitioners and work independently or in
collaboration with physicians. For example, clinical nurse specialists provide
direct patient care and expert consultations in one of many of the nursing
specialties listed above. Nurse anesthetists administer
anesthesia, monitor patient’s vital signs during surgery, and provide
post-anesthesia care. Nurse midwives provide primary care to
women, including gynecological exams, family planning advice, prenatal care,
assistance in labor and delivery, and neonatal care. Nurse practitioners
provide basic preventive health care to patients, and increasingly serve as
primary and specialty care providers in mainly medically underserved areas. The
most common areas of specialty for nurse practitioners are family practice,
adult practice, women’s health, pediatrics, acute care, and gerontology;
however, there are many other specialties. In most states, advanced practice
nurses can prescribe medications.
Some nurses have jobs that require little or no direct patient contact. Most of
these positions still require an active RN license. Case managers ensure that
all of the medical needs of patients with severe injuries and illnesses are met,
including the type, location, and duration of treatment. Forensics
nurses combine nursing with law enforcement by treating and
investigating victims of sexual assault, child abuse, or accidental death.
Infection control nurses identify, track, and control infectious outbreaks in
health care facilities; develop methods of outbreak prevention and biological
terrorism responses; and staff immunization clinics. Legal nurse
consultants assist lawyers in medical cases by interviewing patients
and witnesses, organizing medical records, determining damages and costs,
locating evidence, and educating lawyers about medical issues. Nurse
administrators supervise nursing staff, establish work schedules and
budgets, and maintain medical supply inventories. Nurse educators
teach student nurses and also provide continuing education for RNs.
Nurse informaticists collect, store, and analyze nursing data
in order to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and improve patient care. RNs also
may work as health care consultants, public policy advisors, pharmaceutical and
medical supply researchers and sales persons, and medical writers and editors.
Most RNs work in well-lighted, comfortable health care facilities. Home
health and public health nurses travel to patients’ homes, schools, community
centers, and other sites. RNs may spend considerable time walking and standing.
Patients in hospitals and nursing care facilities require 24-hour care;
consequently, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and
holidays. RNs also may be on call— available to work on short notice. Nurses who
work in office settings are more likely to work regular business hours. About 23
percent of RNs worked part time in 2004, and 7 percent held more than one job.
Nursing has its hazards, especially in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and
clinics, where nurses may care for individuals with infectious diseases. RNs
must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other
dangers, such as those posed by radiation, accidental needle sticks, chemicals
used to sterilize instruments, and anesthetics. In addition, they are vulnerable
to back injury when moving patients, shocks from electrical equipment, and
hazards posed by compressed gases. RNs who work with critically ill patients
also may suffer emotional strain from observing patient suffering and from close
personal contact with patients’ families.
Nursing Jobs (Click on link for list of current jobs)
As the largest health care occupation, registered nurses currently hold about
2.4 million jobs. About 3 out of 5 jobs were in hospitals, in inpatient and
outpatient departments. Others worked in offices of physicians, nursing care
facilities, home health care services, employment services, government agencies,
and outpatient care centers. The remainder worked mostly in social assistance
agencies and educational services, public and private. About 1 in 4 RNs worked
part time.
In all states and the District of Columbia, students must graduate from an
approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination, known as the
NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in more
than one state, either by examination or by the endorsement of a license issued
by another state. Currently 18 states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact
Agreement, which allows nurses to practice in member states without
re-certifying. All states require periodic renewal of licenses, which may
involve continuing education.
There are three major educational paths to registered nursing: A bachelor’s
of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (AND), and a
diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take about 4 years
to complete. In 2004, 674 nursing programs offered degrees at the bachelor’s
level. AND programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3
years to complete. About 846 RN programs in 2004 granted associate degrees.
Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Only 69
pro-grams offered diplomas in 2004. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the
three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions as staff
nurses.
Many RNs with an AND or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare
for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find a staff nurse
position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work
toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2004, there were 600
RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master’s degree programs in
nursing also are available. These programs combine 1 year of an accelerated BSN
program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2004, there were 137 RN-to-MSN
programs.
Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who have a
bachelor’s or higher degree in another field and who are inter-ested in moving
into nursing. In 2004, more than 165 of these programs were available.
Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a
BSN for individuals who already hold a degree.
Individuals considering nursing should carefully weigh the ad-vantages and
disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN program, because, if they do, their
advancement opportunities usually are broader. In fact, some career paths are
open only to nurses with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree
often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for
admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching,
and all four advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical nurse specialists,
nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Individuals who
complete a bachelor’s receive more training in areas such as communication,
leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as
nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor’s degree programs
offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings. In 2004, 417 nursing
schools offered master’s degrees, 93 offered doctoral degrees, and 46 offered
accelerated BSN-to-doctoral programs.
All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master’s
degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require a BSN degree and some
programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience as an RN for
admission. In 2004, there were 329 master’s and post-master’s programs offered
for nurse practitioners, 218 master’s and post-master’s programs for clinical
nurse specialists, 92 programs for nurse anesthetists, and 45 programs for nurse
midwives. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become
nationally certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification
in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty.
All nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised
clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take
courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology
and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Course work also includes the
liberal arts for AND and BSN students.
Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as
pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing num-ber of programs
include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public health
departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics.
Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail oriented. They
must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients’
conditions, and determine when consultation is required. They need emotional
stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.
Some RNs start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides,
and then go back to school to receive their RN degree. Most RNs begin as staff
nurses, and with experience and good performance often are promoted to more
responsible positions. In management, nurses can advance to assistant head nurse
or head nurse and, from there, to assistant director, director, and vice
president. Increasingly, management- level nursing positions require a graduate
or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration. They also
require leader-ship, negotiation skills, and good judgment.
Some nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing
expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory,
acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers—including hospitals, insurance
companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among
others—need RNs for health planning and development, marketing, consulting,
policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and
university faculty or conduct research.
Foreign-educated nurses wishing to work in the United States must obtain a
work visa. Applicants are required to undergo a review of their education and
licensing credentials and pass a nursing certification and English proficiency
exam, both conducted by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
(The commission is an immigration-neutral, nonprofit organization that is
recognized internationally as an authority on credentials evaluation in the
health care field.) Applicants from Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland,
New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are exempt from the language proficiency
exam. In addition to these national requirements, most states have their own
requirements.
Job opportunities for RNs in all specialties are expected to be excellent.
Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than average for
all occupations through 2014, and, because the occupation is very large, many
new jobs will result. In fact, registered nurses are projected
to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations. Thousands
of job openings also will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who
leave the occupation, especially as the median age of the registered nurse
population continues to rise.
Much faster-than-average growth will be driven by technological advances in
patient care, which permit a greater number of medical problems to be treated,
and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of
older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care,
is projected to grow rapidly.
Generally, RNs with at least a bachelor’s degree will have better job
prospects than those without a bachelor’s. In addition, all four advanced
practice specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, mid-wives,
and anesthetists—will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved
areas such as inner cities and rural areas. Relative to physicians, these RNs
increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers.
Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $52,330 in May 2004. The
middle 50 percent earned between $43,370 and $63,360. The lowest 10 percent
earned less than $37,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,760.
Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of
registered nurses in May 2004 were as follows: Employment services, $63,170;
General medical and surgical hospitals, $53,450; Home health care services,
$48,990; Offices of physicians, $48,250; Nursing care facilities, $48,220.
Many employers offer flexible work schedules, child care, educational
benefits, and bonuses.
Over 138 total nursing job resources are presented in the paperback version
of Health Care Job Explosion! 4th edition by Dennis V. Damp for this
occupational group. Resources include Job Ads, Job Hotlines, Job Fairs,
Placement services, Associations, Books, Directories and Internet (Web) Sites.
Your local library may have this book in their reference section or you can
purchase a copy for $19.95 plus shipping with all major credit cards from our
toll free service at 1-800-782-7424 (Orders Only). Also available at all major
bookstores.
101 Careers in Nursing - by Jeanne M. Novotny, Doris T. Lippman, Nicole K.
Sanders, Joyce J. Fitzpatrick; Springer Publishing Company, 2003, $33.95, ISBN:
0826120148. Profiles of careers, educational requirements, resources, and
personal stories from practicing nurses.
Access Nurses Traveling Nursing Jobs - http://www.accessnurses.com Access Nurses is a leading provider of
healthcare staffing, servicing healthcare facilities in all 50 states.
American Nurses Association (ANA) - 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400, Silver
Spring, MD 20910; 301/628-5000 or 800/274-4ANA. (http://www.nursingworld.org
, memberinfo@ana.org) The ANA,
established in 1896, is a full-service professional organization. Career center
on web site has a job agent and allows members to post résumé. Financial aid
information, links to specialty nursing associations and much more can be viewed
on the web site. Students may subscribe to access more extensive web information
for $10. Planning A Career In Nursing booklet can be downloaded from the web.
Online catalog lists dozens of publications, including books on taking
certification tests. The American Nurse is $10/yr for students, $20 for
practicing nurses (800/637-0323).
Discover Nursing - http://www.discovernursing.com/ This site is provided by Johnson & Johnson,
and has a wealth of information including free brochures on nursing as a career,
articles about many specialties, profiles of nurses, information on preparing
for nursing school and scholarship searching.
Minority Nurse - http://www.minoritynurse.com This site has links to minority nursing
associations and minority health associations. It provides a discussion forum,
scholarship information and job postings. Featured stories section is loaded
with information for students and nurses. Minority Nurse magazine has
information on education, career development and minority health.
Nurse Portal - http://www.nurseportal.net
Over 140 links to nursing blogs, jobs, forums and boards, organizations,
traveling nursing links and much more. Well worth the visit.
NurseWeek - 1156 Aster Ave., Suite C, Sunnyvale, CA 94086; 800/859-2091.
(http://www.nurseweek.com) Newsletter with classified ads for registered nurses
is $45, but can be read free online. The web site has information on dozens of
specialty nursing careers, career fairs, a list of schools. Search job ads
online by state or specialty.
National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) - 45 Main Street, Ste. 606,
Brooklyn, NY 11201; 718/210-0705. (http://www.nsna.org
, nsna@nsna.org) Online Career Center has
information about nursing, career planning, internships and a directory of
health care facilities. Web site networking opportunities include Live Chat and
links to local chapters and state nursing associations. NSNA holds Career
Planning Conferences, offers courses to prepare for the NCLEX exam, offers
member discounts on nursing books, such as Career Planning for Nurses by Bette
Case and Mosby’s Tour Guide to Nursing School, A Students’ Road Survival Kit.
Members can get scholarship information. Download a list of professional
organizations for nurses; there are dozens of specialties.
NurseWeek Magazine- 6860 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose, CA 95119; 800/859-2091. (http://www.nurseweek.com)
Free subscriptions for registered nurses. Web site has a directory of nursing
schools, link to career fairs, résumé writing help, and job search by state and
specialty.
Nursing Jobs - http://www.nursing-jobs.us
If you are looking for a permanent, per diem, or travel nursing job; in-patient,
out-patient or hospice you have come to the right place. We have partnered with
the leading hospitals, travel nurse companies and recruitment agencies to help
you find your dream nursing job!
Resume Writing Service - Professionally package your health care resume
for entry level, standard, and executive positions.
The following nursing occupations are featured in the all new 4th edition of
Health Care Job Explosion!. Each of the following occupations are featured
exactly like the Licensed Practical Nurse
occupational description and includes resources for each listing. Your local
library may have this book in their reference section or you can purchase a copy
for $19.95 plus $5.75 shipping with all major credit cards from our toll free
service at 1-800-782-7424 (Orders Only). Also available at bookstores.
