Dream Job

Essay 2 for COMM150
Shannon Burkett
Bryant & Stratton College
COMM150: Introduction to Information Literacy
Mrs. Pandora
November 6, 2012

My name is Shannon Burkett. I am a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) currently enrolled at Bryant and Stratton College to acquire an Associate degree in nursing. My dream job would to be to hold a position as a Trauma Nurse. As a Trauma Nurse, I would enjoy working in an Emergency Room setting, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or as a Life Flight Nurse. With the interest in becoming a Trauma Nurse, I have performed the necessary research covering the responsibilities, working as a nurse in today’s job market both for the State of Ohio and Nationally, and the salary of a Trauma Nurse in a variety of settings.
Challenging Job Duties Some of the most important and challenging job duties of a Trauma Nurse include documentation, administering medications and treatments, and consulting with the doctors (Bureau Of Labor Statics [ BLS], 2012, para.2). I interviewed an instructor I had when in school to obtain my LPN, Karin Sassio. Karin was one of my in-class instructor and my clinical instructor. She has since moved to Michigan and is now the Director of Nursing at a Long-term care facility. I choose Karin for this project because she is very knowledgeable, she has been a nurse for a long time, and has worked in a variety of healthcare settings. I asked Karin “What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse?” Karin replied, “The most rewarding part of being a nurse, to me, is to help someone and see them improve so they can go home, and back to a normal life” (Sassio, 2012).

(Google, 2012)

National Job Market and Trends The number of Registered Nurses employed in the nation is 1,737,400. According to Roma Lightsey, “falls, medication errors, pain management, and patient education are just some of the areas that are neglected due to a shortage of nurses” (Lightsey, 2012, ¶ 5). Job opportunities are expected to be excellent. Some employers report difficulty in keeping enough RNs on staff. The demand for RNs is expected to continually increase 26% from 2010 to 2021. The national average compensation is $64,690 annually (BLS, 2012, para.2).

Ohio Job Market and Trends
The number of RNs working in Ohio is 124,790. The average compensation in Ohio for an RN is $60,818 annually. There is every reason to expect this growth will continue. In Ohio the job market is expected to grow 15% by the year 2020. Advances in medical technology and the aging of the population will generate continued expansion (Ohio Outlook Handbook, [OOH], 2012, para.9). The overall job outlook in Ohio for an RN is excellent.
Personal Analysis Being Trauma Nurse appeals to me because of the fast-paced environment. I would be working with a variety of people and situations. I have the ability to maintain my composure and operate effectively in an emergency environment. Secondly, I can communicate well with others, such as with patients and co-workers to carry out an assigned task. Finally, I am amiable and able to function well in a team setting.
Education
The education that a Trauma Nurse needs first is to obtain an RN license. A person can choose either to get an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Science. To become licensed, nurses must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. After obtaining an RN license the facility may require the nurse to obtain additional certifications and/or experience to work in an emergency department, ICU, or as a Life Flight Nurse. Additional training may include basic life support, and advanced life support for both adults and children. A Trauma Nurse must be able to assess changes in their patients concerning their health and take proper actions (Alexander, 2012, p. 193). They also must be responsible and detail oriented to ensure patients get the correct treatments and medications at the right time. Finally, the Trauma Nurse should be patient so they can provide quality care under stressful or hectic circumstances (BLS, 2012).
Related Occupation 1 For an RN to work in the ICU the nurse must be able to assess and stabilize the patient. In addition, communication with the family is difficult but an important duty of an ICU Nurse. The nurse is the communicator and comforter of the patients’ family in a serious and difficult time. “An ICU Nurse has the responsibility to act as the patient 's advocate. They must respect the right of the patient, or the patient 's family, to make informed health-care decisions. This might include awareness of religious, social and cultural values, but there is always the responsibility to intervene for the best interest of the patient and to properly educate the patient and the family on the patient 's condition” ( Lightsey, 2012). Overall, the growth trend for RNs has been growing steadily for many decades. Nurses who specialize as ICU nurses are a part of this increasing need. The average compensation for a nurse in the ICU is $68,057 annually (Lightsey, 2012). A lifelong learning opportunity in this field would be live every day to the fullest.
Related Occupation 2 “Flight nurses provide complex care to patients who may be critically ill and unstable, including cardiac monitoring, administration of IV fluids and medications, and advanced life support. They have a good deal of autonomy and a great deal of responsibility” (Lightsey, 2012). A Flight Nurse is a nurse with specialized training in high-level trauma and rescue. As a Flight Nurse, the RN has to have excellent patient assessment skills, excellent decision-making skills, and up-to-date certifications. The average compensation for a Flight Nurse is $78,000 annually (Sinclair, 2007, p.178). Emotional stability in this field would be one of the most important lifelong learning opportunities.

Conclusion In writing this essay I have learned that communication, being detailed oriented, and being emotionally stable for the patient is some of the most important qualities to possess in this field of nursing. I have learned the salaries of RNs. I have learned for the State of Ohio and Nationally the job outlook and trend. I have learned that the field of nursing is continually growing due to the older generation ageing.

References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012). Registered nurses. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/Registered nurses.htm

Lightsey, R. (2012). Trauma Nurse Job Description. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/trauma nurse. html

Alexandra, P. (2012). Urgent Care Nurse. A Journal for the Nursing Profession, 41(2), 190-7.

Sinclair, T.D. (2007). The role of a rapid response nurse. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 13 (4) 175-8.

Department of Job and Family Services. (2012). Ohio Job Outlook (2012- 2018 ed.). Retrieved from http://www.ohiomi.com/proj/Projections/Ohio/OhioJobOutlook.pdf

Reflection In writing this essay I have learned that communication, being detailed-oriented, and being emotional stable for the patients are some of the most important qualities to possess in this field of nursing. I have learned the salaries for RNs. I have learned the job outlook and trends for the State of Ohio and Nationally. I have learned that the field of nursing is continually growing due to the older generation aging, and the job outlook is excellent.

References: Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012). Registered nurses. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/Registered nurses.htm Lightsey, R. (2012). Trauma Nurse Job Description. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/trauma nurse. html Alexandra, P. (2012). Urgent Care Nurse. A Journal for the Nursing Profession, 41(2), 190-7. Sinclair, T.D. (2007). The role of a rapid response nurse. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 13 (4) 175-8. Department of Job and Family Services. (2012). Ohio Job Outlook (2012- 2018 ed.). Retrieved from http://www.ohiomi.com/proj/Projections/Ohio/OhioJobOutlook.pdf Reflection In writing this essay I have learned that communication, being detailed-oriented, and being emotional stable for the patients are some of the most important qualities to possess in this field of nursing. I have learned the salaries for RNs. I have learned the job outlook and trends for the State of Ohio and Nationally. I have learned that the field of nursing is continually growing due to the older generation aging, and the job outlook is excellent.