Sophie+Worsfold


 * __ Registered Nurse __**




 * __ My Three Questions __**


 * 1. __ What is involved in this job? __**
 * ** Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. **


 * 2. ** **__ What do nurses specialize in? __**
 * ** There are a large number of nursing specialties. But the most common are Medical, Surgical, Mental Health, Palliative Care, Intensive Care, Accident and Emergency, Theatre, District and Practice Nursing. **


 * 3. __ How much would you get paid? __**
 * ** Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $40,690 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,430 and $49,070 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,480 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,300 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of registered nurses in 1997 were as follows: **


 * ** Personal supply services ** || ** $43,000 ** ||
 * ** Hospitals ** || ** $39,900 ** ||
 * ** Home health care services ** || ** $39,200 ** ||
 * ** Offices and clinics of medical doctors ** || ** $36,500 ** ||
 * ** Nursing and personal care facilities ** || ** $36,300 ** ||


 * __ Task and Duties __**
 * ** In a hospital setting, an RN performs specialized care for the patient such as administering IVs and checking heart monitors and other equipment. An RN tracks and records vital signs and administers medication prescribed by the doctor. An RN provides direct care for the patient and must often interact with concerned family member. **


 * __ Skills and Knowledge __**
 * ** excellent nursing skills and knowledge of different nursing methods **
 * ** knowledge of how the human body works **
 * ** knowledge of different diseases and illnesses **
 * ** knowledge of medicines and treatments, and the effect these have on patients **
 * ** an ability to observe, monitor and assess patients' conditions **
 * ** knowledge of how to use a variety of technical equipment, such as ventilation machines **
 * ** an understanding of nursing law and legislation **
 * ** communication and people skills, including good listening skills **
 * ** excellent time management skills **
 * ** decision-making skills **


 * __ Personal and physical qualities __**
 * ** mature and responsible **
 * ** able to work well under pressure and remain calm in emergencies **
 * ** able to keep information confidential **
 * ** compassionate and sensitive to the needs of people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds **


 * __ Secondary education __**
 * At least four years' secondary education is required to enter tertiary training, although five years is preferred. English, and science subjects such as chemistry, biology, or physics are recommended. **


 * __ Useful experience __**
 * Useful experience for registered nurses includes: **
 * ** work with young children, families, the elderly, or people with disabilities **
 * ** social work **
 * ** counselling **
 * ** community support work **
 * ** hospital-based work **
 * ** health promotion or other health-related work **
 * ** teaching. **


 * __ Working conditions __**
 * ** Most nurses work in well-lighted, comfortable health care facilities. Home health and public health nurses travel to patients’ homes and to schools, community centers, and other sites. Nurses may spend considerable time walking and standing. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. **


 * __ Hours and contact with people __**
 * ** Patients in hospitals and nursing homes require 24-hour care, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may also be on-call; available to work on short notice. **

> ** related to those of registered nurses are occupational therapists, emergency medical technicians, physical therapists, physician assistants, and respiratory therapists. **
 * __ Related job (s) __**
 * ** Workers in other health care occupations with responsibilities and duties **


 * __ Conclusion __**
 * In conclusion I think this job would be really good because I like caring and looking after people. One thing I don't like about this job is when the patients die. My interest in this job now would be in a quite high level. I am patient and understanding when people are sick, and learning how the body works has always been an interest for me. To develop the knowledge and skills I would need to continue my education at school to year thirteen and then apply to polytechnic. It would also be helpful if I worked in a rest home and had some basic experience caring for people. This job is likely to change over time as equipment becomes more technical and computerized. **


 * __ The sources I used to find this information. __**
 * 1. [] **
 * 2. [] **
 * 3. [|www.careers.govt.nz] **