Preparing for a Career in Nursing

Preparing for a Career in Nursing By Julia Hollister

Dr. Robert Pavy, a neurologist in Redwood City, Calif., tells a story illustrating the dramatic evolution of the nursing profession.

“When I was in medical school we used to hear the story about the lofty status of physicians in the past,” he said. “We were told that when a physician came onto the hospital ward the nurses would stand and salute and the patients, who could get up, would stand beside their beds at attention.

“Times certainly have changed.”

Nurses have evolved from being the handmaidens of the physicians to the helpers to being a partner in healthcare delivery for the patients.

“The physicians expect significant input from the nurses about the condition of the patient,” he said. “They rely on the observation of the nurses to help with their evaluation, the progress of the patient and the value of the current treatment plan.”

Patricia Rowell, senior policy fellow in nursing and practices at the American Nursing Association, said there are three paths into the nursing field -- a two-year associate degree, three-years from diploma school of nursing (not advised) and four-year bachelor’s of science in nursing.

Many nurses in the profession also have advanced college degrees in nursing and nursing education. Nurses are required to take continual nursing education courses like physicians to maintain their licenses. Every year they are required to have certain number of hours of nursing lectures and nursing education.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than other occupations through 2014. And because the occupation is very large, many new nursing jobs will result. (Three out of five positions are in hospitals.)

“In addition, more and more people are entering nursing as a second career,” Rowland said. “Some schools have special programs where people with previous degrees can get on the fast track to earn their master’s degree in nursing.”

Getting started in pre-nursing involves studying the basic sciences. When students go into a nursing program it includes study in nursing theory, techniques and the science and treatment of disease. It also includes hands-on clinical practice in hospitals or other settings. Later, the focus spotlights the physiological aspects of how illness affects the organ system and what nurses can do to help patients control their symptoms.

“We have shortage of nurses nationwide and two of the bottlenecks are the shortage of faculty and clinical sites for students to practice,” she said. “Many schools are working on waiting lists.”

She has some advice for those considering nursing.

“First think hard about whether you can handle the intimate nature of caring for someone,” she said. “My sister-in-law studied to be a pediatric nurse because she loved being around children. But, dealing with the day-to-day suffering tore her heart out.”

She transferred from being a pediatric nurse to an operating room setting and loves the work.

Rowell said nursing requires good brains, education, critical decisions, thinking fast on your feet and empathy.

“I think being a nurse means giving patients what they need to make the best of the life they have,” she said.