WHAT NURSES DO

The nursing profession is both financially and personally rewarding. The decision to become a nurse is one that should not be taken lightly because it requires a lot of sacrifice, honesty, and commitment during and after the educational process. The word nurse means “to nourish”, so nurses are depicted as one who nourishes, protects, and take care of the sick, and injured. The American Nurses Association defines nursing as the promoting, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury.
There are many different types / level of nurses with different types of job responsibilities

Registered Nurses Education

Have associate in arts (2 years) or a Bachelors (4 years) degree. They have the following responsibilities: Perform physical exams and health histories, conduct research, direct, supervise, and coordinate care, administer medications, wound care, and interpret patient information.
Work setting
Registered nurses work in a variety of settings, hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory clinical, community health centers, schools, medical office, shelters, home health agencies, and prisons.

License Practical /Licensed Vocational Nurses

Have a certificate or a diploma which takes approximately 12 to 14 months. License Practical Nurses work under the supervision of the registered nurse, advance nurse practitioner, of the medical doctor and have the following responsibilities: administer medication, wound care, collect data, and assist the nurse in formulating plan of care.
Work setting
Licensed Practical Nurses work in the following setting: clinics, home health agencies, medical offices, nursing homes, and some hospitals.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Advanced practice registered nurses (ARNP) are RNs with bachelors who have a Master’s educational in the field of nursing. There are different principal types of ARNPs: NP, Certified nurse-midwife (CNM), Clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). The training for an advanced practice registered nurse is approximately 1 to 2 years.

Work setting
Nurse practitioner (NP) – Working in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, or private offices, nurse practitioners provide a wide range of primary and preventive health care services, prescribe medication, and diagnose and treat common minor illnesses and injuries.
Certified nurse-midwife (CNM) – CNMs provide well-woman gynecological and low-risk obstetrical care in hospitals, birth centers, and homes.
Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) – Working in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, private offices, and community-based settings, CNSs handle a wide range of physical and mental health problems. They also work in consultation, research, education, and administration.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) – The oldest of the advanced nursing specialties, CRNAs administer more than 65 percent of anesthetics given to patients each year.