Nursing, a Noble Profession

Nursing, a Noble Profession

The Nursing Profession is growing by leaps and bounds. I retired after 40-years of nursing. I enjoyed taking care of patients, and there was not a day that passed that I learned something new from those I worked with and my employers. However, it was also time to make a change and take life a bit easier.

If you are an LPN, hospitals are mandating an LPN to get a Registered Nursing Degree. If you are a Registered Nurse, the medical industry is pushing that nurse to attain her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, then a Master's Degree and finally a Nurse Practioner's Degree.

I have been reading that this is and I feel, in part because there is a shortage of doctors. Once a nurse earns her Nurse Practioner's Degree, she can diagnose and write prescriptions under the supervision of a doctor, and the doctor does not have to be on the same premises as the Nurse Practitioner.

A nursing profession offers a stable job if you are right for this job. Nursing offers you many rewards and an excellent income. This profession is no longer a woman's career. Many men are finding out that this profession is very accepting of male nurses providing them a great income to raise their family.

Nursing Offers Great Personal Rewards (and pay)

A Male or Female Make Great Nurses

Personal History

I went into nursing training when I was 18 years old, and that was many moons ago. Just prior, I was a senior in high school, and the school offered a cooperative program with a list of companies that would allow the senior student to volunteer a few hours per week, so the student could get a feel of what the job meant that appealed to them.

The senior had the opportunity to shadow the employee in their career choice. The co-op program gave the student a chance to see what the job was all about and if they wanted to go that career route.

One of the co-op jobs on this list was that of a Candy Striper, which, to my knowledge is no longer used in the hospital setting. The Candy Striper would assist the nurse or be the nurse's aide.

The Candy Striper would run errands for the nurse and her assistants and help to keep the patient's company. The student was allowed to serve meals and help to feed patients who required assistance.

I liked the idea of what doctors and nurses did to help people. I intended to enter the Registered Nurses Program at the local hospital directly after high school graduation, but I was two days late for the enrollment cut off time.

My mother recommended me to take one year and enter the Licensed Practical Nurse Program at our community college and the next year I could join the Registered Nurse program through the hospital. She felt I would be ahead of the class and I agreed that it was an excellent idea.

I met my future husband soon after I graduated in September of 1968. I got married in February of 1969.

I always had good reasons, I thought, for not going back to school, a new husband, a new baby the next year, and a new home all kept me too busy to go to school. Besides, we needed two incomes to make ends meet. I did not want to miss one second of life with my new husband and children. The family always came first and then my job.

I surely did not go into nursing for the money, as the base earnings for a Licensed Practical Nurse at that time was $1.20 per hour! This $1.20 per hour did not include my shift pay, and any salary raises I got along the way. Wages for nurses are much more attractive today.

Most people would find this hard to believe, but I felt I was rich earning this much money. One needs to understand that everything was much cheaper in the 1960's. Gas was $.34 a gallon, and I remember bread was $.25 a loaf. No, this was not the stone ages, LOL. I thought things were much cheaper and more straightforward. I can remember my parents thought things were getting so expensive and complicated.

After one year in the intensive care unit on nights, I transferred to a long-term medical facility because they were offering me a pay increase I could not turn down. I took care of the senior populace. This older generation taught me so much because they are full of wisdom if you take the time to talk with them.

This transfer gave me a rise of $50.00 per paycheck, not a lot by today's standards, but 40-years ago it was a million dollars. As my years and experience grew in the nursing profession so did my earnings. When I retired, I was making 25 times more than when I took my first nursing position so long ago.

I decided that if I were going to be a Licensed Practical Nurse for the long haul, I would be the very best LPN I could. Many times throughout my career, I performed the same job as the Registered Nurses who worked with me.

Quite a few times, employers offered positions to me that was set apart for a Registered Nurse, only. At one point I was offered a directorship but, I did not accept the job as I was about to have our second child.

I have worked in about every realm of nursing throughout my 40-years on the job from Assistant Director of Nursing to emergency rooms, intensive care, children to seniors, to management positions, and state-mandated patient assessments.

Thirteen years of my career involved assessment coordinator for the state. I had many experiences and learned a great deal. I would not change that knowledge for any amount of money as it only helped me to be the person I am today.

This experience gave me the confidence to assume guardianship of just about any medical emergency or crisis until an ambulance arrived. This experience afforded me the confidence of taking charge of my kids and other minors or adult who was injured.

A nurse automatically knows what to do to assist the wounded. Having the knowledge to help someone out was a big reason why I went into nursing. I also enjoyed being the eyes and ears of the doctors.

When I worked with a patient who was seriously ill, and I could see that person taking baby steps towards regaining their health, I knew that I had a part in that process and it made me feel good.

Nurses do not always get a thank you, and that is all right, however, when a patient does say, "Thanks for being there and helping me," that always warmed my heart and made me feel that I had made the right choice to enter a nursing career.

When I retired in 2010, I went on to use my knowledge to become a freelance writer of health and wellness articles, and set up an informational website to help people and give tips on various health-related issues.

The knowledge a nurse receives during her career continues long after retirement, and she is still able to help people address concerns, help out in emergencies, and give common sense advice.

The world needs good nurses. Nursing offers many opportunities to the male and female. You can take your nursing degree anywhere in the world once you apply for that state's or country's license. This profession offers excellent pay, and as you increase your education, you increase your wages.

This occupation does not need you if,

• You have a weak stomach when the going gets tough.
• You cannot communicate with people in an effective manner.
• You lack empathy, devotion, motivation, or do not have a caring attitude towards everyone.
• You are not honest and trustworthy.
• You are not willing to go the extra 100-miles.

People who are facing a terminal diagnosis and those patients who are ill enough to be in the hospital do not need a nurse who does not display the above characteristics.

If you can claim all of these characteristics, then this profession needs people like you. Male or female, consider entering one of the noblest jobs in today's marketplace.

**No one should take the advice of any medical professional. The person needs always to seek medical help from their primary care physician if they have medical questions.

Reference Only

• Personal experience
• www.discovernursing.com
• www.explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/21/Registered_Nurse_RN