Navigating The Nursing Journey

Choosing a future career as a senior in high school can be a very difficult experience. Most times narrowing down career paths or even being decisive about one career can be very difficult for a young adult getting ready to step into the real world. As children, we always say that we would want to be this or that, but as time goes on and you start to mature, your decisions tend to change in the future. Now that the time has come to actually choose what you want to learn and study for your future career, it is very hard to do. Due to the fact that you are going to down this path, you have to be sure of what you want to do for yourself. It’s important to know about yourself and what you like to do in order to make your choice for the future. Things like what you are passionate about or what your favorite subject all come into play here when deciding what you want to do for your career. But the career path that I have chosen for myself is nursing. I want to become a future registered nurse. I am passionate about helping people in need. I want to be able to do something that involves helping people and I think that nursing is the perfect way of helping people because people need medical care all the time. This project is based on what it takes to become a nurse. It’s also about the education that you need to become a nurse and what nurses actually do to help people in need.

What is some history of black RN nurses? “In 1879, Mary Eliza Mahoney became the first black RN in the United States. She worked in healthcare institutions in low-level positions for more than a decade before finally entering a nursing program. The most recent National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses found that black RNs constituted only 4% of all RNs, even though blacks account for about 12% of the national population. And in 2008, Crain’s New York Business cited a study by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the State University of New York at Albany, which found that black nurses in New York City hospitals earned less than their white counterparts with the same experience and credentials. Black nurses interviewed by the newspaper indicated that they weren’t surprised by the findings” (Honoring Black Nurses By Catherine Alicia Georges).

What is nursing and what do they do to help people? Nursing is critical in maintaining a cutting-edge healthcare system. Responsibilities can range from making acute treatment decisions to providing inoculations in schools. Nurses mainly view the well-being of the patients. But being a nurse requires rigorous program of extensive education and study, and working directly with patients, families, and communities using the core values of the nursing process.

What is the average salary for a nurse? For a nurse, the average salary is ,450 for a registered nurse. But the salary can vary based on the location and the years spent in that field, so it can increase based on those factors alone, as well as the level of education you have achieved over the years. But due to the fact that I want to get my master's in nursing, the salary can increase with the amount of time and effort that is put into the career. I personally wouldn’t want to settle for the bare minimum so I plan to achieve a higher degree in nursing.

What are my plans to achieve my goals? My plan is to go to college at Morgan State University. Morgan State University, otherwise known as MSU for short, is located in Baltimore. Morgan's tuition is ,508 in-state and ,182 out-of-state. The average SAT score needed is a 990 and the GPA needed is a 3.0 to at least have a chance of being accepted into the school. The nursing program there was created in response to the shortage of nurses. The goal of Morgan's nursing program is to provide a quality nursing education that produces graduates who are well-equipped to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving healthcare system. After I get my degree at Morgan University, I plan to go back and get my master's. I want to be able to be financially stable, but I also want to move up in my career and possibly get my doctorate in the future after I get my master's.

What type of education could you pick and what are the levels of education to becoming a nurse? “Nursing students may choose from a variety of education options to become a registered nurse. Some teaching hospitals offer 3-year diploma programs in nursing; however, these programs are rare. Most RNs earn associate degrees or bachelor's degrees in nursing” (Study.com). The first degree that you get is an associate degree in nursing where you can go to community colleges or vocational colleges to get your degree. But getting this degree can take 2-3 years. You also have hands-on training in healthcare settings with classroom instructions so you are able to get the feel for what goes on for real. What are the common courses needed to become a nurse? The common courses that you take for this degree include adult and family health, psychiatric nursing, pharmacology, human development, anatomy, and physiology. The next step from the associate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It’s more comprehensive training. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs who hold diplomas or associate degrees tend to pursue bachelor's degrees later in their careers” (Study.com).

What is the next step for an associate degree? Bachelor of Science in Nursing typically takes 4 years to finish, but people who already have their license can speed up the process of getting the bachelor of science. “BSN programs focus on more advanced nursing methodology and clinical training, compared to lower-level degree programs. They also equip students with the administrative and critical thinking skills necessary for advanced positions in the field. Courses may include community health, leadership in nursing, healthcare management, nursing research, health assessment, and professional issues in nursing. After the bachelor of science, then comes the next degree which is the master of science nursing. Before you have your master's you have to have your bachelor's (BSN) first before you could go on. The master's requires you to advance on to becoming an advanced practice nursing. “A bachelor’s in nursing degree is a prerequisite for most MSN programs. You will also probably need to have an RN license, minimum GPA and GRE scores, and clinical experience in order to be accepted in a master’s in nursing degree program. This may sound like a lot of work and preparation” (allnursingschools.com).

What is the last degree after the (MSN)? The last but not the least degree that you get if you continue your education is your Doctoral Nursing degree. Completing your doctoral degree takes at least two to five years to complete. But if you really want to do that then getting this is for you. It’s not a must that you have to get your doctoral nursing degree to become a nurse. This is just taking your career to the next level like if you wanted to be the highest level of a nurse. Those that are really passionate about their work and want to go further on will do this but it's okay if you don’t do this either if those extra years of school are not for you. There are four different doctoral degrees. “Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Emphasis on clinical practice-oriented leadership training. Doctor of Nursing (ND): Focus is on developing advanced specialist skills. Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc): Focus is on investigative and research skills. Doctor of Nursing Philosophy (PhD): Emphasizes scholarly research and inquiry” (allnursingschools.com). There are many to choose from depending on the path that you want to take in the future.

What does a registered nurse personally do to help people and their communities? Registered nurses typically contribute in many different areas. RNs can be found in all arenas of healthcare. On the job, registered nurses perform a variety of functions. For example, they evaluate and record patient symptoms, help doctors during exams and surgeries, dress wounds and incisions, teach patients about self-care and healthy habits, perform lab work, review patient treatment plans and measure progress, and act as supervisors to some nurses. The exact duties an RN performs rely heavily on where they work. For example, RNs in hospitals are more likely to be in fast-paced situations with irregular hours whereas an RN in a doctor’s office is more apt to work a typical 40-hour week and work closely with regular patients (allnursingschools.com). They are like team players in the hospital to help people that are in need. “To improve the health of their congregation, nurses can start with a simple survey of health needs. Find out if other members are health professionals, and share the survey findings to see how they might help” (What RNs Can Do to Improve the health in their communities By Barry Ross).

What is happening to all the nurses today? The Future of Nursing report from the Institute of Medicine highlighted the need for better data on the number of working nurses (Counting Nurses, Nurse Counting By Donna Diers). It is also a good thing that I picked this career because the nurse count is dropping fast. There is not enough nurses in the medical field anymore. There is especially a decrease in male nurses in general.