WHAT IS NURSING ALL ABOUT AS A PROFESSION.
According to the American Nurses association, nursing integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence.
Nurses provide care to their patients by administering medications usually according to the doctors’ instructions. They observe symptoms and progress of the patients’ health, record the information in the clinical record. Nurses are required to communicate their observations with doctors and other health care providers. Nurses can work in various facilities, including hospitals, private practices and clinics. Some nurses also travel for their work, while others attend to patients at their homes.
QUALIFICATIONS.
There are different ways of pursuing nursing as a career. Others can pursue diplomas, certificates, and associate or bachelor’s nursing degrees to qualify for entry-level nursing roles. From there you need to pass the practice license exam for you to be a registered nurse and with additional certifications, you could qualify for many other nursing specialties.
There are many different fields to consider based on ones’ strengths and interests. You can pursue a specific nursing position depending on your training, education and preferred work environment. Make sure you understand common job titles for nurses before you can choose a specific role that’s right for you.
SOFT SKILLS.
There are various other qualities that enables a nurse to operate and communicate effectively other than their education. These include time management, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, organisational skills and delegation depending on their positions.
TYPES OF NURSING JOBS.
There are two main paths one can consider in nursing: Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse. Registered nurses work with or they help doctors and other health care professionals in medical facilities and other settings. They providing patient care, plan treatments, record patient medical history, counselling, and educate patients and the public on health matters, just to mention a few of their responsibilities. Registered nurses often require an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to qualify for employment. RNs have more responsibilities than LPNs, including educating patients and the public.
Licensed practical nurses work under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. They perform basic nursing or life functions or activities and ensure patients are comfortable during their stay in health care facilities. For instance, bathing patients and managing their diet as well as feeding them. Their clinical duties, include administering some medication and checking patients’ vital signs like reactions to medications. LPNs can qualify for employment with a practical nursing diploma or certificate.
It is very crucial to know that specific duties of nurses depend on their specialty, patient population and the services their employer provides. For example, labor and delivery nurses care for female patients during pregnancy and child birth, hospice nurses care for patients who have a limited lifespan and pediatric nurses care for children of all ages from infancy to young adulthood (18year and below).
DEMAND FOR NURSES AROUND THE GLOBE.
There are an estimated 29 million nurses worldwide and 2.2 million midwives. WHO estimates a shortage of 4.5 million nurses and 0.31 million midwives by the year 2030 (1). The covid 19 pandemic increased the shortage of nurses around the globe with their demand being high in developing countries after the pandemic. Unfortunately, this is difficult to balance as nurses tend to get better salaries in developed countries, hence they flock into these countries leaving the developing countries short of healthcare workers. Most people tend to choose nursing as a career because of the high chances of getting a stable job and guaranteed income.
PROS AND CONS OF WORKING AS A NURSE.
The benefits of being a nurse include the ability to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities through helping patients, comforting families or working with healthcare administrators. There are growth opportunities, good salary, an in-demand career meaning employment is mostly guaranteed and career versatility that allows you to choose from myriad nursing specialties. Schedule flexibility allows one choose to work on a full-time, part-time or an on-call basis. Last but not least, nursing careers offer a variety of workplaces including schools, hospitals and old peoples’ homes.
However, nursing can be stressful as you may be required to work extra hours, carry equipment up and down and patients. Grief can come as a result of losing patients to death, and the risk of exposure to viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms is high every day.
POINT TO PONDER.
What is the difference between a Care Giver, Nurse Aide and a Licensed Practical Nurse?
< A discussion for another day>