From bathing and dressing patients to assisting a surgery in an emergency situation, nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession. As of 2017, there are nearly 19.3 million nurses in the United States. This profession …show more content…
The education needed depends on the type of nurse. Nurses above a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) will be required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, a Master’s Degree, or even a Doctorate Degree. Some Registered Nurses get their BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) to earn more responsibility and higher salaries. A Bachelor’s can be earned in four years at a college or a university. Typically, a MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing) is for Registered Nurses who already have their BSN and are looking to become advanced practice nurses. A Master’s Degree is earned in five to seven years. If a student wants to reach the highest level of education available in the nursing field, they will have to earn their DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). Those with a DNP are either nurse educators or are interested in pursuing more advanced training in their current specialty. A Doctorate Degree in Nursing takes around nine to eleven years depending on the type of nurse. The common courses any student would have to take include anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and nursing practice and theory. Some attend college to earn their Associate’s Degree in Nursing in just two to three years to become a Registered Nurse. Other nurses such as a LPN or a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) only have to complete a program and pass a state-specific …show more content…
There are several different nurses one could choose from depending on one's interest. Pediatric Nurses work with patients from infancy to adulthood. These nurses give developmental screenings, immunizations, and they treat illness like chicken pox and tonsillitis. They inform patients’ parents about how to prevent certain illnesses and about proper nutrition for growth. Travel nurses travel around the country to do short-term assignments wherever they are needed for only a limited amount of time. Registered nurses observe, assess, and record the symptoms of patients. These nurses are responsible for developing a plan of care, carrying out physicians orders, and for administering safe medication. Also, the nurses who care for newborn babies who are premature or sick are called Neonatal Nurses. They have to prepare and check medications, manage a baby’s fluids, record observations about a baby’s care, or even begin appropriate resuscitation in emergency situations. There are many other nurses that do other tasks besides what these nurses