What is Nursing?

Caring for the individual patient and her/his family

The Nursing Process
Nursing care focuses on distributing superior quality health care with maximum cost efficiency. This goal
requires the nurse to perform the following tasks:
assessment
diagnosis
outcome identification
planning
implementation
evaluation
Nurses assess the patient's condition by the observation, interview, and examination of the individual.
After collecting the data, the nurse analyzes the situation and generates a diagnosis. At this time,
potential physical and psychological problems are anticipated (outcome identification). Potentially high
risk patients must receive further consideration to prevent complications Next, the nurse plans the proper
intervention techniques. Implementation involves creating an environment conducive to healing, carrying
out the physician's suggested treatment, and counseling the patient to promote a timely recovery. Nurses
also recommend and confer with physicians on creating further treatment upon evaluating the patient's
recovery progress.
In advanced practice roles, nurses diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, order therapeutic
interventions and medications, perform some invasive procedures (i.e., suturing, intubation, central line
placement), and serve as case managers. As nurse administrators, they effectively manage health care
services, consult, and provide care management.
Degree Titles:

Diploma Degree in Nursing

Associate Degree in Nursing - ADN
Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing - BSN
Masters Degree in Nursing - MSN
Nursing Doctorate - ND
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - academic degree
Doctor of Nursing Science - DNSc - professional degree

Costs of Graduate Education (per year): ~$6,000 (tuition)

How many schools in the U.S.:
135 diploma programs
848 associate degree programs
501 baccalaureate programs
243 master's programs
65 doctoral programs
How many people in the U.S. are employed as nurses?
2.2 million registered nurses (RNs)

-of these 2.2 million, 300,000 nurses have certification in a specialty area of nursing
Starting salary: ~$17,000 for LVNs - Licensed Vocational Nurse
~$35,000 for RNs - Registered Nurse
~$60,000 for APNs - Advanced Practice Nurse
Job description: restoring and maintain good health, preventing ill health, and counseling the patient and
his/her family according to their biological, emotional, and cultural needs.
Work settings: hospitals
community health clinics
schools
physician offices
home setting
military
service organizations (Red Cross, Project Hope)
and much more
Opportunities:
CLINICAL - Pediatrics
- Maternity
- Operating Room
- Emergency Room
- Acute/Critical Care
- Geriatrics
- Primary Care
- Psychiatry
- and much more
home health
research
academic
education
administration
public health
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING
Nurse Practitioner Options
- Pediatrics
- Family
- Acute/Critical Care
- Geriatrics
- Oncology
MIDWIFERY
NURSE ANESTHESIOLOGIST
NURSING ADMINISTRATION
Description of the Field:
Nursing is a discipline comprising the largest group of health care professionals in the United States.
Nurses used to be thought of as the bedside caregiver that changed the hospital room bed sheets, brought
food to patients, helped the patients walk around, or cleaned the patients' urine pan. However, nursing
has proved to be a profession that is quickly developing and has come a long way since the role of the
traditional nurse. In addition to diagnosing and treating the diseased patient, nurses also take into
consideration the patient as a whole. Nursing emphasizes the biological, emotional, and cultural needs of

the patients and his/her family. This is what separates the nursing from all other health professions.
Nurses also serve as educators by providing preventative health care to individuals, which means
maintaining the state of wellness in individuals and preventing ill health.
At the doctoral level, nurses conduct research in the areas of basic and applied sciences and may become
faculty in prestigious colleges and universities.
There are many different types of nurses, each differing in their job description, level of nursing
education, level of clinical experience, and professional status.
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)-Work under the supervision of an RN
-LVN programs are 12-18 months of study usually at a specific technical or vocational school
-This is recommended for people who difficulty in science course
-Practice requires a state-licensing exam.
Registered Nurse (RN) -Independent health care professional
-Has to meet requirements of the State Board of Nursing and pass the RN licensing exam - the National
Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
-Associate degree and baccalaureate programs prepare the individual for the NCLEX-RN
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) -A broad category that includes RNs who have graduate (masters) level -Educational preparation and
advanced clinical experience that qualify the nurse as -A clinical expert in a specific focus area or
specialty of practice.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) -Conduct physical exams and screenings
-Diagnose and treat diseased or injured patients
-Order and interpret lab tests and x-rays
-Take medical histories
-Counsels, educates, and promotes health care prevention
-Can prescribe medication in 48 states
-Can open ones own practice
-Can legally practice independent of physicians
-Carries own malpractice insurance
-Most have specialties - Family, Pediatric, Acute/Critical Care, Adult, etc.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) -Provides obstetrical and gynecological care to women during their childbearing years including prenatal,
labor and delivery, and postpartum care, and care to women throughout their lifespan
-Can prescribe medication in 33 states
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) -Expert in an area of clinical practice
-Provides primary care and psychotherapy to individuals with physical and mental health problems
-Conducts health assessments
-Diagnoses and treats individuals
-Develops methods of effective treatment
-Researcher
-Consultant
-Up to date with the latest in current technology
-Specialties - psychiatric/mental heath, gerontology, oncology, occupational health, etc.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) -Administers anesthetics to patient

-Can work independently of the MD anesthesiologist
-Works in every setting where anesthesia is given - operating room, emergency rooms, ambulatory
settings, dentist offices, etc.
Nurse Administrator
-Consultation
-Case Management
-Entrepreneurial Roles
-Business and Finance
-Management of Health Services
TYPES OF NURSING CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS
Patient Focused Care
Rather than requiring employees to perform a single service, RNs are trained to perform a variety of
functions. This system serves to minimize the number of workers to treat individual patients, maximize
time efficiency, and enhance patient-nurse relationships.
Case Management
This health care delivery system functions to categorize patients to optimize patient care management.
Under the clinically oriented case management system, the nurse manager directs patient throughout
the entirety of his/her care. Managers assign patients the appropriate treatment plan in effort to excel
patient healing and shorten hospital stay duration. Managed care organizations (e.g., HMOs and PPOs)
follow an insurance-based method that promotes financial efficiency using case managers.
Outcome Managers
Though currently less common, this model utilizes statistical and research information to analyze care.
Acuity System
This system ranks the severity of a patients illness. Standards determined by individual hospital
accreditation ensure that patients therefore receive a minimum number of nursing treatment hours
proportional to their need.