Nurses are responsible for providing care to patients in a multitude of ways. They can also handle leadership roles in hospitals and clinics with responsibilities for supervising certified medical aids and nursing assistants. If you want to work as a registered nurse, you need to complete at least 2-years’ formal education and to earn a license. Depending on the education program you select, you can become a registered nurse (RN), nursing aid, home health nurse, nursing home nurse, licensed practical nurse (LPN), nurse supervisor or head nurse, and nurse practitioner. You need to deliver different set of duties and responsibilities as per the role you handle.
Job Description of RN
Registered nurses are the largest healthcare workers and they need to work directly with the patients and their families. As an RN, you need to provide your services to both at bedside and out patient settings. Monitoring and tracking vital signs, administering medications, phlebotomy, IV placement, etc are the other responsibilities of registered nurses. The formal responsibilities of registered nurses are determined by state laws.
As per the data available from PayScale.com, a registered nurse can earn around $79,932 per year depending on experience and geographical location of the work.
Job Description of Nurse Practitioners
The primary responsibility of nurse practitioner is to provide care to patients. Often, these nurses are the first persons to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses. They also have the right to prescribe some medications, the privileges and licensing vary by state. Depending on specialization, nurse practitioners can undertake some other responsibilities, which include anesthesiology, midwifery and certain other responsibilities. You must earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing for becoming a nurse practitioner. Working in some countries require a Master’s in Nursing.
As per the data available, a nurse practitioner can make around $103,578 per year.
Job Description of Nurse Supervisor or Head Nurse
Head nurses are responsible for supervising the activities of nursing in a variety of settings. Besides patient care, they need to assign duties to nursing staff, setting up work schedules, etc. They are responsible for the ensuring the performance of nurse in their team. So, it is their duty to ensure the proper maintenance of nurse records, give correct report regarding the shift change, equipment, etc.
The median expected salary of a head nurse is around $80,743 per year in United States.
Job Description of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed practical nurses need to provide care to patients on a very personal level. Usually, they need to report directly to RNs and physicians. They are responsible for treating wounds, taking vitals, monitoring in and out volumes, dressing wounds, giving enemas, bathing, dressing, etc.
You can expect a median salary of $41,494 per year in the United States.
Nurses in Nursing Homes
If you want to work as nurse in nursing homes, you need to provide care to residents with ailments ranging from fracture to Alzheimer’s disease. Most of the duty time of nurses in nursing homes devote for supervisory and administrative tasks. You also need to assess the health condition of residents, supervise LPNs and nursing aids, develop treatment plans, etc.
An experienced nurse in nursing home can earn around $55,286 per year.
Home Health Nurse
The demand for home health nurses are increasing due to the increase in baby boom population. Providing periodic services to patients is the primary responsibility of a home health nurse. They assess the home environment of patients and care and instruct patients and their family members. They need help patients for recovering from accidents and illnesses and they also need to work independently.
The salary of Home Health Nurse is around $49,000 per year depending on their qualification and experience.
Nursing Aids
Nursing aids are also called hospital attendants, unlicensed assistant personal, geriatric aids, or nursing assistants. They need to perform various responsibilities under the supervision of medical and nursing staff. They need to answer call bells of patients, help patients to bathe, dress, and eat, make beds, serve meals, take respiration, pulse, temperature, escort patients to examining and operating rooms, store and move supplies, keep patient’s room neat, etc.
Top Nursing Schools in San Antonio
Some of the universities, which offer nursing programs to students in San Antonio are:
- UT Health Science Center at San Antonio,
- University of Incarnate Word’s Nursing Programs,
- Galen College of Nursing,
- Kaplan College, San Antonio,
UT Health Science Center at San Antonio
UT Health Science Center San Antonio school of nursing is providing excellent nursing education to its students. The school also offers innovative teaching and quality research facilities to the students.
University of Incarnate Word’s Nursing Programs
This is a non profit educational institution which offers degree programs in nursing. If you want to undergo the degree programs of this school, you can attend its Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing courses. The Bachelors of nursing program of this university covers topics such as:
- Beginning nursing,
- Advanced Nursing
- Patient care,
- Health Promotion,
- Disease prevention, etc.
Galen College of Nursing
Galen College of Nursing offers various education programs to students, such as online nursing education, practical or vocational nurse training, registered nurse training, registered nurse bridge program, and evening nurse programs.
Kaplan College, San Antonio
This college offers various diploma and certificate course for becoming a reputed nurse. The courses are carried out by knowledgeable and dedicated professionals.