What does nursing mean to most people?
When most Americans hear the word “nurse”, they use words to describe a nurse like caring, ethical and trustworthy.
In fact, nursing continues to top the list of the most trusted professions, according to the latest Gallup opinion polls.
Broad Range of Credentials and Degrees
Words to describe a nurse can be applied to a wide range of people who provide patient care, taking care of the patient’s physical and emotional needs, as well as their medical ones.
So what does nursing mean, then? The professional field of nursing encompasses a broad range of professional medical providers, from Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), to someone with a more advanced credential like a licensed Nurse Practitioner (NP).
Something that ties all the nursing professionals together, though, is their shared focus on providing compassionate and patient-focused care. Nurses coordinate patient care and educate their patients on how to take care of their health conditions. They give not just medical care but also emotional support to their patients and their patients’ families.
What does it mean to be a nurse in the 21st Century?
What does it mean to be a nurse can vary from state to state, and the degree requirements can vary slightly from one school to another. However, the underlying principles of what it means to be a nurse have changed very little over the past century.
Nursing is a Noble Profession
What is nursing, you ask?
It’s a genuinely time-honored and noble profession, with a long history of helping people who are in need. The essence of nursing is the focus that nurses put on caring for the patient holistically; nurses are the glue that holds the world of patient care together. In contrast, the physicians keep their focus primarily on the scientific treatment of pathology, where the nurses approach caring for the patient with the entire human being in mind.
“A nurse is compassion in scrubs.”
– Lexie Saige
Changing Demand for Credentials
What it means to be a nurse has evolved regarding the credentials that are being most requested and that are most in demand today. As an example, many states and a growing number of employers that used to require an RN credential are now requiring that a nurse obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree, a BSN, to work as a nurse today.
What is nursing now, then, as we approach 2020 and beyond? It’s a category of highly trained professionals that has a very bright occupational outlook as we look to what the job outlook is projected to be in the near future.
Nursing Outlook
The job outlook for nurses looks impressive for the foreseeable future, as demand for the profession continues to exceed the supply of nurses available. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing outlook for Registered Nurses will keep growing by 15% from 2016 to 2026, a rate of growth that is much higher than the average job growth in most occupations. As a result, the median salary for an RN was $70,000 annually in 2017.
Forces That Drive Demand for Nurses
- The American public is now more aware of how important preventive care is, which is driving people to see their health care professionals on a more regular basis.
- There has been and continues to be a growing number of people suffering from chronic health conditions like diabetes and obesity that require patients to be seen at regular intervals.
- There is an increasing demand for nurses because of the large size of the aging Baby Boomer generation.
All these demographic shifts are creating a demand for more nurses in a variety of settings, from urgent care clinics to hospital settings.
Professional Differences between NP vs RN
Though both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) care for patients, there is a significant difference between the two professions. To contrast the NP vs RN roles, while RNs care for patients under the direct supervision of a physician, the NP has a much higher degree of professional independence.
Growth for nurse practitioners is growing at twice the pace of doctors in the next ten years.
– Bloomberg Report
So in practical terms, what does the title NP mean?
An NP is allowed to see his or her own patients, diagnose and, in about half of all states, prescribe medication. Having the title NP mean you are allowed to make a referral for the patient to see a physician or specialist. NPs are also free to treat their own patients, so increasingly, NP medical care is becoming the treatment of choice by a larger and larger number of patients.
As a result, the nurse practitioner is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, as reported in Bloomberg Law in December 2018. NP medical care has now taken over many jobs that were traditionally done by a salaried doctor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for nurse practitioners is growing at the astronomical pace of 31% from 2016-2016, and much of the increased demand is due to the aging of the American population.
The role of NP is considered an increasingly critical answer to solving the shortage of medical doctors. More and more frequently, when a patient goes to a health clinic for the treatment of chronic conditions, they are choosing to see a nurse practitioner over talking to a salaried doctor. As a result of the growing demand for the profession, the median salary for a nurse practitioner is currently $110,930.
Requirements to Become an NP
The minimum requirement to become a Nurse Practitioner is to obtain a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, although there is a growing trend to demand the Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree (DNP) for many NP practices. After attaining the required degrees, a candidate for the NP credential must also complete their clinical hours and pass the licensure exam.
How do you address a Nurse Practitioner?
While no official title is specifically for nurse practitioners, as opposed to a medical doctor, MD, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) does recommend that you can use terms like primary care provider or health care provider.
You can also say the generalized terms of health care professional or advanced practice provider. If the NP is working in a clinical setting, you may use advanced practice clinician, and in states that allow the NP to prescribe medication, you could use the term prescriber, if applicable. So, how do you address a Nurse Practitioner can vary, depending on the state he or she works in, and on the professional setting.
If you’re not sure what title to use, don’t hesitate to ask the person. Nurse Practitioners are happy to advise you what term they prefer you to use when communicating with them in a professional environment.
You Now Have Choices on How to Get Your Credentials
To answer the growing demand for RNs who want to return to school and attain their BSN degrees, many colleges and universities are now offering RN-to-BSN coursework. One excellent option to achieve your nursing degree, or to upgrade your credentials is to attend the University of Northern Alabama (UNA) at the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.
UNA Nursing
Ranked one of the Top 10 rising programs for nursing in the southern United States, a UNA nursing credential is a highly respected degree that provides you with many options. The University of Northern Alabama offers the traditional nursing program and an accelerated program that will get you into the workforce as quickly as possible. Additionally, the UNA nursing program offers an RN to BSN degree, and they offer both on-campus and online options. To make it even more affordable, the University has announced they will waive out-of-state fees for online students.
Nurse Practitioner Programs MN
If you are looking for highly respected nurse practitioner programs MN has several great options to consider. Like much of the country, demand for nurse practitioners in the state is increasing, both for nurse practitioners who carry an MSN degree and for those with a DNP degree. To learn more, visit here .
Minnesota is facing particular challenges because the state has an aging patient population. Simultaneously, the state’s current nursing population is also aging and reaching retirement. As a result, some of the state’s counties have been designated a Health Professional Shortage area. Opportunity is abundant in Minnesota for people who are currently nurses, but also for professionals who may have experience in another career but who are looking to start a career in nursing.
PRA Careers: People First
There are many golden opportunities for nurse practitioners and other nursing professionals, but one of the best places to have a career is PRA Health Sciences. Founded in 1982, PRA Health Sciences is a clinical research company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company prides itself on being the pre-eminent provider of clinical research, product development, trial and drug safety management.
“Where great minds work, everything is possible.”
– PRA Health Sciences
PRA Means Value, Respect and Support
PRA Health Sciences has offices around the globe, offering hundreds of clinical research opportunities for the best and brightest. There is a corporate culture built on a people-first attitude of value, respect and support.
At PRA Health Sciences, the motto is: “Where great minds work, everything is possible.” Visit their website today to learn about everything PRA Careers have to offer you. You’ll be glad you did.
