| If you are interested in healthcare careers, | | | | diagnostic tests and their analysis, give treatment |
| perhaps you would like to look into becoming a | | | | and medication, educate patients about different |
| registered nurse. There are nursing schools | | | | medical conditions, operate medical hardware, and |
| available at campuses and online throughout the | | | | assist patients with rehabilitation and |
| United States that are ready to help you with the | | | | post-treatment health care. Registered nurses can |
| process. There are some classes and hands-on | | | | become specialists in certain areas of patient care |
| training that you can expect to experience while | | | | or can specialize in where they offer their nursing |
| studying to become a registered nurse. | | | | services. Some nurses, for example, specialize in |
| Classes that you will need to have taken before | | | | critical care, and they take care of patients who |
| enrolling in nursing school include the basics of | | | | have had cardiovascular, pulmonary or respiratory |
| math, English and various science courses. At | | | | failure. Some nurses work in emergency rooms in |
| nursing school, you will spend time in | | | | hospitals, and focus on treating patients with |
| pharmacology, physiology, pathology and anatomy. | | | | life-threatening health conditions. |
| Although there are a few nursing schools run out | | | | Some nurses begin their health careers as an LPN, |
| of hospitals themselves, you will find the majority | | | | or licensed practical nurse. This option takes less |
| are held through college affiliation and on college | | | | time in school than does RN preparation, because |
| campuses. To start you on the road to becoming | | | | it usually takes one year. LPNs often work under |
| a registered nurse, you can begin by working | | | | a doctor's supervision at medical clinics. Some |
| toward an Associate of Science degree in nursing. | | | | LPNs then take their training and further their |
| Associate degrees are granted by community | | | | education in order to become a registered nurse. |
| colleges most often, and generally are offered as | | | | An LPN can perform such nursing tasks as giving |
| a two-year program. | | | | medications including injections, changing dressings, |
| The teachers at these programs are individuals | | | | recording the vital signs of patients, as well as |
| who are not only experienced nurses but also | | | | patient feeding and bathing. LPNs must practice |
| trained educators. These skilled instructors will lead | | | | nursing under the supervision of a registered |
| you through courses such as anatomy, | | | | nurse or a physician. |
| microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, behavioral | | | | Now that you have a better idea of what to |
| sciences, physiology, psychology and nutrition. | | | | expect and what it takes to become a registered |
| Your practical experience will take place in | | | | nurse, you can confidently begin your nursing |
| hospitals' maternity, surgery, psychiatry and | | | | training today. Enrolling in one of the many nursing |
| pediatrics departments. You might also be given | | | | schools that offer online classes or attending |
| hands-on nursing experiences in other venues | | | | classes on campus from a traditional university |
| such as nursing care facilities, ambulatory clinics, | | | | are the best ways to succeed in a healthcare |
| public health departments or home health | | | | career. |
| agencies. As an RN you can expect to perform | | | | |