What is a rn registered nurse?

Answer 1

There are several levels of certified and licensed workers in the nursing field. CNA I and II typically require about 3 months of related courses. In most colleges and universities NA (nursing assistant) students are not required to take college level courses. A high school diploma or a GED is all that is required prior to taking NA classes. Above CNA's (ranking so to speak) is a LPN , then a RN. PN (Practical Nursing, to become a (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurse) and ADN (Associates Degree in Nursing, to become a (RN) Registered Nurse) programs require prerequisites prior to entrance into the Health Sciences program. Prerequisites consist of Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Algebra (must be highly proficient in math), several fine art classes; preferably a foreign language, public speaking, and a few English courses. Taking all these courses do not guarantee entrance into the Health Sciences program. You will be assigned an advisor, usually one of the Nursing Instructors as soon as you fill out an application requesting acceptance into the nursing program. Once you have completed your application and prerequisites your advisor will decide whether she/he feels you are qualified to enter the actual nursing program. His/Her decision in based partially on a students grades, attendance record, completion of prerequisites and on responses given by student during an interview with the advisor. It is in your best interest to strive for extremely high grades and attend all your classes. Oh yeah, there is also an entrance exam prior to enrollment in the nursing program. Do well in all of the above! Although your nursing program advisor as well as other advisor's may agree that you would be an asset to the nursing program the final decision is made by the Dean of Health Sciences. Things you should be very aware of.... Although most colleges and universities are on a 10 point scale ex. A=90-100, B=80-90, and so forth for other programs/degrees offered. IT IS NOT SO IN THE NURSING PROGRAMS! They are not that lenient. Absences and tardies are highly frowned upon. Missing certain days and hours, for example when scheduled for clinical rounds or labs most likely will result in expulsion from the program. If at the end of each semester you do not make a grade of a C (78) or better you will be expelled from the program. If you succeed throughout all of the above and then some... you are still not a nurse. After graduation from an accredited nursing program you must take your state boards, in other words an exam (cumulative) given by the state board of nursing that you reside in. You must pass this exam in order to obtain a license. You can not work as a nurse in any state without a license. Typically Health Sciences programs after all prerequisites are completed will take one additional year (Monday - Friday and full days) for Practical Nursing (LPN), and two additional years (Monday - Friday and 3/4 days) for an Associates degree (RN). Again you must obtain your certification or license in the state you reside in. Nursing licenses depending on the state you live in may be accepted as valid/legal to work in other states for short periods. For instance, taking a job as a traveling nurse, working temporarily from one state to another. You must inquire with your states Board of Nursing to see if and where your license is accepted. For example, I am licensed in NC and my license is accepted by half of the states if not more within the United States. In order to work in a state that does not recognize your states license you must take that states licensing exam and of course pass. To work in Another Country requires an International license. Differences between and typical duties of each are: # CNA I which stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. Generally they are responsible for ADL's (assisting with daily living) chores such as changing bed sheets, grooming, bathing, dressing, helping to feed those who require assistance however, the patient must be capable of chewing and swallowing, taking vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature and transferring patients from bed, etc. CNA's may not delegate to other personnel. # CNA II also stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. Their duties are the same as a CNA I with the exception that in some states and facilities they are also qualified to do finger pricks (pricking patients finger to obtain blood for glucose monitoring). CNA's may not delegate to other personnel. # LPN which stands for Licensed Practical Nurse. Wow... here we go. Tracheotomy care, Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (feeding by J-tube, G-tube, and Naso), initiating IV's, Oxygen therapy, Med administration (oral, sublingual, injections, topical, ocular, CPAP, and so on), vital signs, cultures, assisting physician and/or surgeon when needed, wound care, transcribing doctors orders, drawing blood, catheterizations, urinalysis', as well as all that is listed above, and the list literally goes on and on. LPN's can delegate to other LPN's, CNA's I and II and unlicensed personnel. # RN which stands for Registered Nurse. Can do everything above. There are a few things that a RN is licensed to do that a LPN can not. A LPN can not delegate to an RN unless under special circumstances. A RN can do an IV push (fast administration by IV), LPN can not. LPN's can however give meds by IV via mini-infusers, piggyback's, and so on. All though both LPN and RN are trained in diagnosing diseases and such only the RN is licensed to do so. Nursing degrees do not stop at the level of a two year RN (Associate Degree). You can continue onwards to obtain a Bachelors Degree or Masters Degree.