Nurses provide health services to the individual, the
family, and the community by promoting wellness, preventing illness,
restoring health, and alleviating suffering.Nurses work as part of a health care team which, by a cooperative
effort, contributes specific knowledge and skills to provide patients with
the best possible health care.
The
field of nursing offers a wide variety of career opportunities and personal
rewards.Employment is available in
every location and to fit every schedule.Training can be as general or as specialized as the individual
prefers.There are careers open at
every level of training.As part of
their education, nurses learn to understand a patient’s psychological and
social needs, use and judge the effects of pharmaceuticals, operate complex
medical equipment, and perform modern treatment and rehabilitation.Additional education is offered for persons
interested in research, teaching, or administration within the field of
nursing.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed Practical
Nurse (LPNs) care for ill, convalescent, and handicapped persons in
hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, private homes, nursing homes, medical
care facilities, and similar institutions.LPNs may work under the direction of a registered nurse, a licensed
physician, or a dentist.
Work Activities
Taking
and recording the patient’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse,
respiration rate, weight, and height
Dressing
wounds
Administering
prescribed medication, when authorized
Performing
simple diagnostic tests
Recording
food and fluid intake and output
Observing
patients, and recording their reactions to treatments, then reporting
those reactions to the registered nurse or physician in charge
Assisting
patients in activities of daily living, such as eating, exercising,
bathing, performing oral hygiene, and making beds
Caring
for patients in traction and casts
Turning
patients in bed and assisting patients to walk
Caring
for mothers in labor and during the postpartum period
Feeding
infants and newborns
Assisting
with teaching patients good health habits
Providing
emotional support to patients and families
Observingpatient-monitoring equipment
Providing
post-mortem care for patients who have died
Career Specialties
After additional training, an LPN may work in specialized
areas, such as post-operative recovery, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry,
surgery, or emergency care.
Work Settings
LPNs work under the direction of physicians, dentist, or
registered nurses.Experienced LPNs may
assist with the supervision of nursing assistants.Those who care for patients in homes and
other locations may work under a variety of environmental conditions.Some of the work, such as lifting patients
and turning them in bed, can be strenuous.LPNs are in close contact with patients who are experiencing illness,
pain, discomfort, and death as well as healing and recovery.
Special Requirements
To become qualified as a Licensed Practical Nurse in
Arkansas,
the applicant must complete an accredited practical nursing program and pass a
written examination.Any person who holds
a license to practice as an LPN may use the designation “Licensed Practical
Nurse.”
Nurse Anesthetists
are registered nurses who administer intravenous, spinal, and other types of anesthetics
to patients undergoing medical, dental, surgical, and obstetrical procedures.
They work under the direction of the attending surgeon, dentist, or
anesthesiologist to render patients insensitive to pain. Specialized training
is required.
Work Activities
Assembling
supplies, equipment, and machines for administering anesthetics, and
testing the machines
to ensure proper functioning
Studying
the results of presurgical tests to determine how the anesthetic will
affect the patient
Assuring
that a supply of the proper blood type is available for emergency use
Explaining
medical procedures to the patient to secure cooperation and bolster
confidence
Administering
prescribed medications before surgery or childbirth
Administering
the prescribed anesthetic and maintaining the patient under anesthesia
during surgery
Preparing
prescribed solutions and starting intravenous
injections
Watching
the patient for warning signs,
such as dilation of pupils or change in skin color
Monitoring
the patient’s condition during anesthesia and assisting the attending
physician with emergency procedures if necessary
Inserting
artificial airways, or administering oxygen, fluids, and blood to prevent
airway obstruction or surgical shock
Recording
the patient’s condition and the anesthetic and medication administered
before, during, and after surgery
In addition to duties directly relating to surgical
procedures, Nurse Anesthetists may prepare periodic reports of the activities
of other workers, take inventories, order supplies, and request necessary
equipment, repairs, or adjustments. Some may teach in nurse anesthesia
programs, engage in research, or perform administrative duties related to
anesthesiology.
WorkSettings
Nurse Anesthetists combine professional nursing skills with
the science of anesthesia. The Nurse Anesthetist works under the direction of a
physician or dentist.
Although anesthetics usually are administered in a hospital
operating room, Nurse Anesthetists may work in the obstetric department, the
psychiatric department, the inhalation therapy department, the emergency room,
or in dental offices.
SpecialRequirements
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) must be
registered nurses and must have obtained a nurse anesthetist practitioner’s
license. Documentation of current certification from the Council on
Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is also required Educational Institutions
Educational Institutions
ASUJ (M)
For more information,
contact:
American Association of
Nurse Anesthetists
222 S. Prospect Avenue Park Ridge, IL 60068 (847) 692-7050
www.aana.com
Nursing Assistants, also known as Nurse Aides and
Orderlies assist in the care of patients under the direction of the nursing
and medical staff. Those who work with elderly patients are called Geriatric
Aides.
Work Activities
* Bathing, dressing, undressing, and assisting in the hygienic
needs of patients
* Serving meals and feeding patients who are unable to feed
themselves
* Measuring and recoding food and liquid intake and output
* Taking and recording a patient’s temperature, blood pressure,
pulse, and respiration rate
* Setting up equipment, portable X-ray machines, and overhead
irrigation bottles
* Observing and reporting how patients respond to the care they
receive
* Assisting patients in and out of bed
* Moving patients to and from treatment rooms by using wheelchairs
or wheeled carriages, or by assisting them to walk.
* Draping patient for examinations and treatments, then remaining
to assist the physician with the examination
* Making beds and doing other housekeeping activities to keep
patients rooms clean
Career Specialties
Nurse Aides may be classified according to the specific
tasks they perform
Central Supply Nurse Aides clean, sterilize, store, prepare,
and issue dressing packs, treatment trays, and other supplies.
Delivery Nurse Aides prepare patients for childbirth and
clean the delivery rooms.
Nursery Nurse Aides bathe, weigh, dress, and feed newborn
babies.
Surgery Nurse Aides clean, sterilize, and assemble supplies
and instruments used in surgery and maintain cleanliness and order in the
operating rooms.
Work Settings
Nursing Assistants usually work in hospitals or nursing homes as
members of a nursing team under the direct supervision of a licensed health
professional. Working conditions may include close contact with illness, pain,
and death, and exposure to infection and communicable diseases. Also, Nursing
Assistants may work in private homes and in psychiatric care settings where
conditions may vary.
Special Requirements
Most employers in Arkansas prefer applicants with a high school
diploma or equivalent and some training, either formal training at a
postsecondary institution or on-the-job training at a hospital or nursing home.
Nurse Midwives
are registered nurses with specialized training in the care of healthy pregnant
women and newborns. Certified Nurse Midwives provide personal, family centered
care while remaining affiliated with a physician who is available for
consultation or referral if necessary.
Work Activities
Advising
women about reproductive health, conception, and personal care
Providing
gynecological services, including pelvic and breast exams and Pap smears
Monitoring
the health of the pregnant woman and fetus during pregnancy
Educating
women and their families about nutrition, exercise, childbirth methods,
and infant care
Evaluating
the progress of labor and offering physical and emotional support
Consulting
a physician if labor is not normal
Assisting
with childbirth and examining the newborn
Advising
patients about breast- and bottle-feeding
WorkSettings
Nurse Midwives work in hospitals, birthing centers, health
maintenance organizations, public health departments, or clinics, or establish
their own private practices. Some Midwives deliver babies in the mother’s home
if conditions are safe and suitable.
SpecialRequirements
To become certified as a Nurse Midwife in Arkansas,
one must be a registered nurse, complete an accredited educational program to
earn a certificate or a master’s degree, and pass a written examination given
by the AmericanCollege
of Nurse Midwives.
Nurse Practitioners
are registered nurses with advanced, specialized education in health assessment
who provide comprehensive health care to people of all ages in collaboration
with physicians and/or other health professionals.
Work Activities
Obtaining
health histories
Performing
complete physical exams
Diagnosing
and treating common illnesses
Initiating
therapy or prescribing medications
Managing
stable, chronic conditions such as diabetes
Providing
education and counseling with an emphasis on the preventive aspects of
health care
WorkSettings
Nurse Practitioners work in private offices with physicians,
medical clinics, schools, home health agencies, health maintenance
organizations, health departments, and hospitals. Some Nurse Practitioners have
their own private practices.
CareerSpecialties
Nurse Practitioners may specialize in adult, family, pediatric,
women’s, school, or geriatric health.
SpecialRequirements
To become a Nurse Practitioner, one must be a registered
nurse and complete an accredited Nurse Practitioner program earning a certificate
or a master’s degree. To become certified in Arkansas,
Nurse Practitioners also must pass an examination given by the American Nurses
Association or other certifying organizations.
Registered Nurses
(RNs) provide care, treatment, counseling, and health education to the ill,
injured, and infirm. They assist in the maintenance of health and the
prevention or management of illness, injury, and disability.
Work Activities
Determining
the nursing and health needs of patients
Carrying
out prescribed medical and nursing treatments
Teaching
and counseling patients and their families
Observing
and reporting the condition of patients to physicians and modifying the
plan of care if needed
Directing
and supervising less skilled nursing personnel
Career Specialties
Registered Nurses may specialize in some of the following
areas:
Hospital Nurses or Institutional Nurses, also known as staff or
general duty nurses, give general or specialized nursing care to patients in
hospitals, long-term care facilities, or similar institutions. Their duties may
include:administering drugs,
injections, and treatments to patients, as prescribed by a physician; preparing
equipment and aiding the physician during treatment and examination of the patient
Observing, recording, and reporting the patient’s condition
and reaction to drugs and treatments
Hospital RNs may specialize in one of the clinical and nursing
services of the institution, such as obstetrics, surgery, psychiatry, cardiac
care, or intensive care. They may work with special types of patients, such as
children, the elderly, the chronically ill, or the physically or mentally
challenged.
Industrial Nurses (RNs who work in occupational health
settings) usually treat ailments and injuries that occur on the company
property. They may be involved in illness prevention and safety programs
provided for employees. Also, they may refer some individuals to other health
care providers.
Nurse Instructors or Nurse Educators teach nursing students in
basic and vocational schools. Nurse Educators also may work with in-service or
staff development programs in various health service settings.
Office Nurses care for and treat patients in offices as
directed by physicians. They may have reception, clerical, and inventory duties
in addition to regular nursing duties. They often perform simple laboratory
tests and take X-rays when specialists for these tasks are not available.
Private Duty Nurses give constant bedside care to one patient,
either in a hospital or at the patient’s home.
Public Health Nurses, or Community Health Nurses, work in
governmental or voluntary public health agencies to provide care, teaching, and
counseling to individuals at home, at work, or in schools, clinics, or other
settings. Emphasis is on preventing illness by providing people with
instruction in health maintenance and disease prevention. They refer patients
with special problems to appropriate community agencies.
School Nurses plan policies, standards, and objectives of
school health programs in cooperation with medical and school administrative
personnel.
RNs who have graduate education or extensive experience may
become administrators, teachers, Public Health Nurses, or consultants.
Specialists, such as Nurse Anesthetists or Nurse Practitioners, also are
registered nurses who have completed specialized training.
Work Settings
Hospital or Institutional Registered Nurses may be
supervised by the head nurse. They may supervise auxiliary nursing personnel
and other health personnel, such as licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, or
orderlies. Nurse Educators are supervised by the director of staff development
or the school director. They instruct and supervise the training of auxiliary
nursing personnel. Office Registered Nurses are supervised by the physician(s)
who employ them.RNs work in hospitals,
nursing homes, clinics, offices, or classrooms. Private Duty Nurses and
Community Health Nurses may provide nursing services in private homes,
industries, or clinics. All may be exposed to infection, communicable diseases,
and contaminated materials.
Special Requirements
To qualify as a registered nurse in Arkansas,
the applicant must complete an accredited professional nursing program
(two-year degree, three-year diploma, or four-year degree) and pass a written
examination. Any person who holds a license to practice professional nursing
has the right to use the title “Registered Nurse.”
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Regional Programs
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Nurses provide health services to the individual, the
family, and the community by promoting wellness, preventing illness,
restoring health, and alleviating suffering.