The Changing Face of Nursing

The Changing Face of Nursing
Forget the stereotypical nurses dressed in all white, catering to doctors' every request. Today's nurses are leaders, tech gurus, and patient care managers, thanks to LPN to BSN programs that prepare them for professional success. Karen Daley, RN, Ph.D, assistant professor of nursing at Western CT State Univ., can attest to this. "My grads are assertive, innovative, and have the ability to make science-based independent care decisions."
New Teaching Models
In fact, by teaching medical surgical nursing, nursing practicums, as well as leadership & management over the past few years, Daley noticed a significant change in curriculum. "We moved away from teaching a medical model [memorizing diseases & treatments]. Now, we emphasize conceptual nursing so students can problem-solve and think critically in any situation. We encourage independent thinking, assertive communication, and professionalism," she says. Debra Lajoie, MSN, assistant professor of nursing at WCSU, concurs today's nurses assume an increasingly professional role, and by doing so, become the "glue that holds the health care system together." She emphasizes that in addition to having strong assessment skills & a strong theoretical base, nurses need to be experts in technology-, informatics-, & evidence-based practice. "Nurses look at the patient holistically and manage interdisciplinary care. We truly see the whole picture." It's no surprise then that these intellectual nurses comprise more than half of all health professionals. In fact, they're the largest single component of hospital staff, the primary providers of hospital patient care, and they deliver most of the nation's long-term care.
Making a Difference
Stephanie Gunderson, BSN, RN, of Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia, PA) is among the primary providers of hospital care. For Gunderson, pursuing a nursing degree meant making a difference. "I love being a nurse," says the Harvard College grad who pursued her bachelor of science degree in nursing at the University of PA (Philadelphia, PA). After earning a dual undergrad degree in biology & psychology from Harvard & briefly working as an asst.hedge fund trader and management consultant, she realized something was missing. By earning her BSN in the accelerated, 2-year program, she says the void was filled thanks to the challenging career that boasts flexibility, advancement, continuous earning & above all, compassion. "I felt like I was making difference in someone's life," she said. Through coursework & clinicals, tenacious student was exposed to countless areas of study. "I worked everywhere from a locked psych unit to a labor and delivery floor in a suburban hospital," says Gunderson. And every semester, she attended a hands-on clinical that corresponded with classroom work. "The clinicals were intense, involved, & demanding."
Benefit: Career Versatility
Along with a diverse course selection come myriad career opportunities. According to Maureen Mullin, RN, BSN, OCN, Fox Chase Cancer Center's career specialist, "nursing has expanded beyond the traditional roles to include forensic, informatics, legal, & research nursing. Traditional roles are expanding right along with technology." Mullin, who is pursuing her MSN through Drexel U's online program, notes while nursing is a lucrative field (starting annual salaries Philadelphia area are about $50K before overtime), prospective nurses need to be aware of the long hours. For Gunderson, that means working every other weekend & half the holidays. Because of nurses' busy schedules, Dr. Gail Tumulty, Dir. of online nursing program at Loyola University (New Orleans), indicates online learning is ideal. "Through the flexibility, students are able to log on & complete coursework anytime, anywhere." The U of Phoenix, agrees. "We are committed to helping combat shortage of nurses by providing accessible and convenient degree programs for nursing." In order to provide students with a state-of-the art education in the sophisticated health care workplace, U of Phoenix evaluates its curriculum with health care industry leaders & nursing experts to provide innovative, relevant programs.
The Rewards Attract Men, Too
Lest you think innovative educational health care programs and helping careers attract women only, the Men in Nursing Survey, conducted by the Bernard Hodes Group -- global advertising, marketing, & corporate communications company -- found the main reason men pursue a nursing career is to help people. Moreover, 8 out of 10 men in the study reported they‘d encourage a male friend to become a nurse, citing overall benefits as career stability, availability, & opp for advancement.
Charles Sonday, MSN, echoes these sentiments. After earning his associate degree in electrical engineering and disliking the desk job he found shortly thereafter, he decided to pursue nursing, and he earned his master of science in the field via Seton Hall University's online program. "It worked well with a full-time work schedule and being a husband and father of two," he says. Beyond career opportunities & cutting-edge classes, the common thread among the dedicated, motivated nurses -- today's nurses -- is compassion. "It is such a privilege to be there at a person's most vulnerable moments and make a difference. We touch people's lives & hearts every day. It truly is the most amazing and hardest job you'll ever love," explains Daley.