Kesha Bruington
English 111-14
December 7, 1999
Entering the Nursing Field
I am pursuing a career as a Registered Nurse. I have been interested in this field for quite some time. I tried to enter the medical field when I was in the Military but it was over-staffed. Over the years, I have watched the job opportunities in the nursing field plummet, so I finally decided to put my Montgomery GI Bill to use.
After doing a search for nursing opportunities, I found a wide range of jobs available. According to the Virginian Pilot, I found the majority of employers that advertised jobs required at least 1-3 years of related experience. Some hospitals and nursing homes will accept new graduates but for lower pay of course. This may be the only way to get the experience that is needed unless an employer is willing to train. It is reasonable to say that a new graduate may not get the job that they really want right away. It may take a year or two to gain experience, but the outlook of available jobs is very promising. In addition, some employers will hire new graduates while their board results are pending.
A Registered Nurse can work in a school, business, nursing home, hospital, health department, doctors' office, etc. This wide range of potential job opportunity offers great flexibility and relocation options. Entry level pay scales depend on your education. There are several types of educational levels. Several hospitals offer a two-year RN program, but the downfall is that most graduates receive lower pay because they received a diploma instead of a degree. Two-year community colleges offer an Associate of Applied Science degree, and four-year colleges offer a bachelors degree program. It all boils down to the fact that more education means better pay and advancement. According to the Mid Atlantic Guide to Information on Careers, pay may range from $395.00 – 1,005 plus per week depending on education.
Choosing the nursing field also offers great flexibility. You can work days, evenings, rotating shifts or something as simple as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a doctor’s office. Also, you can choose a specialty field to work in like Obstetrics and bring beautiful babies in to the world.
According to Bertha Lee Thorne, (Registered Nurse for Sentara Hospital, written and oral communications are essential in this field. The ability to translate doctor orders, write nursing notes and diagnoses are just a few of the important tasks that a nurse may do on a daily basis. The ability to formally communicate with other nurses and doctors on duty is crucial to the care of the patient.
Most employers will offer hands-on training on computers. The use of computers has not always been essentail, until now. Patient charts are kept in a data base and tests can be ordered in a more efficient manner. More and more hospitals are using computers, so it is important to have some knowledge in this field.
The nursing field offers opportunity, good pay, flexible hours, and choice of job field. My ultimate goal is to graduate with a Master degree so that I can pursue a job as a nursing administrator. This will allow me the freedom to be in charge of a facility or department. I would also like to teach and these are all opportunities that will be available to me once I complete my education.
Works Cited
Mid-Atlantic Guide to Information on Careers. Aug. 1997.
Thorne, Bertha Lee. Personal Interview. 16 Nov. 1999.
Virginian Pilot classified ads. 14 Nov.199: E8.
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