CAREER PAPER
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Introduction
I have always had a passion for venturing into the medical field. The dream is actualizing, as very soon, I will be a Registered Nurse, RN. Registered Nurses are one of the most sought-after individuals in the American employment market. Unlike other careers, this is more of a calling and designed for people that have a passion for assisting other people to achieve their healthcare wellness goals. I chose RN because I have a passion for assisting people on top of it as a window of opportunities. There is more to registered nursing than it sounds. In light of this, this paper is a presentation of a registered nurse’s health care career.
Job Description
Registered Nursing is a nursing level, the highest level to be specific (Poindexter, 2008). An RN has a wider scope within healthcare in that he can discharge his services in a healthcare facility, correctional facility, military base, nursing home, and clinics, among other avenues. Regarding this, the job description of an RN is dependent on the avenue he chooses to work in. For instance, an RN who works in a hospital works in a fast-paced situation; hence, he lacks irregular working hours. On the other hand, an RN who works in a physician’s office is not bound to fast-paced situations; hence, they will always have regular working (Mahffey, 2002). The commonality in all RNs is that their functions revolve around evaluating and recording the symptoms of a patient, helping surgeons during surgeries, dressing wounds, educating patients about taking care of themselves, indulging in lab works, designing patients’ treatment plans, evaluating patient’s recovery progress and supervising other nurses while discharging their duties (Poindexter, 2008). They are guided by the nursing code of ethics, making them make ethical decisions while attending to their responsibilities. The code of ethics guiding RN has five parts; Nurses and People, Profession, Practice, Colleagues, and Nursing, Education, and Research. These parts have 71 provisions that must be followed observed while on duty (Milstead, 2019).
Education Specifications
Becoming an RN requires one to fulfill several academic requirements. The competitive nature of this career makes it have bureaucratic requirements that ought to be fulfilled. The Miami Data College classifies Registered Nursing as a science program with 72 credits (Board of RN, 2019). Within the number of credits needed to pursue this course, 42 of these credits must be from the nursing curriculum. The exact academic requirements needed to pursue this program are an average GPA of 2.5, an A2 exam with the minimum score being 65. The final scorecard should also not have more than 3 Ds, Fs, or Ws (Higbie, 2010). Therefore, anyone who aspires to be an RN should study hard to beat all these requirements. It’s even easier than with the internet; all resources needed for studies can easily be accessed and utilized by the student. Many institutions within Miami offer this program; the Florida International University and Miami Dade College being some of them. It is a two-year program with estimated tuition fees being anything from $8500 to $9000. One can only become an RN after obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in RN (Board of RN, 2019)). This comes along with a license to practice in any healthcare institution.
Employment Opportunities
Registered Nursing opens a window of opportunities to an individual; the field has many opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job availability of RN would have grown by 15%. There is currently a shortage of nurses in the country; hence, any student who graduates with a BSN is immediately absorbed into the labor market (Aiken, Blendon & Rogers, 2017). There is a high demand for nurses, especially when the country is vehemently battling a global pandemic. Therefore, there is a job guarantee for every student who pursues and graduates with a degree in RN. Evidence that there is a high demand for Registered Nurses is the endless advertising of positions that needs to be filled in websites such as indeed.com and baptisthealth.net (Smith et al., 2013). An approximated 3500 positions for RN are advertised annually. This is higher than the number of students that graduate with a BSN. There is no specific salary for an RN, as this will always depend on the position one occupies. However, on average, an RN earns about $68000 annually. A more experienced RN like a Nurse Practitioner earns $107,460 annually, while a paramedic earns $32000 annually (Mee, 2007). This comes with other benefits like health insurance and further tuition. This field requires experience to be put in the earning bracket, mostly two years of practice. It is hard for fresh graduates as they first have to volunteer for a while to gain the needed experience; they get opportunities afterward.
Professional Activities
Many retired RN join nursing organizations, mainly to be part of the nursing convention, earn certification, and remain updated on nursing trends. In nursing, professional organizations are crucial because they foster a surrounding that enables nurses to establish a robust relationship with their clients. Some of these organizations are the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American Nurses Association at the Federal Level in the USA. Some of the state-level institutions in Miami are Florida Nurse Association. Continuing Nursing Education is also a vital program for RN. It helps them to advance their education once they become RNs. Even though not mandatory in all states, it is mandatory in Miami. An RN has to advance his education because it is the only way to have your license renewed.
Reflection
I believe that I still have a long way to cover to become an RN. I am striving to achieve balance in my professional life, family life, and studying life. However, I am still determined to achieve this goal. Currently, I am undertaking online classes at MDC. Online learning is more complicated than traditional learning because I have to cover a lot within a limited time. However, the thought that I’ll become a nurse someday gives me the determination to push harder. The life I have lived has equipped me with enough skills to become to accomplish what I aspire to become. This, together with my passion for helping people, is sufficient to make me successful. I believe in self-organization as the key to success. The fact that I can balance between studying life and other aspects of my life tells me that I can accomplish everything I want. Upon completion of studies, I’m hopeful that I shall secure an opportunity at Miami Cancer Institute.
People help other people differently; I believe that I was called to help through becoming an RN. The passion for becoming one was strong and inspired by the fact that I could positively influence many people suffering in our healthcare facilities. My goal, as stated, is to work at MCI. In the end, my goal extends beyond becoming an RN to being somebody that society looks up to.
References
Board of Registered Nursing. (, 2019). General Information: Nursing Practitioner Practice
Aiken, L. H., Blendon, R. J., & Rogers, D. E. (2017). The shortage of hospital nurses: A new perspective.
Higbie, J. K. (2010). Perceived levels of nurse educators’ attainment of NLN core competencies.
Mahaffey, E. (2002). The relevance of associate degree nursing education: Past, present, future. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 7(2), 11.
Mee, C. L. (2007). A closer look at nurses’ salaries. Nursing2019, 37, 8-10.
Milstead, Jeri A., ed. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Poindexter, K. A. (2008). Essential novice nurse educator role competencies and qualifications to teach in a pre-licensure registered nurse education program. Western Michigan University.
Smith, M., Wertheimer, A., & Fincham, J. (2013). Pharmacy and the US Healthcare System. Pharmaceutical Press.