There is a strong demand for nurses today, career prospectes are good
& possibilities are plentiful. Nurses are needed not only in hospital, but in health
agencies, long term care facilities such as nursing home ,managed care centers &
in community health . Educating patients & their families in preventing care is
highly important. Demands for advance practice nurses are growing in the many areas. Never before has nursing been so axciting; taday new graduates has a
variety of job opportunities available. The job opportunity for the LPN have
expanded & now extended beyond those in the long term care facility and
hospital.
There are many job opportunities for nurses such as-
Hospitals
Long term care facilities
Home health
Physicians office or clinic
Insurance company
Temporary agencies
Travel opportunity
Pharmaceutical sales
Other medical sales
Outpatients hotel
Military nursing
Adult day care
School nurse
Public health
Out patient surgery
Private duty nursing
Government nursing
Industrial nursing
Rehabilitation nursing
Psychiatric nursing
Hospice nursing
Clinicians
Advance practice nurses
Clinical nurse specialist
Nurse practitioner
Certified nurse midwife
Certified registered nurse anesthetist
Nurse educator
Nursing administrator
Nurse researcher
Nurse entrepreneur
HOSPITALS:
Employment of LPN in hospital setting is a high level, because of health care economics, hospitals are responsible for providing quality care as economically as possible. Under the supervision of an RN the LPN is able to provide most bedside care to patient in the hospital setting. The overall management of unit is the responsibilities of a RN salary in a hospital setting typically include shift differential & extra pay for holidays & perhaps weekends benefits tend to be good in the hospitals. Nurses have the opportunity to function on hospital committee. there may be unique positions such as working in infection control or employee health .there a number of different types of hospitals to be considered, some
hospitals are trauma centers, specialized surgery, some hospitals have specialized services with different departments.
LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES:
The LPN/LVN is the backbone of long term care facilities, they can advance to
change nurse & supervisory capacity with RN supervision. They must be used in staff development , recruitment, & and all types of committee work. The nurse
management & leadership skills have ample opportunity for development in the
long term care setting. Salary are typically higher in long term care facilities than in hospitals, but this is not necessary the case in all situation. Typically shift
differential pay and scheduling alternative are possible. Benefit packages might
also be good in the long-term care setting. The long term care facility is just that a
facility for those who require long term care.
Hospitals no longer are available to
patints past the must acute period. Alternative include rehabilitation hospitals if
patints qualification are met, home health or a long term care facility. In
rehabilitation canters physical, speech occupation & other therapies are available,
many patients receive therapy & are able to retun home.
Home health
The degree to which home health opportunities are available to LPNs/LVNs ,
varies in different part of the united state. The LPNs is capable of providing much
of the care required , but RN supervision must be available . the advance of home
health care are a more relaxed atmosphere, decreased patient load and a
primarily day time schedule. The nurse may be paid on a per case basis, the travel
expenses are reimburse, the salary can be good for individual who put in a lots of
hours. Continuity of care and a degree of independence are advantages of this
type of position. There is also scheduling flexibility, which is hard to find in other
position.
Physicians Private Clinic:
Many physician’s choose to employ an LPNs/LVNs for their office, they prefer to have some with the educational background available to assist them. Salary in offices tends to be lower than that in hospitals and long term care facilities. The
benefits package may not be as complete as in the other settings. However the
schedule of primarily days with minimal weekends is a definite advantage. There
is an opportunity to focus on prevention in these settings & opportunity for
patients teaching are also available . Less manual dexterity is required, which
might be advantages for some individuals.
Insurance Companies:
Many insurance companies employ LPNS/LVNs in their pre admission & claims
departments. The position are office position with few manual dexterity
requirements. Companies usually require experience in medical- surgical nsg
before employment. Salary tends to be lower than in hospitals & long term care
facilities. However the schedule is usually days with no holidays or weekend work
required.
Temporary Or Private [NGO] Agencies:
There are opportunities available to work for staffing agencies. These agencies provide nurse to meet the staffing needs in a variety of health care facilities. Thesalary is usually very good but the benefits package may be limited. must be highly flexible person to be able to adjust to various work settings. Advantages of employment with a temporary agency are the right to refuse and the wealth of variety available. When employed by an temporary agency, have the right to say “no” on a given day when they call and ask you to work. This provides more flexibility in personal schedule
Travel Nurse:
After having some experiences, if interested the nurse can explore opportunity to travel & work for specified period in areas in need of nurses through a type of temporary agency with an expanded area of service. These agencies match employer’s needs with nurses experiences& interest in living in that area for a period of time .Lording is provided in addition to salary. This offers nurses who have the flexibility to travel the chance to visit an area of work for a period of time.
Pharmaceutical Sales:
Some might be interested in the field of pharmaceutical sales. After having some experience, this might be a field of interest. These companies usually require experience in specific area & an expertise in science & pharmacology. Salary is usually based on sales. There is no direct patient care. Contacts are made.
Medical Equipment sales:
Opportunities are also available for nurses with companies selling medical supplies.Responsibilities & compensation are similar to those in pharmaceutical sales. Nurses may do in –service programs at facilities to demonstrate product use. Products vary widely, from such items as incontinence products to surgical equipment.
Adult Day Care:
Some communities may provide adult day care facilities that require nursing supervision. These facilities are designed for individuals who require medical supervision while their family members work or take a break from the responsibility of care, the place is relaxed & the schedule is excellent the opportunity such a facility affords to the adult requiring the service & their family members can provide a rewarding experience for the nurse.
School Health Nurse:
Opportunities may be available in some communities to work as a school health nurse. Health screening, emergency care & health teaching are the major responsibilities. The nurse may function in one school or travel to different schools. Working only during the school year might be an advantages for the nurse who would like to be off summers & can afford to do this.
Public health Nurse:
There may be opportunities for nurses in community with the public health department. Responsibilities may include working in clinics & home visits. The nurse may also participate in the health inspections. Teaching is a major area of responsibility. The focus is on prevention. Day schedules are usually available. Salaries tend to be lower than in hospitals & long term care facilities.
Private Nursing Service:
The private duty nurse gives total care to one patient. This type of nsg is totally
independent nsg care service. Private duty nsg may take place in the hospital,
home or other facilities and while travelling abroad or in the united state. When doing private duty nsg, the nurse has to accept not only patient but the family as well . the nurse is paid directly by the patient or responsible person. When the setting for private duty nsg is in a health care facility, the nurse is expected to follow the policies & procedures of that facility. When doing private duty nursing.The nurse are legally responsible for their own actions. The nurse should keep continuous, accurate records of the worked days & payments received. Advantage of private duty nursing is that she may work as many days , she like or may accept a case for as long period of time as she desire.
Government nursing:
The LPNs/LVNs may work (civil nursing) in a vitreous administration hospital or other govt. hospitals. Advantages are good salary, good insurance & retirement plans. The disadvantages is that the ratio of nurses is sometime low.
Industrial Nursing:
The focus in industrial nursing is on promoting wellness & preventing accidents. Safety is emphasized & usually the nurse is first-aid oriented. The industrial nurse may do physical assessment, health surveys, insurance forms preparation and health education as well as nursing intervention for patients injured in industrial accidents. The LPNs/PVNs will work under the supervision of an RN or a physician dependent on the size of the industrial site, this type of nursing may offer shifts
and benefits different from those of other career opportunities. In the field the
nurse should have patients, understanding, observational skills and current first aid techniques & principles able to adjust all types of situations.
Rehabilitation Nursing :
This field requires responsibility for guiding the patient toward health & independence. Advantages are steady employment ,a less formal environment & an opportunity to provide good care.
Psychiatric Nursing:
Psychiatric nursing requires a mature person (not in years) to handle the responsibilities of the job. This type of nursing may be done in an open unit in a general hospital, outpatient clinic , mental health agency, psychiatric hospital, or institution, advantages are a good salary & advancement in leadership areas.
Hospice Nursing:
Hospice nursing offers are to terminally ill patients in either an institution or a home setting, usually under the auspices of home health nsg. The qualifications for a hospice nurse are to have a clear understanding of his or her own feelings concerning death and to understand the philosophy of the hospice setting. The nurse closely supports the patient & family without interfering with family interpersonal relationships. Advantages of hospice nursing are steady employment . less formal environment & opportunity ti provide good bedside care that is concerned with pain relief & comfort measure. Disadvantages are always caring dying patient and the possibilities of having to travel to more than one home each shift.
Clinician Nurse:
Most nurses enter the profession with the goal of providing direct care. The Nurse providing direct client care accounts for The majority for of practicing nurse. There are increased opportunity for nurses to provide direct in the clients home. The clinical nurse provides direct care to the client , using the nsg process & critical thinking skills. The clinical nurse provides education to the client & family to promote health maintenance & self care In the hospital nurses choose to practice in hospitals such as transplantation rehabilitation, ontology longer medical centers offer mire opportunity to concentrate practice in a single area.
Military Nursing:
Opportunities are available for LPN/LVN in military service. Use of LPN/LVN is increasing in the military just as it is civilian life . active duty & the reserve are options. Benefits in the military are generous. One major benefits is in the area of educational opportunities. Assistance may be given to healp repay loans & may be eligible for assistance with tuition for additional education.
Roles and Functions of the Nurse
A nurse is a health care professional who is engaged in the practice of nursing.
Nurses are responsible—along with other health care professionals—for the
treatment, safety, and recovery of acutely or chronically ill or injured people,
health maintenance of the healthy, and treatment of life-threatening
emergencies in a wide range of health care settings. Nurses may also be involved
in medical and nursing research and perform a wide range of non-clinical
functions necessary to the delivery of health care1.
The Roles and Functions of a Nurse
Extended role of a nurse
• Care Provider
• Communicator
• Teacher
• Counselor
• Client Advocate
• Change Agent
• Leader
• Manager
• Researcher
• Case Manager
• Collaborator
Ø Caregiver/ Care provider –
the traditional and most essential role
· functions as nurturer, comforter, provider
· “mothering actions” of the nurse
· provides direct care and promotes comfort of client
· activities involves knowledge and sensitivity to what matters and what is
important to clients
· shows concern for client welfare and acceptance of the client as a person
Ø .Communicator/Helper
The nurse communicates with clients, support persons and colleagues to
facilitate all nursing actions.
Ø Teacher –
provides information and helps the client to learn or acquire new knowledge
and technical skills
· encourages compliance with prescribed therapy.
· promotes healthy lifestyle
· interprets information to the client
Ø Counselorhelps
client to recognize and cope with stressful psychologic or social
problems; to develop an improve interpersonal relationships and to
promote personal growth
· provides emotional, intellectual to and psychologic support
· focuses on helping a client to develop new attitudes, feelings and behaviors
rather than promoting intellectual growth.
· encourages the client to look at alternative behaviors recognize the choices
and develop a sense of control.
Ø Change agentinitiate
changes or assist clients to make modifications in themselves or in
the system of care.
Ø Leader
The nurse through the process of interpersonal influence helps the client
make decisions
in establishing and achieving goals to improve his well-being.
Ø Client advocateinvolves
concern for and actions in behalf of the client to bring about a
change.
· promotes what is best for the client, ensuring that the client’s needs are
met and protecting the client’s right.
· provides explanation in clients language and support clients decisions.
Ø Manager –
makes decisions, coordinates activities of others, allocate resources,
evaluate care and personnel
· plans, give direction, develop staff, monitors operations, give the rewards
fairly and represents both staff and administrations as needed .
Ø Researcher –
participates in identifying significant researchable problems
· participates in scientific investigation and must be a consumer of research
findings
· must be aware of the research process, language of research, a sensitive to
issues related to protecting the rights of human subjects.
Ø Communicator/Helper
The nurse communicates with clients, support persons and colleagues to
facilitate all nursing actions.
Ø Case Manager
The nurse coordinates the activities of other members of health care team,
Such as nutritionists and physical therapist, when managing a group of
client’s care.
Ø Collaborator
The nurse works in a combined effort with all those involved in delivery, for
a mutually acceptable plan to be obtained that will achieve common goals.
The nursing initiates nursing actions within the health team.
Expanded role of the nurse
1 Clinical Specialist
2. Nurse Practitioner
3. Nurse-midwife
4. Nurse anesthetist
5. Nurse Educator-
6. Nurse Entrepreneur-
7. Nurse administrator
8. nurse researcher
1 Clinical Specialistsis
a nurse who has completed a master’s degree in specialty and has considerable
clinical expertise in that specialty. She provides expert care to individuals,
participates in educating health care professionals and ancillary, acts as a clinical
consultant and participates in research.
2. Nurse Practitioner
a nurse who has completed either as certificate program or a master’s degree
in a specialty and is also certified by the appropriate specialty organization. She is
skilled at making nursing assessments, performing P. E., counseling, teaching and
treating minor and self- limiting illness.
3. Nurse-midwife
nurse who has completed a program in midwifery; provides prenatal and
postnatal care and delivers babies to woman with uncomplicated pregnancies.
4. Nurse anesthetist
nurse who completed the course of study in an anesthesia school and carries
out pre-operative status of clients.
5. Nurse Educator
nurse usually with advanced degree, who beaches in clinical or educational
settings, teaches theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and conduct research.
6. Nurse Entrepreneur
nurse who has an advanced degree, and manages health-related business.
7. Nurse administrator- a nurse who functions at various levels of
management in health settings; responsible for the management and
administration of resources and personnel involved in giving patient care
TAMILNADU NURSING 