Where To Have Your RN License Verified

The place for you to go in order to confirm your RN license verification is Nursys.com where you will be able to check your license using one of three quick and easy methods. Nursys is the official nursing license verification body for the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing, so this is definitely the place to go if you are looking for information about the status of your RN nursing license. At this website you will be able to get information about your license’s verification details. If you need to certify yourself and your license this is also the website that you should consult in order to find out how to go about achieving this process. There are also a number of fees involved in RN license verification but you will be able to find out exactly how much it will cost you at the Nursys website. This is by far the most useful and reliable resource for getting your licensed verified for working in another state. There are three services offered by Nursys, namely the Licensure Quick Confirm service, Nurse License Verification service, and the Nursys Emergency Responder service. We will discuss all of these in more detail in a little while.

Because there is such a problem when it comes to providing nursing staff for all of the regions that need it so desperately, Nursys attempts to make the RN license verification process as painless and quick as possible so that everyone involved can get what they want. Moving to another state to work should be an easy process for you to undergo, so Nursys attempts to make it as easy as they believe it should be. Let us go on now to discuss exactly how you can get your license verified with Nursys.com.

Licensure Quick Confirm

The first option offered by Nursys is the Licensure Quick Confirmation option and, as the name implies, it is a quick and convenient way for you to retrieve information about your license and find any documentation that you may need for your job application. It is also a free way of obtaining RN license verification. The process is easy. Once you have reached the website click on the link that says “Nurse License Verification” above the paragraph that reads “I am a nurse who needs my license verified for another state where I am applying for a license”. This will take you to the RN license verification terms and conditions to which you should agree. Once you have agreed to the terms and conditions there will be a number of easy steps for you to follow in order to get RN license verification. Follow them carefully and obey all of the instructions given. Fill in the most accurate information possible so that you particular license can be found. Once you have found your license you will be able to check its status.

Not all states take part in this option, so you will not be able to use the Quick Confirm service if live in a state other than the ones listed below.

The states currently participating in the Licensure Quick Confirm option offered by Nursys are:

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• DC
• Florida
• Guam
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The states also involved in the Nursing Licensure Compact are:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Nurse License Verification

The second option offered by Nursys is the Nurse License Verification option. This is specifically for nurses looking for RN license verification in order to work in other states and it is a very quick and convenient method of finding out about your verification options. In order to do this you will have to accurately complete the Nursys verification process which can be found online at their website. There is also a fee involved in this verification process. The fee is $30. This amount of $30 is payable for each license type that you are interested in and form each state board of nursing hat you will have to work under. This can be expensive, but it is definitely worth it as you will then have the opportunity to work in another state in a potentially much better position.

The states that participate in this are:

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Guam
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Nursys Emergency Responder

The last option offered by Nursys is the Emergency responder option. This is for the mass RN license verification of numerous nurses all at once. You may wonder why this form of RN license verification is needed. Well in general it is only used in cases where a national emergency is declared and qualified RN nurses are needed on a large scale in order to deal with the problem. This allows a government or company to quickly verify the licenses of nurses from other states so that they will be allowed to temporarily relocate to the area where the disaster has occurred and assist in the medical issues that arise there.

Only nurses from the following states will be able to have their licenses verified in this way:

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• DC
• Florida
• Guam
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Differences by states

As with practically everything else verifying your license differs from state to state so you will have to look up your license for you particular state to find out if it is verified or not. Luckily there are many states that offer this function online so you will easily be able to check you RN license verification in this way quickly and efficiently. A good place to go to get RN license verification is Health Guide USA. Remember though that this is not possible in all states as not all of them offer an online verification process.

Now you are fully equipped with all of the knowledge you need about RN license verification. It is a quick and easy thing to do and you should be able to find out in a matter of minutes whether or not you have a license that can be used in another state. There are plenty of options open to you and, because nurses are in high demand, they do try to make the verification process as easy as possible for all concerned.

The post About The RN License Verification appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Career Overview

There are a number of tasks that you will be responsible for as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. You will have to perform physical assessments of patients, administer anesthesia during the course of surgery, and oversee the patient’s recovery from anesthesia. You will also be able to work in a number of different settings such as hospital operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centers, pain clinics, and physicians’ offices.

Another important fact about the career outlook for a nurse with RN certification in anesthesia is that you will have a very stable job indeed. You will find that with most advanced nursing positions the demand is very high for professionals with the appropriate qualifications. Unlike other industries that fluctuate with changes in the economy the healthcare profession is always on the increase making it one of the most stable areas of work to become involved in especially if you want to work at the advanced level of a certified RN anesthetist.

This career is not for everyone, however, and you should think carefully about this career path before deciding to become an expert in anesthesia. You should base your decision on your:

• Professional goals
• Personal interests
• Individual talents

Education

RN certification for becoming a professional expert in anesthesia requires that you enrol in a nurse training program and earn a Master’s degree in nursing with a major in anesthesia. The amount of time it takes to earn this degree can vary rather significantly from school to school and program to program, but it should take something in the region of 24 to 36 months to complete. In your raining program you will be requires to study subjects such as anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, pharmacology, principles of anesthesia, and management and advanced Practice nursing in order to achieve full RN certification in this regard.

An important part of your education involves practical hands-on training. In fact it is impossible to become a certified RN anesthetist without having first completed the necessary practical training. As a result you should attend only those schools that offer the necessary hands-on training for you.

You also need to make sure that your RN certification training program is accredited by the proper bodies, namely:

• The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Salary

There are a number of factors affecting the salary that you can expect to earn as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The salary can in fact fluctuate from $136,000 to $174,000 with an average salary of about $156,610. There are several factors that affect the salary that you can earn as a nurse with RN certification is anesthesia.

Firstly your employer will affect how much you can earn as different facilities and different companies offer different salaries for the same job. There are quite notable fluctuations in this regard, so make sure that you look into all of your options before making a decision to try and find the best rate possible.

Secondly your level of education you have as a certified registered nurse anesthetist will also play a role. Like in all industries you are more likely to earn a higher salary if you have a higher level of education than your counterparts. Getting the highest level possible is therefore in your best interests.

Lastly your previous work experience will affect your salary. People with more experience are considered to consequently be more highly skilled at the job and are therefore often eligible for higher salaries than those with less work experience.

RN Anesthetist Jobs

There are a lot of jobs out there for a certified RN anesthetist with the appropriate RN certification. As these jobs pay well they are also in high demand so you will need to have very convincing qualification if you want to stand a chance of doing exceptionally well when hunting for a job on the job market. There are a huge variety of different settings that you can work in if you are an expert in aesthesia so you should be able to find a setting that suits you regardless of what your preferences are. Some of the settings that you will be able to work in include hospital emergency and operating rooms, ambulatory care, dental offices, and health clinics and with the right qualifications and level of experience you will be able to simply stroll into any of these jobs. The amount of time it takes to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist s not exactly time effective, and it may also cost a lot, but in the long run you will be opening more doors for yourself in terms of your working opportunities. In fact the increase in job opportunities is one of the main reasons that nurses choose to get RN certification in anesthesia.

RN Schools

In order to get into a certified RN anesthetist school you will have to meet some prerequisites. For example you will be required to have a certain number of years of experience in acute nursing. You will also need to have an acceptable GPA as well as a good score on the GRE. Knowledge of statistics, research, chemistry, anatomy or physiology may be recommended or even required by certain schools if you want to get your RN certification in anesthesia. You will have to provide letters of recommendation and get through an interview before you will be admitted to the school of your choice. On top of that you will have to submit a well worded statement of purpose motivating your choice to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Most good programs will include topics like professional aspects of nurse anesthesia, integrative physiology and pathophysiology, research methods, clinical pharmacology, basic and advanced principles of anesthesia practice, anatomy for nurse anesthetists, chemistry of anesthesia, and health assessment for advanced nursing practice. Another reminder that you should make sure that the school you attend is appropriately accredited to avoid wasting your time and your money.

How To Become A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Here are some steps for becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist as well as for knowing if you are the right person for the job:

• Get your RN and your BSN qualification as most MSN programs stipulate that you should hold both before being allowed admittance to their anesthetist program.
• Make sure that you get as much hands-on experience as possible when working as a normal RN as this is also a requirement for getting into an anesthetist program.
• Show that you are willing to work the long hours required of a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
• Check that you have the right interpersonal skills for the job as you will have to deal with people on a daily basis.
• Make sure that you feel comfortable around the machinery and equipment used by certified RN anesthetists.
• Make a good choice when deciding on the school that you would like o attend as this choice will affect you throughout your career.
• Once you have chosen the school focus your attention hard on getting your master’s degree. Do your best while studying.
• Be ready to work alone as certified registered nurse anesthetists often are required to do so.

Accreditation

Now we come to the question of accreditation of your RN certification program, something that we have already mentioned twice simply because it is so important. The program that you enrol in needs to be one that is accredited by the state board of nursing for your state. To find out how to get a hold of your state board of nursing to see whether or not your program is certified and accredited, please go HERE. You can also search for schools in your area using this website.

Now that you have a better idea of what being a certified registered nurse anesthetist entails and how to go about becoming one you should be better equipped to make your decision about whether or not this s the best path for you to take. Deciding to specialize in any area of nursing is not something that you should do lightly, and you need to put the relevant amount of thought and effort into each of the decisions that you make in this regard. There are a lot of factors to consider and you must not neglect to look at any of them. That said, becoming a RN anesthetist is possible one of the best choices you could make as a nurse, if you have what it takes, so if you are sure about your decision, go right ahead and get started today.

The post Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Facts And Information appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

All About RNnetwork.com

RN network is basically the leading voice in the arena of travel nursing, and, if you want to get involved in travel nursing, this is the agency through which you should do so. They are devoted to excellence and to providing a service to their nurses that is unparalleled. The RN network provides you with a strong link to the various healthcare facilities out there that require travel nurses and as it is one of the most respected travel nursing agencies out there it is notable that you are likely to get preference if you come from the RN Network than if you come from any of the other travel agencies. There is a much higher chance that you will get the salary that you desire, the positions that you are looking for and the benefits that you need with RN Network.

Benefits Provided By RNnetwork.com

There are a number of splendid benefits that come with working for the RN Network. The first of these benefits lies in the fact that you will have excellent health coverage. As a health care specialist you cannot afford to be ill as this will not only affect your ability to work, but it may also affect the well-being of your patients. Comprehensive dental coverage, vision insurance, life insurance, and professional liability insurance are also offered. Now, most of these benefits are offered by all travel nursing agencies, but you will be glad to hear that at RN Network you receive the best coverage that is available out there at the moment.

Signing Up With RNnetwork.com

There are a few very easy ways for you to sign up with RN Network.

• The first way is to complete the very easy to use and understand online application form which can be found here , or by going to the homepage of the RN Network and finding the application form from there.

• The second way for you to apply to join the RN Network is by actually calling a recruiter at 866 694 4459. Yu can also call this number with any questions you have and you will be able to complete your application over the phone.

• The third way is to download the application form which can be found Here and then fax it to the RN Network. The fax number is 800 359 8480.

FAQ About RNnetwork.com And Travel Nursing In General

One of the first things people ask about when they hear about RN Network is the tax advantage program and consequently they want to know what it is. Well the tax advantage program offered by this travel nurse agency is a carefully designed program that allows you to keep more of your money after tax than you would otherwise be able to do. There are a number of nursing agencies offering this advantage, but only RN Network has been offering it since they started. This is just another example of why the RN Network is the best choice for any nurse who wants to get involved in travel nursing at a serious level with a company that knows what they are doing and that can offer them the best advantages possible.

Another question on the minds of nurses wanting to get involved with RN Network is what kind of places they will be working in. Well, to be perfectly honest, there is something for everyone. You could have the opportunity to work in large hospitals, small hospitals, major metro areas, rural communities, and the top teaching facilities among many other options. It really depends on where you see yourself working. If you would prefer a fast paced working lifestyle, specify this when speaking with your recruiter. If you would prefer to work in a quieter area then you can specify that as well. That is the joy of travel nursing. There are so many options available to you and you can go just about anywhere, so it is possible to be a bit choosy.

Because you may be travelling between states the question arises of what kind of licensing issues you will have to deal with. Well, for one thing, you will have to hold a valid RN license for the state that you will be working in. RN Network will reimburse the full amount of the application fee that you will have to pay to get the license. Remember that some states will issue your license within two or three days while others will take months, so make sure you start the application process as soon as possible so that you do not miss out on the opportunity to work in that state. Some states accept on a reciprocal basis nurses with licenses form certain other states, so this really does depend on the state that you are hoping to travel to.

Another question that always arises when nurses are considering becoming travellers is the question of reimbursement. The rates that you will be paid depend on a number of factors such as the cost of living for the area that you are working in at that moment. This means that you will not be earning the same rate for every travel assignment that you take part in. One thing is true, however, and that is that travel nurses do tend to earn quite a bit more than regular staff nurses because of the shift differential, weekend differential, charge pay and other factors. Each assignment will come with a different rate, but you should be able to pick and choose to a certain degree.

In general travel nurse assignments are 13 weeks long. This is the industry standard. However this length of time does not suit everybody and so RN Network has a number of assignment length options for you to choose from. You could choose to work a four week assignment up to a twenty six week assignment with everything in between. If you’re looking for something a bit longer and more stable then that there are even the occasional fifty two week assignments that RN Network offers. There are a number of choices for you to choose from, which decreases the chances that you will be unhappy with the assignment and the working conditions that you have been assigned to. And if you are unhappy, it’s only temporary.

Joint Commission Certification

The RN Network also has Joint Commission Certification, which means that they are required to maintain a certain standard of quality. Healthcare agencies with this certification are looked on in a more favorable light and as a result you will be able to pick and choose form the best assignments if you are a member of the RN Network. The Joint Commission Certification basically serves as an added guarantee to those clients hoping to hire nurses from the RN Network as it is a stamp of approval that states that when you hire nurses from here you are getting only the best. As a result only the best healthcare facilities use RN Network so you will have the opportunity to work in the best facilities that are available.

As you have probably gathered by now RN Network offers the best benefits out of all of the travel nursing agencies currently in existence making them the preferred option for most RN nurses who are hoping to turn to travel nursing as a serious career. Signing up to work with RN Network will open a number of doors for you and allow you to get involved in areas of the health care industry that may have otherwise been closed t you. If you are able to travel frequently and do not have any commitments tying you to one place, and if you are keen to advance yourself as an RN nurse, then you should look into RN Network today and see whether or not it is the best choice for you. Travel nursing does not suit everybody, so think about it carefully before making your final decision.

So there you have all of the facts about the RN network and all of the benefits and factors that need to be taken into consideration in this regard. Joining the RN network is a great idea especially if you are hoping to become a travel nurse in a serious capacity. Having a network of nurses is a great way to stay abreast of things as well. The benefits are very compelling and there are few networks out there as good as RN network.

The post All About Using The RN Network appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

When considering the duties of a registered nurse we need to look at a number of different aspects of the job. You need to keep in mind that a RN is one that has to deal with a lot more responsibilities than a licensed practical nurse or a licensed vocational nurse and therefore this can be a very big change for anyone who has been working as a LPN up until now. This article will highlight for you just how many different and diverse tasks are included in a registered nurse job description.

Reports

The first thing that is on the task list of the average RN nurse involves reporting everything that goes on with the patient in every way imaginable. In order to get this right you need to have a very good attention for detail. Your reports can affect how the patient is treated from that moment onwards and it is therefore your responsibility to make sure that you get it right. Patient records are big part of the RN job description so you need to make sure that you are prepared to do this.

Patient Symptoms

It is also part of the registered nurse job description to monitor the symptoms of your patients. Not only will you have to monitor them closely you will also have to make a careful not of what the symptoms are. Your reports need to be clear and concise and you will need to ensure that there can be no confusion about what you wrote. You also need to keep your eyes open for any changes that you may notice in the patient’s condition as it is your jobs to report on things such as this.

Medical Information And Vital Signs

The next important part of the basic RN job description is the monitoring of the patient’s vital signs to ensure that everything is in order in that regard and that nothing can go wrong. If you miss something when it comes to making a record of your patient’s medical information or recording their vital signs it could have very drastic consequences for the well being of your patient. Consequently you need to have a very close attention to detail and be constantly vigilant to make sure that no mistakes can be made in your patient’s care.

Treatment Plan

It is a big part of the registered nurse job description to arrange the treatment plan for your patients along with the doctor in charge of your patient’s case. Not only will you have to play a big role in the initial creation of the treatment plan but you will also need to be able to adjust the treatment plan at any time should the need arise. This means being able to spot symptoms that need a different treatment approach as well as knowing what treatments are most appropriate in the specific situation you are in.

Interaction And Communication

As a registered nurse you will need to work closely with the other health care professionals who are dealing with the same patient as you. This interaction exists in order to…

• assess
• plan
• implement
• evaluate

…the health care plan for your patient. So therefore an important aspect of the average RN job description involves being able to communicate well with others. This interaction is crucial in attaining a positive change in your patient and you should therefore b e able to work well in a team and with other professionals.

Assessing Patient’s Condition

A part of the registered nurse job description involves diagnosing your patient and seeing whether or not they have a disorder that can be dealt with by you. In order to diagnose your patient you will have to order the relevant diagnostic tests. This means knowing which tests are more appropriate for the situation and which are not. You will also have to be able to understand that outcomes of the test and analyse the information you get back in order to assess the condition that your patient is in, evaluating the diagnostic tests in the process.

Monitoring Patient Care

There are a large number of things that have to be monitored for your patient. One of these things, and this is a very important part of the RN job description, is monitoring absolutely every aspect of your patient’s care. This includes things like diet and exercise. If your patient is not eating properly, or is not moving around enough, this can have some serious consequences in the long run, so it is important that you monitor these essential aspects of your patient’s care as closely as you would monitor any other symptom that they display.

Supervising

An RN has the right and the responsibility to supervise and delegate tasks to nursing professionals working under him or her. The registered nurse job description allows for you to control LPN nurses as well as carers and nursing aides. You will delegate them their responsibilities, but it is important to remember that these nurses have restrictions on what they may and may not do and if you delegate them a task that is outside of their scope of practice you will be held responsible for anything that goes wrong as a result. Your primary job in this regard is to supervise.

Treatment Preparation

Patients under you care will have to undergo numerous different treatments in the course of their stay at your health care facility or hospital. One of the things that forms a fairly big part of the RN job description is the fact that you will need to prepare your patient’s for these treatments both physically and mentally, especially when the treatment is frightening or severe. You may also be required to assist in the actual administration of the treatment, so you will need to be prepared to do that as well when it is necessary.

Ensure Proper Nursing Care

One of the things that you are monitoring the nurses under your supervision for is the degree of care that they offer the patient. Watch your nurses closely to make sure that they are doing all that is needed and expected of them, and it is advised that you ask patients about how they are being treated. This is one of the less pleasant parts of the registered nurse job description as you are basically checking your nurses to see if they are doing anything wrong. However if a patient feels that they are not being cared for properly this will reflect badly on you, so you want to be sure that everything is in order.

Environmental Assessment

Assessing a patient also involves assessing their environment. You may for example need to go to a patient’s home to ensure that everything is suitable for a patient suffering form that a particular condition. This is a very important part of the RN job description as it is part of the ongoing and continual care your patient will need to receive after they have been discharged. You may also have to assess entire communities and families, not just individual patients.

Education

A big part of the registered nurse job description that you may not be aware of is the fact that you are not only a nurse, but also an educator. It is your job to educate patients, and sometimes even groups and entire communities, on such topics as safe childbirth and how to prevent illnesses. Basic hygiene may also fall into this category. In some cases, depending of course where you will work as an RN you may have to be involved in planning and implementing community based health care interventions aimed at healing or prevention on a large scale.

Preparation And Supplies

RN nurses are also requires to ensure that all rooms needed for a patient or for a particular procedure are ready. Everything needs to be sterilized ahead of time and everything must be in order. This is one of the slightly less interesting parts of the registered nurse job description, but it is nevertheless and essential part of the functioning of any health care organisation. You will also be required to ensure that there is sufficient stock of everything and that your doctor has everything that he or she needs for the procedure.

Monitoring Anaesthesia Reactions And Condition

When a patient is under anaesthesia in an operating setting it is one of the important parts of the registered nurse job description that you monitor the patient’s condition so that the doctor can focus on the actual procedure without having to worry about the patient’s reaction to the anaesthesia or whether or not they will wake up. In an operating room you may be required to do a number of things but this is one of the more common and essential roles of a registered nurse in this content, so you need to be prepared to deal with this.

Babies

In a healthcare setting it is often part of the RN job description to help in the delivery of babies, sometimes even doing the entire delivery yourself, and to provide both prenatal and postpartum care for the baby and its mother. This is often seen as a specialty and not all registered nurses will find themselves doing this on a daily basis. Usually you get some special training in order to do this part of the job and you generally don’t move between departments, but that you stay in the maternity ward.

Anaesthetic Administration

When you are a registered nurse you will be responsible for the administration of various kinds of anaesthetics. This is a very important part of the registered nurse job description and one that requires a lot of attention to detail and care if you want to avoid making a mistake. In these situations there are problems that can arise if you give too little or too much, so you need to know what you are doing and be able to administer the accurate dosage every time. This is a big responsibility placed on the shoulders of registered nurses.

Settings Outside Of The Hospital

In some cases a registered nurse may be required to work in settings outside of the hospital, such as in a school or industrial setting in order to provide onsite care. The things you may have to do in these settings as part of your RN job description are:

• Providing health care
• Providing first aid
• Giving immunizations
• Assisting in convalescence and rehabilitation

In your mind you may see registered nurses as being tied to hospital or nursing home settings, but there are a variety of other places where they may work as well.

Operating Room

As mentioned previously part of the registered nurse job description involves monitoring the patient’s response to and condition under anaesthesia in the operating room scenario. Another thing that you will need to do in the operating room is be on hand to give things, such as equipment and implements, to the surgeon that he needs in order to complete the operation. This is a very important responsibility as it frees the doctor up to focus more intensively on what he is doing and allows for the entire process to go a lot more smoothly form beginning to end.

Research

In some cases part of you registered nurse job description may be to engage in research in order to find things out either about a patient in particular or about a disorder or something else related to the medical field. This is usually only the case in certain facilities where RN nurses are employed but it can be something that you may have to do so be aware of this option.

Now that you are aware of what the registered nurse job description entails you should be better equipped to make a final decision regarding whether or not this is the best line of work for you or if you would be better suited somewhere else.

The post Take A Look At A Registered Nurse Job Description appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Factors Affecting RN Jobs

There are a number of different factors that contribute to the differences between different types of jobs as well as to the success of RN jobs in general, so it is very important that you are aware of all of these factors and that you have a clear understanding of how these factors affect the RN jobs in your area. There are many registered nurse jobs to choose form, but all of them are subtly different so it is important that you consider the factors mentioned blow when you are analyzing an RN job for its suitability for you on a personal level. A job that may be perfect for your best friend may nevertheless not be the right job for you to choose. The factors affecting the kind of RN job you get are demand, education setting, population, salary, location, considerations and your specialization.

Demand

One of the main factors affecting RN jobs in this day and age is the increasing demand in this world for nursing professionals. Registered nurse jobs are considered to be among the most stable jobs that are available out there. This is because, even when the economy faces a crisis, the health care profession will keep on going strong. It is an industry that we cannot do without because people will always need health care form health care professionals as long as the world turns. So, if you are trying to decide on a profession to enter, remember that RN jobs are among the more stable options. On top of that your skills will be in great demand as there is a severe shortage of RN’s at present.

Education

Your level of education will of course affect the RN jobs that you are eligible for. There are several ways to qualify as an RN. You could. For example, do a two year Associate’s degree. This is the quickest way to become an RN. You could also choose to do a bachelor’s or master’s degree which will take a lot longer, usually in the region of about four years to complete. The longer the program the more comprehensive and prestigious it is. Therefore, if you want to increase your chances of getting the best RN jobs you should go out of your way to get as high a qualification in the field as possible. The more continuing education you engage in the more jobs you will be considered for, so keep your education up after you have qualified too.

Setting

Registered nurses can work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, private practices, clinics, as travelling specialists, as ambulatory or emergency nurses, within a nursing home for the elderly, as home care nurses, in government offices or in the education field. These are just some of the registered nurse jobs that you will be able to do once you are an RN. The fact that there is so much choice when it comes to settings is a great thing for you indeed as this means that you will have the opportunity to find the perfect niche for you to work in. Some RN’s do better in nursing home RN jobs, for example, while others thrive in a more traditional hospital setting. Take the time to explore all the options and find out which of the many RN jobs suit you the best.

Population

It is possible for you to focus, as a nurse, on a particular population of people. For example you may be more interested in women’s health than in men’s health and consequently you will specialize in that. As a result you will only be eligible for those RN jobs where a specialization in this population is appropriate and useful. You will not, for example, get a job in a men’s prison! Other populations you can specialize in include children and elderly people. If you specialize in the child population you will be a pediatric nurse, and if you specialize in the elderly population you will be a geriatric nurse. Likewise you will not be considered for RN jobs in retirement homes if you have a specialization in paediatric nursing, and nor will you work in a children’s hospital with a specialization in geriatric nursing.

Salary

There is a very wide range of salaries that you can earn as an RN nurse. Salaries range from about $43000 to about $92000 and there are so many factors affecting what kind of salary you can earn in what kind of registered nurse jobs. For example salaries can differ quite severely from state to state, which means that you have to have a clear idea of what the options are n the particular state where you would like to work. Not only do salaries vary from state to state, they also vary within states from city to city so you really need to know your facts if you are choosing a job based on salary. There are also different levels that you can work at as an RN and each of these levels also come with their own salary expectations.

Personality Considerations

As an RN you will have to work with sick and injured people on a daily basis. This means that you will need to have a certain type of personality. One of the key aspects to being an RN rests in your ability to be empathetic, or to put yourself in another person’s shoes and understand what they are going through to a certain degree. You will also need to be able to relate to other people well. If you are unable to communicate effectively with others on a good interpersonal level then you will struggle to deal with not only your patients but also your colleagues in a work setting as an RN. A positive attitude will stand you in good stead as your patients will look to you for support as they recover from their illnesses or injuries.

Specializations

There are a number of different areas you can specialize in as an RN, such as addictions, cardiology, critical care, emergency, forensic nursing, geriatrics, home health care, infusion, oncology, medical-surgical, pain management, pediatrics, Perioperative, psychiatric, radiology, and research. The type of specialization that you choose, if any, can have a big impact on the RN jobs that you are eligible to work. For example if you are a pediatric specialist there will not be much use for you in a practice focusing exclusively on oncology (although you may have some skills to offer in pediatric oncology). If you want to specialize you need to think ahead and consider what specialties will make you more in demand and give you access to as wide a variety of registered nurse jobs as possible, while keeping mind that the specialty should be something that you enjoy.

Postpartum RN jobs

Let us consider for a short while one very specific filed of RN jobs, namely the field of postpartum nursing. If you want to work in this filed you will need to have a very caring attitude as this is specifically aimed at dealing with mothers who have just recently given birth. As a result a love of children is absolutely essential if you are considering registered nurse jobs of this kind. You also need to have the right kind of personality in terms of your empathy and warmness. The maternity room needs to be a safe place for a mother where she can ask questions about her new role easily and without feeling afraid to approach you about it. You must also be prepared to deal with women who have experienced birthing tragedies without losing control of your own emotions.

Description Of Postpartum RN jobs

The job of a postpartum nurse includes:

• Caring for mothers who have just given birth
• Monitoring the mother’s condition by taking her blood pressure and checking her other vital signs
• Checking the mother’s stitches
• Helping the mother change her padding
• Teaching the mother how to manage her healing process when she goes home
• Giving her advice on which medications to take and why

You can see then why it is important that you have the right attitude and that you are a naturally caring and empathetic person. This is an important step for a woman and they rely on the postpartum nurse to be there for them and to answer any questions they have sensitively and without any prejudice, hardness or bitterness on the part of the RN.

Scope Of Postpartum RN jobs

Postpartum RN jobs do not include actually taking care of the baby. This is the doctor’s job and does not fall to you in any way. However you may have deal with certain aspects of the baby’s care in order to ensure that everything goes well. Postpartum registered nurse jobs include some very basic functions like, for example, holding the baby thereby allowing the mother to do something else such as shower or use the ladies room. Many mothers experience trouble when breastfeeding, especially if it is their first child. Postpartum RN jobs involve helping mothers with these breastfeeding issues by giving advice and offering alternative feeding solutions for the mother to consider. It will also be your job to refer the baby and its mother to a lactation counsellor in the event that breastfeeding is not possible for some or other reason.

Postpartum RN Jobs: Salary

The salary for postpartum RN jobs is in the same region as salaries for any other nursing jobs. This range has already been mentioned in the article. What you have to do with postpartum RN jobs is weight up the emotional strain that you will feel in tragic situations with the joy you will experience due to the nature of the work with the salary hat you can expect to earn. Once you have done this you will be in a much better position to determine whether this is the kind of job you want to have as a registered nurse. It is definitely one of the registered nurse jobs that you need to think about carefully before plunging right into, especially if you are someone who cannot keep control of your emotions.

RN Jobs MN

If you are looking for RN jobs MN the quickest way would be to do a search on the internet. Simply type the phrase “RN jobs MN’ into your search engine and you will be given a list of great jobs that are available for RN’s looking for employment in Minnesota. This can be done for any state at all if you know which state you would like to work in. There are a lot of RN jobs MN available if you take the time to look for them, so go ahead and start searching now.

That concludes our look at some of the RN jobs that are worth your consideration as well as our discussion about some of the many aspects that can affect what jobs you will be eligible to work in once you have qualified as an RN nurse. Now that you have all of the facts you should be able to easily come to a decision about what kind of RN jobs you want and whether or not this is the right line of work for you. There are many worse things that you can be other than an RN nurse, and there are many different options open to you if you want to find a job in this field, so you should be able to find something that suits you perfectly.

The post Take A Look At RN Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Earning A High Registered Nurse Salary

If you want to earn a high RN salary you should consider working in Personal Care Services where the average RN salary on an hourly basis is about $41.57 and the overall RN nursing salary is in the region of $86,470 a year. Other high paying jobs include working for the Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation). Here you can expect an RN salary of about $38.23an hour and about $79,530 a year. Working in the Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing industry comes with an RN salary of about $36.03 an hour and $74,940 a year. Good RN salaries can also be found in the Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing field with competitive rates of $36.03 an hour and $74,930 a year. Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools are also good places to turn for a competitive RN salary at $35.66 an hour and $74,180 a year.

If you work as an Emergency RN Travel Nursing you can expect registered nurse salaries in this domain of around $82,000. The salary for RN nurses working as RN Dialysis Nurses can be something in the region of $66,000. If you want to get involved in MS RN Travel Nursing you can expect an RN salary of around $73,000, and if you want to be a Travel RN expect to be a paid a registered nurse salary of about $85,000. If you work as a RN LD Texas you will be eligible for a RN nurse salary of around $100,000, and if you work as a RN NICU in California you could earn a salary for registered nurse practitioners of around $89,000.The salary for RN practitioners working in RN Telemetry in California is about $87,000. RN salaries for those involved in RN ER in California can be about $87,000, and registered nurse salaries for RN ICU SICU are in the region of about $55,000. The RN salary for someone working in RN ICU MICU is about $78,000 and the salary for RN nurses working in RN PACU in California is about $86,000. The RN nurse salary for an RN Case Manager in California is about $86,000. RN salaries for those working in RN ICU CCU are in the region of $82,000 and the salary for registered nurse practitioners working in RN ICU in California is about $86,000. Last but not least the registered nurse salaries for those working in RN LD in California are in the region of $87,000. These are the industries in nursing that tend to pay the most, but you need to remember that these are reflections of the average RN salary to be expected in each industry. The actual salary for RN nurses that you can earn differs from state to state.

Salary For Registered Nurse By State

The registered nurse salary that you are eligible to earn can differ quite severely form state to state.

Alabama

In Alabama, for example, you can expect an hourly rate of around $27.76 and an overall RN salary of about $57730. Remember that in Alabama, as well as in all other states, the actual amount you earn depends on the institute and the position that you are working in. These numbers are merely an idea of the average RN salary by state.

Alaska

Next on the list is Alaska where you can expect RN salaries in the region of $35.66 an hour and $74182 a year. If you compare this to Arizona where the average registered nurse salary is around $31.70 an hour and $65951 a year you can see that it is quite a good rate.

Arkansas

In Arkansas the average registered nurse salary is around $27.08 an hour which means that the overall registered nurse salaries that can be earned in this state are in the region of about $56314 a year. This is not a bad rate at all and you will notice that the trend leans towards the idea that RN nurses warn quite good salaries.

California

Some states do pay a higher average RN salary than others. Let us consider, for example, California. In California you can expect to earn an average salary for RN nurses of about $40.67 an hour which translates to about $84593 a year. If you compare this to the next two states on this alphabetical list you will see that it is a lot higher. In Colorado you can get an average RN nurse salary of about $31.49 an hour and $65482 a year and in Connecticut you will earn something like $34.45 an hour with an overall salary for registered nurse practitioners of about $71666 a year.

Delaware

If you plan to work as an RN in Delaware you can expect a registered nursing salary that is only in the region of around $33.75 an hour and $70188 a year. This is not a bad salary for RN nurses, but there are better paying options available out there.

District Of Columbia

The District of Columbia offers quite a competitive RN nurse salary range with an hourly rate of $35.77 and a yearly rate of about $74406. Other states that offer reasonable RN salaries are Florida, with a registered nurse salary of $30.01 an hour and $62436 a year, and Georgia, where a registered nurse salary of $29.37 an hour and $61081 a year.

There are some states that have very low salary for registered nurse options. One of these is Guam where you can expect an RN salary of only $24.84 an hour and $51658 a year.

Hawaii

The average RN salary for registered nurses who want to work in Hawaii is $38.17 an hour and $79408 a year. This is quite a good rate, especially when compared to many of the other states on the list, including the next one in line, Idaho. In Idaho you will only earn average registered nurse salaries of around $28.30 an hour and $58850 a year, making Hawaii the better bet in that regard.

Illinois

If you are staying in Illinois and if you hope to practice there as an RN you will be eligible for one of the more competitive RN salaries in the region of $31.36 an hour and $65217 a year depending on where specifically in Illinois you choose to work.

Indiana

For some fairly average RN salary estimates you should consider Indiana, with a registered nurse salary of $27.99 an hour and $58229 a year, Iowa, with a registered nursing salary of around $24.83 an hour and $51648 a year, as well as Kansas with a registered nurse salary of about $26.69 an hour and $55519 a year. Kentucky also falls into this category with an average RN salary of around $27.81 an hour and $57842 a year.

Louisiana

For those nurses who would like to practice as RNs in Louisiana the news is very good as the salary for RN nurses in this state is fairly high at $29.05 on an hourly basis and $60429 on a yearly basis. This is quite similar to the RN nurse salary estimates for Maine where you can expect to earn around $29.15 every hour and $60633 every year.

Maryland And Massachusetts

Two states with quite high salary for registered nurse statistics are Maryland and Massachusetts. In Maryland you can expect to earn a very competitive RN salary in the region of $36.42 as the average hourly rate and $75761 as the average yearly rate. In Massachusetts registered nurse salaries are in the region of $38.88 an hour and $80875 a year.

Michigan

In Michigan you can earn the very good registered nurse salary of about $30.91 an hour and $64280 a year. For a slightly higher rate than that try Minnesota where the average RN salary is $34.55 an hour and $71879 a year.

Mississippi Or Missouri

For slightly below average but still very good registered nurse salaries you should consider working as an RN in Mississippi or Missouri. Both these states have every similar salary for RN options. In Mississippi you can earn around $27.50 an hour and $57210 a year while in Missouri you can expect RN salaries of around $27.75 an hour and $57730 a year.

Montana And Nebraska

Two states that have comparatively low rates and are therefore not among the most popular states to work in are Montana and Nebraska. You can see why they are not popular when you consider that in Montana you can expect to earn a registered nurse salary of $26.96 an hour and $56090 a year, and in Nebraska the average RN salary is $26.19 and $54490 a year.

Nevada

However for those of you who plan to work in the great state of Nevada you will be eligible to earn one of the better salaries for RN nurses out there. In Nevada the expected rate is around $34.63 an hour and $72022 a year. This is a lot better than say in New Hampshire where the average RN salary is only around $29.49 an hour and $61336 a year.

New Jersey

Next on our list are three of your better options. If it is possible for you to pick and choose the state that you would like to work in, consider New Jersey, New Mexico and New York. In New Jersey the registered nurse salary is quite good at $35.69 an hour and $74233, but it is even better in New Mexico at $30.29 on an hourly basis and $62986 on a yearly basis. Unsurprisingly New York is one of the best places to work as the RN nurse salary statistics in this state are great at $35.83 an hour and $74528 a year.

North Carolina

Slightly below average salary for registered nurse rates can be found in North Carolina where you only earn around $28.30 an hour and $58871 a year, North Dakota where you can expect an RN salary of only $27.07 on an hourly basis and $56293 on a yearly basis, and Ohio where the rates are $28.78 an hour and $59849 a year.

Oklahoma

A state with a particularly low salary, however, is Oklahoma where the most you can expect to earn is about $25.41 an hour and $52850 a year. If possible, stay away from this state as a registered nurse.

Oregon

In comparison if you would like to work in Oregon you are in luck as the basic salary for RN nurses in this state is quite high at a rate of $34.87 on an hourly basis and $72542 on a yearly basis.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a relatively good RN salary that is definitely below average. IN this state you will be eligible to earn something around $30.06 an hour and $62538 a year depending on where exactly you are working in the state.

Puerto Rico

The state with the most dismally low RN nurse salary rates in Puerto Rico. In this state you will be lucky if you can earn more than $13.84 an hour or $28799 a year. If you compare this to, for example, Rhode Island where you can earn about $33.21 an hour and $69078 a year you will be able to understand how bad it actually is.

South Carolina

South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee all come with RN salaries that are below average to average. In South Carolina the average salary for registered nurse practitioners is about $28.22 an hour and $58687 a year. In South Dakota registered nurse salaries weigh in at about $25.76 an hour and $53584 a year while in Tennessee you can expect the lower, but not ultimately bad RN salary of $28.90 an hour and $60103 a year.

Texas

In Texas the average registered nurse salary is $30.26 as the hourly rate and $62935 as the yearly rate. For salaries that are almost as good consider working in Utah where the salary for RN nurses is about $28.43 an hour and $59136 a year, or Vermont where the average RN nurse salary is $29.68 an hour and $61743 a year.

Virgin Islands

Although not the lowest in terms of RN salaries, the Virgin Islands do not have great rates. Here you can expect to earn $22.89 an hour and $47604 a year.

Virginia

In Virginia and Wisconsin you will earn very similar salary for registered nurse rates. In Virginia the salary is about $30.26 an hour and $62935 a year while in Wisconsin the rate is around $30.44 an hour and $63302 a year. These are good rates, but not as good as what you can expect to earn in Washington where the average salaries are in the region of about $34.84 on an hourly basis and $72470 on a yearly basis.

West Virginia

West Virginia and Wyoming have some of the lower rates with West Virginia paying about $25.63 an hour and $53319 a year, and Wyoming paying about $26.88 an hour and $55906 a year to their registered nurses.

Other factors affecting RN Salary

• Employer Type: The type of employer you work for, as I am sure you have gathered from the above discussions, can affect the RN salary you earn.

• Nursing Education: There are a number of different levels of education that you can have to be an RN. The higher your education level the higher your RN salary is likely to be, so keep this in mind when it comes to selecting an RN training program. The differences in terms of the jobs you are eligible for and the salary that you can earn can be quite drastic if you are looking at the situation from an education perspective alone. Increase your chances by getting the best education possible in your state and in your areas.

• Work Experience: The amount of prior work experience that you have before applying for a job always affects the RN salary that you are eligible to earn. This should not surprise you as it holds true for all jobs out there. Employers are aware of the very important fact that nothing beats actual experience when it comes to selecting job applicants. You can gain a lot of experience during your training years which will stand you in good stead later on in life when you start looking out for those RN jobs that pay the highest salaries.

• Specialty Area: RN nurses have the option of choosing to specialize in one or other area. If you want to specialize this will also increase you RN salary. IN some ways specializing may make you over qualified or ineligible for certain jobs, but in the long run this can increase your salary quite remarkably, depending of course on what particular area you choose to specialize in.

Now that you have all of the facts about RN salary options that are available it should be easy enough for you to decide firstly if you want to be an RN, secondly where you would like to be an RN, and lastly what you can do in order to ensure the highest salary possible.

The post What Are Your RN Salary Expectations? appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

An interesting thing to note about medical surgical nursing is that it is the oldest nursing specialty in existence. According to discovernursing.com, “These nurses are valued members of a surgical team, assisting surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals throughout surgery. As a Surgical Nurse, you’ll care for patients before, during and after the procedure. Your experience will provide you with a broad range of skills, since you’ll often work with patients with acute (critical) conditions and chronic illnesses”. As a medical surgical nurse you will be able to fill practically any job role within the nursing profession.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

Medical surgical nurses are expected to be able to perform a variety of different tasks in a medical setting:

• Education forms a major part of your job role as a medical surgical nurse as you will need to teach patients, families, peers, and other health professionals about various issues.

• In addition you will be responsible for supporting patients in their efforts to identify what is in their best interests and helping them reach a conclusion about the best medical path to choose.

• You will need to care for patients from all age groups, patients with multiple medical, surgical, and/or psychiatric diagnoses, and patients with diagnoses across all medical specialties.

• One of your primary goals will be to provide comfort and attention to people who, at that moment, need someone to take an interest in their lives as they deal with a serious medical affliction.

• You will need to heal patients both physically and emotionally through intuitive experiences that rely on observation and touch; there are more domains involved in physical therapy than simply overt medicine.

• Another extremely important role that you will play as a medical surgical nurse lies in helping patients to return to their highest level of functioning as soon as possible.

• In addition you will be directly responsible for providing dignity and respect in end-of-life decision-making and care.

Employment

As a medical surgical nurse you can seek employment in number of different areas, including:

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Outpatient surgery centers
• MD offices
• Long-term care facilities
• Other practice sites

Because of the broad skill set that you will have, you should have little difficulty seeking employment in most parts of the country.

Medical Surgical Nurse Requirements

The following basic requirements are involved in becoming a medical surgical nurse:

• To begin with, you need to meet the educational requirements that are necessary for this line of work.

• If possible you should take elective courses in medical-surgical nursing during school as this will provide you will valuable experience and information.

• The next step involves passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) which will allow you to start working as a Registered Nurse, or registered nurse. The more experience you get, the better equipped you will be for this line of work.

• It is very important that you get experience working in critical or intensive care, and working with surgical patients before applying to take your certification exam.

• Then you must pass the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) exam through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ (AMSN) Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) to become a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®).

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality skills that will be particularly helpful in this line of work:

• You will need to have excellent assessment skills
• You will need to have excellent technical skills
• You will need to have excellent organizational skills
• You will need to have excellent prioritization skills
• You will need to be willing to work with people from different age groups, so an open mind is required
• As a medical surgical nurse you must be able to celebrate that there is always something new to learn

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for this line of work are fairly intensive. In order to enter a training program you will need to have a high school diploma or an acceptable equivalent thereof. You will then need to earn a Nursing Diploma, an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) before you can complete the process of becoming a professional medical surgical nurse. It will be extremely helpful if you take elective courses in medical surgical nursing during school if the option is available to you. The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) is an essential part of becoming a medical surgical nurse and you may find it necessary to engage in additional education in order to pass this exam easily. There are a number of education aides available online and from book stores that will help you prepare for this test. The same applies when it comes time to pass the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) exam through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ (AMSN) Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) to become certified in this nursing specialty. There are a number of educational resources available to help you prepare for this to the best of your ability.

Licensure

To become a medical surgical nurse you need to earn your RN license. Once you have completed your RN training program you will apply for licensure with your state board of nursing. When you receive confirmation from the board you can use that confirmation to set a date with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-RN examination that will earn you your license. Passing the online multiple choice exam will mean that you are eligible to be licensed, and your state board of nursing will send you your license in a few weeks.

How To Become A Medical Surgical Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

As a surgical nurse there will be a number of roles that you can fulfill in a medical setting including the following:

• A scrub nurse
• A circulating nurse
• An RN first assistant

Because of the vast array of skills that you will learn, y6ou will find it easy to enter practically any other specialty within nursing if that is your desire. The training that you will receive as a medical surgical nurse will prepare you to display the following skills in your job:

• You must be knowledgeable in all aspects of adult health, a very wide array of knowledge indeed.
• You must understand the importance of measuring and improving the quality of care delivered.
• As a medical surgical nurse you will be taught to consider patient safety to be the top priority.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is extremely important that you attend an accredited training program when doing your undergraduate as well as your postgraduate nursing training. Your state board of nursing is a good place to start when looking for accredited programs as they should be able to provide you with a comprehensive list. The schools you are interested should also openly display information about their accreditations status, if not, this information should be available on request. You could also consider speaking to current nurses about where they completed their training as their program must have been accredited.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

Earning your associate’s degree in nursing is one route that you can take to becoming a medical surgical nurse, although you may have better luck seeking employment with a more advanced qualification. Many technical and vocational schools as well as some universities will offer training for an associate’s degree. Apply for at least three schools, select the best one, compete the course requirements, and graduate.

Obtain Your Licensure

The license that you need to be a medical surgical nurse is your RN license, but once you have that you will also need to receive your Registered Nurse – Board Certified (RN-BC) certification. To be eligible for certification you must have a valid registered nurse license, two years experience as a nurse, 2,000 clinical hours in medical-surgical nursing in the past three years, and 30 hours of continuing education in medical-surgical nursing in the past three years. You can apply for certification either online or by mail. When you apply you will need to send in proof of certification and your hours of experience. Once you have applied for the certification exam you will receive an authorization to test that you must take to approved testing facilities. You will have 90 days to take the exam from the time your application is approved. Medical surgical nurse practitioners can renew their certification after five years with proof of 1,000 clinical hours in medical-surgical nursing and participation in professional development.

Online/Distance Education Programs

Although there are a number of online programs available, it is important that you remember to check the accreditation status of a program before enrolling. In addition you must ensure that in some way you complete the compulsory clinical training involved in any nursing program. If you find a good online school, the burden of studying will be significantly reduced for you.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this line of work is looking better and better, especially as the changing nature of health care has caused the need for medical surgical nurses in clinics, home health care agencies, HMOs, ambulatory care units, long-term care homes, surgical centers, and universities. As they are no longer restricted to hospital settings, they have more career opportunities open to them. In general the nursing profession is growing at a faster rate than other professions, which means that the future is bright for nurses starting their career.

Earnings

Different states offer different salaries to their medical surgical nurses:

• South Carolina = $73,000 a year
• Louisiana = $66,000 a year
• North Carolina = $80,000 a year
• Mississippi = $97,000 a year
• Oklahoma = $74,000 a year
• New York = $97,000 a year
• Virginia = $83,000 a year
• Hawaii = $60,000 a year
• Pennsylvania = $70,000 a year
• Nebraska = $67,000 a year
• South Dakota = $65,000 a year
• Puerto Rico = $76,000 a year
• District of Columbia = $94,000 a year
• Ohio = $77,000 a year
• West Virginia = $81,000 a year
• Wisconsin = $70,000 a year
• New Mexico = $74,000 a year
• Missouri = $81,000 a year
• New Hampshire = $82,000 a year
• Arizona = $73,000 a year
• Massachusetts = $94,000 a year
• Montana = $84,000 a year
• Minnesota = $75,000 a year
• Texas = $77,000 a year
• Maine = $76,000 a year
• New Jersey = $87,000 a year
• Wyoming = $81,000 a year
• Nevada = $78,000 a year
• Washington = $78,000 a year
• Oregon = $77,000 a year
• Idaho = $72,000 a year
• Rhode Island = $84,000 a year
• Alabama = $84,000 a year
• Utah = $75,000 a year
• Tennessee = $77,000 a year
• Kansas = $74,000 a year
• North Dakota = $78,000 a year
• Florida = $79,000 a year
• Connecticut = $88,000 a year
• Maryland = $83,000 a year
• California = $91,000 a year
• Iowa = $75,000 a year
• Delaware = $77,000 a year
• Colorado = $72,000 a year
• Michigan = $78,000 a year
• Virgin Islands = $93,000 a year
• Vermont = $80,000 a year
• Indiana = $83,000 a year
• Arkansas = $81,000 a year
• Georgia = $89,000 a year
• Illinois = $86,000 a year
• Alaska = $70,000 a year
• Kentucky = $73,000 a year

Medical surgical nursing is a stable and well paying occupation within the medical profession. There are many schools in existence that will train you adequately for this line of work. By beginning a career in medical surgical nursing you will open many doors for yourself in the medical arena because of the large number of skills you will acquire through your training and during your job.

The post About Being A Medical Surgical Nurse appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

A pediatric nurse practitioner is a nurse who specifically works with children and adolescents in a number of different health care settings, providing them with care specific to their age group. It is well known that infants, children, and adolescents have different nutritional and medical needs to adults and geriatrics, which is why the need for experts in this area exists.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The duties of a pediatric nurse practitioner are as follows:

• Pediatric nurse practitioners work alongside pediatricians and other health care professionals to provide adequate care to pediatrics (defined as any individual younger than the age of 18).

• The pediatric nurse practitioner may serve as the child’s primary caregiver in charge of all diagnoses and treatment plans.

• In addition to dealing with ill children, nurses with this qualification also assist the families of patients who are chronically ill or severely injured.

• In cases where a child has lost the physical ability to stand or walk, pediatric nurse practitioners will administer thorough assessments of that child and engage in rehabilitation should it be deemed necessary.

• A pediatric nurse practitioner is also active in providing preventative care information to the parents of the children under her care, as well as providing tips on how parents can care for their ill child in the home environment.

Employment

Although a large number of pediatric nurse practitioners work specifically in hospitals or in doctor’s offices, it is possible to have your own practice if you have this qualification. This is one of the primary reasons why this is such a popular career path with many nurses. Naturally the educational requirements that you will have to meet before you will be able to run your own practice are vast, but it will result in having a higher degree of professional prestige and earning more respect from others in the healthcare field.
Employment as a pediatric nurse practitioner suits those nurses who have a special interest in the well being of youngsters and who are willing to engage in the training needed to become certified. As tragedies can happen in a pediatric ward, a strong emotional character will also stand you in good stead.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Requirements

The following are the requirements that you must meet if you want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner:

• To begin with you will need to attend a nursing program that results in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Once you have your bachelor’s degree you will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)

• After you have experience as an RN, you will need to go back to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

• Take any courses that are offered by your program convener in child health and psychology in order to prepare for work in pediatrics

• Once you have met the educational requirements you will need to earn board certification in pediatrics through the Society of Pediatric Nurses, which will result in you officially becoming a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP)

Personality Traits

There are a number of general nursing skills that will stand you in good stead as a pediatric nurse practitioner, but there is one very important skill that is not required in most other nursing specialties. This is the ability to understand the individual psychology of each child and communicate with children at their level. Although this skill can be taught, it will help you considerably if you have a natural ability in this regard. In addition to this specific skill you will also need the personality traits of empathy and understanding, especially as children often need greater reassurance and levels of support than adults do when they are in a hospital or other health care facility. Attention to detail is also extremely important as children will not be able to explain situations or symptoms to you as easily as an adult would, making it your responsibility to infer details through other means.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for this line of work are fairly stringent as you are required to earn a master’s degree. However, this is a cumulative process as an undergraduate degree must be obtained first. Here you have two options:

• You can earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing
• You can earn an associate’s degree in nursing and then complete an associate’s degree to bachelor’s degree bridge program

Your undergraduate training, regardless of the specific route you choose to take, will prepare you for a career as a general nurse. Quality programs include comprehensive classroom training, as well as clinical training regimes. The core topics that you will cover in most programs will be related to community nursing, health assessment, nursing ethics, anatomy and physiology, and complex health problems.

To enter into the master’s degree program that will allow you to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you must have:

• An RN license
• Experience as an RN (about 1 year)

If you are enrolled in the master’s program full-time, you should be able to complete it in about 2 years. The general and specific courses that you will need to complete during your master’s program include nursing theories, research methods in nursing, advanced practice nursing, pharmacology and pathophysiology, health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance and pediatric theory. At the end of the course you will be required to submit a thesis.

If you are a student who has a bachelor’s degree in a topic not related to nursing, you may be able to complete an accelerated nursing program to become a registered nurse.

Licensure

The only license that you need, strictly speaking, is an RN license, which is earned by completing an accredited RN training program. After completing the program you will need to apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing. Once your eligibility to become licensed is confirmed you will take the NCLEX-RN examination through Pearson VUE, the examining body. This exam is computer based. Passing the exam earns you your RN license, which will need to be renewed periodically according to the rules in your particular state.

How To Become A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

The question that occurs to many nurses is why it is necessary to become a pediatric nurse practitioner if you are already a pediatric nurse. The reason for this is related to career advancement and career opportunities. With your advanced degree and certification, you’ll have more responsibility, and higher earning ability, than pediatric nurses.
Once you have earned your qualification as a pediatric nurse practitioner it is very important that you then continue to boost your knowledge by engaging in continuing education related to the field of pediatric nursing. This will not only allow you to improve your efficiency on the job, but it will also make your resume more attractive to any potential employers that you apply with over the course of your career.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is very important that you source an accredited training program when studying to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. Your state board of nursing can confirm the accreditation status of the school that you choose. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/pediatric-nursing-rankings lists the 18 best schools offering a master’s degree in pediatric nursing:

• University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA
• Yale University in New Haven, CT
• University of Washington in Seattle, WA
• University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA
• Duke University in Durham, NC
• Rush University in Chicago, IL
• University of Colorado-Denver in Denver, CO
• University of California-San Francisco in San Francisco, CA
• Columbia University in New York, NY
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC
• Emory University in Atlanta, GA
• Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD
• University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI
• University of Illinois-Chicago in Chicago, IL
• University of Maryland-Baltimore in Baltimore, MD
• Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN
• Ohio State University in Columbus, OH

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

The most basic degree that you can earn is your associate’s degree, which will allow you to become an RN. However, in order to become a pediatric nurse practitioner you will have to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in addition to your associate’s degree.
To earn your associate’s degree apply to at least three different nursing schools offering the qualification in your area. This will greatly improve your chances of being accepted. To choose the best school for you, create a list of all the personal and practical requirements that the school must meet. Enroll in the most appropriate school and complete the course requirements. This will earn you your associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In addition to the RN license that you must hold in order to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you are also required to become certified. The easiest way to do this is through the American Nurses Credential Center which offers a PNP-BC (pediatric nurse practitioner-board certified) credential. In order to earn this credential you will need to take a computer based multiple choice test. Preparation for the test can be completed by buying study guides and textbooks or by using the many online resources that are available. Once you have become certified, you must renew that certification once every five years in order to continue practicing as a pediatric nurse practitioner in your particular state.

Online/Distance Education Programs

There are a number of advantages to studying online:

• The hours are more flexible and you can work according to your own schedule
• It is often cheaper to study online than in a traditional classroom situation

However, as you will always be required to complete a certain amount of clinical training in a nursing degree program, you cannot hope to earn your qualification entirely online. Online and distance education schools are often affiliated with health care facilities where you will be able to complete your clinical training. Others require you to make your own arrangements for achieving the required number of clinical hours. Without hands-on training you will be unable to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for pediatric nurse practitioners is fairly good as this is a subset of the health care industry which is always on the increase in terms of the number of jobs that become available. In addition to having a specialized qualification, you will also be able to work in facilities that require non-specialized RNs due to your undergraduate training. However, this is a fairly popular line of work, which means that there may, in some cases, be steep competition for finding employment in pediatric nursing.

Earnings

The overall salary that you can expect to earn as a pediatric nurse practitioner is about $61,676 – $94,383 a year, but if you also consider the potential for an annual bonus of between $0.00 and $7,465 a year, as well as the potential for profit sharing of between $507 and $19,727, your overall earning potential comes to about $63,996 – $102,228 a year. The industry you choose to work in will also affect your pay as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Popular industries are Healthcare where you can expect to earn about $58,819 – $94,359 a year, Pediatric Offices where you can expect to earn about $59,254 – $94,223 a year, Hospitals where you can expect to earn about $59,905 – $96,324, Medical Offices where you can expect to earn about $57,726 – $93,395 a year, and Medical Services where you can expect to earn about $58,571 – $95,578 a year. Some cities pay more than others. The top paying cities are:

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Washington, District of Columbia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Nashville, Tennessee
• St. Louis, Missouri
• New York, New York
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Orlando, Florida
• Columbus, Ohio

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Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses are specialists who have completed advanced training and have knowledge and expertise in the management and prevention of various conditions involving the skin, bladder and bowel. In excess of 6,500 nurses have validated their specialized knowledge in wound, ostomy, continence and foot care nursing by voluntarily becoming certified over the past 30 years.

The American Nurses’ Association affirmed in 2010 that WOC nursing meets their very high standard for a nursing specialty, and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) adheres to very high and strict standards of quality, thereby ensuring that the public is protected from unsafe and incompetent providers.

What Does A Wound, Ostomy And Continence Nurse Do?

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing, previously referred to as Enterostomal Therapy, incorporates principles and practices that promote, maintain and restore health for patients who have wounds caused by ulcers, injuries, or disease, and who suffer with continence problems throughout their lives.
WOC nurses specialize in the care of individuals with disorders of the genitourinary and integumentary systems and the gastrointestinal tract, and their job is to provide postoperative care and support for patients who need alternative methods of eliminating bodily waste. They also treat patients with fecal and urinary incontinence.

Main Duties Of A Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse

These duties include:

• Assisting patients who have urinary and fecal incontinence
• Dressing wounds
• Educating patients and their families on how to manage the artificial waste elimination devices
• Supporting patients who have colostomy bags or use other methods of artificial waste elimination

WOC nurses provide acute and long-term support to more than one million individuals who undergo ostomy surgeries in the U.S. every year. They also play a huge part in managing urinary incontinence amongst the approximately 13 million Americans who have this condition. WOC nurses are particularly skilled at managing complex cases of fecal and urinary incontinence in frail elderly patients, which is what makes them so valued.

Nurses who have specialized training in wound care are of particular value to the long-term, home-care and acute settings due to their ability to treat surgical incisions, tubes and fistulas, pressure ulcers, and draining and traumatic wounds.

Where Does A Wound, Ostomy And Continence Nurse Work?

Wound ostomy continence Nursing takes place wherever there is a need for support for patients with incontinence and artificial waste elimination devices; generally in hospitals, but also in various other healthcare facilities.

Wound, ostomy, continence nursing has always been a critical component in acute care settings. The demand for WOC nurses is becoming greater as health care shifts from acute care in a hospital setting to care in the outpatient setting, and as long-term care and home health care grow due to the aging of the baby-boomer population. There has never been a better time to get into this kind of specialty, and there are many programs aimed at helping you to achieve this goal.

Wound, Ostomy, And Continence Nursing Education

Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing specialty is a continuing nursing education activity, and various programs are available that are approved by the American Nurses’ Association and accredited by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society (WOCN).

The components of WOC nursing practice include:

• Direct care and consultation
• Patient and family education and counselling
• Staff development
• Research and management activities

Admission Requirements

Admittance to a Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing program, an individual is evaluated on all portions of the application, as admission is competitive. In order to be considered for the certificate program an individual must:

• Be in possession of a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school as a prerequisite or co-requisite
• Be in possession of an unencumbered RN license for the state where you intend to do your practical
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate and graduate studies
• Submit three acceptable academic and professional recommendations
• Submit a copy of your Curriculum Vitae or resume
• Be available for an interview if requested
• There are additional requirements for international students

Nursing Education Program

The Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing education program is a postgraduate study program, and it prepares graduates to provide specialty care for patients who have acute and chronic wounds, standard and continent diversions, and urinary and fecal incontinence.
The educational methods for these programs generally include approximately 40% clinical and 60% didactic training, and include major areas of instruction such as:

• Anatomy and physiology of GI, GU, and integumentary systems

• Nursing management of patients with adapted patterns of elimination such as alternative procedures, ostomies, and incontinence

• Nursing management of patients who are at risk for breakdown of their skin, as well as those who have acute and chronic wounds such as neuropathic ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and arterial ulcers

• Pathophysiology and medical or surgical treatment for selected disorders within the integumentary, GI, and GU systems

• Rehabilitation concepts that include principles of sexual counselling, teaching and counselling theory, as well as growth and development issues

• Role implementation issues that include principles of leadership, change theory, research guidelines, and reimbursement issues are also included

• Students will also complete 160 clinical hours in GNUR 6383 at a reputable medical institution.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be eligible to sit for the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing certification from the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board.

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) began certifying nurses as far back as 1978 as a way of recognizing and differentiating the value of expert nurses from those at an entry level. Becoming Board Certified is a voluntary process that requires consistent and periodic evaluation of a nurse’s current professional skills and knowledge.

WOCNCB certified nurses are fundamental members of the health care team, who:

• Accurately assess patients and provide critical documentation
• Develop strategies to prevent complications
• Implement cost-effective, evidence-based plans of care
• Guide the selection and use of cost-effective DME goods and pharmaceutical formulas and methods of preparation
• Provide comprehensive education to patients as well as medical, nursing and auxiliary staff
• Train, coach and advocate for patients and their families

A survey conducted by the American Board of Nursing Specialties reported that nurse managers expressed a preference for hiring certified nurses due to their documented experience and proven knowledge base and in a given specialty. This survey also indicated that certification is perceived as influencing growth, specialized knowledge, accomplishment, accountability, and a level of recognition among peers, consumers and employers.

Advanced Practice Certification

WOCNCB offers Advanced Practice certification exams in wound, ostomy and continence nursing. This certification validates that you have passed a national exam that accurately reflects the skill and knowledge as required by the specialty. Certification can be gained in one, two or all three of the wound, ostomy or continence specialties.
In order to be eligible to take the WOC Certification Exams, you must complete the following:

• Hold current Registered Nurse licensure
• Be in possession of a bachelor’s degree

Fulfill either of the following educational and clinical practice requirements:

Traditional Pathway
You must have completed a WOCN Society accredited WOC Nursing Education Program within the last five years.

Experiential Pathway
You must have completed the experiential pathway, which means that you have completed the required 50 contact hours or equivalent in college course work, post-bachelor’s degree, per specialty, within the last 5 years. This pathway also requires that you have completed a minimum of 1,500 clinical hours within the past 5 years, with 375 of those hours being completed within the past year.

Types Of WOCNCB Certifications

There are various types of Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing, and the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board offers the following certifications:

• Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
• Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON)
• Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse – Advanced Practice (CWOCN-AP)
• Certified Wound Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (CWCN-AP)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (COCN-AP)
• Certified Continence Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (CCCN-AP)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse-Advanced Practice (CWON-AP)

Each of the above certification programs is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board provides a national certifying examination designed for entry level into the field for graduates of accredited educational programs. Although Board Certification is not compulsory, it is highly valued as a means of credentialing practitioners of wound ostomy continence nursing. Certification is valid for five years, after which re-certification may be obtained, either by re-examination or via the Professional Growth Program (PGP), which is based on a point system deduced from activities such as continuing education, publication, research, program or project development, involvement in professional organizations, teaching, and academic education.

It must be noted, however, that although certification is not required for wound ostomy continence nursing, employers do give preference to those who have received certification; it is proof-positive of their qualifications and skills as a wound ostomy continence nurse. Employers also see certification as serving to validate your commitment to leadership, excellence, evidenced-based and safe care in foot care and wound, ostomy, continence nursing. Certification ensures that a Registered Nurse is knowledgeable and more than qualified to provide specialized care.

Nursing Education Programs

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing programs are offered by the following institutions amongst others:

Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Education Center

• Onsite – A 10-week program; 6 weeks of on-site campus instruction and 4 weeks of clinical preceptorship
• Split-option – A 6-week program with didactic on-campus, plus Precepted clinical instruction in your own geographic area
• Distance learning – Self-study modules completed at your own pace, plus 40 hours of precepted hours for each clinical focus

Wicks Educational Associates – Harrisburg Area WOC Nursing Education Program

• A split-option – Consists of 4 Weeks of didactic instruction (onsite) plus 160 hours of clinical instruction in your geographical area or in the region where the class is held
• A Home Study Program – Consisting of Four Home Study Modules plus 160 hours of clinical instruction in your geographical area

La Salle University School of Nursing

• Split Option – Consisting of weekly classes held onsite at Philadelphia campus with off site clinical preceptorships near to where you live
• Online Distance Learning – Consists of web-based distance learning classes plus three clinical immersion days in Philadelphia per course and off-site clinical preceptorships following the two required courses

School of Nursing University of Virginia Graduate Program in WOC Nursing

• On-site and individually selected sites – 3 Graduate Level courses that may be taken as electives for master’s in nursing programs or taken as a post-Master’s certificate. MSN student pursuing a CNS or ACNP may choose to focus on WOC as their area of specialization. The program can be completed within 12 months.

WebWOC Nursing Education Program

• Online Distance Learning – Online didactic coursework for a Full Scope of practice; delivered over one semester (14 – 15 weeks) including weekly live online classes. Single and Dual Scopes may be completed in a shorter time-frame

There are also other institutions of learning that offer ostomy programs or wound care programs, and wound treatment programs separately, either on-site or via distance learning.
Remember that licensing requirements vary from state to state, so it is incumbent upon you to find out whether the certification is acknowledged in the state in which you intend to practice. Contact your State Board of Nursing to ascertain what their requirements are for Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification.

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A rehabilitation nurse works with two types of patients:

• Patients who have a chronic illness that restricts their activity
• Patients who have suffered a severe injury

The primary duty of the rehabilitation nurse is to help those patients recover from their ailment and reach their full potential. This is achieved by working closely with the patient and the patient’s family to create a plan for recovery involving short- and long-term goals. The aim is to help the patient achieve the maximum amount of independence possible. Because you are likely to spend long periods of time with the same patient, you will have the opportunity to form lasting bonds with each person who comes under your care.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

Although there are a wide variety of different tasks involved in being a rehabilitation nurse as there are many overlaps with general nursing, the three main duties that set this specialty apart are as follows:

• Your primary role will be to show patients how to adapt to temporary, or permanent, disabilities. This has a practical/physical as well as psychological dimension.

• There are a number of rehabilitation challenges that must be faced and overcome in the process, so one of your main duties will be to prepare the patient as well as the patient’s family for these challenges.

• Above all your duty as a rehabilitation nurse is to help your patient return to his or her daily life as it was before the illness or injury occurred. Although this cannot always be achieved, it is still a goal worth striving towards.

Employment

When it comes to employment as a rehabilitation nurse, there are a number of options available to you. The most common places for a rehabilitation nurse to be employed in are:

• Rehabilitation facilities
• Home healthcare agencies
• Long-term acute care or sub acute care facilities

Rehabilitation Nurse Requirements

As with any advanced nursing specialty, there are several requirements that one must meet in order to become a rehabilitation nurse. To begin with you must earn the appropriate degree, namely a Nursing Diploma, Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Then you must get a position as an entry level rehabilitation nurse. This can be done by taking courses in rehabilitation or getting an internship at a rehabilitation facility. The next step involves successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) that will allow you to work as a registered nurse (RN). At this point you have two options:

• You can either work as a Registered Nurse for at least two years in rehabilitation nursing, or
• You can receive one year rehabilitation nursing experience and one year of advanced study.

The next step involves getting your rehabilitation nurse certification from the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB) through the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN), which will, finally, allow you to be a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN). This will need to be renewed at set intervals.

Personality Traits

The main personality traits that are desirable in this line of work are:

• Patience: This is a trait that is desirable in all nurses, including rehabilitation nursing. Note: patients in rehabilitation programs are often uncooperative or feel like giving up.
• Flexibility
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Patient and family education: As it is your responsibility to educate patients and their families on homecare strategies, a natural ability to teach others will be very helpful in this line of work.
• Innovative thinking

In addition to the above, physical fitness is also a desirable trait to have as you will need to actively work with patients on a daily basis.

Educational Requirements

To be a rehabilitation nurse you will need to be an RN with either an associate’s degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Although both will allow you to work towards the goal of being a rehabilitation nurse, it is important to note that employers tend to be more interested in hiring nurses that have a bachelor’s degree, as more advanced qualifications often indicate more advanced skill sets. Consequently, if you have the opportunity to freely choose which degree you will do, a bachelor’s degree in nursing is the better educational goal to strive towards.

Licensure

In order to become a rehabilitation nurse you must pass the NCLEX-RN examination, which is the licensing examination that all Registered Nurses, or RNs, in the United States must take before they can practice in this capacity. You will not be able to become a rehabilitation nurse if you only hold a licensed practical nurse (LPN) license. Licensure is earned in the following way:

• Firstly you need to enroll in an accredited nursing program in your area that will allow you to become an RN

• Once you have completed this program, you must apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing

• Once your eligibility for licensure has been confirmed by the Board, you will set an examination date with Pearson VUE, the company that administers the NCLEX-RN

• Your State Board of Nursing will inform you in due course whether or not you are licensed

• Licensure must be renewed on a regular basis

How To Become A Rehabilitation Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

There are a number of advancement opportunities available to nurses who pursue a career in rehabilitation nursing. You could, for example, go on to become a case manager, a researcher, an educator, a nurse practitioner, or a clinical specialist, each of which comes with an increase in responsibilities as well as in pay. In addition, there are subcategories of rehabilitation nursing that you could choose to specialize in. For example, you could specialize in cardiac rehabilitation where you would be responsible for assisting patients in recovering from heart-related conditions and surgical procedures.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is extremely important that you complete your undergraduate nursing training through an accredited program. You will be unable to take the NCLEX-RN examination if it is not accredited. You can confirm the accreditation status of a school in the following ways:

• The school itself should provide you with this information, but their claims should always be confirmed just to be safe.

• Nurses who are currently employed in health care facilities must have completed training at an accredited school, and can therefore point you in the right direction.

• The third and most reliable method for ascertaining the accreditation status of a school is to enquire with your State Board of Nursing. The Board often provides a list of accredited program in your state on their website, and you can also ask them about a specific school that you are interested in.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

Although a bachelor’s degree is usually preferred, and often even required, before a nurse can become certified in rehabilitation, it is possible to earn an associate’s degree as a stepping stone to achieving your career goals. An associate’s degree will allow you to work as an RN and gain experience in general or rehabilitation nursing. When considering associate degree programs, make sure that you apply for more than one option as this will greatly improve your chances of being accepted. Have a clear understanding of what you are personally and practically looking for in an associate’s degree program as this will make your final decision easier when it comes time to enroll. By meeting all of the course requirements, both theoretical and clinical, you will earn an associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In order to become a rehabilitation nurse you will need to become certified. This is done through the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB) of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN). In order to qualify for certification you must first become an RN and then work for two years in a rehabilitation setting as a registered nurse in an entry level position. Alternatively, you can elect to gain only 1 year of experience, provided you also complete a one year advanced training program in rehabilitation nursing. For more information about this certification, please contact the RNCB:

Rehabilitation Nurses Certification Board
(800) 229-7530
(847) 375-4710
E-mail: cert@rehabnurse.org

Online/Distance Education Programs

While searching for nursing programs you may notice that there are several online and distance education schools offering tuition of this kind. Provided that you make arrangements to complete your clinical training through another facility or school, online programs can alleviate your burden in two key ways:

• You will not have to compromise your current job in order to study, and your time will generally be more flexible
• These programs are often far cheaper than traditional classroom-based learning options

As with traditional schools, it is important that you check the accreditation status of any online school that you are interested in. Generally speaking, it is better to enroll in a school that also offers traditional face-to-face classes, or one that makes provisions for your clinical training by being affiliated with a health care institution of some kind. Overall, you need to be more careful as there are, unfortunately, several dishonest online nursing schools out there that will waste your time as well as your money should you enroll in them.

Job Outlook

The nursing profession is one that is, and always has been, on the increase regarding the number of jobs that are available in the field. This is due in large part to technological advancements in medicine, allowing more illnesses and injuries to be treated by medical professionals, and an increasing emphasis on preventative care, a role that nurses are able to fill easily. As a result any career in nursing has excellent employment prospects for the future. In addition to clinical practice, rehabilitation nurses also have the opportunity to fill roles in education, increasing their job prospects considerably. As rehabilitation nurses are required to undergo basic nursing training during their undergraduate program, they are also, therefore, eligible to seek employment in other nursing settings where specialization in a certain area is not a requirement and where they will be able to engage in general health care. As a rehabilitation nurse, all of your bases will be covered and you will have numerous employment opportunities. According to allnursingschools.com:

“There is not only a need for rehabilitation nurses in the athletic and progressing senior citizen populations, but also in the everyday people population—full of people recovering from injuries and surgeries”.

Earnings

According to simplyhired.com the average salary that you can expect to earn as a rehabilitation nurse is $52,000 a year. If you compare this to related occupations you will soon realize that it is not a bad salary at all:

• A registered nurse only earns about $50,000 a year (on average)

• A nurse practitioner, who has a master’s degree and is therefore far more advanced than a rehabilitation nurse, only earns about $8000 more a year than a rehabilitation nurse at $60,000

• A nurse manager, who is in charge of a number of other nurses, earns only $6000 more on average than a rehabilitation nurse at $58,000 a year

• A physician or doctor earns less than double of what a rehabilitation nurse is eligible for on an annual basis at about $102,000

Rehabilitation nursing is one of the specializations in nursing that do not require advanced education in the form of a master’s degree. The salary that you will be eligible to earn once you have sought certification in rehabilitation nursing is worth the effort that you put in. In addition, there are several advanced career opportunities that you could pursue after becoming a rehabilitation nurse. Each of these come with salary increases as well as professional respect. This line of work is suitable for patient people who are willing to devote long periods of time to assisting the same patient achieve his or her rehabilitation goals.

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