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Is Nursing for You? If you're looking for a healthcare career that offers unlimited opportunities, a nursing career awaits you. Nursing has been identified as one of the hottest careers in the coming decades with the creation of 561,000 new jobs expected by 2010. As the population ages and the demand for healthcare increases, the need for nurses will continue to grow. Right now in Vermont and the rest of the nation, we are facing a nursing shortage. If you want a position that's intellectually challenging; if you want the opportunity to work with people and technology; if you're looking for a competitive salary and lots of career options; if you want to make a difference in people's lives... Be a nurse. One of life's heroes. There's never been a better time to think about becoming a nurse. Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): A CRNA is responsible
for interviewing, assessing and evaluating a patient for anesthesia
before surgery. The CRNA prepares and administers the anesthesia
so that the patient will have a pain-free operation. The CRNA constantly
monitors the patient's vital signs during surgery and continues
to monitor the patient following surgery for a period of time. This
role is highly specialized. Education: Master of Science in Nursing
plus special certification. Starting salary: $35.00 per hour. Critical
Care Nurse: This nurse provides care for critically ill
patients in a highly technical environment and supports the family
during the crisis. The critical care nurse evaluates the need for
resources and recommends referrals as indicated. This role requires
specialized training and the ability to assess and recognize subtle
changes in a patient's condition. Education: Bachelor of Science
in Nursing. Starting salary: $22.00 per hour. Emergency
Department/Trauma Center Nurse: An ER nurse is responsible
for the care of patients of all ages with a benign or an acute critical
illness, such as a heart attack. This type of care and environment
requires quick thinking, and excellent communication and physical
assessment skills. RNs in this environment use a triage process
to establish priority setting. Education: Bachelor of Science in
Nursing. Starting salary: $23.00 per hour. Forensic
Nurse: This nursing role integrates clinical nursing,
law enforcement investigation/interviewing, and counseling skills.
Education: Master of Science in Nursing plus special certification.
Starting salary: $26.00 per hour. Home
Health Nurse: A home health (or visiting) nurse provides
periodic care to patients within their home environment. This role
requires the ability to work independently. Education: Associate’s
Degree in Nursing (bachelor’s degree preferred). Starting salary:
$17.00 per hour. Information
Technology/ Web Based/Informatics: Technology is a major
aspect of hospital operations and patient care. Nurses are increasingly
using more sophisticated equipment and a fundamental knowledge base
in computer use is an expected requirement. By being involved in
software development, program analysis and system management, the
nurse informatist will be in a position to bridge the gap between
clinical information and computer programmers. Labor
& Delivery Nurse: Registered nurses in this area
use professional judgment, critical thinking, and fast decision
making skills. They care for women who are in labor, have complications
of pregnancy or have recently delivered. They work closely with
patients, families, and other health care professionals. L&D
registered nurses work with each mother and baby and develop an
individualized plan of care. L&D registered nurses collaborate
with physicians and other health care providers to provide the best
plan of care for each patient. Education: Associate’s Degree
in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Starting salary: $22.00
per hour. Long
Term Care Nurse: This nurse focuses on the unique
requirements of elderly and physically challenged clients who may
be receiving care in freestanding rehabilitation hospitals, hospital-based
skilled nursing facilities, subacute units, long term care facilities,
residential care facilities, home health agencies, private and agency
clinics, and governmental agencies. Long term care nurses help their
clients achieve their optimal level of physical, mental, and psychosocial
well-being regardless of their age or functional limitations. Education:
Associate's Degree in Nursing (certified as RN with 2 to 4 years
clinical experience). Median salary: $41,890.* Neonatal
Nurse: Neonatal nurses may work in neonatal intensive
care units taking care of acutely ill neonates and premature infants
or in mother-baby or newborn nurseries taking care of healthy newborns.
Education: Associate’s Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science
in Nursing. Starting salary: $22.00 per hour. Nurse
Administrator/Executive: The nurse executive assumes
a role in developing the strategic plan, forecasting, and budgetary
process for an organization such as a nursing home. The role is
responsible for aligning the nursing department goals with those
described in the mission and vision of the organization. Education:
Master of Science in Nursing, Ph.D., D.Sc.N. Median salary: $107,822.*
Nurse
Practitioner:
The Nurse Practitioner has advanced skills and knowledge in performing
physical and psychological patient assessment. The role requires
expert clinical interviewing skills to facilitate data collection
and accurate problem labeling. The nurse practitioner orders diagnostic
exams, prescribes medication, and has a practice or caseload. This
role requires advanced study and certification. Education: Master
of Science in Nursing. Starting salary: $27.00 per hour. Nurse
Researcher: A nurse researcher contributes to the Science
of Nursing, sometimes collaborating with other disciplines such
as medicine, social science, or pharmacy. The nurse collects clinical
data through the use of scientific methods, analyzes the results
and draws a conclusion/recommendation. Education: Ph.D. Starting
salary: $45,000 (9-month contract). Operating
Room Nurse: An OR nurse provides care for a patient immediately
before, during, and after a surgical procedure. The nurse works
closely with the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist to monitor
the patient's vital signs, warmth and safe positioning. The OR nurse
also prepares the operating room with supplies, equipment, and instruments,
and serves as the communication liaison to family, other departments,
and members of the operating team. Education: Bachelor of Science
in Nursing. Starting salary: $22.00 per hour. Orthopedic
Nurse: An orthopedic nurse manages the care of patients
before and after surgery involving the muscular skeletal system
such as total hip replacement, arthroscopy, total knee replacement,
or spine surgery. In this role, the nurse monitors traction, splint/cast
care, and other orthopedic equipment. Education: Associate’s
Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Acute Care.
Starting salary: $19.00 per hour. Pediatric
Nurse: A pediatric nurse provides care for infants, toddlers,
children, teens, and encourages the involvement of parents/family.
The nurse develops a plan of care to meet the specific growth and
development and cultural needs of the patient and family. The pediatric
nurse may work in a variety of settings and may have specialized
training. For example, a setting may be a well baby or teen clinic
and a specialty may be pediatric critical care. Education: Associate’s
Degree in Nursing. Starting salary: $19.50 per hour. Public
Health Nurse/Community Nurse: Care decisions in this
role are focused on the community at large with a goal of improving
the overall health of the community. This role focuses primarily
on disease prevention, health promotion and wellness/health education.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Starting salary: $19.50
per hour. School
Nurse: The school nurse develops and supports age-specific
programs for a student body. This role serves as a resource and
liaison to parents, teachers, and students and provides limited
care on site/campuses for students. The school nurse maintains immunization/health
records and provides a forum and supportive environment to discuss
concerns and provides information on healthcare or potentially sensitive
issues. Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Starting salary:
$15.00 per hour. Telemetry/Cardiac
Care Nurse: This role provides care for patients
requiring special heart monitoring equipment and the administration
of heart medications. Education: Associate’s Degree in Nursing
or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Starting salary: $19.00 per hour. Travel
Nurse: A travel nurse negotiates and accepts temporary
patient care assignments with a travel nurse agency/registry within
the United States or internationally. Education: Associate’s
Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Starting salary:
hourly rate plus room and board. *Median salary based upon national averages adjusted by geographic salary differentials as calculated with Salary Wizard tool at NurseWeek.com. Text presented here was adapted based on information from the Web site: www.choosenursing.com. |
(C) 2002, Office
of Nursing Workforce Research, Planning and Development
School of Nursing, University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405, phone 802-656-0023