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A Registered Nurse originated in the mid-19th century. It was created by Florence Nightingale in 1854. It all started when Florence Nightingale tested out her belief in Nursing during the Britain's Crimean War.

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American Nursing: An Introduction to the Past

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Professional nursing holds a unique place in the American health care system. As members of the largest health care profession, the nation's 3.1 million nurses work in diverse settings and fields and are frontline providers of health care services. While most nurses work in acute-care settings such as hospitals, nurses' expertise and skills extend well beyond hospital walls.

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Education Requirements for a Registered Nurse 

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Education Requirements for a Registered Nurse 

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-Diploma
-Associative Degree in Nursing
-Bachelor Degree in Science
-Once you have completed those you would have to pass a Licensure exam.

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What registered nursing degrees are available?

Registered nurses (RNs) are required to have a minimum of an associate's degree, but bachelor's degrees in nursing (BSN) are also available and can help an RN's chances to earn better pay.

Weigh your school options based on your current educational needs and timetable.

Associate's Degree Programs

An associate's degree in nursing (ADN) includes courses in anatomy, nursing, nutrition, chemistry, microbiology among others. You'll also be required to take general liberal arts classes. Earning an ADN is the most popular option for registered nurses and opens the door to entry-level staff nurse positions which will provide you with hands-on experience in the medical field.

This is the fastest path to becoming a registered nurse as most associate's degree programs last about two to three years.

Bachelor's Degree Programs

An aspiring RN can earn a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) in four years at a college or university. If you're already an RN, you can enroll in an RN-to-BSN program which is geared specifically for RNs who have an associate's degree or nursing diploma. This path usually takes about two to three years.

An even quicker BSN option is for candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. An accelerated BSN program allows students to apply general education credits from their first degree to the BSN. This route takes between one to one-and-a-half years.

As an example of a typical RN-to-BSN course load, Kaplan University offers the following:

Examples of RN-to-BSN Core Courses

Bioethics

Fundamentals of microbiology

Nursing research

Nursing care of the older adult

Public health nursing

What certification will I need?

After completing your degree program, you'll need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

In order to sit for the exam, you'll need to apply for a nursing license from your state board of nursing. Since each state has different eligibility criteria, check with your state board to ensure you've met the requirements in order to take the exam.

The NCLEX exam covers four "categories of needs," according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing:

Safe, effective care environment: Management care and safety and infection control

Psychosocial integrity: Coping and adaptation and psychosocial adaptation

Health promotion and maintenance: Growth and development through the life span and prevention and early detection of disease

Physiology integrity: Basic care and comfort, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, reduction of risk potential and physiological adaptation

NCLEX is a registered trademark and/or servicemark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

What will I learn in my courses?

Associate's degrees in nursing will provide students with the foundation they need to become a registered nurse. Classes will include core education requirements along with specific nursing topics. BSN programs will provide more depth and detail into various aspects of the nursing field.

Typical courses include:

Anatomy

Microbiology

Chemistry

Nutrition

Psychology

Nursing practice and theory

How long will it take?

Depending upon your level of dedication, a nursing degree can take the following time to complete:

Associate's degree programs, which provide entry-level opportunities, usually take two years

A bachelor's degree program takes four years

A bachelor's degree with direct entry typically takes three years

Master's degree programs generally require two years

Attending part-time is usually an option at most schools, but the program will take longer to complete.

Are online programs available?

Nursing is certainly a hands-on profession, but that doesn't mean online programs aren't available. In fact, there are many associate's and bachelor's degree programs to choose from. Distance learning usually requires to students complete their studies online and conduct their clinical experiences within their local community. If you're already an RN, online RN-to-BSN programs are also available. These programs are specifically geared toward working nurses and using an online classroom can make getting a nursing degree more convenient.

Accelerated, or second degree programs, can also be completed online and can usually help people starting a new career in nursing get going quickly (one or two years). Students with a bachelor's degree in another field who want to enter nursing should have a high GPA and health care experience.

How much will my education cost?

The type of degree you earn will factor into your education costs. An ADN, which takes about two years to complete, averages about $3,200 for the 2013-2014 school year, according to College Board's Trends in College Pricing report. As an example Pima Medical Institute offers a nursing program that costs $15,052 per academic year (two semesters). Considering an ADN takes two years, you're looking at roughly $31,000 to complete the degree.

You may be tempted to go with the cheaper option (associate's degree), but if your future career plans involve midwifery or nurse practitioner, you'll need a master's degree. In this case, a bridge program can sometimes be a cost-effective option.
*Cost of tuition only. Prices do not reflect other fees, books, room and board.
Are there prerequisites?

An associate's degree in nursing or a nursing diploma is required to practice as a registered nurse, but entry to a program is based on a few things.

Minimum SAT or ACT exam scores

GPA range between 2.0 and 3.25 (check your specific school's requirements)

3 years of math, including geometry and algebra II

3 years of science, including biology and chemistry

4 years of English

2 years of a foreign language

If you're applying to a 4-year college or university to earn a BSN, you will usually declare nursing as your major once you've completed prerequisite classes at the college or university.

What accreditation is there for my program?

Accreditation is a sure-fire way to know if a program meets nationally-recognized nursing education standards. Independent accrediting organizations register schools once they've undergone an arduous application process. For students, accreditation is a gateway to potentially reach financial aid eligibility. Secondly, earning a degree at one accredited school allows a student to pursue further education at other accredited schools.

The relevant accreditation bodies are listed below. When searching for accredited schools, you don't have to dig too deep. AllNursingSchools.com indicates which institutions are NLNAC-accredited using an easy-to-see logo next to the school/program name.

A quick tip: Accreditation isn't earned and maintained in perpetuity. Accreditations are usually handed down for a certain amount of time, usually between 5 and 10 years, and are different for each school. It's a good idea to check with your potential program about the length of time it's accredited for.

Main Accreditation Bodies

The Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly NLNAC: Accredits the entire spectrum of nursing programs (associate's, diploma, bachelor's and master's)

The Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): This body accredits bachelor's and master's nursing programs

There's another element students should consider when researching nursing schools. State boards of Nursing approve schools so they can prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). However, state board approval does not automatically equal school accreditation from one of the national organizations. While most accredited schools are state board-approved, it's always a good idea to check.
Non-accredited schools: If you're thinking of attending a non-accredited, but state board-approved school, there can be drawbacks.

While you can still take the NCLEX, your nursing profession may stall out if you're seeking additional education. Generally, education from a non-accredited school doesn't qualify students to attend an accredited school.

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Registered Nursing Degrees | A Complete Overview | All Nursing Schools

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Registered nurses (RNs) are required to have a minimum of an associate's degree, but bachelor's degrees in nursing (BSN) are also available and can help an RN's chances to earn better pay. Weigh your school options based on your current educational needs and timetable.

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-Takes vital signs
-Physical assessments
-Starts IV’s
-Takes blood
-Gives medications
-Change’s surgical dressings
-Gets patients ready for surgery
-Looks after patients after surgery
-Gives out shots
-Assists doctors with many procedures
-Put’s in Foley Catheters
-Performs CPR if needed
-Notifies doctors if the patient’s conditions has changed.

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Where Registered Nurses would work (Company/Location)

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Where Registered Nurses would work (Company/Location)

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As a Registered Nurse you typically work in a Hospital. Although other places that Registered Nurses work at includes Physicians Office, Home health- Care services, Nursing care facilities, Clinics, and even sometimes Schools.

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Summary

Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Y_2fpET0U.

Quick Facts: Registered Nurses
2019 Median Pay

$73,300 per year
$35.24 per hour

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.

Registered nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in outpatient clinics and schools.

Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses must be licensed.

The median annual wage for registered nurses was $73,300 in May 2019.

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of reasons, including an increased emphasis on preventive care; increasing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare services from the baby-boom population, as this group leads longer and more active lives.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for registered nurses.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of registered nurses with similar occupations.

Learn more about registered nurses by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families.

Duties

Registered nurses typically do the following:

Assess patients' conditions

Record patients' medical histories and symptoms

Observe patients and record the observations

Administer patients' medicines and treatments

Set up plans for patients' care or contribute information to existing plans

Consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals

Operate and monitor medical equipment

Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results

Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries

Explain what to do at home after treatment

Most registered nurses work as part of a team with physicians and other healthcare specialists. Some registered nurses oversee licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and home health aides.

Registered nurses' duties and titles often depend on where they work and the patients they work with. For example, an oncology nurse works with cancer patients and a geriatric nurse works with elderly patients. Some registered nurses combine one or more areas of practice. For example, a pediatric oncology nurse works with children and teens who have cancer.

Many possibilities exist for working with specific patient groups. The following list includes some examples:

Addiction nurses care for patients who need help to overcome addictions to alcohol, drugs, and other substances.

Cardiovascular nurses care for patients who have heart disease or heart conditions and people who have had heart surgery.

Critical care nurses work in intensive-care units in hospitals, providing care to patients with serious, complex, and acute illnesses and injuries that need close monitoring and treatment.

Genetics nurses provide screening, counseling, and treatment for patients with genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis.

Neonatal nurses take care of newborn babies who have health issues.

Nephrology nurses care for patients who have kidney-related health issues stemming from diabetes, high blood pressure, substance abuse, or other causes.

Public health nurses promote public health by educating people on warning signs and symptoms of disease or managing chronic health conditions. They may also run health screenings, immunization clinics, blood drives, or other community outreach programs.

Rehabilitation nurses care for patients who have temporary or permanent disabilities or have chronic illnesses.

Some nurses do not work directly with patients, but they must still have an active registered nurse license. For example, they may work as nurse educators, healthcare consultants, or hospital administrators.

Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). They provide direct patient care in one of many nursing specialties, such as psychiatric-mental health or pediatrics. CNSs also provide indirect care by working with other nurses and medical staff to improve the quality of care that patients receive. They often serve in leadership roles and may educate and advise other nursing staff. CNSs also may conduct research and may advocate for certain policies.

Registered nurses held about 3.1 million jobs in 2019. The largest employers of registered nurses were as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private

60%

Ambulatory healthcare services

18

Nursing and residential care facilities

7

Government

5

Educational services; state, local, and private

3

Ambulatory healthcare services includes industries such as physicians' offices, home healthcare, and outpatient care centers. Nurses who work in home health travel to patients' homes; public health nurses may travel to community centers, schools, and other sites.

Some nurses travel frequently in the United States and throughout the world to help care for patients in places where there are not enough healthcare workers.

Injuries and Illnesses

Registered nurses may spend a lot of time walking, bending, stretching, and standing. They are vulnerable to back injuries because they often must lift and move patients.

The work of registered nurses may put them in close contact with people who have infectious diseases, and they frequently come into contact with potentially harmful and hazardous drugs and other substances. Therefore, registered nurses must follow strict guidelines to guard against diseases and other dangers, such as accidental needle sticks and exposure to radiation or to chemicals used in creating a sterile environment.

Work Schedules

Nurses who work in hospitals and nursing care facilities usually work in shifts to provide round-the-clock coverage. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may be on call, which means that they are on duty and must be available to work on short notice.

Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other places that do not provide 24-hour care are more likely to work regular business hours.

Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses must be licensed.

Education

Nursing education programs usually include courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology psychology, and other social and behavioral sciences, as well as in liberal arts. Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree programs typically take 4 years to complete; associate's degree in nursing (ADN), associate of science in nursing (ASN) degree, and diploma programs usually take 2 to 3 years to complete. Diploma programs are typically offered by hospitals or medical centers, and there are far fewer diploma programs than there are BSN, ADN, and ASN programs. All programs include supervised clinical experience.

Bachelor's degree programs usually include additional education in physical and social sciences, communication, leadership, and critical thinking. A bachelor's or higher degree is often necessary for administrative positions, research, consulting, and teaching.

Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of education programs (bachelor's, associate's, or diploma) qualify for entry-level positions as a staff nurse. However, employers-particularly those in hospitals-may require a bachelor's degree.

Registered nurses with an ADN, ASN, or diploma may go back to school to earn a bachelor's degree through an RN-to-BSN program. There are also master's degree programs in nursing, combined bachelor's and master's programs, and accelerated programs for those who wish to enter the field of nursing and already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement.

Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) must earn a master's degree in nursing and typically already have 1 year or more of work experience as an RN or in a related field. CNSs who conduct research typically need a doctoral degree.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Registered nurses must have a nursing license issued by the state in which they work. To become licensed, nurses must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

Other requirements for licensing, such as passing a criminal background check, vary by state. Each state's board of nursing provides specific requirements. For more information on the NCLEX-RN and a list of state boards of nursing, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Nurses may become certified through professional associations in specific areas, such as ambulatory care, gerontology, or pediatrics. Although certification is usually voluntary, it demonstrates adherence to a specific level of competency, and some employers require it.

In addition, registered nursing positions may require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification.

CNSs must satisfy additional state licensing requirements, such as earning specialty certifications. Contact state boards of nursing for specific requirements.

Important Qualities

Critical-thinking skills. Registered nurses must assess changes in the health status of patients, such as determining when to take corrective action.

Communication skills. Registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and evaluate their health conditions. Nurses need to clearly explain instructions, such as how to take medication. They must work in teams with other health professionals and communicate patients' needs.

Compassion. Registered nurses should be caring and empathetic when working with patients.

Detail oriented. Registered nurses must be precise because they must ensure that patients get the correct treatments and medicines at the right time.

Emotional stability. Registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors.

Organizational skills. Nurses often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs. The ability to coordinate numerous treatment plans and records is critical to ensure that each patient receives appropriate care.

Physical stamina. Nurses should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting patients. They may be on their feet for most of their shift.

Advancement

Most registered nurses begin as staff nurses in hospitals or community health settings. With experience, good performance, and continuing education, they can move to other settings or be promoted to positions with more responsibility.

In management, nurses may advance from assistant clinical nurse manager, charge nurse, or head nurse to more senior-level administrative roles, such as assistant director or director of nursing, vice president of nursing, or chief nursing officer. Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate degree in nursing or health services administration. Administrative positions require leadership skills, communication ability, negotiation skills, and good judgment.

Some nurses move into the business side of healthcare. Their nursing expertise and experience on a healthcare team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care businesses. Employers-including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations-need registered nurses for jobs in health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance.

Some RNs may become nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, or nurse practitioners, which, along with clinical nurse specialists, are types of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). APRNs need a master's degree but many have a doctoral degree. APRNs may provide primary and specialty care, and in many states they may prescribe medications.

Other nurses work as postsecondary teachers or researchers in colleges and universities, which typically requires a Ph.D.

Median annual wages, May 2019

The median annual wage for registered nurses was $73,300 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,080, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $111,220.

In May 2019, the median annual wages for registered nurses in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Government

$79,790

Hospitals; state, local, and private

75,030

Ambulatory healthcare services

70,330

Nursing and residential care facilities

66,250

Educational services; state, local, and private

63,690

Nurses who work in hospitals and nursing care facilities usually work in shifts to provide round-the-clock coverage. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may be on call, which means that they are on duty and must be available to work on short notice. Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other places that do not provide 24-hour care are more likely to have regular business hours.

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of reasons.

Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the aging population, given that older people typically have more medical problems than younger people. Nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as arthritis, dementia, diabetes, and obesity.

The financial pressure on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible may result in more people being admitted to long-term care facilities and outpatient care centers and in greater need for healthcare at home. Job growth is expected in facilities that provide long-term rehabilitation for stroke and head injury patients and in facilities that treat people with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, because many older people prefer to be treated at home or in residential care facilities, registered nurses will be in demand in those settings.

Growth is also expected to be faster than average in outpatient care centers, where patients do not stay overnight, such as those that provide same-day chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and surgery. In addition, a large number of procedures, including sophisticated procedures previously done only in hospitals, are now done in ambulatory care settings and physicians' offices.

Job Prospects

About 175,900 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Overall, job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be good. However, there may be competition for jobs in some areas of the country. Generally, registered nurses who have a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) will have better job prospects than those without one. Employers also may prefer candidates who have some related work experience or certification in a specialty area, such as gerontology.

Occupational Title

SOC Code

Employment, 2019

Projected Employment, 2029

Change, 2019-29

Employment by Industry

Percent

Numeric

Registered nurses

29-1141

3,096,700

3,318,700

7

221,900
Get data

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

For more information about registered nurses, including credentialing, visit
American Nurses Association
For more information about nursing education and being a registered nurse, visit
American Society of Registered Nurses Johnson & Johnson, Discover Nursing National League for Nursing National Student Nurses' Association
For more information about undergraduate and graduate nursing education, nursing career options, and financial aid, visit
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
For more information about the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and a list of individual state boards of nursing, visit
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
For more information about clinical nurse specialists, including a list of accredited programs, visit
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
CareerOneStop

For a career video on registered nurses, visit
Registered Nurses
O*NET
Acute Care Nurses Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Clinical Nurse Specialists Critical Care Nurses Registered Nurses

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Y_2fpET0U. Quick Facts: Registered Nurses 2019 Median Pay $73,300 per year $35.24 per hour Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions. Registered nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities.

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-Stethoscope
-Books
-Scissors and Micro-pore Medical Tape
-Lotion and Hand-sanitizer
-Saline Flushes
-Retractable Pens
-Sanitary items(gauze, sterilized masks and gloves, cotton balls)
-OTC pharmacy items (cold medicines, ibuprofen and other emergency meds.)
-Small notebook
-Thermometer
-Tongue depressor
-Torniquet
-BP apparatus
-Watch with seconds hand
And many more.

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If you are a nursing student or new nurse, you are probably wondering what you will need in your work bag. Aside from your personal stuff, what are the things you bring that signifies you are a nurse?

These nursing supplies listed below are a must if you want to do your job efficiently.

The most common supplies nurses have in their bags are:

1. Stethoscope
This is one of the most important tools of the trade. Nurses use this tool to listen to things such as the heart, veins, and intestines to make sure proper function. According to Best Stethoscope Reviews, here are the 6 best stethoscopes to buy. As you surely know, it's one of the most important tools for a patient's assessment.

One of today's leading stethoscope brands is Littmann. You can choose from the classic style to the most advanced kind.

2. Books
A handy reference listing down common medicines and conditions. MIMS provides information on prescription and generic drugs, clinical guidelines, and patient advice. Nurses can also use Swearingen's Manual of Medical-Surgical Nursing, a complete guide to providing optimal patient care.

3. Scissors and Micropore Medical Tape
Bandage scissors are used for cutting medical gauze, dressings, bandages and others. Nurses need to have these in their pockets for emergency use, especially for wound care. Micropore tape is also important and should be readily available, for example, when your patient accidentally pulls his/her IV.

4. Lotion and Hand Sanitizer
Nurses never forget to wash their hands several times throughout the day, leaving their skin dry. That's why having lotion in their bags is important to keep the skin in good condition. Meanwhile, the sanitizer helps nurses steer clear of germs, along with other contagious agents.

5. Six saline flushes

6. Retractable pens

7. Sanitary items - gauze, sterilized mask and gloves, cotton balls

8. OTC pharmacy items (cold medicines, ibuprofen and other emergency meds)

9. Small notebook - for taking notes from doctors and observations of your patients.

10. Thermometer

11. Tongue depressor

12. BP apparatus

13. Watch with seconds hand

On Nurse Nacole's website, she shares that she carries a drug handbook, intravenous medications, makeup mirror, tape measure, towel, lotion, wipes, 4 in 1 pen and a homemade cheat sheet for her patients.

Also, in MissDMakeup's What's In My Work Bag Youtube video, she has a box of batteries, tapes, a pack of gum, toothbrush, sanitizer, coupons, snacks, umbrella, stethoscope, pens, folder of her report sheet and information sheet, tampons, charger, name tag, ID, makeup bag, eye drops, lotion, hair clips, highlighter, pen light, and journal.
So, What's in My Bag?
In my bag, I have a 4-in-1 pen, a highlighter, IDs, bandage, journal to write some new information when I surf the net, my phone with medical e-books and medical dictionary in it, and other stuff like alcohol, sanitizer, over-the-counter meds (such as paracetamol, cold medicine, pain killers, multivitamins), eye drops, handkerchiefs, floss, toothbrush, nail file, band aids, and food.

Aside from my knowledge in providing quality patient care, I also bring things that can help me get through my shift. In an effort to make things more compact and easy for a nurse to get access to, most common nursing supplies are available in a portable kit. The size and styles are developing as new ways of making a nurse's shift easier.

These are just few of the essential nursing paraphernalia that a new nurse needs.

What's in your bag that you can't live without?

Source: nurse together

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14 Items That New Nurses Should Have in Their Bag

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If you are a nursing student or new nurse, you are probably wondering what you will need in your work bag. Aside from your personal stuff, what are the things you bring that signifies you are a nurse? These nursing supplies listed below are a must if you want to do your job efficiently.

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-The salary range for a Registered nurse is 60,000-120,000.
-It usually depends if you just started nursing because if you're a beginner you make 60,000 a year, but if you have been a nurse for 10 years you would make 80,000 a year.

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Being a Registered Nurse benefits society because they help people who are in need of physical or mental treatment. Registered Nurses take care of those who are sick, so they can be able to go back to their families happy and healthy.

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-Florence Nightingale
- Clara Barton
-Mary Breckinridge
-Dorothea Dix
-Margaret Sanger
-Elizabeth Grace Neill
- Mary Eliza Mahoney
-Mary Seacole
- Susie King Taylor
-Mabel Keaton Staupers
- Isabella Baumfree
-Hazel W. Johnson-Brown
-Virginia Avenel Henderson
-Christiane Reimann
-Sophie Mannerheim
And many more!

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1. Florence Nightingale

Founder of Modern Nursing (1820 to 1920) The history of modern nursing started in 1849, when Florence Nightingale began her first formal nursing training at the Institute of St. Vincent de Paul, in Alexandria, Egypt. After further trainings in Germany and in France, she voluntarily served as Superintendent at the Establishment for Gentlewomen during Illness in London. The knowledge and skills Nightingale gained from these experiences equipped her to take the challenges in tending to the British military victims when the Crimean War broke out on 1854.

The British medical facilities were in dire need of improved sanitary conditions when Florence Nightingale and 38 nurses entered the military hospitals in Scutari. Wounded and sick soldiers had to share with vermin and go through unhygienic operations, resulting to cholera and typhus epidemic, as well as quick spread of other diseases. Mortality in military hospitals was 7 times higher than in the actual battlefields, but dropped with Nightingale's help. She introduced multiple sanitary items such as surgical caps. Using her mathematical competency, Nightingale collected data and made calculations on mortality rate change as sanitary methods were incorporated in the medical facilities, and soon pressed in all British military hospitals. The statistical data she used, the coxcombs as called by her, is now known as Polar Area Diagram

2. Clara Barton

Founder of American Red Cross (1821 to 1912) Clarissa Harlowe Barton was a teacher when her feet directed her to tread the more risky life of bringing supplies right in heart of battlefields during the American Civil War, wherein she was rightfully known as the Angel of the Battlefield. Clara's nursing journey and philanthropic life dawned amid the dark Baltimore riots, organizing relief program for the soldiers. The need for medical supplies was huge and advertising for donations greatly helped. Not long after successful relief operation, Clara Barton travelled with army ambulances to distribute supplies, nurse victims, give them comfort, and even cook for them. She also helped locate missing men and notify families of their status; an activity that ushered the Red Cross tracing services to the humanitarian scene.

The job for Clara Barton in the American Civil War unfolded as a long start for an even longer humanitarian service, this time serving not just to warzone victims but also to the disaster victims as the American Red Cross advances to becoming a reality. Soon after the establishment of the organization, relief efforts will have to be brought outside the soil of the United States, seeing no differences of colors and races at all. This also led to the expansion of International Red Cross relief efforts, covering victims of natural disasters, called the American Amendment. They were just adamant of carrying nurse kits with them all the time to be of any help whenever required.

Barton served the American Red Cross until 1904, and established National First Aid Association of America, wherein she was honorary president for 5 years. And in the 12th of April, 1912, Clarissa Harlowe Barton died.

3. Mary Breckinridge

Founder of the New Model of Rural Health Care & Frontier Nursing Service (1881 to 1965) Mary Breckinridge came from an influential family and enjoyed a privileged childhood. Unfortunately, though, her 2 own children did not endure childhood. This was the most notable accounts of Mary Breckinridge that are associated with her decision to dedicate her life in improving health of poor women and children in rural areas of America.

Breckinridge became a registered nurse 1910 at St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in New York, worked as public health nurse in Boston and Washington D.C., served as nurse during World War I in France through the American Red Cross, and furthered her study at Columbia University after WWI. She then focused on the poor areas in Kentucky, where she's rooted. She looked into the health status of those living in inaccessible areas with no physicians. Mary found high maternal mortality due to lack of prenatal care, having many children, and no trained mid-wives. These problems brought her to London to become nurse-midwife, and came to Scotland to learn effective community midwifery system for the poor.

After equipping herself for the challenging nurse-midwife job to the rural America, Mary Breckinridge began serving in Kentucky in 1925, wherein she introduced the new system of rural health care. In that same year, she established Frontier Nursing Service, providing care for low service fee. With the latest nursing supplies of that time, she helped provide best medical care to individuals. In areas covered, maternal and neonatal mortality rates significantly dropped. FNS is still serving mothers and children down to this very day.

4. Dorothea Dix

Brain of First Mental Asylum in the U.S. (1802 to 1887) Dorothea Lynde Dix was not an excellent nurse in the very sense of nursing. However, the reputation as a famous nurse was earned by her fearless fight for the right of the mentally ill in front of Massachusetts legislators and of the United States Congress. Dix found herself in this battle due to her passion for teaching. She saw with her own eyes the dismal conditions of the mentally disabled people when she entered the East Cambridge Jail to teach Sunday class for women inmates on March 1842. Dix immediately brought the matter to courts, wherein she won many battles using careful and extensive data of extreme conditions in jails and almshouses, getting these poor individuals improved states.

Dorothea Dix continued to win support, enabling her to acquire funds set to provide the insane more humane conditions. But when she brought her advocacy to the national scene, President Franklin Pierce vetoed her almost successful effort to get a facility of 5 million acres for the people with mental disability, which was already approved by both houses of the United States Congress. This failure never stopped Dix from speaking for the disadvantaged. Even with a frail health condition, due to tuberculosis, she pushed the same efforts to different countries in Europe. She made notable changes in the way insanity was treated in the European soil in just 2 years. With high quality scissors and hosiery, Dorothea Dix made a remarkable impact in the nursing field.

On her return to the U.S. on 1854, Dix carried on with what she left behind. However, when the civil war broke, she had to devote her time as Superintendent of Union Army Nurses. And in 1881, the Trenton state hospital, in New Jersey, was built through her efforts. Her remaining years were spent there until she died on the 17th of July, 1887. The first advocate died, but the benefits of her efforts reached even the mentally ill of this day.

5. Margaret Sanger

Founder of Planned Parenthood (1879 to 1966) Margaret Louise Higgins blamed the premature death of her mother to the frequent pregnancy, the result of what she viewed as grim class and family heritage. Nursing became her door to liberation from this big family tradition. As she worked as a visiting nurse, Margaret, who was then married to William Sanger and a mother of 3, became attracted to women's pain of frequent childbirth, miscarriage, and abortion. She sought to liberate these women from the unwanted pregnancy by advocating for the practice of birth control.

Margaret Sanger wrote about education and women's health, aiming to teach people that access to accurate and effective birth control is actually a right, particularly of the working women. However, the conservative American society considered this effort obscene. She had to flee to England due to her radical advocacy, which she promoted through Family Limitation and The Woman Rebel, her writings of explicit instructions of various contraceptive methods. While in Europe, she broadened her arguments with the social and economic impacts of pregnancy.

Margaret Sanger returned to the U.S. to face charges against her, but also with the goal to win public support. She endured prosecution and arrests, but worked even more in a nationwide scale to promote birth control. In 1916, she opened the very first birth control clinic in America. However, Sanger and her staff were arrested, and the government gave the physicians the right to disseminate contraception information only for medical reasons. Sanger used this to legally open doctor-run birth control clinic Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau, all staffed with women medical personnel. In 1921, Sanger sought support from the medical profession and backed her advocacy with clinical advantages. 8 years later, she lobbied for birth control legislation and failed. In 1928, she resigned as president of American Birth Control League, and journeyed to Asia and Europe to further her advocacy. She also helped found the International Planned Parenthood Federation in 1952, which happened after World War II, wherein the growing population became alarming.

Sanger continued to support researches for simpler, cheaper, and more effective contraceptives. In the 1965, birth control pills finally became available. And in 1965, the Supreme Court made birth control legal for married couples.

6. Elizabeth Grace Neill

Started the System of Nursing Registration (1846 to 1926) Elizabeth Grace Campbell Neil received her nursing education at the St. John's House Sisterhood in London. She spent her early nursing career as lady superintendent at the Pendlebury Hospital for Children in Manchester, where Ms. Campbell met her husband Channing Neil. She left England for Australia in 1886, and then, treaded a life of a journalist and various government commissions for almost 10 years in New Zealand beginning 1891. She was a determined nurse with a stethoscope on her neck at all times.

Neil was back in health care upon the establishment of the New Zealand's Department of Health, creating a nursing service. 1901 came, and Neil got the privilege of helping draft a bill aimed to protect the public from nursing malpractice for New Zealand Parliament, one that became the world's first Nurses' Registration Act. Soon after, the Midwives' Registration Act was passed and Neil was given the task of setting up the very first state maternity hospital, the St. Helen's Hospital, which opened in 1905 and followed by 3 more in a span of 2 years.

Elizabeth Grace Neil's thorough knowledge of the technicalities of nursing profession made her a crucial personality in the international nursing politics. But on 1906, she fell ill and was forced to step down from her active involvement in the British Matron's Council. And on August 18, 1926, Elizabeth Grace Neil passed away.

THE CHALLENGERS OF RACIAL PREJUDICE

7. Mary Eliza Mahoney

First Registered African American Nurse (1845 to 1926) At her teens, Mary Eliza Mahoney began having interest in nursing. That interest led her to New England Hospital for women and children, working as cook, janitress, and laundry woman for 15 years. She also served as an unofficial nursing aid, which became a very significant step in her journey of becoming a professional nurse. In 1879, she was finally admitted into the hospital's nursing school, and was one of the only 3 nursing students who made it through the rigorous study and training. From then on, black students were accepted for professional training, a notable change of blacks' status in the nursing field.

Mary also intended to introduce proper nursing kits along with medical sleeves and other supplies for the betterment of the nursing industry.

Mahoney officially registered in the Nurses Directory at the Massachusetts Medical Library after graduating. She then embarked in private practice, providing care for patients in the New England area. But becoming a nurse and being able to practice were just parts of Mahoney's journey against racial discrimination. Mary Eliza Mahoney joined the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, which is now known as American Nurses Association. The discrimination in the association moved Mahoney to co-find the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908.

The NACGN became Mahoney's instrument in improving status of black nurses in the profession nationwide. She also devoted her life to the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black Children as director and national chaplain. In 1922, Mahoney retired from NACGN, but continued to be active in its activities until she succumbed to breast cancer on January 4, 1926. The NACGN created Mary Mahoney Award in 1936. Until now, the award is given to black nurses who showed similar achievements as Mahoney with regards to intergroup relations and contributions to improving African-American nurses' status in the profession. Mahoney was inducted into ANA's Hall of Fame as well as into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1976 and 1993, respectively.

9. Susie King Taylor

First African-American U.S. Army Nurse in Civil War - (1848 to 1912) Susie Baker King Taylor, daughter of slaves, was freed by their owner Mr. Grest by sending her to her grandmother Dolly Reed in Savannah. While with her grandmother, Susie learned how to read and write with the help of some friends. When Civil War broke, Susie, who was then 14 years old, fled to St. Simons Island with her uncle. They were taken under the custody of Union Forces that was then enlisting black soldiers for a new regiment. She was assigned as laundrywoman, but within days became teacher to freed African-American students through the help of some soldiers as well.

From being a laundrywoman and teacher, King also became a nurse, tending to the colored soldiers that have been fighting for freedom along their side. The memoirs of her life can be read in the Reminiscences, the story of her experiences in camp with the 33rd United States Colored Troops, which she wrote and published in 1902. Ten years after publishing her memoirs, Susie King Taylor died at the age of 64.

CHAMPIONS OF MODERN NURSING

14. Christiane Reimann

International Council of Nurses' First Full Time Executive Secretary (1887 to 1979) The prestigious Christiane Reimann Prize, which has been awarded to just a very few achievers in the nursing field yet, was named after her. Christiane Reimann was a Danish born woman who received her nursing degree at the Copenhagen's Bispebjerg Hospital in 1916. And in 1925, only 9 years later, she became the very first paid full time executive secretary of the International Council of Nurses.

Christiane Reimann was an accomplished nurse, who unselfishly tapped from her own funds to further ICN's goals. Not only did she generously shared monetary funds to the ICN, but also served as the brain behind many key ICN programs, among which is the council's official journal International Nursing Review. Reimann also spent her energy travelling the world to seek more national nurses' associations to join the international council, and enable the principles of ICN to be integrated in nursing practice in different countries. The fruitages of her efforts were priceless. It stimulated many of the countries she visited to establish educational programs for nurses. Others having no NNA yet, like China, were motivated to build their own.

Reiman served as ICN's executive secretary until 1934, and spent the rest of her years in this world living a much simpler life at her farm in Syracuse, Italy. And on 1979, Christiane Reimann faced death at the age of 92.

18. Sarah Emma Edmonds

The male nurse (1841 to 1898) Being male was not a dream for Sarah Emma Edmondson, but a life she had to live since childhood to escape mistreatment from her father and to be able to serve her adopted country, the United States of America. Emma left New Brunswick, her homeland, to flee her abusive father who wanted a son, not a daughter. She was in New England, when she answered the call for Union enlisters. After four tries, Emma succeeded to enter the Union Army as Private Franklin Flint Thompson, a male nurse in the Civil War.

Franklin Thompson began serving at the hospital unit of the 2nd Michigan Volunteers on April 25, 1861. Emma had no problem maintaining masculine masquerade since she's been doing it almost all her life already. But with the death of James Vesey, a friend back in Canada, on patrol, and the need of intelligence agent for McClellan changed Emma's life forever. She volunteered and impressed the staff with all the things she gained knowledge of by herself about weaponry, tactics, local geography and military personalities. Even without any military experience, Frank (Emma) got the position as spy of the Union Army.

Emma crossed the enemy lines as a black man named Cuff, with her skin tainted with silver nitrate and head with a black minstrel wig. She again infiltrated the Confederate lines as Bridget O'Shea, an Irish peddler woman. She also spied as a mammy, complete with dark color and bandanna. Emma also became Charles Mayberry, a young man, to identify Southern spy network. These and all 11 missions as spy, Frank Thompson succeeded. But malaria forced her off the camp to keep her identity from being revealed while seeking treatment. However, after recovery from a hospital in Cairo, Illinois, when she was again ready to carry on her duty as Frank Thompson, the Union Army has declared her male identity as a deserter.

There were no more secret missions for Frank Thompson, so she went back to Washington and worked as a nurse until the end of the Civil War. Sarah Emma Edmondson a.k.a. Private Frank Thompson shared her adventures and experiences in her book, Nurse and Spy in the Union Army, which became best selling. She headed home to Canada and became Mrs. Emma Seelye. Emma petitioned to clear her name from being a deserter in the Civil War, and on July 5, 1893, granted honorable discharge from the army, along with monthly veteran's pension. Emma Edmonds Frank, died honorably on September 5, 1898.

22. Louisa May Alcott

Civil War Nurse, Writer & Poet (1832 - 1888) Louisa May Alcott's service as a nurse during the Civil War was short-lived, only on a winter month between 1862 and 1863. She served at the Union Hotel Hospital in Georgetown, Virginia. However, while in the nursing service, Alcott contracted typhoid pneumonia and forced to go back home to regain good health. She suffered permanent health damage because of the fever and of the calomel dose or mercurous chloride, causing recovery to become long and gradual.

Alcott's nursing career was not as bold as that of other Civil War heroic nurses to be able to be lined among the famous nurses list. However, her experience as nurse, which she wrote in her book Hospital Sketches, published in 1863, made her extremely popular. Moods and Scenes from Dickens were also published, the latter completed to benefit the Sanitary Commission. Alcott became well known through her literary pieces, published more than 30 different books and collections of stories. On March 6, 1888, Louisa May Alcott passed away.

23. Diane Carlson Evans

Vietnam War Nurse & Founder and President of Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation (1946 to Present) Diane Carlson Evans served as surgical nurse in the surgical and burnt unit of the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau and in the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku. Before she treaded the risky life of a combat nurse, she was equipped with knowledge of nursing school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduation, Evans readily joined the Army Nurse Corps. At 21, she was sent to the Vietnam War and served there for 1 year.

Diane Carlson Evans fought for the honor of the women who bravely battled side by side with male soldiers in Vietnam War era. It took 7 years of lobbying before the congress, convincing the legislators to recognize the immense value of 11,000 military women to Vietnam and the 265,000 others in service during the war. In November 11, 1993, the Vietnam Women's Memorial was dedicated. Many American Veterans continue to support the foundation, wherein Evans still actively serves as president.

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25 Famous Nurses - Past to Present World's Popular Nurse Professionals

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Founder of Modern Nursing (1820 to 1920) The history of modern nursing started in 1849, when Florence Nightingale began her first formal nursing training at the Institute of St. Vincent de Paul, in Alexandria, Egypt. After further trainings in Germany and in France, she voluntarily served as Superintendent at the Establishment for Gentlewomen during Illness in London.

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-Registered Nurses usually have to walk 5 miles every shift
-The first record of Nursing goes all the way back to The Roman Empire in 300 A.D
-You can work in Pediatrics, Neonatal ICU,  Obstetrics, ICU, or the Emergency Room. There are many specialty areas you can work in as a Registered Nurse.
-You can go anywhere in the world as a Registered Nurse, if you become a travel nurse

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If you're in the nursing industry as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse's assistant or own a nurse staffing agency, you're aware of what goes on in the field of nursing. For example, you probably know that there is a nursing shortage in the United States, the average salary of a nurse or how large the profession is as a whole.

Nurses might be the blood and beating heart of a hospital, but you might not know as much as you think though. Test your knowledge with these unique facts and statistics about nursing that might leave you shocked and surprised.

12 Surprising Facts About Nursing You Might Not Know

We have to start off our list of nursing fun facts with some history. The first record of nurses dates all the back to 300 A.D. in the Roman Empire. They worked in hospitals that eventually became relatively developed. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that nursing had many advances and became more widespread.

2. Florence Nightingale shaped the profession and healthcare.

One of the most famous nurses was a British woman, Florence Nightingale. Not only did she save many soldiers lives, she changed the way nurses were educated and how nursing as a profession was viewed by society.

Specifically, she changed the way hospitals were sanitized, how food was prepared and served and how to treat wounded patients to prevent the spread of infection. This interesting fact about nursing is an important one that evolved the industry.

3. Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing was the first nursing school.

This nursing school started in 1873 based on the principles of Florence Nightingale. Located in New York City, this nursing school offered a one year program. Shortly after Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing opened, New England Hospital for Women and Massachusetts General Hospital opened nursing schools as well.

4. Nurses walk a 5k every shift.

On average, nurses walk four to five miles every shift 12-hour shift they work. That's a lot of walking.

Compare that to the average person who only walks about 2.5 miles on average. Nurses walk double the distance every shift than the average population does daily. This interesting fact about nursing proves why nurses need a comfortable pair of shoes!

5. Half of the students studying a health care related topic are in nursing.

Nursing students represent about 50 percent of individuals studying some form of health care at a higher education level. This is a direct reflection of the industry as a whole. In order for healthcare to operate smoothly as a whole, there needs to be a large number of nurses.

This is beneficial for students going through nursing school and nursing programs because of the large, supportive peer group.

According to U.S. News and World Reports three of the 25 best jobs of 2018 are types of nurses. Registered nurses are ranked #18, nurse anesthetists are #22 and nurse practitioners are all the way up at #4.

If you own a nurse staffing agency, you're services will continue to be of value to nurses and facilities that need additional nurses. This is even a fact about nursing that you can use as a marketing point for your staffing services.

7. Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American RN.

For 15 years, Mary Eliza Mahoney worked in a hospital before actually becoming a nurse. She started as a cook, then became a janitor and did laundry. She was an unofficial nurses aid, which is what impacted her to to become a registered nurse.

She was only one of the three nurses to make it through the New England Hospital training program. Later, she went on to to co-find the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.

8. There are three million nurses in the U.S.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were about three million nurses as of 2016. This numerical fact about nursing is shocking because the population of Jamaica is roughly the same as the amount of nurses in the United States. To put this into perspective, there are roughly as many nurses as people living in Los Angeles.

On a more global scale, there are over 19 million nurses in the world.

9. The field of nursing will continue growing.

Similar to the nursing fact about top jobs, the field of nursing will continue to grow for the next decade. It is estimated the by 2026, there will be a 15 percent growth of employment of nurses.

If you own a nurse staffing agency, this means you have the opportunity to grow your business as well.

10. Nurses aren't just in hospitals.

This nursing fact isn't groundbreaking, but contrary to popular belief, only 41 percent of registered nurses work in hospitals. Here's the total breakdown of where nurses work:

14% skilled nursing home or assisted living facility

11% home health care

4% private practice

4% community heathcare centers

4% VA hospitals

22% other

11. National nurses week is May 6 to May 12.

This annual week to honor nurses has been celebrated for over 40 years. It even ends on the day that Florence Nightingale was born!

National nurses week was established to acknowledge the challenging job of being a nurse and to let nurses know that their hard work is recognized and appreciated. Learn more about this year's theme and events here.

12. Many nurses are employed through a staffing agency.

Nurses work through a nurse staffing agency to help them find jobs and new opportunities. If you own a nurse staffing agency, it's important to have the funding to can keep up with the rising demand for nurses.

Learn how nursing staffing financing and invoice factoring for nurse staffing agencies can help your staffing company grow!

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12 Most Interesting Facts about Nursing You Should Know | PRN Funding

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As a nurse or nurse staffing agency owner, you probably know the ins and outs of the industry. However, you might not know these interesting facts about nursing. Test your knowledge and wow your coworkers with these entertaining trivia facts.