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 physicians' handmaidens 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.
It's never too late to increase your opportunities
Learn more at University of Phoenix
Next: Six In-Demand Jobs and How to Get Them >>
Jul 9th 2009 @ 9:26AM Jackie
I am a nurse of over 25 years. I loved it back then. Today it is much different I am sad to say. It is now a back stabbing, hard working, low paying, poor benefits and "I am holier than thou" attitude by D.O.N. or supervisors positions. Patients are more demanding and hateful instead of grateful. Makes you rather be a waitress. At least you get good tips ! As you can guess, I no longer work as a nurse, by choice. I miss the old nursing but change has made it impossible to practice. I don't believe there is a shortage. I know many nurses that feel as I do and chose not to work in the field but maintain their hard worked for license. Good luck to future nurses.
Reply
Jul 9th 2009 @ 9:58AM Nancy
Oh how Jackie's comments ring true! I am a registered nurse with over 17 years experience and was harassed and intimidated at a hospital where I had been employed for more than 5.5 years.....then terminated due to a patient's complaint. All this, due to downsizing....hospitals are the reason for the nursing shortage...because there is no shortage, the experienced ones refuse to work in the field of nursing any longer....due to the treatment by hospitals with the working conditions, low pay and benefits, etc. And, nowadays, the rude public who come in as a patient and act like they are in a hotel instead of a hospital. Most of the people I graduated from nursing school with have gone into a different profession.....and no one can blame them. If the government doesn't wake up to this and do something about it, nothing will change.
Jul 9th 2009 @ 10:15AM Baby Fe
I have been a nurse for 32 years and I love every minute of these years. I don't know what kind of nurse Jackie is that she was able to tolerate 25 years of this career and now she is sour about it. I enjoy being a nurse, I took care of my 3 children without their dad's support, I support my parents up to now, I have 6 college scholars at the moment, all these are out of my being a nurse and not a single time was I out of job nor complained about it. Everywhere you go, nurse always have a job waiting. If all of a sudden you changed your attitude towards nursing ( out of the 25 years ) because of your DON or your Supervisor, what is that telling you? Is it you or is it them? Is there an ego problem here? Don't blame nursing, it is a very noble profession. You are working for the patient, not for the DON or Supervisor. You are blessed.
Jul 9th 2009 @ 11:15AM It needs to be said
I totally agree with Jackie. As a nurse since 1980, I have witnessed the total humiliation of nurses. We have incredible stress, we have no respect, the administrators are insulting, degrading and treat us as if we're servents, the DON's are all for management, never stick up for us and demean us at every turn. The patients are grateful but there are so many of them we are left feeling fragmented and frustrated.
There was a time when our education and compassion meant something. Now the bottom line is the driving force in a system where patient's and their illnessxes take a back seat to how much profit is being made.
I am sickened of it all.
Jul 9th 2009 @ 9:04PM Karla
I agree with you Jackie. I worked as a registered nurse for 18 years in a major hospital. While working as a nurse I received many thank you letters from my patients, and also was acknowledged as an employee of the month from the hospital. I became increasingly more frustrated and burned out dealing with the very ill patients in my care. I felt we needed more nurses to help with patient care. The administrators of the hospital did not take my suggestions seriously and continued to deal with patient / nurse ratio in numbers and statistics instead of the care that was actually required. One day, thirteen years ago, I gave my two week notice, put in my time and never went back. The hospital asked me to return but it was too late. I was sucked dry of the energy I once had for nursing. I loved caring for people but feel there needs to be some big changes if they want nurse retention.
Jul 9th 2009 @ 1:00PM joan
Totally agree that there has been a drastic change in the nursing profession, and toward the negative. The patient is no longer foremost, as a total person, but as an illness with a number in Room # such and such. I remained in nursing for 38 years, probably too long. The last couple of years were hell with an administrator whose physician father hated nurses, and so too, did she. She spent most of her time sneaking up on us to see if we were doing anything that she could call the union in on. In this stressful atmosphere, it was best to take an early retirement, while my RN license remained intact, unblemished and even with State of CT. Governor commendations, of which I was so humbled. I would have preferred to work 5-6 years longer, but got out 'while the going was all good'! Nursing is stressful enough. But, I am proud that I served the sick for all those years. As I mentioned, when I started my career long, long ago, nursing was all about our patients, making them comfortable, spending a few extra minutes letting them express how they felt about learning that day about their terminal illness, looking at them as a total being, with heart, mind, soul and body. Nursing was about not complaining because a patient's light went on in the middle of your doing something else. It was not about having summers off, but working and studying through them. It was about being awakened in the middle of the night by the housemother, to report to the nursery for an RH excchange baby, or to the OR for emergency surgery, and then reporting for duty or class, as usual, the very next morning. This to me was nursing, this to me was my reason for becoming a registered nurse. Even with the stress of sometimes nasty co-workers, administrators, or patients, I would do it all over again. I am a senior now, retired, and still very proud of my profession and I continue to maintain the RN license that I worked so hard to attain. So, I say, go for it, for all the RIGHT reasons. Put your brain in your study and your heart into your work. God bless all.
Jul 9th 2009 @ 1:35PM grlgrn
I totally agree. I have been an RN for 20 plus years. I will NEVER return to the hospital setting. The head people at the hospitals is what is driving away nurses in droves. Only ones left are the foreign nurses. I do work as an RN and obtained my BSN a few years ago. I work in the community and have a GREAT job making over 100 grand. I see about 2 clients a day in a 10 hour shift. NO medications, IV's, bedpans, or hostile Managers. Hospital nursing is the worst. There is NO nursing shortages. Just nurses who are tired of the abuse in the hospital setting.
Jul 22nd 2009 @ 10:21AM Heather L.
I totally agree with you. If they would get up and out of their office and work a day in our shoes they would be feeling the same way we do!!!!
Jul 22nd 2009 @ 1:38PM jake
I have been a nurse for over 25 yrs and have worked at many large hospitals and I agree with Jackie. I also find that you are not valued for your knowledge, you are just a body to perform tasks.
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:04PM zondi
I just finished my BSN in columbus and because of so many nursing schools there I cant find a job. 2/3 of my class can not find work either.
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:13PM Ann Nicholson
Sounds like you worked in a nursing home, Jackie?? If so, I totally understand and agree. I, however, am one of the fortunate ones. I work as an RN in an outpatient Hematology/Oncology clinic, and I love my job, and work with the most wonderful group of nurses!! We help and support each other on a daily basis. Nobody lets anybody sink. And bless our dear patients, they are grateful for each and every little kindness shown to them. I'm sorry your career was soured, and just wanted you to know that there are those of us who actually do love our jobs. By the way, I'm 59 years old.
Ann
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:15PM Diane
I am retired nurse, and a lot of what Jackie says is correct. Now you not only need to know nursing science, disease and treatments,but also computer expertise. It is not a valued profession. It is hard, demanding, often lifting and being on your feet. The hospitals and the nursing association put such high demands on the charting that there isn't time to care for the patient. Either the chart gets taken care of and the patient is slighted or vice versa. No one can be 100% in all areas of nursing, plus latest drug and lab values, yet this is the minimum standard of practice if you are a nurse. Let some common sense return to nursing, and get nurses with masters degrees out on the floor doing the job before they run the dedicated floor nurses away from the profression.
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:36PM niecey
Amen,Jackie. Fellow RN of 25 years
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:20PM Jean
I agree with Jackie. I am an LPN of 27 yrs. I have paid my just dues. I am sick and tired of people saying "oh you are JUST an LPN." There is NO JUST in front of it. I am an LPN because I WANT to be. One charge nurse told me, "You are so smart and quick you should be an RN. Why aren't you?" Is it a matter of choice or brains? I have been nursing long enough to see all of the changes. I have many friends that went on for their RNs and complained and quit. They said when they were an LPN no one questioned you. Now that they are an RN many ask what level, degree, school or program. It becomes more dog eat dog and political. I enjoy the hands on with patients. I do it because I LOVE it. I am fed up with the people that tell me they want to be an RN because they heard they make lots of money and don't have to wipe butts or watch people die. I have news for those of you.........its and honor to help a patient maintain their dignity by providing for needs they can not do and to hold their hand and be with them as they die.
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:24PM Jaynie
Wow, you are bitter. Of course the Healcare profession has changed dramatically, but lots will move into your RN position if you leave to go "waitress". Good luck with your career move. Remember... you are here to help people.
If you don't care for your DON, apply elsewhere as a DON & be the one who makes the difference for RN's and LVN's !
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:21PM BIG tom
You don't know sh*t Jackie. Why don't you keep your mouth shut when you're that stupid. Thanks.
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:49PM Sally
Jackie:
I am a recent nurse grad @ the age of 51 years. I totally agree with your post. As a young woman, I worked in a hospital lab for 8 years and it was always my dream to become a nurse. I waited until my children were grown and decided it was time to pursue that dream. HA! Little did I know HOW much the field of nursing had changed. I regret all the hard work, money, & time away from my family....for a job that I absolutely dislike! I'm considering going back into what I did for 25+ years ~ child care. Very rewarding & pays almost as well as the nursing without the STRESS!
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:34PM Jan
I am an LPN and have been working in hospitals for 30 years.It has become very difficult to remember why I went into this field. There is no way I would go for my RN. The patients are more demanding and unappreciative. They expect nurses to be there slaves.I do enjoy taking care of some people who appreciate our hard work. the younger generation of nurses have a sense of entitlement.When I started out, I was happy to get any shift and to do anything I had to. Now the new young nurses have no respect for seniority and feel they should get whatever they want.
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:40PM Marie
Jackie,
GOOD for YOU............ Nursing is everything you wrote and more. They are like pirahnas---they eat their own...The ones who can & do work as a team do not stay because of all the garbage that goes on. An occasional "thank you" or "good job" would go such a long way...and the constant threats of law suits...well, need I say more?
ps...I practiced for 28 years and had to retire in 2002 due to congenital heart problems. Now, when I go in as a patient, the complaining from those who care is really unbelievable. My hope is that they will get out & do something else for their own sakes. I know that sounds selfish, but peace of mind goes a looooong way. And, they would be like me, they know enough to take care of family members/see that their medical needs are met.
Again, I am with you~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jul 26th 2009 @ 2:39PM angelia miller
yes mam you are right I started in nursing school over 25 years ago luckly I didn't finish because i got married, but I have worked as a lab tech/medical assistant for over 21 years and it is back stabbing low down no care its all about people thinking that they no it all or wanting to be the boss there is no care any more they may say it is a shortage but i don't think it is people just don't care, the love for people is just not there any more.