The Profession Of Registered Nurses

Current literature continues to reiterate the indicators of a major shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The total RN population has been increasing since 1980, which means that we have more RNs in this country than ever before (Nursing Shortage). Even though the RN population is increasing, it is growing at a much slower rate then when compared to the rate of growth of the U.S. population (Nursing Shortage). We are seeing less skilled nurses “at a time of an increasingly aging population with complex care

The demand for full time nurses is continuing to boom in the global market (Buerhaus, Auerbach, & Staiger, 2009). However, the unfortunate shortage of nurses in the global scenario is undeniable (Hunt, 2009). The rate at which nurses are graduating from universities today does not sufficiently quench the ever growing demand for nursing professionals. The issue of providing an active replacement for the nurses who have left their respective organization continues to be a source of main concern for health care institutions.

There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster

“Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” There was a girl who had always wanted to become one of importance, education, and also a contributor in her community. She feels that this occupation will assist her in living comfortably, providing for her family, and will be something she will enjoy doing. The career of a Registered Nurse is a challenging and important career, because of the importance one holds within a community. The research will describe the career of a Registered Nurse, what is required to become a successful, and the impact this career has on society.

There will be a few challenges ahead for our healthcare system and the nursing profession: 1. The Aging Population- (baby boomers will be hitting retirement age). 2. Poverty-“the increasing numbers of disenfranchised people and pressure to limit health care expenditures will collide to create an intense values conflict for nurses of the future”. (Chitty & Black p.382) 3. Unhealthy Lifestyles- (obesity, tobacco use, lack of exercise, stress, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse). 4. Faculty and Student shortages- making nursing shortage worse. Nurses as

Registered nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, and make up the largest number of healthcare professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) “The employment rate for registered nurses is expected to grow by 16% between 2014 and 2024”. This is more than double the average rate of growth for a profession. The rapid growth rate can be attributed in part to better management of chronic diseases and the baby boomer generation. The growth in the nursing profession is paramount, however the demographics of the nursing population does not mirror the demographics of the population served.

Registered nurses have several duties and responsibilities that can range depending on the organization that they work for. Registered Nurse’s may be employed in physicians' offices, schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, clinics, and even in prison settings. They are responsible to provide direct care to patients that are done under the order and supervision of a licensed health professional. The licensed healthcare professionals include physicians, nurse practitioners or physician's assistants. The daily actions of an RN may include receiving a patient assignment, assessment of each patient, administering medications, attending to patient needs, facilitating patient, assisting the physician with bedside procedures, monitoring laboratory results, and monitoring for any changes in condition. While on the job they might also encounter heavy lifting of patients, exposure to bodily fluids, and large amounts of time on feet. The amounts of hours they work depend on where they work. For example, hospital-based nurses mostly work a total of 3 twelve-hour shifts per week while a office-based nurse usually works 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours.

The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must

In 1960, Virginia Avenel Henderson a nurse and a theorist in the same time, defined nursing, “the unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. And to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible”. It is a noble function and to be fulfilled at the highest levels, it takes time, patience and the devotion. When the number of people given this care is much lower than that of people who must receive the care, then a crisis occurs. The phenomenon is acute not only in America but all around the world. Even if the nursing is considered a meaningful work, the country is facing a nursing shortage that grows more with each passing year. Nursing shortages in America affect all parts of the health care delivery system.

Quintilian once said “It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.” I always loved helping people and I would turn on the television and look for shows related to nursing. “One Born Every Minute” was one of the few shows I watched on television that interest me and made me eager to want help with the birth of babies. This show captured the hardships and difficulty of giving birth and the experience of the procedure.

Globally, there is a declared nursing shortage. Countries across the world are scrambling to produce nursing graduates to fill the barren nursing

Over the years, the nursing profession has become a vital focus to the US health care system with emphasis on nurses’ crisis as being a future challenge with the new ACA reform. The nursing shortage have baffled the experts to recognize the gaps within the Health Care system by addressing the need of more training programs, educational leaders, increase of financial resources, work load of staff-patient ratio distribution and quality of care satisfaction (Sultz & Young,2014).

they also receive on the job training as education through trial and error while working

The health care issue that I have chosen to research is how we should address the shortage of nurses. I have chosen this topic because I work in a hospital and it is very difficult to recruit new nurses especially in specialized areas. Nurses in the workplace are the largest population of health care employees at 2.7 million nurses employed in the United States according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is almost double the nursing assistants employed at 1.4 million which is the second leading health care occupation in the United States. The nursing profession has the largest job growth from 2008 to 2018 with a total of projection of more than 581,500 new registered nurse positions to be created. It is also projected by 2025 to have a nursing shortage that will grow to more than 260,000 registered nurses (N.d.), Overview of BLS Statistics by Occupation, http://www.bls.gov/bls/occupation.htm

Hard work, knowledge, and interpersonal skills are some of the most important aspects that will directly impact the success of registered nurses (RNs) within the medical healthcare field. They are professionals that require an amount of comprehensive education and skills that are related to assessing, planning, and intervening to promote patient care (“The Nursing Process,” n.d.). In order to become RNs, associate degrees in nursing (ADN) must be earned from a state-approved training program. The programs may take up to two years to complete through community colleges, hospital-based programs, and/or career centers. As RNs are taking up more responsibility in the delivery and management of patient care, they must have a solid academic