Recruitment into Nursing Resource Manual
REGISTERED NURSE
Nursing is such a unique profession. It has evolved, revolved,
expanded, matured and blossomed into a very important influence
in holistic health care and promotes a greater professionalism
than ever before. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern
nursing, recognized that when she wrote in 1867, "The ultimate
destination of all nursing is the nursing of the sick in their
homes…I look at the abolition of all hospitals and workhouse
infirmaries. But no use to talk about the year 2000."
Nursing combines scientific knowledge with a desire to help
people. Our society's increased emphasis on healthy lifestyles
and the trend toward heath care services in a variety of settings
has created challenging new career opportunities for professional
nurses.
From the hospital emergency center or intensive care unit with
high tech equipment to the home health care setting, nursing
is an exciting, often demanding, and rewarding profession that
brings out the best in those who practice it.
All of these nursing opportunities are available as on begins
a career as a Registered Nurse.
Personal Qualifications:
Strong interpersonal skills and a desire to help those in need,
while exercising professional objective judgment, are necessary.
Nurses are required to use their own judgment, sometimes in
life threatening situations, and must be able to adapt to changing
technology. A sound background in science including chemistry,
biology and mathematics is required. Good critical thinking
and problem solving techniques are a must.
Education:
Educational preparation for the registered nursing is available
at two levels. They are as follows:
THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN NURSING (ADN) usually offered through
a community college, concentrates on a balance between general
and nursing education. The program offers a wide variety of
clinical experiences and prepares graduates to function as direct
care providers. The course of study normally is 60-90 credits
and prepares graduates to be registered nurses. Most ADN programs
in Michigan offer laddered programs for the LPN to advance to
the associate degree level and become licensed as a registered
nurse.
A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE IN NURSING (BSN) is normally 120-130
credits and is offered at a college or university. The course
of study combines education in the theory and the practice of
nursing, with general education in the humanities and behavioral,
biological and physical sciences, which serve as a base for
the development of the nursing major. This program provides
students with experience in all major health care environments
and provides training such as community health nursing that
is not offered elsewhere. Most BSN programs in Michigan have
programs available for the nurse with an ADN Diploma in nursing
to complete the BSN degree.
Entrance requirements vary, depending on the type of program,
but include a high school diploma or GED, and assessment tests
in math, reading and science for placement into appropriate
classes.
Opportunities:
Today's rapidly expanding and technologically driven health
care environment has created challenging career opportunities.
In Michigan, numerous positions exist in the acute care and
long-term care settings. Additional opportunities exist in outpatient
clinics, research centers, home health care agencies, birthing
centers, schools and businesses, fitness centers, pharmaceutical
companies, insurance companies, wellness centers, employee health
programs, physician practice, management, community and public
health agencies. Salaries for nurses in 2001 range from approximately
$37,000 to $42,000 per year. With experience, and additional
education, advancement to supervisory and management positions
can substantially increase earning potential.
Nurses with advanced degrees in clinical specialties are in
ever increasing demand. Opportunities exist for nurse practitioners,
as they are known, in pediatrics and other specialty areas.
A Masters degree is generally required for certification in
these areas.
For information on registered nurse programs and BSN completion
programs in Michigan may be obtained via the website for the
Michigan League for Nursing http://oeonline.oeonline.com/mln/
or by writing for information to:
Michigan League for Nursing
33150 Schoolcraft Road, Suite 201
Livonia, Michigan 48150-1646
(734) 427-1900
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