The Nursing Profession
Introduction
The health care industry is made up of over 580,000 establishments. These establishments are institutions offer a human touch and combine it with medical technology to give care and respond to medical needs of the world population around the clock.
The various healthcare establishments differ a lot and their difference is defined by each establishment’s individual size, structure of organizing itself and the pattern of staffing it employs. Most of them are specialized office practitioners such as dentists and physicians with hospitals constituting the least proportion of these healthcare establishments.
The healthcare profession is not just limited to the medicine line of work but encompasses a diverse range of fields. This ranges from small private practices with a physician and a medical assistant to large hospitals with a diverse range of specialists in employment offering different services. Some of these include counseling, physical therapy, surgery, clinical medicine, laboratory technology, dentistry, emergency medical technicians, ophthalmic professions, physicians, health information management, dietitians, pharmacy technicians, veterinarian, and nursing.
Nursing provides health care facilities to people with that need but are not in need of specialized hospital services. These facilities include rehabilitation, inpatient nursing, psychiatric, home health aide and other personal care that is health-related.
Nurses operate round the clock always ready to maintain high levels of care.
Background of nursing
The history of nursing dates back to the earliest of all history. Nurses are considered to be the closest attendants to patients, and the bond created by this relationship is unequalled to. Their work is challenging, exiting and rewarding in many ways.
Traditionally, the profession was considered a female occupied territory but this trend has been changing in recent years. More men have trained and taken up nursing.
The number of people taking the profession has been in the decline in recent years. Several reasons have been put forward to explain this trend. Some of them are the job’s restricted chances of growth, fewer training institutions and the high average age for the workers.
The outstanding factor distinguishing nursing with other careers if that it is driven by the desire to assist people in need while giving support and job satisfaction to the workers.
Education levels, licensure, and certification requirements for nursing.
For one to qualify as a nurse, a high school diploma is usually sufficient. This is because nursing training is offered in high schools. The certificate and diploma course in nursing is also offered in vocational technical centers, community colleges, universities for degree levels and some nursing care centers.
The courses covered include communication skills, personal care, nutrition, anatomy, body mechanics, infection control and physiology.
Nurses are under government laws which require them to be competent in the field. Certification is required before one is licensed to work as a nurse. In addition, they must have undergone at least hours of training. Passing the training approved by the state qualifies one as a Certified Nurse Assistant.
Other requirements include personal etiquette, being in good health, ability to work in team and perform repetitive and routine tasks.
Job responsibilities and working options
The major roe played by nurses is providing patients with direct care. They work under the supervision of nursing staff when performing routine tasks.
Their specific tasks include helping patients to perform personal tasks such as eating, bathing and dressing, taking records of the patient’s condition and serving them with meals.
Some nurses also help other medical staff; observe medical conditions of patients and reporting to the medical staff.
Conclusion:
The motivation to work in healthcare is primarily due to the urge to work in an interesting and rewarding environment. Nursing also provides the challenge needed to make every effort be worthwhile.
Nursing is a career that provides the scope and suitable roles for people interested in giving care to people in need.
Nursing also pays well and the earnings are therefore an attraction. Despite the challenges in the working environment of nursing, the service, experience and satisfaction derived from giving service to those in need is greatly satisfying and can neither be fully compensated or equated.
Bibliography:
Dolan, A. (1968), History of Nursing, Philadelphia. W.B. Saunders Company.
Nursing, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition accessed from: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos165.htm on 17th February 2009.
Hott, J.R. and Feldman, H.R. (1991), Lighting up your practice with nursing research, Journal of the New York State Nurses Association