Melissa Van Vickle, RN James Madison University NSG463 – Professional Role Transition

The purpose of this assignment is to provide a means for me to speak up and “tell the world” about my profession and my personal journey in nursing. Beyond this, we were free to choose our own format and were encouraged to “think outside the box” to complete the assignment.

 To share my story and personal nursing career journey  To discuss why you want to become nurses and what led you to choose to pursue a career in nursing.  To uncover your perception of nurses  To identify characteristics of successful nurses  To determine the many settings in which nurses practice  To define the numerous roles in which nurses function  To present options for your educational paths and career plans

Nursing is a second career for me. Nursing chose me and I chose Nursing. It is a calling and only a select few are cut out to be nurses. As a person, I am a giver. So being a caregiver is in my nature. I put others before myself. Maybe a fault though? My profession offers me flexibility. Work-life balance is important! It is a dynamic profession, that always changes. You have to be willing to be a life- long learner and change as the profession and healthcare field does. Nursing rewards you in ways you can’t even imagine. Nurses are trusted and respected. Even though there is no such thing as job security, I feel secure in knowing that there will always be a need for what I do.

Here are some statistics to think about...  Between 2003 and 2011, the number of employed registered nurses (RNs) increased from 2,449,000 to 2,724,570—an increase of 10.1 percent.  The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment of RNs will grow 26percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.  The number of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) is expected to grow 22 percent between 2010 and LPNs and LVNs provide basic nursing care and typically work under the direction of RNs and doctors.  The vast majority of RNs, LPNs,/LVNs are women—91.1 percent and 93.4 percent, respectively.  The percentage of men in the field increased slightly in the last 15 years or so, rising from 6.9 percent of RNs in 1995 to 8.9 percent in The percentage of male LPNs and LVNs increased from 4.6 percent to 6.6 percent during the same period. (Department of Professional Employees, 2012)

 Most nurses are white, around 78 percent, but the percentage of minorities among nurses has been slowly increasing. From 1995–2011: The proportion of Black RNs increased from 8.4 percent to 10.4 percent. The proportion of Black LPNs and LVNs increased from 19.6 percent to 22.4 percent. Blacks made up 12.2 percent of the total labor force in The percentage of Latino RNs increased from 2.6 percent to 5.1 percent from 1995–2011. Latinos’ share of LPN and LVN positions increased from 3.7 percent to 8.8 percent. Latinos represented 14.7 percent of the labor force in  The nurse population is aging as fewer people are entering the profession. The average age of RNs increased from 36 in 1980 to nearly 47 in Only 26.6 percent of RNs are under 40. However, nursing programs are producing over 150,000 graduates with RN degrees. Graduates are required to have a minimum of an Associate’s degree to be credentialed as an RN. There were 77,929 Associate’s degrees awarded in the school year. There were 68,883 RN Bachelor’s degrees awarded, 9,049 RN Master’s degrees, and 383 Ph.Ds.

 Hospitals  Doctor’s Offices  Nursing Homes  Rehabilitation Centers  Schools  Health Clinics  Home Health  Outpatient Facilities  Birthing Centers  Research Facilities  Colleges & Universities  Overseas/Missionaries  Military  Health Departments  Camps  Consulting/Legal

NURSES ARE: Caregivers Advocates Educators Policy makers Listeners Communicators Agents of Change

CNA vs. LPN vs. RN RN - Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Doctorate Degree Community College vs. University vs. Diploma Program Online programs Tuition reimbursement BSN 2020 Initiative - The Future of Nursing goal of 80% by 2020

Department of Professional Employees, AFL-CIO. (2012). Nursing: a profile of the profession. Retrieved on November 20, 2014 from Profile-of-the-Profession-2012.pdf. Profile-of-the-Profession-2012.pdf