Registered nurse career
DUTIES
Registered nurses(RNs), regardless of specialty or work setting, treat patients, educate patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients’ family members. RNs record patients’ medical histories and symptoms, help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.(2)
RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, explaining post-treatment home care needs; diet, nutrition, and exercise programs; and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. Some RNs work to promote general health by educating the public on warning signs and symptoms of disease. RNs also might run general health screening or immunization clinics, blood drives, and public seminars on various conditions.
JOB MARKET IN HOUSTON
There are about 430 Houston Nursing Jobs listed in a particular web site. It includes the date the job listing was posted, the job title, the employer as well as the location. The most recent job posting was on November 25, 2008 and the job title includes Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit / Critical Care Unit, the employer is a Community Health Systems located in Big Spring, TX. It also includes an estimated salary in hourly rate ranging from $21.42 to $27.48 with an additional rate basing from your experience. Also posted on the same date, there is also a vacant position for Medical/Surgical Unit with the same employer located in Alpine, TX. These are jsut a couple of position for registered nurses that are in demand. Another position that is in demand is for Labor and Delivery and Nurse Practitioners.
SALARIES
Based from the U.S. Department of Labor, as of May 2007, the National Percentile wage estimates for this occupation is as follows:
Hourly Wage: $20.20 – 10%, $23.95 – 25%, $28.85 – 50%, $35.18 – 75%, and $41.97 – 90%.
The industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation are: General and Surgical Hospitals with an employment rate of 1,409,220, with an Hourly mean wage of $30.69 and Annual mean wage of $63,820; Office of Physicians with an employment rate of 209,870, an Hourly mean wage of $29.68 and Annual Mean Wage of $61,740; Home Health Care Services with an employment rate of 127,230, an Hourly mean wage of $28.43 and an Annual mean wage of $59,140; Nursing Care Facilities with an Employment rate of 123,480, an Hourly mean wage of $27.12 and an Annual mean wage of $56, 410; and lastly, Employment Services with an Employment rate of 96,550, an Hourly mean wage of $32.49 and an Annual mean wage of $67,570.(3)
The top paying industries for this occupation are Motion Picture and Video Industries with an employment rate of 30, an Hourly mean wage of $35.93 and an Annual mean wage of $74,740; Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations with an Employment rate of 610, an Houlry mean wage of $35.90 and an Annual mean wage of $74,680; Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing with an employment rate of 70, an Hourly mean wage of $34.49 and an Annual mean wage of $71,730; Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) with an employment rate of 52,500, an Hourly mean wage of $34.33 and an Annual mean wage of $71,410; and lastly, Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution with an employment rate of 40, an hourly mean wage of $32.74 and an Annual mean wage of $68,100
ADVANCEMENT
Some RNs start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then go back to school to receive their RN degree. Most RNs begin as staff nurses in hospitals, and with experience and good performance often move to other settings or are promoted to more responsible positions. In management, nurses can advance from assistant unit manger or head nurse to more senior-level administrative roles of assistant director, director, vice president, or chief nurse. Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration. Administrative positions require leadership, communication and negotiation skills, and good judgment.(1)
Some nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care.
AN INTERVIEW WITH SOMEONE IN THIS FIELD OF WORK
I have interviewed a registered nurse to know her side comments regarding her present job and to get an actual information as well to make my research more alive and factual. I have included the following questions for them together with several options for each question (if applicable): 1. What is your specific job title? a. Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit / Critical Care Unit b. Registered Nurse – Medical/Surgical Unit c. Registered Nurse-Labor & Delivery d. Nurse Practitioner e. Certified Nurses Aide-Medical/Telemetry f. Director of Women´s Health g. others: please specify ; 2. (DUTIES) What are your duties for that position? ; 3.(SALARY) What is the estimated Salary you are receiving? ; 4. (ADVANCEMENT) What were the steps you undergone before you reach that position? ; 5. What is the next position after your current position or when you get promoted, what will be the possible higher position?.
Her name is Arlyn. She is a full time registered nurse and living in the Houston area and is currently employed in Temple TX. She’s in medical service and the tour of duty is five 8-hour days per week. Her responsibilities are to develop, implement and evaluate a plan of patient care. She provides support, information, and direct patient care. She also educates patients and families on significant self-care issues. Her salary is approximately $50, 500 per year. Currently, they are by sorted by team and managed by a supervisor.
Arlyn said, “I am sometimes dreaming to be a supervisor but only if there are no conflicts in the team because sometimes when there is, its the supervisor who is getting most of the tensions so I would not think of being a supervisor then. It really is so tough to be in this kind of job because you really need to exert effort since this is a matter of life and death so you need to provide a precise prescription and information to your patients and must be knowledgeable enough for your patients’ peace of mind. They are mostly depending on you so it is a stressful job sometimes when the issue is critical. But but having a best friend at work to help you out and the chance to help other people while at work makes me feel better. Overall, I love my job, knowing that I am capable of at least saving lives, I feel so important…” followed by an inspired smile at me.
REFERENCES:
1.http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm#nature
2.http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/jobs/nursing.html?page=3
3.http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291111.htm
NOTE: FYI The interview is not actually conducted in Houston. I would advise you to conduct your own interview with the registered nurse in your area just in case your professor would conduct an investigation whether you really have interviewed an existing person in your place. You may use my work as a reference.