Nurses An Important Part of the Healthcare Community

A nurse is a health care professional who isA typical course of study at any level typically
engaged in the practice of nursing. Nurses areincludes such topics as:
men and women who are responsible (along withAnatomy and physiology
other health care professionals) for theMicrobiology
treatment, safety and recovery of acutely orPharmacology and medication administration
chronically ill or injured people, health maintenancePsychology
of the healthy, and treatment of life-threateningNursing ethics
emergencies in a wide range of health careNursing theory
settings. Nurses may also be involved in medicalNursing practice
and nursing research and perform a wide rangeLegal issues in nursing practice
of non-clinical functions necessary to the deliveryAll pathways into practice require that the
of health care.candidate undergo clinical training in nursing. Care is
Nurses develop a plan of care, sometimesdelivered by the student nurses under academic
working collaboratively with physicians, therapists,supervision in the hospital and in other practice
the patient, the patient's family and other teamsettings. Clinical courses typically include:
members. In the U.S. (and increasingly the UnitedMaternal-child nursing
Kingdom), advanced practice nurses, such asPediatric nursing
clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners,Adult medical-surgical nursing
diagnose health problems and prescribeGeriatric nursing
medications and other therapies. Nurses may helpPsychiatric nursing
coordinate the patient care performed by otherWhile in clinical training, student nurses are
members of a health care team such asidentified by a special uniform to distinguish them
therapists, medical practitioners, dietitians, etc.from licensed professionals.
Nurses provide care both interdependently, forIn many nursing programs in the United States, a
example, with physicians, and independently ascomputerized exam is given before, during and
nursing professionals.upon completion to evaluate the student and
According to the US Department of Labor'snursing program outcomes. This exam upon
revised Occupational Outlook Handbook (2000),completion of the nursing program is done to
"Registered nurses (R.N.s) work to promotemeasure a student's readiness for the NCLEX-RN
health, prevent disease, and help patients copeor NCLEX-PN state board licensure exam. The
with illness. They are advocates and healthexam identifies strengths and weaknesses and
educators for patients, families, and communities.provides the need for remediation prior to taking
When providing direct patient care, they observe,the state board exam. This is not a requirement
assess, and record symptoms, responses, andof all nursing programs in the United States, but
progress; assist physicians during treatments andhas increased its usage in the past three to four
examinations; administer medications; and assist inyears.
convalescence and rehabilitation. R.N.s also developIt is common for RNs to seek additional education
and manage nursing care plans; instruct patientsto earn a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor
and their families in proper care; and helpof Nursing Science to prepare for leadership or
individuals and groups take steps to improve oradvanced practice roles within nursing.
maintain their health."Management and teaching positions increasingly
The nursing career structure varies considerablyrequire candidates to hold an advanced degree in
throughout the world. Typically there are severalnursing. Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement
distinct levels of nursing practitioner, distinguishedor assistance to nurses who want to continue
by increasing education, responsibility and skills.their education beyond their basic preparation.
The major distinction is between task-basedMany nurses pursue voluntary specialty
nursing and professional nursing.certification through professional organizations and
In various parts of the world, the educationalcertifying bodies in order to demonstrate
background for nurses varies widely. In someadvanced knowledge and skills in their area of
parts of Eastern Europe, nurses are high schoolexpertise.
graduates with twelve to eighteen months ofAll U.S. states and territories require RNs to
training. In contrast, Chile requires any Registeredgraduate from an accredited nursing program
Nurse to have at least a bachelor's degree.which allows the candidate to sit for the
At the top of the educational ladder is theNCLEX-RN, a standardized examination
doctoral-prepared nurse. Nurses may gain the PhDadministered through the National Council of State
or another doctoral degree such as Doctor ofNursing Boards. Successful completion of the
Nursing Science (DNSc) or Doctor of NursingNCLEX-RN is required for state licensure as an RN.
Practice (DNP), specializing in research, clinicalNurses from other countries are required to be
nursing, etc. These nurses practice nursing, teachproficient in English and have their educational
nursing and carry out nursing research. As thecredentials evaluated by an association known as
science and art of nursing has advanced, so hasthe Council of Graduates of Foreign Nursing
the demand for doctoral-prepared nurses.Schools prior to being permitted to take the U.S.
Registered Nurses generally receive their basiclicensing exam.
preparation through one of three basic avenues:Government regulates the profession of nursing
Graduation from an Associate of Science into protect the public. In the U.S., the individual
Nursing degree-granting nursing program (two tostates have authority over nursing practice. The
three years of college level study with a strongscope of practice is defined by legislative and
emphasis on clinical knowledge and skills) earningregulatory laws which are administered by State
the degree of ASN/AAS or ADN in Nursing.Nursing Boards.
Graduation with a three-year (Diploma in Nursing)Many states have adopted the Model Nursing
certificate from a hospital-based school of nursingPractice Act and Model Nursing Administrative
(non-degree). Few of these programs remain inRules created by the National Council of State
the U.S. and the proportion of nurses practicingNursing Boards (NCSNB). In addition, many State
with a diploma is rapidly decreasing.Nursing Boards model their licensure requirements
Graduation from a university with a Bachelor ofon the Uniform Core Licensure Requirements
Science in Nursing (a four - five year programwhich set forth competency development and
conferring the BSN/BN degree with enhancedcompetency assessment principles.
emphasis on leadership and research as well asNurses may be licensed in more than one state,
clinically-focused courses).either by examination or endorsement of a license
There are also special programs for "LPN to RN",issued by another state. In addition, the states
for people who hold undergraduate degrees inwhich have adopted the Nurse Licensure Compact
other disciplines, and for paramedics or militaryallow nurses licensed in one of the states to
medics. Graduates of all programs, once licensed,practice in all of them through mutual recognition
are eligible for employment as entry-level staffof licensure.
nurses.