Registered Nurse
The health care system relies on all levels and skills of a Registered Nurse (RN), to meet the high demands and increasing needs in health care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations”, and go on to say “registered nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) will have better job prospects than those without one” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012-2013). To become a registered nurse, you have three pathways, all of which sit for the same NCLEX-RN board: a three year diploma program, a three year associate degree, or a four year bachelor degree in nursing (American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
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I had an experience that helped make my decision to go back to school clear. While transferring a patient to her car following an outpatient surgery, she began to complain of chest pain and shortness of breath. At first I thought maybe she was having a little anxiety, which she had a history of, but soon realized it was getting worse. I quickly brought the patient back to the post operative area and hooked her up to the monitor. Her blood pressure was normal, oxygen stat 98% on room air, but I noticed her heart rate was elevated from her rate before discharge. I offered her some water and had her lay down, but still thinking she was experiencing some anxiety. I did a quick assessment and did not see anything else wrong, but she was still complaining of chest pain. I quickly called another nurse (BSN-RN) to the bedside. She took a deeper look into the patient’s history and physical and did a thorough assessment. She looked over all the medications the patient took and started asking questions. Come to find out, the patient often experienced as she called “flutters in her chest”. The nurse quickly called for the 12-lead monitor to get a better reading of her heart rhythm. Only one minute went by, and the patient quickly worsened and was showing signs of distress. After hooking up to a 12-lead we saw that the patient’s heart rhythm had worsened. The nurse holding her BSN took control of the situation, called for the doctor, and we soon had the patient transported to the hospital. Further report on the patient, at the hospital, showed she experienced a small myocardial infarction. Even though I thought I was prepared and had asked all the questions as the other nurse, I did not go in depth. Watching how she reacted to the situation proved she was educated at higher degree. I was thankful that day to
I had an experience that helped make my decision to go back to school clear. While transferring a patient to her car following an outpatient surgery, she began to complain of chest pain and shortness of breath. At first I thought maybe she was having a little anxiety, which she had a history of, but soon realized it was getting worse. I quickly brought the patient back to the post operative area and hooked her up to the monitor. Her blood pressure was normal, oxygen stat 98% on room air, but I noticed her heart rate was elevated from her rate before discharge. I offered her some water and had her lay down, but still thinking she was experiencing some anxiety. I did a quick assessment and did not see anything else wrong, but she was still complaining of chest pain. I quickly called another nurse (BSN-RN) to the bedside. She took a deeper look into the patient’s history and physical and did a thorough assessment. She looked over all the medications the patient took and started asking questions. Come to find out, the patient often experienced as she called “flutters in her chest”. The nurse quickly called for the 12-lead monitor to get a better reading of her heart rhythm. Only one minute went by, and the patient quickly worsened and was showing signs of distress. After hooking up to a 12-lead we saw that the patient’s heart rhythm had worsened. The nurse holding her BSN took control of the situation, called for the doctor, and we soon had the patient transported to the hospital. Further report on the patient, at the hospital, showed she experienced a small myocardial infarction. Even though I thought I was prepared and had asked all the questions as the other nurse, I did not go in depth. Watching how she reacted to the situation proved she was educated at higher degree. I was thankful that day to