Can i handle nursing

Advocacy typically begins with a nurse providing individual patients with information that empowers and instills confidence so they better understand a diagnosis or treatment; and can more efficiently express their feelings regarding their medical care.

Speaking on behalf of a patient is one of the duties expected of a nurse, and while some nurses possess a natural desire to advocate for his or her patients, others take more concentrated measures. Helping to bridge the gap between patients and their health care providers, nurse advocates strive to improve or maintain the quality of care that a patient receives. In addition to addressing the medical aspect of the profession, those who concentrate on nurse advocacy also deal with social work, research, insurance, and patient education.

Nursing professionals who possess a strong sense of advocacy not only greatly benefit the patient, but can also make their own job easier. From the fast-paced environment of an emergency room to dealing with family members at a nursing home, nurses who are tolerant and patient are better able to treat and care for others.

Kavalam says that patience allows nurses to better deal with the customer service aspects of nursing while at the same — trying to save lives, dealing with confused patients, and comforting grief-stricken, sleep-deprived families. Additionally, in order to keep a nursing license current and valid, most states in the U. However, nurses must possess a willingness to learn — not only by pursuing certifications, furthering their education, or fulfilling state requirements — but also by learning from other clinicians and patients.

Emon says that nurses are the first line of defense for patients. Therefore, she says all nurses must have an innate ability to anticipate through examination and observation. In order to conduct a thorough observation and examination of a patient, fine-tuned listening skills are a must for a nurse.

Not only is it important for a nurse to listen to orders given by a physician, but to also pay attention to the verbal cues of patients, as well as the remarks of their relatives. As a caregiver, nurses cannot deliver adequate care if they lack proper communication, which goes beyond the act of simply speaking with a patient.

For example, using a soft, polite voice makes patients feel at ease during appropriate times, whereas a firmer tone is necessary when explaining medication and discharge instructions.

Kavalam says that doctors have follow-up questions and orders that a nurse must anticipate which include possible pain triggers, pain ratings, vital signs, telemetry reading, EKG, and acknowledging other physical signs of the patient. This can take time away from a nurse managing patient care. Time management skills also help a nurse evade workplace burnout by increasing his or her ability to avoid creating stressful situations that can drain overall levels of energy and enthusiasm.

From rushing to the aid of an emergency to being able to help lift a patient from bed to wheelchair, nurses are expected to maintain a certain level of physical strength and endurance. All nurses are in a position to lead regardless of his or her title, and effectively developing leadership skills allows a nurse to better steer patients towards wellness and away from sickness, guide new co-workers, and even lead physicians towards achieving a better understanding of their patients.

Here are just a few of these specialized professionals, along with their job functions, earnings and training requirements. These professionals help design, develop and modify software and systems to make them more efficient and improve patient outcomes.

In other words, informatics nurses ensure the technology other nurses rely on is practical, reliable and safe. Nurse midwives provide gynecological and obstetrical care to women of nearly all ages, but their birth-related services have become especially popular among women seeking a more personalized birth experience or fewer medical interventions. To say this trend is creating new opportunities for midwives in hospitals, birthing centers, private practices and even home-based care would be an understatement: The Mayo Clinic reports that demand for nurse midwives has grown exponentially in the last two decades and is expected to soar through at least There is a reason CNN once named nurse anesthetist among the best jobs in America: These professionals typically enjoy solid earnings and booming demand.

Nurse anesthetists support surgeons and physicians in a number of ways, but their primary role is administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during and after sedation. This work carries a great deal of risk, which at least partly contributes to their heftier-than-average paychecks.

It also explains why they are considered advanced practice nurses and are required to complete more education than RNs and many other specialized nurses. Nursing can be a tremendously rewarding career both personally and professionally.

However, it is also tightly regulated. States and employers have strict training requirements that dictate not only whether nurses can practice, but also what types of duties they can perform. This table helps readers considering nursing school determine which educational path makes sense for them.

Demand for qualified nurses is soaring. A study published in Health Affairs projects a shortage of between , and 1 million nurses by — greater than any nursing shortage experienced in the United States in more than half a century. Nursing schools offer an array of degree options, from associate degrees through postgraduate programs.

Each level is designed to meet different career needs, so courses, curricula, and skills learned vary. Understanding how nursing degrees differ--and how these differences translate to the workplace--allows future nursing students to choose programs that are in line with their goals and interests.

In addition to the degree information provided below, students can visit this nursing program search tool and rankings page to help round out their research. Some licensed practical nurses LPNs and licensed vocational nurses LVNs also earn associate degrees to gain a competitive edge in the job market or to advance to managerial or registered nursing careers.

Community colleges, vocational schools, and a small number of four-year nursing schools offer ADNs. Associate-level nursing degrees typically require two to three years of full-time study, but some schools offer accelerated programs, including programs for LPNs to get an ADN. Courses vary, but often include foundational science and nursing courses, general education courses, hands-on labs, and a supervised clinical practicum. The following table represents associate degree courses required by nursing schools from all across the country.

Vocational, career, and four-year nursing schools award most BSNs, although some community colleges offer them through partnerships with higher education institutions. Many nursing schools also offer specialty tracks that allow students to balance general and core coursework with more targeted training in specific areas of the field. Trains nursing students in how to appropriately review and apply research in professional health care practices.

Emphasizes the basic knowledge, skills, and values nurses rely upon when caring for adult and senior adult patients. Master of Science in Nursing MSN degrees prepare students for a variety of advanced nursing roles, including administrative, teaching, research, and direct patient care professions. MSN degrees tend to require 18 months to three years of study, depending on the program and individual student.

Research and graduate universities as well as career and vocational schools typically offer MSN programs, some of which can be completed partly online. Courses and curricula vary, but most schools offer students advanced training in the theories, research methods, and leadership skills APNs and nursing administrators employ in a wide variety of clinical settings.

The table below highlights a few MSN courses offered by graduate nursing schools. Below is a breakdown of each degree as well as a look at common skills that graduates gain. DNP and PhD in nursing programs may cater to students with different long-term career goals, but they offer many of the same advanced skills and competencies. The following are among them:. Both types of programs emphasize research ethics and practices that promote safety and positive patient outcomes.

DNP candidates learn and apply advanced clinical care through practicums, residencies, and hands-on labs and simulations. These skills span the full spectrum of patient care, from disease prevention and assessment through treatment and post-treatment care. For students enrolled in research-oriented Ph. Both doctoral degree programs allow students to specialize in certain areas of medicine and nursing. DNP programs in particular tend to offer a number of specialty tracks, including nursing administration, midwifery, critical care, and family medicine concentrations.

Doctoral programs in nursing do not just teach students how to provide care, teach, lead, or conduct research. Students also learn what drives these practices. Knowing how to view training, research, and skills in their proper historical and theoretical context prepares graduates to make better decisions in their own careers and practices, become stronger mentors, and help advance the field of nursing. The careers doctoral nursing graduates assume may vary distinctly, but almost all of them serve as mentors and leaders in some capacity.

DNP and PhD in nursing programs usually teach students general and health leadership theories, how and when to apply them in the workplace, and how to promote a safe, collaborative work environment. Nursing degrees offer students the baseline training they need to practice nursing, while concentrations transform them into specialists.

There are two primary ways students and nurses hone this targeted training: nursing degree specialty tracks and board or professional certifications. In either case, these concentrations can help nurses secure work in the areas that interest them most. The following list details some of the most popular and in-demand nursing specialties available and the types of nurses that pursue them.

Critical or intensive care nursing specializations prepare students to care for critically ill or unstable patients, usually in intensive care units. Some nurses choose to concentrate on a particular age group, such as adult or pediatric critical care.

Most registered nurses work in a team with physicians and other health care specialists in various settings. Depending on the type of registered nurse you'd like to become, you should consider whether an RN vs BSN degree is right for you.

You will need either an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in nursing to become an RN, therefore you can begin working in the field much sooner than other medical professions. As a regsitered nurse, you have the many career opportunities to work in different specialties depending on your interests. Choose this Specialty If: you are seeking a career in the medicial field that allows you to work within a healthcare team to care for patients and would like to begin working only after two to four years of schooling.

One of the leading causes of death in the United States today is heart disease. The demand for cardiac nurses continues to grow with the rising number of patients affected with heart-related problems. As a cardiac nurse, you will also assist with surgical procedures such as bypass, angioplasty, or pacemaker surgery. Choose this Specialty If: you are interested in issues related to the heart and would like to assist in various surgeries or developing treatment plans for patients.

In order to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist, you must complete a degree from a graduate level program. The Doctor of Nursing Practice at Gwynedd Mercy University is an ideal program for certified registered nurse anesethetists to further their education. Choose this Specialty If: you are interested in assisting patients manage their pain before, during and after surgeries or illness treatments.

Clinical nurse specialists are a type of advanced practice registered nurse APRN , who provide direct patient care by working with other nurses and staff to improve the quality of care a patient receives. They often serve in leadership roles and may educate and advise other nursing staff. Choose this Specialty If: you would like to pursue a leadership role within the nursing field and are interested in managing a staff of nurses while also practicing medicine. Critical Care Nurses are very similar to Registered Nurses, especially in education level, but the main difference is a critical care nurse is specifically trained for emergency situations.

A critical care nurse can be expected to tend to serious wounds and monitoring life support systems in stressful scenarios. Choose this Specialty If: you would like to assist patients in major traumatic events such as serious injury or life threatening illness.

With their team in the emergency room, an ER nurse performs an array of tasks after careful evaluation and stabilization of a patient. Choose this Specialty If: you would like to assist patients with a wide variety of injuries or ailments in a high pressure scenario. A family nurse practitioner FNP are specifically trained in primary health care services for all ages.

Normal duties of a family nurse practitioner include diagnosing and treating illnesses, physical exams, diagnostic testing and prescribing medications. Choose this Specialty If: you would like to provide more in-depth and comprehensive medical care for patients of all ages.

A geriatric nurse specializes in the treatment of older patients in order to provide care for injuries or ailments, illness and maintain their quality of life. The Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner Certificate at Gwynedd Mercy University provides classes that specifically focus on geriatric conidtions and can help to further your career in this specialty.