Nursing Career Consultant – Career Guidance For Nurses

What can be a better deed than treating someone with all the care and giving them the happy life they deserve? Yes, all the doctors in hospitals and healthcare centers do a great job of treating their patients and making their life beautiful, but do you know that they require support from the nurses who stand by them 24 hours for help with the treatment? 

Nurses are the backbone of the medical industry, and they work significant hours to bring smiles to patients’ faces. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics statement, around three million people are serving as nurses in the US. That is why they have become a major group of healthcare experts worldwide and play a significant role in the healthcare industry.

What Do You Mean By Nursing?

Nursing is a duty performed by nurses that involve taking care of patients suffering from emotional and physical illness. 

Nurses have to look after their condition and give them the prescribed medicines at a fixed time. They also collaborate with doctors and assist them with the equipment during treatment in clinical laboratories and operation theatres. They help them recover from a long illness. Also, they guide patients who are not able to live their everyday life for some reason. Apart from the basic activities, nurses can get specialization in some specific areas like cardiac care, midwifery, orthopedics, intensive care, pediatrics, and many more.

Nursing is not only about taking care of patients but also opens the door for qualified nurses to other professions like instructors, administrators, and researchers. The exciting thing about this profession is that the majority of nurses are women. However, men have also started showing interest in the profession.

Major Qualities Required To Become A Nurse

Here is the list of important skills or qualities that are required for an individual to become a successful nurse.

Cultural Sensitivity

It is essential for a nurse to give her all to her patients while treating them in her career. She should be sensible about the people’s cultural values and beliefs and accept that these beliefs can affect the patient’s health, safety, care, medication intake, and sometimes even their demise. Knowing, respecting, and fulfilling the patients’ requirements as per their activities, beliefs, values, and traditions should be the role of the nursing program.

Professionalism

Whatever nurses say and do, reflects their moral values and principles. That is why one should always exercise professionalism with clients and colleagues in this career. Behavior, honesty, respect, discipline, and obligation, are several major areas of nursing professionalism. 

Focus On Detail

Expanding and enhancing focus to detail is not just about preventing medical mistakes while working as a nurse. It also assists in offering better care and treatment for their patients.

Time Analysis

Nurses need to put their job above all. Applying delegated, anticipatory, and managerial nursing skills helps them to perform better. As nurses, they should be organized with databases and individual checklists and multitask in their careers. Nurses also require a co-worker or a nurse mentor to discuss improving their regular time efficiency.

Critical Thoughts

Critical thinking combines all the facts, knowledge, observations, and results-related thoughts, and as a nurse, one has to convert them into successful plans and solutions. Holding on to the technical journal’s current reviews and getting functional in enhancing service efficiency are the only two methods to upgrade your critical thinking abilities.

Deliberative

In the nursing career, the nurses working at the front row perform effectively with the patient, his family, and the challenges. Maintaining humanity while offering good treatment is necessary, which is tough to do in today’s world.

Reasonableness

People who work as a nurse in their careers are the common connection between doctors and patients. And to understand the patient’s condition, they have to consult and interact with other medical management staff efficiently. Being rational and descriptive are two important qualities of the Nurse in their career. This same thing also applies to communication with clients. Also, nurses have to be cool and polite with effective communication techniques while dealing with their patients and their related families.

Read More:- A Career Ladder For Nursing: Everything You Need To Know About It

Job Role Of Nurse

Nurses play a significant role in health care or the medical field. Some of the major duties or responsibilities they perform on medical premises are:

Recording Medical History

In this career, nurses maintain track of their patient’s health and make an accurate health status report to make sure they receive good treatment. Many nurses start this procedure by questioning and gathering information about their patient’s health. This includes allergies, past diagnoses, surgeries, recent medications of a patient, and also related medical information about his family. They also might ask about the patient’s current symptoms if he is experiencing them at that very moment.

And if in case, the patient gets diagnosed with a new disease or any new issues, then the Nurse would be responsible for updating his medical or health record with new information such as the body issue, medication, and further treatment plan.

Managing Medications And Treatments

Many nurses can manage their patient’s medications and treatments after getting the doctor’s approval. They form a treatment structure for the patients to take care of them accordingly. Also, specialized nurses (nurse practitioners) have the power to prescribe medicines even without the doctor’s approval. Some nurses may also help patients with changing bandages, dressing and cleaning wounds, and placing catheters. Moreover, they can also help doctors by suggesting effective ways to care for patients in serious conditions.

Care Of Patient

Nurses play an important role in gathering information about the patients and forwarding it to other members of the medical team. The tone of a nurse should be clear and concise so that the patient and his family can receive all of it. In this job role, one has to handle patients, take care of them and help them heal. They serve patients that are facing or suffering from diseases, disabilities, and accidents. The patient’s care includes making their bed, changing position, changing their bed sheets, hair washing, bed bathing them, mouth care, and many other duties.

Doing Diagnostic Tests

Nurses do various diagnostic tests, including collecting blood, tissue, and urine samples and checking vitals for analysis. It is essential for nurses to closely observe the details of the patients to make sure that the tests will be managed properly. Based on this information, a further treatment plan will be made, so it is important to confirm it twice before starting treatment. Also, sometimes, the nurses might be responsible for evaluating the test results and sharing them with the concerned medical team.

Managing Physical Examinations

After visiting the hospital, the first thing that nurses do is usually manage a physical analysis of the patients to evaluate their general health. It might include observing their blood pressure, analyzing their heartbeat, and tracking their weight and temperature. Also, this procedure includes observing their lymph nodes, analyzing the patient’s reflexes, and testing their ears, eyes, throat, and nose. This physical examination assists nurses and other medical team members in understanding their patient’s health conditions. It also allows them to talk with their patients about their health concerns and goals.

Supporting Inventory

If you have become experienced in this field, you can also try your hands at other related jobs like arranging supplies and maintaining inventory. It is usually a shared duty, but experienced nurses might control the entire department. They ensure that supplies are well ordered, accounted for, and reloaded on time. That means the medical team has enough resources to deal with the patients and can provide them with sufficient care. 

Handle Machinery

Nurses should have enough knowledge of the machinery they are using while treating patients. They operate with medical instruments or equipment to diagnose their patients and for their treatment. Being careful while using such instruments is the first thing nurses should understand. They also manage the cleaning of medical instruments or equipment. 

Types Of Nurses

Nursing has various job profiles for people with different levels of education. Here are the various types of nurses described below.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

The LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) performs under the direction of registered nurses and doctors. They are responsible for checking and handling patients’ medical requirements and administering injections. 

Nurse Practitioners 

Nurse practitioners work closely with physicians and further beyond the reach of Registered Nurses. Moreover, they are certified in professional areas like critical care and pediatrics.

Registered Nurses 

Registered nurses are the main nurses in the medical industry. Interacting with patients and their families and cooperating with the doctors are the main duties of these nurses. They participate actively in advanced treatment more than licensed nurses. These nurses are verified by healthcare agencies and organizations. Also, they cooperate with specialists or surgeons in the hospital setting. 

Home Health Nurse 

Home Health Nurses are the kind of nurses that offer medical support to patients and improve their health in their homes. They mostly treat and provide care services to patients with growth or mobility issues.   

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse 

ICU (Intensive Care Unit) certified nurses have a definite and certain role designed for taking care of the hospital-related maintenance and medical requirements of nursing homes. They may work with particular kinds of patients or groups of patients with a certain age group.

Travel Nurse 

Travel nurses are those registered nurses who perform provisionally in their country and internationally as well.

Clinical Nurse Specialist 

These nurses are experts in diagnosing and providing treatment for sickness within their skills.

How To Apply For The Post Of A Nurse In The US?

Here are the steps that one has to follow if he/she desires to become a nurse in the US:

Acquire A Nursing Diploma Or A Degree 

The first and prime step of becoming a nurse is to get a nursing diploma or degree. The various choices for students to commencing educational training are:

• Short-Period Diploma Nursing
• Students may go for an ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing) program that comprises nursing training.
• Also, they can opt for a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), a graduate program of about three years involving practicals and nursing education.

Qualify The Exam

No matter what your education medium is, the second most important step is to crack the exam to get ahead in your nursing career. The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Exam For Registered Nurses) is a mandatory exam that one has to pass because it will get you a state RN licensure.

Start Working As A Nurse

After receiving an RN license, one becomes eligible to perform in the post of Registered Nurse. At the beginning of your career, you can work as an intern. And after getting enough experience, one can expect an average salary of around $72,000 per year. As per the record, 12% of RNs join the United States healthcare industry every year.

Career Growth In Nursing

When you feel that now you have worked enough as an RN and you are ready for higher roles, then it is time for your career advancement. You should be professional in a particular medical field you want to pursue. You must acquire an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) degree, or you can also go for a DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice).

Look For A Specialised Post

Once you complete a doctorate or master’s program in nursing, you can try for a specialized nursing role. Some of the specialized nursing posts are:

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist(CRNA)
• Certified Nurse Midwife(CNM)
• Nurse Practitioner(NP)
• Clinical Nurse Leader(CNL)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist(CNS)

Nursing Programs In The US

Some of the major nursing programs in the United States that can help you in making a career as a nurse are:

 LVN or LPN Programs

The LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) and LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) training programs are complete in one year. The LPN/LVN performs under the guidance of a registered nurse. This program is available in many US colleges and does not usually require earlier basic classes. Although, some schools do need a minimum SAT, ACT, or TOEFL test score. These nurses provide basic care to their patients, like monitoring their health. The LPN is required to crack a national licensing exam to get a training completion certificate. As per the United States of Labor Statistics, the average annual remuneration of licensed vocational and licensed practical nurses is $39,030 US.

ADN Programs

The ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) training program takes around 15 months to 2 years to complete. This program is available in many US community colleges. The program typically needs students to complete their basic classes before enrollment. Its main motive is to focus on technical training. An ADN Registered Nurse is responsible for treating and educating patients and offering emotional help to their family members. This program is only available in the US, and the opportunity is open to international students also. To receive a nursing license, ADN nurses have to crack a national licensing examination known by the term NCLEX-RN or National Council Licensure Examination. As per the United States department of labor statistics, the average annual remuneration of ADN registered nurses is about $67,490 US.

BSN Programs

The BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) is a program available at many US colleges and universities. It is basically a four-year nursing program. At Felician College, NY State, the nurses are motivated to apply their academic knowledge to the practical healthcare world. Some of the programs wind up with an Objective Residency to help trainees to transform into nurses. The BSN program is very popular among international students as it provides great job prospects and an amazing salary package upon completion. And because the recent generation is retiring from their posts, the demand for the BSNs is increasing across the United States. 

Accelerated BSN Programs

Accelerated BSN Programs, also known as second-degree programs, are basically regulated towards students with a prior degree. This program offers the simple but fastest route to becoming a registered nurse in just 12–18 months. Moreover, these programs are fast-paced and ambitiously driven, but their learning environment is enjoyed by many international students.

RN to BSN Programs

These programs are formulated for ADNs students who want to switch to a Bachelor of Science (BSN) for the qualification. These programs are available on campus and digitally also. They are ideal for students who want to keep studying while working.

MSN Programs

The MSN (Master of Science Nursing) program involves various advanced nursing exercises in one course. Some work-related opportunities convenient for graduates are Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Nurse Educator (NE), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), and Paediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). The average payscale for United States MSN degree holders is approximately $60,000-150,000 US depending on the skills.

CRNA Programs

The CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) program usually completes in about one to two years. CRNA students study test theory, anesthesia techniques, and how to use knowledge in the medical world. A CRNA specialized nurse can receive one of the highest salary packages in the field of nursing in the US. Depending on the region, they may earn about $160,000-250,000 US annually.

DNP Programs

DNP ( Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs are basically the replacement for MSN programs which are now being phased out. The general motive of these courses is to basically focus on the training of the students in analysis methods involving the history and ideology of nursing science, data analysis, and supervision skills. Most of the DNP program’s requirement is 25 credit hours which is more than the MSN, which usually completes between 18 and 30 months. Almost all DNP graduates earn around $135,830 US per year.

Who Are Nurse Coaches, And What Is Their Role?

A Nurse Coach is a licensed nurse who uses original and traditional medicine in their treatment to assist their patients in improving their well-being and general health. They work to form a sensitive and deeper relationship with their patients to know more about their specific health goals and related requirements and help them attain truly long-lasting health.

If you are stressed, sick, or tired, then it is possible that you will feel good and relaxed after taking the prescription, but if you want that level of comfort and relaxation in the long run, which will help you? Nurse Coaching works beyond to develop and improve all patients’ mental, physical, and psychological health. Their specialized work in their respective field can result in happier and healthier people who remain that way. It sounds so amazing that they are responsible for observing and running the shift of the whole healthcare system, starting from healing a list of ailments and symptoms to treating a person. Nurse coaching is the best option if you want someone to care for and manage the patients well. They retain your well-being and provide more fulfillment to the patients in comparison to the standard model of care.

As a nurse coach, one has to deal with individual patients and help them to attain their goals, like losing weight and embracing fitness in their lifestyle. Also, some nurses own blogs, websites, and newsletters or are interrogated by the media to suggest healthy lifestyle tips. They can also work in any healthcare setting, such as clinics, hospitals, or the corporate world. Their major motive is to deal with the patients and bring big and lasting differences in their lives.

Conclusion

Nurses create the largest group of trained experts who work in the hospital or any healthcare sector. Their job includes taking care of patients for their fast recovery, dealing with infants, and assisting doctors throughout the patient’s body examination, surgical process, and many more.

With the help of Alnicor Consulting, you can know better about Nursing as a career because we are the best nursing career consultant. Our team will help you get on the right track to success as a nurse. You can pick suitable roles for you after attending our consulting sessions. We will train you throughout the process, from applying to succeeding in interviews for various nursing posts. To get some tips for your career as a nurse or any related queries, kindly contact us at 183-325-6267 or mail us at info@alnicorconsulting.com.