SEPTEMBER HEALTH OCCUPATION OF THE MONTH
Registered Nurse
by Karen Koester
August 20, 2006
Nursing is the largest health care occupation. There are currently more than 2 million jobs for RN's in the work force today.
Nurses are in high demand do to
- increasing number of elderly patients
- more acutely ill patients
- an aging RN generation
- An increasing retirement rate in the RN work force
- a decline in the students going into the nursing profession
SKILLS: For an RN there are many skills used in a normal work day. Nurses work to care for the sick or injured. They must be able to care for the "whole person". Hands on work is a must and may include lifting, pushing and fine motor skill techniques. When caring for the patient, a RN must be able to perform the following skills;
- Vital Signs
- Administering medications
- IV maintenance
- Wound care and treatments
- Other skills depending on the department and facility
EDUCATION:
- High School Diploma
- Vocational Education Training/ CNA Course (required by some colleges)
- Community College or University
- RN Licensure Exam
- BSN degree if attending a university program
SALARY AND BENEFITS: The average salary for a starting RN is between $30,000.00-$40,000.00 depending on location, education and department. They may get paid vacation, health insurance, hire on bonuses and other benefits based on location and education.
JOB OUTLOOK: The job outlook for Registered Nurses is expected to be great. The rate of jobs for nursing is anticipated to grow faster than any other job throughout the year 2014. This is expected due to the fact that nursing is one of the largest work forces and the occupation is still growing. We will be looking to a new generation to fill these jobs.
