In our fast-paced, always-on culture, healthcare is one of the most important services we provide. Without it, many diseases and disorders would go unchecked until they became unmanageable. Everyone deserves the right to receive quality care regardless of their socioeconomic status.
The problem with healthcare today is that it’s not accessible to everyone and those who do have access often find themselves paying out of pocket or having debt they didn’t anticipate as a result of paying for care from an insurance company that doesn’t cover everything in every situation.
Even the pharma and insurance companies are under pressure to change because of their out-of-control costs.
The nursing profession is at a crucial juncture because of this, and we need more people choosing to go into nursing education, not fewer. If we don’t do something, it will be too late.
Behind the Scenes of Nursing Teams: What does it take to be a Successful Nurse?
In a slow and deliberate way, nurse practitioners have to have the patient at the top of their concerns. Being a nurse is about more than just treating symptoms.
The nurse practitioners’ “authentic approach” to caring for people is sometimes contrasted with the doctors’ “white coat” or authoritarian attitude. This authentic approach asks patients about their symptoms and listens to them carefully. It relies on the patient’s experience rather than the doctor’s authority.
Being a nurse will always be a gender-neutral profession, but it’s important that we remember that there are gendered power relations that inform how we work with patients and how we care for them.
Why Nurse Practitioners Should Be More Empathetic to Others’ Needs
A recent study, “Feminist Care Theory and Empathy in Compassionate Health Care,” found that empathy is just as important as knowledge, as it is a form of communication.
It helps a patient or client to better understand and accept healthcare, which has been shown to decrease mortality rates by increasing the chances of patients accepting prescribed treatments.
It’s also been shown that the more empathetic you are, the better you’ll be able to handle conflicts with your patient or client.
Nurses Can Change the System to Be More Effective in Patient Care
Nurses can change the system’s current inefficiencies to become more effective in the delivery of patient care.
This will save costs for hospitals and patients so that we can help more patients, not just the ones who have private insurance.
Nurses are at a crucial juncture because changes must be made to hospital policy, which should reflect the needs of patients. Nurses need to take action in order for this to happen. They need to educate others about why it’s important to care for people with empathy and respect regardless of their ability to pay or where they fall on society’s scale.
Healthcare is one of the most important services we provide.
Without it, many diseases and disorders would go unchecked until they became unmanageable. Everyone deserves the right to receive quality care regardless of their socioeconomic status.
As we said above, the problem with healthcare today is one of access: many people don’t have access to healthcare, and those that do often have to pay exorbitant prices out of pocket, ending up with huge amounts of medical debt.
What are the Different Types of Nursing Careers?
Everything from working in an urban hospital to providing nursing care on a space station counts as a nursing career. The possibilities are endless and, as we have seen, the needs of those in all walks of life will never go away – no matter what kind of advancements in technology we develop.
Nurses may not be revered as they should be, but their work will be needed for generations to come. There are four main types of nursing careers for those wanting a degree in nursing or a career as a nurse: generalist, pediatric, geriatric, and psychiatric-mental health.
Nurse Education Requirements
If you want to study to become a nurse, there are still state and federal laws around nurse education requirements.
In most states, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in order to become licensed. Some states require clinical experience or an internship, not just a degree.
If you’re planning on registering for classes this fall, be sure to check with your state’s board of nursing to see if your education requirements align with the national standards.
When you’re planning out your nursing education, it’s best to plan ahead and complete a course such as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) first because the program may take two years instead of five years, depending on whether you decide to go for an online or in-person study course.
Once you have completed your basic nursing training, you will be able to specialize and do further courses to further your career. Programs like the BSN to FNP masters are an excellent example of this; click here to learn more.
What are the Best Jobs for Nurses in Today’s Market?
The truth is that there are so many nursing jobs out there that it’s hard to count them all. However, there are some available in specific areas where the need for nurses is greater than anywhere else.
The best nursing jobs out there right now have few requirements to enter and have a lot of room for advancement. Nurse managers, registered nurse practitioners, and nurse’s aides are all in high demand because of the rising numbers of patients and the rise in aging demographics.
If you love nursing and want to be able to make a difference for patients in your community, there are plenty of nursing positions out there. So, why not get started?
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner is a registered professional who provides comprehensive primary care to patients. They provide comprehensive primary care to patients by administering treatments, performing examinations, monitoring therapy programs, and following up with new issues.
All states require a nurse practitioner to have a master’s or Doctoral degree in nursing.
Some training programs are more intensive than others; some of the more advanced programs take two years to complete. Most programs do not grant a “certificate” but grant a master’s degree upon completion.
Nurse Specialization Is Changing Healthcare
Nurse specialization is changing the landscape of nursing. Caring for patients with a whole-body approach has become a new trend for nurses and many other professions. Instead of only caring for a patient’s physical needs, it is now about making the patient feel special and moving them through their care as you would with any other patient.
The idea behind this is that human nature has always been to give one’s full attention and care to each concern they have in life. This reasoning is what leads to physicians and nurses working together because patients feel comfortable when they are cared for by both professionals.
The Road To Specialization
To specialize as a nurse, you must have a BSN. Then, you will be able to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become licensed in your state.
Once you are licensed, the next step is to explore the different options available for specialized care. Nursing schools are almost always good resources for finding information about advanced degree programs that can help you with this process.
The nursing major is expanding drastically and has become more about humanity than anything else. The way we care for people who need our help is changing as more studies point to how isolation and poor physical health impact our ability to focus on other things.
Instead of only caring for the immediate needs of the patient, nurses are now able to focus on their emotional stability and improve their quality of life. As an example, this type of attention was once reserved for senior care centers, but it’s now being offered to everyone regardless of age.
Career Options in Nursing
There are a variety of career options open to nurses. Some specialized careers include:
Family Nurse Practitioner
FNPs work with patients of all ages, including children. They provide treatment for patients with medical problems such as:
- Bringing patients up to date on their medications
- Blood pressure checks
- Infectious disease screening and education (when possible)
- Preventative care in the form of physicals, immunizations, and flu shots (when possible)
- Emotional support to deal with the needs of an ailing patient at home.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
CRNAs are healthcare professionals who specialize in providing anesthesia care. They assess patients’ health and administer care before, during, and after surgery. CRNAs work in hospitals, outpatient settings, and surgical settings.
The Duties of CRNAs
- Collect information about a patient’s health history.
- Administer anesthesia to the patient during and after surgery, including the administration of pain medication.
- Medical tattooing and minor laceration repair are some examples of procedures CRNAs can perform under a physician’s supervision.
Certified Nurse-Midwife
A nurse-midwife is a registered professional with advanced training in providing primary care to pregnant women of all ages. They specialize in the full range of reproductive healthcare services including:
They provide primary care to women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, including:
- Prenatal care for women of all ages.
- Delivery for low-risk pregnancies.
- Medical services to pregnant women in remote areas or places where there are few resources.
- Labor and delivery preparation.
- Pregnancy health checks.
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse (PMHNP)
A P/MHNP is a registered professional offering comprehensive and integrated physical and healthcare to adult patients with psychiatric illnesses, mental health disorders, and addiction problems.
A nurse working in mental health can offer the following services:
- Assess patients’ mental and emotional needs
- Provide counseling to patients diagnosed with mental illness
- Deal with patients who have tried suicide
- Work with law enforcement and criminal justice systems to help better understand mental illness and its treatment.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
A PNP is a registered professional specializing in the treatment of children. They treat children of all ages ranging from newborns to teens with common medical problems.
They make sure children receive:
- Immunizations, such as those against influenza, measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Child health checks.
Oncology Certified Nurse
A nurse working in oncology is a registered professional qualified to provide comprehensive care for patients with cancer and blood disorders.
They specialize in the following services:
- Helping patients with their emotional needs, such as understanding the effect of their illness on family members and how they might better cope with their disease; this care is provided both during treatment and after treatment has ended.
- Provide pain management during treatment, including talking to patients about how they can control their pain, if possible.
- Cancer prevention and education through check-ups and screenings for potential underlying factors of cancer development.
Conclusion: How Nurses Can Proactively Shape their Future in Healthcare & Society
Nursing is a profession that will never cease to grow, and there will always be a demand for qualified nurses. It has been around for thousands of years and has evolved drastically.
The profession is changing to include more advanced and specialized care, almost like a human services degree. Having nurses in different areas as health providers is a good thing for society and healthcare. Some jobs may not seem as “hands on” as other medical professions, but they are still important components of healthcare.
Nurses take care of patients’ needs and can change the lives of many people, whether it’s through difficult circumstances or simply providing routine check-ups so a patient with a heart condition can live longer.
The nursing profession covers all kinds of areas, whether it’s being a special-needs nurse or a psychiatric nurse – they all take care of patients.
With all the different jobs a nurse could do, they are still patient-centered and are there to help people feel better while making sure they take care of themselves.
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