Registered nurses (RNs) are an important part of a patient’s care team. In addition to providing overall care to patients and assisting doctors in administering treatment, nurses also provide general advice and education to patients and their families regarding different treatments and care options. To become an RN, students must complete an accredited nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
Nursing Education
To become a registered nurse, students must complete an accredited registered nursing program. Nursing program curriculums cover a wide range of topics designed to prepare students for a career in nursing, including science classes and hands-on practicums that help students practice real-life nursing skills. Students can complete an accredited RN program in as little as two years by pursuing an associate degree in nursing (ADN). After completing an RN program, nurses may specialize in areas of nursing and/or go on to complete advanced nursing degrees.
Taking the NCLEX to Become a Licensed RN
State regulatory boards use the NCLEX-RN to determine if nursing students are qualified for licensure and prepared for a career in nursing. Before becoming a licensed registered nurse, students must graduate from an accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. After graduating from Justee College’s Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, students will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
The NCLEX-RN exam can range from 75 to 200+ questions. The test is dynamic, meaning the number and difficulty rating of the questions changes depending on students’ answers to previous questions. As such, no two NCLEX-RN exams are the same. Given the unique format, studying for such an exam can be difficult. Accredited registered nursing programs will prepare students to sit for the exam, however students can also enroll in specialized NCLEX-RN prep courses and take practice exams to prepare.
Where can Registered Nurses Work?
Registered nurses are licensed to provide care in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Doctor’s offices
- Nursing homes
- Schools
- Outpatient care centers
- Surgical centers
- Home nursing settings
- Long-term care settings
Some nurses go on to specialize in a specific form of medicine, for example pediatric, oncology, intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal, or psychiatric nursing. After working several years as a nurse, some nurses may choose to go into management or work in hospital administration.
Duties of a Working Registered Nurse
Nurses have a wide range of duties that depend on experience level and the care setting. RNs are primarily responsible for providing patient care. However, RNs also assist doctors and other members of a patient’s care team in designing care plans and administering treatment. They also act as the patient’s advocate, making them an important resource for relaying information to doctors and the wider care team, along with patients and their families.
Duties of a RN include:
- Administer medication and treatment to patients
- Monitor vital signs
- Insert catheters and IV lines
- Preparing patients for exams and procedures
- Draw blood and urine samples for lab work
- Assist with medical procedures and surgeries
- Assist wider care team in developing a care and treatment plan
- Counsel patients on treatment options and long-term care and disease prevention
- Comfort patients and their families and provide emotional support
- Promote communication to ensure patients understand their diagnosis and treatments
- Interpret diagnostic exams
- Record medical histories
- Maintain patient health records
- Operate medical equipment and ensure technology is working correctly
- Educate patients on their condition and treatment options
- Supervise other medical staff, including licensed nurses and nursing assistants
Getting Started at Justee College
Justee College is one of the best Florida nursing schools offering an accredited nursing program for prospective registered nurses. Students in our Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program will benefit from a blend of educational classes and laboratory and clinical coursework to help build appropriate background knowledge for a career as a registered nurse. Nursing students will also complete a nursing practicum in which they will be able to practice real-life nursing skills. Clinical rotations, externships, and simulations are offered to help build hands-on skills and educate our students on the areas of specialty within nursing. We are committed to preparing our students for their chosen careers by helping build critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, and evidence-based knowledge. Our students will also learn about patient care education, nurse management and leadership, legal and ethical guidelines for the medical field, and technology implementation and data analysis for nursing.
Justee’s RN program consists of 1545 learning hours, with approximately one-third of those hours focused on clinical applications. Our program is designed to be finished in two years. Both online and in-person class options are offered on Justee’s campus. We encourage prospective students to tour our campus and request a course catalog for more information.
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