Nurses in USA

Types of nurses in the US

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

Registered Nurses (RNs)

Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs)

Education

LPN

12 months of training at a state approved vocational/technical school or community college.

The practical nursing programmes include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (usually in hospital).

Education

RNRN

Bachelor of science degree in

nursing BSN (4 year)

Hospital training diploma

(2-3 years)

Associates degree in nursing

ADN (2 years)

Associate's Degree

Courses last approximately two years. combine nursing courses and supportive college coursesavailable at community and junior colleges, also offered at some universities and technical institutes. Graduates receive an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree.

Diploma Programmes

These are often run by hospitals or community health care centres and take two to three years.

Associate's degree and diploma holders can begin practice as an RN, but they are limited to staff positions as health care generalists and not qualified for certain positions outside the hospital.

Although all three educational paths meet entry requirements for nurse registration and licensure, the primary path to professional nursing is the BSN.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recognises the BSN as the minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice.

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)

four-year programmes to obtain a bachelor's degree after receiving an associate's degree, a student will have to spend at least two additional years at a university or college that offers bachelor's or combined bachelor's/master's degrees.The final two years concentrate on nursing courses and on-site clinical training in hospitals, clinics and outpatient centres.

APNThe master's degree is the standard educational qualification for Advanced Practical Nurses. The most common APN is the Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Master's degrees in nursing last 18-24 months and involve classroom and clinical work. The curriculum generally includes nursing science theory and application, health care management, research and courses in the student's specialization.

Education

Licensed Practical NursesLicensed Practical Nurses

provide nursing care usually under the direction of medical practitioners, registered nurses, or other health team members. are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, companies, private homes and community health centres. Operating room technicians are included in this unit group.

Licensed Practical NursesLicensed Practical Nurses

Example Titles

certified nursing assistant (CNA)

licensed nursing assistant

licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.)

licensed vocational nurse (L.V.N.)

operating room technician

registered nursing assistant (R.N.A.)

registered practical nurse (R.P.N.)

Licensed Practical NursesLicensed Practical NursesLPNs provide a large portion of direct patient care.   LPNs

are directed by doctors and nurses (RNs & nurse managers).  Typically, a LPNЅs work duties include:

 Taking vital signsPreparing and administering injections and enemasApplying dressings and bandagesWatching cathetersTreating bedsoresProviding alcohol massages or rubsMonitoring patients and reporting changesCollecting samples for testingProvide patient hygieneFeeding patientsMonitoring food and liquid input/output

 

Licensed Practical NursesLicensed Practical Nurses

Operating room technicians perform some or all of the following duties:

Prepare patients for surgery by washing, shaving and sterilizing the patients' operative areas Assist in surgery by laying out instruments, setting up equipment, assisting surgical teams with gowns and gloves and passing instruments to surgeons Clean and sterilize the operating room and instruments.

Essential functions (requierements)1. Able to walk/stand on feet for 95% of 12-hour day.2. Able to push or pull 30 pounds.3. Able to bend, stretch, work overhead, twist, and extend arms to bedside equipment.4. Able to see and read small blocks of EKG strips or small markings of syringes.5. Able to hear and distinguish call bells and other tones and alarms.6. Math computational skills of dosage calculations.7. Communication skills both written and verbal suitable to express the physical, mental and emotional status of patient.

Licensed Practical NursesLicensed Practical Nurses

Registered nursesRegistered nursesRegistered nurses constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.3 million jobs.

Work duties providing direct patient care (observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress in patients) assisting physicians during surgeries, treatments, and examinations administering medicationsassisting patients and families during recuperation and convalescence

Hospital Nurses

This is the largest group of nurses.

They typically work in one area of the hospital, such as maternity, the emergency room, surgery, or intensive care, and provide bedside assistance for patients. They may also have supervisory responsibility for nursing aides and practical nurses.

Office nurses

care for outpatients in physicians’ offices, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and emergency medical centers.

they prepare patients for, and assist with, examinations; administer injections and medications; dress wounds and incisions; assist with minor surgery; and maintain records. Some also perform routine laboratory and office work.

Nursing care facility nursesmanage care for residents with conditions ranging from a fracture to Alzheimer’s disease. They assess residents’ health, develop treatment plans, supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides, and perform invasive procedures, such as starting intravenous fluids. They also work in specialty-care departments, such as long-term rehabilitation units for patients with strokes and head injuries.

Home health nurses

provide nursing services to patients at home.

RNs assess patients’ home environments and instruct patients and their families. Home health nurses care for a broad range of patients, such as those recovering from illnesses and accidents, cancer, and childbirth. They must be able to work independently and may supervise home health aides.

Public health nurseswork in government and private agencies, including clinics, schools, retirement communities, and other community settings. Public health nurses instruct individuals, families, and other groups regarding health issues such as preventive care, nutrition, and childcare. They arrange for immunizations, blood pressure testing, and other health screening.

Occupational health nurses (industrial nurses)

provide nursing care at worksites to employees, customers, and others with injuries and illnesses.

They give emergency care, prepare accident reports, and arrange for further care if necessary.

They also offer health counseling, conduct health examinations and inoculations, and assess work environments to identify potential or actual health problems.

Head nurses or nurse supervisors

direct nursing activities, primarily in hospitals.

They plan work schedules and assign duties to nurses and aides, provide or arrange for training, and visit patients to observe nurses and to ensure that the patients receive proper care.

They also may ensure that records are maintained and equipment and supplies are ordered.

Advanced Practice NursesAdvanced Practice Nursesnurse practitioners provide basic, primary healthcare. They diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries. Nurse practitioners also can prescribe medications—but certification and licensing requirements vary by state. Other advanced practice nurses include clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives. 18 of the US states allow NPs to practice independently of physicians.