The Registered Nursing Salary

Numerous individuals just picture nurses only working in a clinic in order to encourage the severely sick patients. This is a wrong observation as nurses can work essentially in all environments. They have their obligations removed in practically all parts of life that a significant number of us can never envision. The facts demonstrate that nurses are strictly critical in the emergency clinics and this is the place that they have a large portion of their work in. They anyway are required in different segments and don’t just need to deal with helping the ill to get well.

Nurses can work in schools, legal executive areas, insurance agencies, detainment facilities, homes and in enterprises(Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Nurses are associated with all phases of the human life from before birth up to after death(Nursing Career Guide). They help with the pregnant ladies in the pre-birth facilities to ensure that the mother keeps up with her vitals. They offer assistance during birth and are most of the time included with the mother and child while in the post natal centers(The Nursing Career Guide). Becoming a nurse isn’t as complex has many may think, there are several different universities or community colleges that offer nursing majors. Community colleges offer the minimum degree in nursing which is an associates degree which takes two in a half to three years and universities offer the maximum of four years to receive a bachelors degree(Nurse Journal).

Each nursing program cost varies associates degree are less expensive than bachelors degree, associate degrees range from $12,000-35,000 or more, usually people pay around $18,000-25,000. Bachelor degrees range from $25,000-120,000 or more ,students will usually pay around $35,000-60,000(RNprograms). Entrance requirements for nursing schools also vary some require a minimum of a 2.5gpa some require a 3.0gpa. Other requirements for nursing schools are a high school diploma, score well on TEAS, high school transcript and volunteer work to ensure that this is the right career choice(RNprograms). Before turning into a medical caretaker, one should initially inspect themselves and check whether they have the correct characteristics for this requesting work.

A few characteristics are such; minding, sympathy, a powerful urge and readiness to help those in need, tolerance, trustworthiness or more all, great wellbeing. According to “The Vital Nursing Skills You’ll Need to Grow a Healthy Career” all these qualities are necessary for such obligations as lifting(Malvik). Nursing is one of several medical careers that requires certain special skills and personality traits in order for them to be successful. Profession of nursing requires a calling for this career personality traits are; effective communication flexibility, critical thinking, and a desire to learn(Malvik). In the medical field today medicine is constantly evolving and nurses have to be willing to expand their minds and pay attention to detail.

Before becoming a registered nurse experience isn’t required but it is encouraged to become more familiar with the field. Ways to gain experience are internships, internships, mentor, career placement programs, and volunteer work(Nursing Career).An associates or bachelors degree and a state license is required before being a registered nurse to ensure that the student has received the proper education(Nurse Journal). According to a survey in 2012 given by the Advance Healthcare Network for Nurses in Louisiana ,nurses with a bachelors degree make an average of $60,969 a year and associates degree are $57,144 a year which is about $42.31 an hour(Bureau of Labor Statics).The lowest pay in Louisiana is $30.59 for hourly pay. In other states the pay is different depending on the employment wages and the hourly pay, the highest paying state is California.

In the California employment wages are 282,90, the hourly wage is $49.37 and the annual salary is $102,700(Cost of RN).  The lowest paying state is Puerto Rico ,the employment wages are 19,090, the hourly wage is $16.65 and the annual salary is $34,630(Cost Of RN). Salary range in the nursing field has many affects on it because of the many levels of education and types of nursing. Level of experience, type of nurse, level of education, employment area and location of job all affect the pay rate because of the need of nurses in the environment(Cost of RN). Nurses who work in a more chaotic environment such as a hospital tend to get paid more than a nurse who works at a clinic because of the demand for nurses in a hospital(Nursing Salary).

Beginning a profession in nursing can become costly with all of the expenses for books, tuition, supplies, and depending the school is private or public. An associate degree in nursing can cost from $6,000-$40,000 according to “Cost of RN”. To receive a bachelor degree in nursing costs from $40,000-$200,000 ,also depending on if the college is pubic or private it could be more(Cost of RN). Besides the expected costs that includes books, tuition, etc…there is hidden fees that aren’t exposed until the time comes to apply for nursing school, uniforms, stethoscope and taking the NCLEX license test normally costs about $200, and state permit charges can include another $75-$200 or more, upon the state(Nursing Salary). As it may be ,numerous schools incorporate these expenses in their evaluated charges for finishing their program(Nursing Salary). Nursing school finances are typically up to the student whether they want to take out a loan or a grant.

Grants are encouraged because you don’t have to pay them back if you finish the program within the time frame, but if you don’t then you may have to pay the grant back(RNprograms). In view of accomplishment or achievement. Grants can emerge out of private associations, schools, the legislature, or different associations. The amount of cash given by a grant will rely upon both the association and the individuality of the student. For instance, a grant from a congregation or charitable may cover $500 worth of general costs, while a school-based grant may cover a huge number of dollars yet just apply to tuition(RNprograms). Applying to scholarships is another way to pay for nursing school that schools influence because of the opportunity to receive education for free without having the stress about paying finical aid back.

On the other hand a loan is the next option and they are deferred until the student has graduated from the program (RNprograms). The health benefits available to employees in this occupation include the standard health insurance coverage, short term disability, long term disability, malpractice insurance and cancer rider policies(Walker). The other benefits this occupation might include are: vacation time (the amount of hours earned depends on the employer), earned sick leave (the amount of hours earned depends on the employer), thrift savings plans, 401K plans, Roth IRA plans, retirement plans that allow the employee to become fully vested after 3 years, sign on bonuses, tuition reimbursement plans, repayment of student loans, shift differential payment (Walker).

The health and safety issues involved include exposure to blood and body fluids, exposure to infectious diseases, high risk for falls, high risk for injuries to the back, neck and legs(Walker). Risk for physical injury as related to mentally challenged individuals that might inflict bodily harm (open fists, kicks, etc.)(Walker). Higher incidence of experiencing varicose veins secondary to standing for long periods of time, higher incidence of bladder/urinary tract infections secondary to the inability to utilize the restroom often(Walker). In this area the prospect for employment in this occupation is comparable; however, it ranks number 14/15 in terms of demand. The state of California ranks #1 in terms of the demand for Registered Nurses(Bureau of Labor Statics).

In Louisiana, the most recent statistics show that by the year 2030, Louisiana will only have a demand of 2,300 Registered Nurses as opposed to California which will yield a demand of 44,500 Registered Nurses(Nurse Salary). The factors that influence the availability of jobs in this area include retirement and ‘burn out’(Nursing Career). The potential for growth in this profession includes the expansion of the types of employment available for Registered Nurses(Bureau of Labor Statics). Nurses no longer are confined to working in hospitals, there are telecommunication jobs, case management jobs, jobs in informatics, research and utilization management as well as community nursing(Nursing Career).

The typical day depends on the arena in which you work. If you work in a hospital setting, your day starts with the daily nursing assignment i.e. the number of patients assigned including the patient’s name, diagnosis and prescribed treatment plan(Walker). There are days in which chaos is the norm and days that are sedentary(Walker). The hours of work and work week depend on your place of employment. Typically, if you work on an inpatient floor the hours are 8, 12, 16 hour shifts (7a-3p, 3p-11p, 11p-7a, 7a-7p, 7p-7a)(Walker). The employee must also rotate weekends (every other weekend) and rotate holidays. If you work in a clinic setting, most clinics are open M-F and the shift worked is usually 8 hours.

There really aren’t any best or worst parts of the day. The day depends on the area in which you work (Emergency Room, Medical-Surgical and Intensive Care are typically always busy)(Walker). Historically all medical facilities are quieter during holiday season. The nursing profession is based off of one’s unique, caring and outgoing personality , tremendous amount of skill and great characteristics which is everything about myself. Becoming prepared for nursing career occurred at an early age catering to my grandmother and my uncle when he would become ill. Also in high-school I participated in the nursing programs and received credits in many nursing courses, while attending Delgado Community College for dual enrollment courses.

Going through years of schooling and education is something I am willing to do because as said by Christian Belle, “Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the joy, everyday, while we are “just doing our jobs”(Vance). Everything about choosing nursing as my career choice suits me from the earnings and benefits to the typical hours. Houston, Texas is where I would like to begin my nursing career and there are many jobs available there because of their steady growing population and high demand for nurses.As a nurse it is important to convey the traits of being empathetic, understanding, non judgmental, practical, and receptive. I trust that with the learning and clinical experience from the DCC ADN program I will give the most ideal consideration to the general population in the network.

Work Cited

1. 2018 NurseJournal.org https://nursejournal.org/. ‘RN Requirements By State + Qualifications – 2018.’ 3 Aug. 2018, nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/rn-requirements-by-state/.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018.
3. ‘Cost of RN Programs RegisteredNursing.org.” ‘Nurse Salary by State – Nurse Salary Guide.’.
4. ‘Registered Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.’ 13 Apr. 2018.
5. ‘Tuition & Fees of an RN Program.’.
6. Vance, Elizabeth. Nursing Career: The Complete Guide to Nursing Career Choices and Nursing Career Goals. Lulu P, 2015.
7. ‘The Vital Nursing Skills You’ll Need to Grow a Healthy Career | Rasmussen College.’

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