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Careers

Nursing is a profession that opens doors across the globe and in many types of settings.  As a nurse, you can apply your education and skills in almost every field.

 

New RN Graduates! Click here to download a guide for your job interviews!

 

 To order brochures email Patrick at patrickm@wcnursing.org with your request!

 

Nursing: 

"Nursing encompasses the autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key roles."
International Council of Nurses

Nurses give direct physical and emotional care to patients in hospitals, at home, in Long Term Care Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities, in clinics, in doctors’ offices, in Urgent Care, in schools, at camps, in hospices, in correctional facilities. Nurses give medication, perform treatments, analyze complex problems, and use their education in science, technology, and human behavior to seek answers and to help people heal, live better, and to die in comfort and peace. They work with people of all ages, cultures, and beliefs. Nurses teach, guide, lead, supervise, mentor, write, speak, diagnose and prescribe (in some advanced roles), and work with many other professionals from a variety of fields. Nurses touch people at the times in their lives when they’re most vulnerable and need unique, skilled care. Nurses are constant learners. Every hour of every day nurses are make a difference in peoples' lives.

 

What are the roles in nursing?

CNA:

Certified Nursing Assistant: has completed a CNA program; passes an exam. Provides care such as helping with meals, bathing, exercises, taking and recording vital signs, weights, and other observations. Prepares patients for office visits. Sees that MDs, RNs or LPNs have the help they need during treatments or examinations. Works under the direction of an MD, RN, ARNP, or PA. May work in a hospital, long term care, home care, or out-patient care setting.

LPN/LVN:

Licensed Practical (Vocational) Nurse: has completed an approved LPN program. Passes the LPN-NCLEX exam. Provides direct care to patients, collects data for assessment. Participates in planning, delivering and evaluating care, administers medications, and performs treatments. Works under the supervision of an MD, RN, ARNP or PA; may work in many settings such as a hospital, long term care, home care, or out-patient setting.

RN:

Registered Nurse: has completed either an Associate or Baccalaureate Nursing education program. Passes the RN-NCLEX exam. Promotes health and wellness; provides direct care to patients, manages complex patient care, oversees and supervises other levels of caregivers, provides education to patients and families, and collaborates with physicians in planning, delivering and evaluating care. Uses education in the sciences, behavioral theory, social sciences, systems theory, and population management to analyze, synthesize, and develop interventions; evaluates the effect of care. May work in a hospital, long term care, home care, public/community health, out-patient setting, TeleHealth, across systems and care settings.

ARNP:

Advance Registered Nurse Practitioner: RN with a Master’s or Doctoral Degree specific to preparing a primary care provider. May specialize in a clinical area, pediatrics, geriatrics, or adult care. Diagnoses and prescribes treatments and medications. May manage a practice of own patients.

CNS:

Clinical Nurse Specialist: RN with Master’s Degree in a specific clinical area. Provides education to staff and patients/families, and may consult or oversee care for groups of patients with specific clinical needs. Works across clinical settings. www.nacns.org

Specialties:

Family Practice, Emergency Department, Oncology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedics, Oncology, Hospice, Geriatrics, Mental Health, Rehabilitation, Home Health, Long Term Care, Transplant, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Allergy, Dermatology, Urology, In-Service Education, Wound Care, Flight Nurse are just a few of the many specialty areas of practice.

Public Health:

RN who focuses on populations and community nursing practice, provides care for vulnerable populations and high-risk groups, evaluates health trends and risk factors of populations and helps determine priorities for targeted populations.

 www.doh.wa.gov or download this paper for more information.

In Washington State, there is a local public health department for each county. Requirements for positions vary. To find out more about a career in public health nursing or contact information for a local public health department, contact Diane McMaster, Local Public Health Nurse Liaison with the Washington State Department of Health (Diana.McMaster@doh.wa.gov, 360-236-3734).

This information has been provided by the Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations (Quad Council), a partnership of four public health nursing organizations - the American Nurses Association (ANA) Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics (CNPE); the American Public Health Association (APHA) Public Health Nursing (PHN) Section; the Association of Community Health Nurse Educators (ACHNE); and the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing (ASTDN). The Quad Council wishes to thank the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Center for Local Public Health Services for its assistance in the development of this content.

Nurse Educator/Faculty:

RN with a Master’s or PhD, prepared to provide both classroom and clinical education. Education required varies with the level of educational program. Designs curriculum, educates and advises students, evaluates effectiveness of nursing program. www.aacn.nche.edu

Manager:

Clinical managers or supervisors are RN’s with clinical experience and education to prepare them to lead a group to care for patients in a department, clinical service, or facility. Accountable for quality of care, service, financial performance, and staff development and retention in areas of responsibility.

CNE/CNO:

Chief Nurse Executive or Chief Nursing Officer: RN with at least a Master’s degree with emphasis on leadership in healthcare. Member of organization’s leadership team that creates policy, strategic plans, implementation plans, and evaluation of care and general operations. Is accountable for the quality of care delivered to patients, staff recruitment and retention, financial performance, professional development, and often, community relationships on behalf of the organization. www.aone.org

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