Health Field

» cachetb - Qualifications for a nursing career

Good afternoon reader on the other side of the computer. My name is cachet brown and im interested in RN Nursing. so there is a couple of questions i would like to ask you. first let me start by saying in order to become a RN Nurse what is the qualifications.

-- posted by cachetb

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» Kathy Quan - Qualifications for a nursing career

In response to Qualifications for a nursing career posted by cachetb:

Hi Cachet. You can find some more information about a career in nursing in my new article. Here's the link: http://healthfieldmedicare.suite101.com/...

Good luck to you!!!

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» diana16 - Qualifications for a nursing career

In response to Qualifications for a nursing career posted by cachetb:

hello kathy this is diana...well iam doing a research paper on nursing for school...and i just want to ask you ..what is a typical day at your job?...what is your best part of the day? what would be the most challenging part?....i would really
appreciated...thank you very much for your time:D

-- posted by diana16

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» Kathy Quan - Qualifications for a nursing career

In response to Qualifications for a nursing career posted by diana16:

The latest position as a nurse was in management and that isn't going to answer your questions for this paper. So I'll think back to my days as a field nurse in home health...

In a typical day I would see 6-8 patients in their homes for various reasons. Some had wounds that needed dressing changes, some were diabetics who needed instruction in how to self-inject insulin, test their blood sugars and follow a prescribed diet and exercise. Some had recently had surgery and needed instruction in post-op care and recovery at home. Sometimes I saw patients who had a new medical diagnosis or were on new medications that they needed some instruction in and assessment to be sure they were taking them as directed.

Most of my job as a home health nurse was to teach patients how to care for themselves, or a family member how to assist them.

After seeing each patient I had a lot of paperwork to do. I had to chart all of my observations and the teaching I did as well as any procedures I did such as the dressing changes.

If something had changed I had to call their doctor to report it. I also had to call doctors routinely to give a status update. We also had more paperwork which involved writing any new orders, documenting communication with the physician or other team members such as the home health aides, therapists, social workers, etc. And we had to write summary reports for the physician every 60 days.

I enjoyed the hands on care and interacting with most patients. Sometimes they could be rude or uncooperative, but mostly they were all receptive of my purpose for being there. The paperwork is sometimes redundant and it can be quite time consuming. That part I don't like. It's necessary, and I always tried to be thorough, but it wasn't the best part of my days.

I also detest having to speak with physicians who are rude and arrogant! Most of them aren't, and are grateful for the nurse's assistance with their patients.

The most challenging things could be convincing stubborn patients to comply with their medications, diet, exercise. It can also be very challenging to teach some patients how to perform necessary components of their care such as injections.

I hope this helps!
~Kathy

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» desmondriep - Nursing Questions

I am interested in a Nursing Career but before I get into it I have a few questions. What is the most challenging part of the job? What are the qualifications? What are the disqualifying factors? How long does it take to obtain a LPN license? What is the starting salary for an LPN?
I want to thank you, in advance, for your response to this inquiry.

-- posted by desmondriep

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» Kathy Quan - Nursing Questions

In response to Nursing Questions posted by desmondriep:

Nursing is challenging in many aspects. It is physically challenging because you can spend 8-12 hours a day on your feet physically assisting people who need from little or no physical assistance to those who are totally dependent on others.

It is emotionally challenging because nurses have a strong desire to help others and many are in such need that no one can possibly help them enough. Nurses have to learn to accept the fact that they cannot solve all of the ills and injustices for their patients.

Sick people are not at their best. They are often cranky, irritable, impatient and sometimes downright nasty. Usually this is because they are scared and frightened. They feel helpless and alone. And they don't like to have to ask for or accept help from others.

Saying thank you or showing appreciation for what nurses do is not something foremost in their minds. Nurses have to learn how to make their own rewards and to replenish themselves when they have given all that they have to give. This is not an easy task.

Sick people need care 24/7 and that includes weekends and holidays.

LPN programs take about 12-18 months to complete and then you have to take the NCLEX-PN to prove that you have the education and skills to be an LPN. LPN's make an average of $35,000 per year in full time employment.

Read more about LPNs here: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm

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