Nursing Savannah Henderson

HLTH 4190 Fall 2016

Why nursing?

I have always been very interested in careers that revolve around helping others. Throughout the years, I have considered being a special education teacher, a pediatric surgeon, and a Physician Assistant. After giving it some serious thought during my junior year at Clemson University, I realized that the two most important things to me were working with children and helping those who were in need. I also love science and problem solving, which has lead me to my career aspirations of being a nurse. Eventually, I hope to pursue a Masters of Science in Nursing degree, and become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Post-Graduation Career Plans

•  After I graduate from Clemson University in May 2017, I plan to pursue my BSN from Clemson through the Accelerated Second Degree Nursing Program. Completion of this program will allow me to sit for the NCLEX exam, and earn my Registered Nursing License.

•  Following completion of Clemson’s nursing program, I am strongly considering pursuing my dream career as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. However, I am aware that through the nursing curriculum I may find new areas of medicine that I may want to explore further. If I had to choose an NNP program at this stage, I would choose Vanderbilt University. They are highly renowned for their nursing school, and offer a modified-distance learning program, which would allow me to continue to be employed, and would not require relocation.

History of Nursing •  Prior to the nineteenth century in the United States, sick individuals usually

received care in the comfort of their home from members of their family who had knowledge of remedies and healing practices. Outsiders typically did not enter the home to provide care unless there was a special circumstance- such as an epidemic or plague.

•  At the beginning of the nineteenth century, hospitals began to pop up among highly populated areas in order to serve individuals who did not have the necessary resources to care for themselves/their families. Care provided in hospitals ranged from excellent (usually in religiously affiliated hospitals) to disorganized and ineffective. Nursing education also began to appear in the US at this time.

•  Florence Nightingale is often credited as the founder of the nursing profession. While she did contribute tremendously to the establishment of nursing education principles, she is actually not the first documented “nurse” throughout history!

History of Nurse Practitioners

•  In the 1960’s in the United States, there was a serious socioeconomic barrier that prevented millions of Americans from having access to healthcare services.

•  The nurse practitioner profession was introduced as a cost-effective solution for Americans to receive high-quality care when it became difficult to see a physician

•  Over time, NP’s have emerged as a popular choice as a primary caregiver, as access to medical doctors has become more and more challenging for Americans.

•  Throughout the years, patients have been highly satisfied with care received from NP’s. Patient satisfaction rates with NP services have continued to be high in today’s society.

What is the role of nurse? •  Monitor patient status and response to healthcare delivery plan

•  Execute orders given by the patient’s physician (administer medication, changing bandaging, assessing the patient’s response to medical procedures, etc.)

•  Evaluate safety of healthcare plan before administering treatment

•  Provide holistic patient care

•  Care for patients physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and spiritually.

•  Advocate for patients

•  Assist in educating patients about maintaining their health

What is the role of an NNP?

•  An expert in neonatal care

•  Deliver comprehensive care to infants of varying levels of health

•  Care for full-term and preterm infants

•  Care for infants who may have a life-threatening condition

•  Care for infants with chronic conditions of varying severity

•  Work with parents and families during times of intense emotional stress

Admissions Requirements/Costs for Clemson Nursing

•  Competitive cumulative GPA (3.0 or better)

•  Completion of all prerequisite coursework

•  Formal application to Clemson University

•  Submission of writing sample

•  Letter of recommendation from faculty member

•  Determination and enthusiasm about rigorous nursing curriculum including clinical experiences

Costs of Clemson Nursing School: •  $7,159 per semester (4

consecutive semesters) •  $28,636 total cost of tuition

Why is Clemson Nursing a realistic goal for me?

•  I have a cumulative Clemson GPA of 3.88, which is well above the required 3.0 for admission.

•  I am a Health Science major with a Pre-Professional Health Studies concentration, and am familiar with a rigorous, science-based curriculum.

•  I have already completed the required prerequisite courses for admission.

•  I am a team player, and hard worker. I am determined to succeed as a nurse and am highly motivated.

Prerequisites for Vanderbilt NNP Program

•  Nursing licensure (ASN, BSN, or MSN)

•  4,160 hours of clinical nursing experience in a Level II or Level III nursery

•  Recommendation from a current Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and from a Neonatologist that have worked in the field with the applicant

Growth Potential/Salary Range

Registered Nurse:

•  Median salary: $66,640

•  As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Handbook 2016-2017

Nurse Practitioner:

•  Median salary: $95,320

•  As reported by the U.S. BLS Handbook 2016-2017

Growth Potential: •  The BLS anticipates that RN

employment will grow 16% through 2024

•  The BLS anticipates that NP employment will grow 31% through 2024

•  Currently in the United States as the “baby

boomer” population ages, there is a higher demand for registered nurses and other medical professionals.

•  Because of the phenomenal reputation that NP’s have gained, it is probable that they will be in high demand for the foreseeable future

O*Net Profiler Results

Nurse Practitioner Results:

1.  Social

2.  Investigative

3.  Realistic

After researching the O*Net profiler results that are typical of a Nurse Practitioner, I am even more confident that this is a potential career that I would really excel at and enjoy. The number one result is Social, due to the patient care that is delivered to individuals. This is the part I am most looking forward to in

my career. I love to help others, get to know people, and provide comfort and care to those in need. I am also quite investigative, and love to problem solve. Finding

a solution or a cure to a specific problem or condition would be something I would highly enjoy. I was surprised and excited to find that my top two traits

were the top two for NP’s as well! I am so excited for my future, and can’t wait for my professional journey to begin.

My Results:

1.  Social

2.  Investigative

3.  Artistic

Conclusion

In conclusion, I am really looking forward to my future as a medical professional. Being able to provide quality care to individuals who are in need is something I am passionate

about, and feel that it is a key component to patient satisfaction and recovery. As a nurse, I will get to connect

with patients and provide not just health services, but compassion, education, and individualized care. I am also

looking forward to the opportunity to learn from other medical professionals in my internship next semester! My

potential future career is what motivates me to do my best in school, and to learn as much as I can. I am very goal-

oriented, and can’t wait for this process to be underway.

References

•  http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/Pages/AmericanNursingIntroduction.aspx

•  http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/Pages/Nurse-Practitioners.aspx

•  http://www.healthipe.org/healthcare-roles/nursing

•  https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/nnp/index.php

•  http://www.allnursingschools.com/nursing-careers/registered-nursing/salary/

•  http://www.allnursingschools.com/nursing-careers/nurse-practitioner/salary/

•  https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/nursing/academics/second-degree.html