CAREER ADVICE

Registered Nurses  

If you are interested in a career where your ‘customer’ really needs you, consider becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).  As a matter of fact, in most careers you have to try to find customers, but with nursing it is a different story.  Let’s take a closer look at a career where you will be sought after by both the employer and by the customer—the patient— and one where you can truly make a difference.  

The minimum level of education to become a Registered Nurse is a two-year Associate Degree.  Nurses train for entry-level nursing and then advance within the career with experience and training.  There are two levels of nurses—Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse.  Nurses are required to be licensed; this means the future nurse must graduate from a nursing program and pass a licensing examination.  This is not only required in Iowa but in all states.  We are fortunate in this community to have many excellent nursing programs in our colleges and universities.  Kirkwood Community College, Mt. Mercy College, Coe College and the University of Iowa have a two-year or a four-year program.  Continuing education plays a very important role for registered nurses as well.  Fifteen hours of continuing education is required each year in order to keep up-to-date with new technology and to retain the license.  Registered nurses also keep current about the nursing profession by attending educational programs, reading various medical journals, attending regional conferences and participating in training sessions that are held where they work.  

Nursing is no exception when it comes to needing computer skills.  For example, charting patients’ vital information used to be done on paper, but in most healthcare institutions today, these records are kept on computer databases.  Shown here is Rayna Richardson, RN, St. Luke’s Hospital, as she enters patient information at a nurses’ station. 

High school students who are thinking about entering the nursing profession should focus their studies on the sciences, psychology and math.  In addition, communication skills are a must.  Not only must a nurse be able to communicate both verbally and in written form with doctors and other health care professionals in the work setting, but s/he must also be able to find the right words to communicate with patients who will have varying degrees of physical and mental impairments.  Critical thinking skills and compassion are essential in order to be successful.   

Nursing is a profession that has historically been dominated by women.  Currently approximately 10 percent of nurses are male and the trend toward more men entering the profession is increasing.   

The work of registered nurses is extremely varied. Some of the work a registered nurse does includes observing, assessing and recording symptoms and assisting physicians during treatments and exams.  They also administer medicine and explain to patients the steps to take to improve or maintain their health.  Registered nurses may specialize in many different areas such as maternal and childcare, intensive care, surgical or emergency care.  Not only do registered nurses work in hospitals, but they also work in insurance companies, for attorneys and in teaching institutions.  As the population continues to age, more nurses will be needed for home health care and for long-term care.  Nurses also work in the military, in schools and many perform voluntary service.  Within the profession, nurses can advance to become supervisors, managers, directors or vice presidents.   

Ms. Dory Dilger, Professional Recruiter at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, states that registered nurses may work long hours and sometimes must work with difficult individuals, which can cause high stress levels.  When asked how registered nurses cope with this stress, Ms. Dilger said, “Exercise, meditation, prayer and massage are all therapies that help nurses to relax and let go of stress.”  She goes on to say, “The wide variety of work settings and the ability to impact someone’s life in a positive manner are especially rewarding parts of the career.” 

The shortage of nurses that exists today is, unfortunately, not only a concern for the health care industry, but for the ‘customer’ or patient.  The shortage of nurses was cited in the May 2001 report of the U.S. Accounting Office.  The report states that the shortage is expected to become more serious as the population ages, and thus the demand for nurses will increase.  For young people considering entering a profession where there is currently a demand and where strong demand will remain for the foreseeable future, registered nursing holds great promise.  According to the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” which is a publication of the U.S. Government, Registered Nursing is one of the 10 occupations projected to have the largest numbers of new jobs.  No one can ever guarantee job security, but the nursing profession seems to be a pretty sure bet.  The average beginning salary range for registered nurses in the Cedar Rapids area is $32,000 to $40,000.   

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