Nursing:Tell the world By Olivia Payton

Nursing What makes you want to become a nurse? Nursing is one of the leading jobs in the US today due to its flexibility in schedules and diversity in opportunities (Black, 2014). Nurses care, advocate, and educate patients Nursing is a profession with many growth opportunities and continuous education There are many types of nurses : RN, NP, LPN There are many educational pathways to become a nurse What makes you want to become a nurse?

Why become a nurse? Nursing is a lifelong profession of growth, education, and caring for a diverse group of people. You work with a diverse group of people, learning different religious beliefs and cultures. You gain communication and listening skills. You learn how to speak professionally to all people. You learn something new everyday, whether it be text book knowledge or just from listening to your patients and their life experiences. Nurses make a difference in each persons life that they encounter.

Important skills of a nurse Caring: treat all patients with respect and dignity. Empathetic: feel what the patient is feeling. We may not understand what they are going through, but you can empathize for them. communication and listening: listen and communicate to your patients. Introduce yourself, ask if there is anything you can do to help them? We may not always have the answer, but listening is always helpful. Professional: Respect each patient individually. Speak to them in a professional manner. Address patients as they wish to be addressed. Education: NEVER stop learning!! Always keep an open mind to new areas of focus and growth Skills: taking a BP, giving a bath, changing the sheets. These are all MAKING A DIFFERENCE in someone’s life.

Educational pathways to nursing There are many ways to become a nurse. 2 year colleges to become an RN (Classes and clinical) 18 month community college programs to become an LPN, then a 1 year transition from LPN-RN. 4 year college to obtain bachelors in nursing If you choose a 2 year college and become and RN, then you can go into a program (full or part time) to obtain your BSN. There are online programs so students are able to work while in school. Most hospitals now require a BSN for employment. SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS!!

Continuing education If you decide to peruse a further degree, there are many options to become a nurse practitioner, obtaining a masters degree, or obtaining a doctorate in nursing. Many other growth opportunities within your career path that you can choose (wound care nurse, critical care nurse)

Areas of nursing Hospital: variety of focuses Intensive care unit Medical/surgical floors (neurological, pediatrics, post op, operating room, or trauma/orthopedics, Emergency department) Clinical management Labs (microbiology, research) Labor and delivery Psychology nursing

Areas of nursing continued Within the community: Free clinics Health department School nursing Primary care practices Specialty practices (dermatology, vascular, wound care, orthopedics, OBGYN or cardiology Armed forces

My Journey I have been a nurse for 3.5 years. I graduated from PVCC with a 2 year associates degree in nursing in 2014. My first nursing job was at UVA Transitional care Hospital (ventilator care, wound care, long term acute care) Started working at Martha Jefferson Internal Medicine in 2015. This was a primary care office working with a geriatrician. Assisted patients with chronic and acute disorders (diabetes, routine phyisicals, acute illnesses (flu, strep, bronchitis, pneumonia), hypertension, blood draws)

My Journey After working for about 2 years I started school to obtain my BSN at James Madison University. This is an 18 month part time program. I am required to work at least 25 hours a week throughout the program. I work full time and have all my classes online. I currently work at Sentara Vascular and Vein center. I am the only Registered Nurse in the facility. We perform vein procedures in the office, assist with wound care, routine follow up’s and diagnostic testing (ultrasounds, radiology procedures) and schedule surgeries for patients.

My Journey Vein procedures: varicose vein and spider vein procedures. Some are medically necessary and covered by insurance and some are cosmetic (paid by the patient out of pocket)

My Journey Spider veins: Sclerotherapy (cosmetic majority of the time) Used to diminish spider veins.

Other credentials I have earned throughout my journey Since becoming a nurse, I have become a preceptor for the medical group. I train new nurses to the facility on skills, work flows, and safety. I am required to check off each nurse on many skill areas such as triage, skills, computer trainings, and other tasks. I am also a safety coach at Sentara Martha Jefferson Medical group. I meet once a month with a group and discuss safety issues that have arisen and how to make the practices a safer atmosphere.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDWvj_q-o8

Resources: www.youtube.com www.google.com (photo credits) Black, B. (2017). Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges (8th ed.). St. Louis, MI: Elsevier