The Face of Nursing is always Changing
This is becoming increasingly evident in our era, as there is more and more emphasis on expanding global horizons, with regard to nursing. There is also a world wide trend towards college or university degree programs in nursing, as well as online nursing education, rather than strictly hospital-oriented schools of nursing.
The current recession indicates that fewer registered nurses will be hired in the future. More non-professionals will be hired instead. What does this mean for you and your current level of education as a registered nurse?
If you are a new registered nurse, who is just starting your career, further education is needed, because at this point in your career, you have only touched the tip of the iceberg, with regard to nursing. For those who are currently employed as registered nurses, on-going education is probably a normal part of your employment, depending upon where you are working as a registered nurse. For older registered nurses, up-grading your education is vital, as it continually introduces current issues of concern and recent transitions in nursing.
The onus for keeping your registered nurse's education up-to-date is always the responsibility of the individual registered nurse. That means that it is entirely up to you!
The direction that you choose to take in terms of your education, as a registered nurse, depends to some degree upon your personal preferences. It also has to do with where you wish to be employed as a registered nurse and the requirements for registration and certification, in a particular area or country.
Maintaining your certification as a registered nurse is necessary to obtain employment in the profession of nursing. Annual registration is also a basic requirement.
For registered nurse like you, there are numerous options to pursue, with regard to upgrading your education. But, with an eye to the future and in light of the current global trends, it is advisable for every registered nurse to learn computer skills first.
Are you computer literate? If not, that is a good place to start.
Being able to do nursing research online, immediately allows you access to a vast amount of nursing knowledge that will surpass and enhance the realm of more traditional nursing text books or nursing journals.
For example using a search engine like Google, do nursing related research on a specific topic like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, as it pertains to possible gene therapy, a patient with asthma and a parent who is a smoker.
Or search for current nursing articles about the same topic on the American Journal of Nursing or the Canadian Journal of Nursing web sites.
You might access Merck.com, if you are looking for specific drug related information.
You will soon find that you are able to access current, as well as new medical information and pertinent data pertaining to nursing techniques, treatments and procedures.
You will find new text books that you can purchase directly online, easily and quickly.
Now look up the street drug, salvia, as it pertains to the treatment of drug addiction on Google. Find out why there is growing concern about the use of this drug by teenagers.
Drug information, medical terminology or data pertaining to most medical conditions can be found online.
Why is this important to you, with regard to your education as a nurse? Be aware that the majority of your patients already have access to the internet and may be more knowledgeable about certain medical issues and concerns than you are. They will invariably seek to test your knowledge. It is also vital that you know how to find the information that you need, in your day to day nursing practice. You will be able to locate various training programs or find different opportunities for employment as a registered nurse. You can subscribe to various nursing newsletters and receive regular updates about current nursing trends or medical issues of concern.
Starting up or joining online nursing groups is a valid option for you, as well. Begin to build a global nursing community and stay in touch with other registered nurses, at the same time.
Most registered nurses have accumulated an extensive amount of research or reference material, in their own personal libraries, but this must be continually updated with new textbooks, journals, tapes, videos, cds or dvds. Many of these can be purchased directly online.
Do you need nursing research immediately for your job? With a computer and printer, as a registered nurse, you can print out the information you require about new drugs or recent medical developments, directly from the internet, as quickly as they appear online.
Or perhaps your nursing care facility demands data that can only be obtained from the World Health Organization. Go online and you will probably find it immediately. Using Yahoo.com and by reading the news, you can quickly track the spread of an illness around the globe.
In terms of medical-academic education, working directly with physicians who are actively involved with hospital-university medical schools, allows registered nurses access to higher levels of medical education, that will be reflected in their nursing theory and practice, at a later date.
There are currently numerous training programs, specific for registered nurses, being offered at most colleges and universities. Pursuing continuing-education nursing degrees, online specialty courses or up-grading in different areas, is always a possible option for registered nurses. Most hospitals and community nursing agencies have compulsory, continuing-education programs for their registered nurses, with regularly scheduled conferences, seminars or workshops of various kinds. They may offer up-grading options as management courses or staff development training programs.
Drug or health care related companies frequently introduce new pharmaceuticals or up-to-date medical equipment, in doctor's offices or other health care facilities. Registered nurses are frequently invited to train with respect to developing workshops related to teaching or educating members of the community. Both community nursing and street nursing are growing trends and courses in either of these areas, present an excellent option for registered nurses, who prefer to work in the community, as opposed to hospital settings, retirement centers or nursing homes. Registered nurses are often invited to obtain further training through conferences of various kinds offered at hotels, community centers or schools. CPR and first aid training is frequently offered in many facilities. Other educational programs may include training with regard to organizing clinics for infant and child care, the administration of flu vaccine or registered nurse recruitment.
Note that registered nurses receive certification for the majority of the courses they complete.
Most psychiatric wards in hospitals or other mental health care facilities introduce specialized training in programs like drug or alcohol related crisis intervention and resolution. How to live with diabetes or weight loss and management, as well as various other kinds of programs are offered regularly by various community organizations. When necessary, there may be training for registered nurses, on global issues, like the current spread of the H1N1 virus.
The onus for reflective practice is always the responsibility of individual registered nurses. It is up to you, as a registered nurse, to take advantage of the learning opportunities as they arise.
Studying regularly, purely on an interest level, is an excellent way to keep your nursing education up to date. This can include courses specific to your personal preferences in nursing and your realm of expertise or be based upon your need for certain skills, like training in counseling or teaching. Actually obtaining certification in teaching is an excellent idea, as registered nurses are always teaching someone, something that is health related. Registered nurses are professional health educators.
Think about this recent comment.
"At our university nursing school, we only hire nurses that have a baccalaureate in nursing. (Religious studies and philosophy don't have anything to do with nursing.)"
Taking other, advanced degree courses, like religious studies or philosophy, are highly recommended for registered nurses, as life and death issues will always be an important part of nursing, especially in the light of the increasing need for palliative care, as well as the reality of the global trends in nursing. These can also lead the way into a future doctorate program.
Pursuing specific courses, directly related to individual patient's medical problems, treatments or issues of concern, is a good day-to-day practice for new registered nurses. Doing case studies, leading workshops and seminars is an excellent way to upgrade your education on a regular basis.
Pursing legal nurse consultant courses is an excellent way to learn about medical-legal issues.
Researching, writing and publishing papers on the internet, is a relatively new way for you to further your education. Younger nurses can learn from the past experience of older nurses and benefit from their philosophy of nursing.
"Has management forgotten what nursing care is all about? Maybe the nursing journals should be re-written?"
Obtaining more advanced information rooted or grounded in other religions, cultures or traditions, is a possible option for all registered nurses to pursue. While alternative health may be discouraged in western medicine, your patients may already be involved in non-traditional or alternative health practices. As a registered nurse, you need to be informed and able to respond to their concerns.
Always keeping an open mind with regard to nursing education is very important. Make continual inquiries into nursing related issues. Keep your education current as a professional registered nurse. Being knowledgeable about nursing requires both time and effort on your part, but even while it does consume valuable time, it is invariably time well spent.
As a registered nurse, learn about previous nursing practices, but always find out about any current trends or practices, with an eye to the future. You will be glad that you did.
Keep your nursing education and registration up to date, as the face of nursing is always changing!
