Celebrate National Nurses Week by honoring nurses

Nurses Week is May 6-12 and it’s an excellent time to celebrate the nurses that make modern health care possible. Without them at the bedside in the community health center in schools in care facilities and the military patient care simply couldn’t function.

Nursing as a profession isn’t simply following doctor’s orders but requires a separate body of knowledge code of ethics and area of responsibility. As the profession has grown and developed several roles have emerged all with their own specific duties. Let’s celebrate nurses by learning more about these roles.

Registered nurse

A registered nurse (RN) may be what most people think of when they hear the word “nurse.” According to the American Nurse’s Association (ANA) a nurse is responsible for making their own health assessment administering medications according to prescribed orders providing important patient education and supervising nursing support staff. A nurse also coordinates with other health disciplines and gathers and interprets information to make critical decisions.

There are three pathways to becoming an RN each requiring attendance at an accredited school of nursing. An associate’s degree a bachelor’s degree or a diploma program offer students the hands-on experience and education to fulfill the duties of a nurse. After graduation all RNs must pass the same licensing exam: the NCLEX-RN.

The ANA encourages nurses to earn at least a Bachelor’s degree in nursing as this program helps nurses gain a deeper understanding of the many cultural economic and political issues that affect health care. Leadership and research are also covered in the bachelor’s program.

Licensed practical nurse/Licensed vocational nurse

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) performs many of the technical aspects of nursing such as medication administration and wound care while functioning under the supervision of a physician and RN.

To become an LPN an aspiring practical nurse must complete an accredited program that’s typically around a year in duration and pass the NCLEX-PN. LPNs function in many facilities and provide life-sustaining care to thousands of patients throughout the nation.

Nurse practitioner

A nurse practitioner’s (NP) role is determined by the laws of the state in which they practice. However in most states they function much like a physician by making health assessments prescribing medication and ordering lab and imaging tests.

There are several areas of specialization as a nurse practitioner. To obtain the proper credentialing a nurse must have a bachelor’s degree and then complete a master’s or doctorate program within the specialty and pass a rigorous exam.

Nurse practitioners use a patient-centered approach to their practice and according to the University of Maryland School of Nursing they provide care that’s comparable to or better than their physician counterparts.

Every type of nurse is trained to put the people they care for first and provide competent compassionate care. For this Nurses Week we salute those who are proud to call themselves nurses and thank them for dedication to their patients and communities.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons