Nursing is a profession in which health care workers provide quality care to patients. Nurses work tirelessly to earn patients’ trust, administer their medications, monitor their treatment, and maintain paperwork for doctors to diagnose treatment plans.
Nursing is a very challenging and sensitive profession because the patient’s life depends on the primary care provided by the nurses. Some responsibilities of nurses may include:
- Take the complete history of patients and perform a physical examination.
- Administer medications and treat minor injuries and illnesses.
- Counseling the patient and providing education related to health promotions.
- Keep patients comfortable and ensure patients are well fed and hydrated.
- Maintain patient records.
The responsibilities may increase according to nurses’ education, degree, and designation.
Requirements to Pursue Nursing as a Profession
Health care workers who want to qualify to work as registered nurses and to develop advanced skills have to follow one or more of the following paths.
Basic Nursing Degrees
- Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Advanced Nursing Degrees
- Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Ph.D. in Nursing
Graduation is not enough in the nursing profession, so nurse job seekers must apply for nursing licensure. They have to pass the licensure test to prove their competency in the nursing profession, and it can be accomplished by studying for NCLEX. This test ensures that nurses are qualified to work in health care systems and hospitals in different states.
Study Tips for Nurses
Many study tips can help nurses manage work responsibilities, home, and nursing studies. It needs planning and time management.
Make a schedule to study daily
If you want to keep yourself less burdened and retain more information, commit to spending a little time on your nursing studies daily. Avoid delaying your assignments and focus on continuous learning.
Focus on Key Points Covered in Class
Many chapters are assigned by instructors every week, and it isn’t easy to read every word of these chapters. Instead of doing this, you can focus on key points explained and covered by the instructor in class daily. Highlight important headings, subheadings, and terminologies; you can manage your time and studies by focusing on these areas.
Form Connections with Fellow Students
Students who make connections with other students and study in groups daily can retain most of the concepts studied in class. It also provides moral support and improves performance. Group study improves online presentations and helps to stay on track.
Form Connections with Instructors
Interaction with instructors is beneficial whenever you get stuck and need advice. Reach out to your instructor to clarify the content through a short online video conference or email; it can help you understand the situation and resolve any course-related issues. Ask your teacher for feedback on assignments that helps you in further learning, and ask questions if anything is not clear. Make connections with faculty and take an extension on due dates of assignments if you have some valid reasons behind it.
Dedicated Study Space at Home
Designate a studying area you can focus and minimize distractions. The study space needs to be comfortable and well suited for your studying needs. You could set the table for yourself or a place some throw cushions, which can help activate your subconscious to study mode.
Follow Different Learning Strategies
If nursing students complete their theoretical course work and skip clinical assignments, it will affect the grip of clinical material during studies and ultimately affects their professional life. Nursing students should follow instructors regarding different learning strategies, complete clinical assignments, and use some virtual simulations. Search for videos on YouTube that give explanations of anatomy, physiology, histology, diagnosis, treatments, and diseases. Practice by doing a physical examination of friends and self-assessment by answering online questions related to nursing studies.
Employment Trends for Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Nurses
FNP nurses can apply their expertise in several environments as patients need assistance to manage their health.
Primary Care Center
In primary care centers, patients come for a few hours to discuss undiagnosed health concerns and take guidance for treatment plans. FNP nurses work there and build long-term relationships with patients in primary care centers.
Community Health Care Center
FNP nurses provide critical healthcare services to underprivileged populations with funds and offer education to community members regarding health maintenance and how to decrease the occurrence of diseases.
Ambulatory Care Center
In ambulatory care centers, patients are scheduled for short-stay procedures; usually, they go home within the same day after having advanced care. Nurses work in ambulatory care centers such as dialysis centers, dental practices, in-vitro fertilization clinics, and physiotherapy centers.
Hospice Care Center
Patients suffering from serious illnesses nearing the end of life can stay in hospice care centers to avail themselves of specialist medical services and maximize their comfort. Hospice services can be provided at the patient home. FNP nurses in hospice organizations need advanced practices because their role is crucial. They provide holistic care to patients suffering from deadly conditions.
Emergency Care Centers
Emergency care centers are a very important part of nursing practice as life is unpredictable. Illnesses or injuries requiring early action without delay can be treated in emergency care centers. FNPs offer walk-in care with immediate emergency treatments without consulting doctors’ offices.
Physicians’ Offices
FNPs work in private physicians’ offices to examine the patient physically and educate patients on maintaining good health and preventing diseases. They assist physicians regarding medication and other therapies.
Hospitals
FNPs are hired to provide specialty healthcare services in different departments like oncology, surgery, pediatric, eye, ENT, cardiology, neurology, dental, orthopedic, nuclear medicine, infectious diseases, etc. In hospitals, FNPs also temporarily work in place of physicians in case of physician shortage.
Schools and College Clinics
In school and college clinics, FNPs provide first aid to students and staff members if needed, counseling related to individual health, conduct medical screening tests, respond to campus medical emergencies, and administer immunization injections.
Six Benefits of pursuing a Family Nurse Practitioner Career
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) family nurse practitioner career is the fastest-growing Occupation. The job opportunities are better than other APRNs, such as nurse-midwives and nurse anesthetics.
- FNPs are used in team-based care models in hospitals to provide primary and specialty care. FNPs can be called on to help physicians provide care to patients of all ages.
- To jump from registered nurse to nurse practitioner is good for handsome salary growth.
- FNPs can provide healthcare to children and adults similar to physicians. Nurse practitioners can diagnose diseases, prescribe medications, and collaborate with physicians.
- FNPs can do their practice.
- These professionals make a remarkable difference in patients’ lives by providing exceptional primary care.
End Notes
The nursing profession allows the students to gain the skills and knowledge to provide care to acute and chronically ill patients. Nursing institutions prepare students to lead interdisciplinary teams designed to improve patient quality of care and enhance decision-making quality in crucial conditions.
