December 22nd, 2010 
jvremec
A Summary of Various Nursing Positions
Author: Shawn Thomas
Today it is clear that the old fashioned image of a nurse no longer holds true. Thanks to the popularity of new medical dramas and sitcoms, people are seeing the field of nursing in a whole new light. We will now look at a few nursing positions that have attracted people from all backgrounds into the field of nursing.
Nurse educators are the professors of the nursing field, and usually work as consultants. However, the position is primarily designed to teach clinical practices to new nurses and nursing students; and, ensures that practicing nurses maintain their competencies. Similar to other educators, nurse educators spend most of their time working on lesson plans, instructing, evaluating, researching, and helping others solve clinical problems. Though this is a rewarding career path, some nurse educators miss working directly with patients, and are overloaded with paperwork. Those in this position typically work for nursing programs at hospitals, colleges, universities, or staff development organizations.
Though probably not as exciting as it is portrayed on television, forensic nurses use clinical practices and training to help with investigations. Typically services are needed in cases that involve sexual assault, abuse, trauma, and accidental or unexplained deaths. The biggest drawback of this position is that it is new so there are not as many positions available as there are in other nursing fields. Forensic nurses will usually work for a medical examiner, coroner, municipality, or insurance company.
Rehabilitation nurses work exclusively with patients who have illnesses or disabilities that have altered their way of life. So, it is the task of the rehabilitation nurse to help these patients regain their normal way of life. These nurses become extremely close to their patients and share in all of their accomplishments. However, they are usually brought in for extreme cases; so, they deal with their patient’s emotional health, and may have to assistant patients with depression and grief in order for them to progress physically. Usually these nurses work for hospitals, long term care facilities, and special hospitals such as burn clinics.
Since productivity is directly linked to employee health, many employers have decided to retain their own nurses. Occupational or employee health nurses focus on preventing injury, administering non-surgical medical attention and consultation, and assisting in worker’s compensation claims. These nurses may also be responsible for making sure the organization maintains accurate OSHA records and standards, promoting health and wellness, and spotting health hazards within working conditions. The unique thing about occupational health nurses is that the type of health issues you handle will depend on the functions of your organization. For example, corporate occupational health nurses will give physicals and focus on keeping employees working. Those who work for municipalities may find themselves giving trainings, working closely with police and paramedics, or consulting on worker’s compensation claims.
A similar type of nurse as the occupational nurse is the school nurse. Nearly every school in America employs a school nurse, at least part time. This can be a rewarding career for those who love children. You will play a role in teaching and promoting general wellness and a healthy lifestyle as well as dealing with scrapes, tummy aches and the occasional serious emergency.
Trauma nurses treat patients in emergency situations. It is imperative that they use quick thinking and sound judgment to stabilize patients, typically using little or no background information or previous medical history. The biggest challenge to these nurses is that every situation and every day is filled with stress and pressure. Yet, they must overcome obstacles such as language barriers in a matter of minutes. Trauma nurses usually work in emergency centers and specialty hospitals.
Nurse practitioner is a specialty that requires an advanced level of nursing skills. These nurses perform tasks that involve diagnosing, ordering lab and other tests, prescribing medicine, and monitoring patient status. Although these nurses are similar to actual physicians they may face opposition from their colleagues and patients who are unaware of their level of skills. And, they are able to find work at almost any health related organization.
Understand that this is only a few of the career paths in the expanding world of nursing specialties. It is important to note that all of these positions will require a nursing degree and/or certification. If you are interested in any nursing specialty, you should talk to one or more people in that position and in the industry to get a realistic picture of what the position is like. Though there are several types of nursing specialties, not every path is right for everyone.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/a-summary-of-various-nursing-positions-689147.html
About the Author
Shawn Thomas is a freelance writer who writes about the nursing profession. Mr. Thomas often writes about specific items used in nursing such as nursing scrubs.
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I feel terrible back in 1996 I quit registered nursing school with one month to finish after having a nervous?
breakdown. I am now a therapeutic staff support using my associate degree in human development and family studies. I could persue a masters in psych and be a behavioral specialist but the field seems to be decreasing due to managed care. I would love to be a lpn but don’t have 40 hours to devout to school with working fulltime. Help does anyone know of anything in the healthcare field online or with reduced hours or has anyone had a success with a masters on psych.
Consider a wee change in direction. Social work, get your license. LSW are in demand and you’re already halfway there.
Am I to blame?
So i got a promotion in Oct. I am a LVN working in a Skilled nursing facility in san diego. My boss asked me to be their new Director of Staff Development. They didn’t have a nurses to take my place so I never got to get oriented to my soon to be new postion. finally at the begining of dec, my replacement came. I went to a 3 day certification class for my new job. But my boss didn’t ever have me oriented to my new job in the building. I walked into blindly 2 weeks ago. The nursing assistants havent been supervised for a while now and arent responding to dicipline very well. They all went to the administrator, my boss and complained saying they are going to quit. My question is am I to blame. I am trying my best without and orientation or help from anybody. My boss told me he thinks i am not stepping up to the plate and taking over, doing my job. Told me i could easily be put back on the floor as a regular nurse. I feel very hurt and betrayed. I am trying my best and need help.
I have to question why the Director of Staff Development would be responsible for the supervision of the nursing assistants.
The job of supervision is that of the Director of Nursing, and the nurses in charge of each shift. In most cases the Director of Staff Development is responsible for providing educational opportunities for the facility, and making sure that the facility stays in compliance with all JACHO and OSHA rules on orientation, staff education, and staff safety training. It would seem the Director of Nursing is placing their failures on your shoulders.
One concept that should be considered, however, is that adults are generally not disciplined (except in the military). They are supervised. The supervisory chain needs to provide the requirements of the position to each person. If they do not meet their obligations they are counseled (again, not disciplined) if they do not follow the requirements after counseling, the employess should be fired. These are adults, they need to be treated as adults, and fired for not doing their jobs as adults. If they are unemployed and have trouble finding employment because they have bad references they will be better adults in the future, or they shouldn’t be in the health care setting in the first place.
What are some options for registered nursing careers outside the hospital forum?
I have done nursing administration, staff nursing, teaching, staff development, and education. I am thinking about some alternate form of nursing–maybe computer-based?
Home care, hospice, nursing homes, school health, prison nursing, clinics, insurance (doing physicals), industry (things like being a drug rep), community case management, cruise ship nursing, hyperbaric centers, healthcare infomatics, working in homeless shelter clinics. There are lots & lots of options.
Cons: Can you tell me the source of this?
Health
The inflation produced by the XXXX-XXXXX Administration has struck hardest in the area of health care. Hospital costs are rising 16 percent a year—four times the national average of price increases.
We pledge to encourage the broadening of private health insurance plans, many of which cover hospital care only, and to review the operation of government hospital care programs in order to encourage more patients to utilize non-hospital facilities. Expansion of the number of doctors, nurses, and supporting staff to relieve shortages and spread the availability of health care services will have our support. We will foster the construction of additional hospitals and encourage regional hospital and health planning for the maximum development of facilities for medical and nursing care. We will also press for enactment of XXXXXX-sponsored programs for financing of hospital modernization. New diagnostic methods and also preventive care to assure early detection of physical impairments, thus fostering good health and avoiding illnesses requiring hospitalization, will have our support.
Additionally, we will work with states and local communities to help assure improved services to the mentally ill within a community setting and will intensify research to develop better treatment methods. We will encourage extension of private health insurance to cover mental illness.
While believing no American should be denied adequate medical treatment, we will be diligent in protecting the traditional patient-doctor relationship and the integrity, of the medical practitioner.
We are especially concerned with the difficult circumstances of thousands of handicapped citizens who daily encounter architectural barriers which they are physically unable to surmount. We will support programs to reduce and where possible to eliminate such barriers in the construction of federal buildings.
I’m still waiting for the right answer and Eisenhower isn’t it
The source is the 1968 Republican Party Platform
The firsts set of XXXXs say Johnson -Humphrey and the second set of XXXs say Republican
Here’s the link and Yes it was a trick question
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25841
Sounds like a trick question.
Should I be worried about this…?
I just started a new position at a hospital as a nursing assistant while I am still pursuing my nursing degree. During the orientation I asked the director of staff development about the scheduling and how flexible it would be with school. She came down hard on me and told me that if I thought it would be too much then I should resign. We then continued to talk about it and how much I wanted the position and she said that I was probably just looking to deep into it. The days following she talked to me often about how nervous I was and that I shouldn’t worry. Now I feel like she thinks I am unable to work and that I’m incapable of working. Should I say something to her about how I’m not nervous and I’m happy for the position or should I not worry about it? HELP!! I dont know what I should do!!
No. It will just make you seem more nervous. You need to SHOW her by doing your job well.