Nursing: Whats It All About?1

What is Nursing?Nurses help sick people return to health and help healthy people stay well.Nursing is the largest health care profession with 2.9 million RNs in the US.2

What Do Nurses Do?Monitor the condition of patients3

Administer medications

Perform therapeutic procedures Educate patients and their families in proper health care practices

Develop a plan of care for each patient with physicians and other health care professionals

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Supervise LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) and Nursing Assistants

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Where Can Nurses Work?HospitalsClinicsPublic HealthNursing HomesSchoolsCorporationsHospiceHealth-related Industries

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Nursing is a Broad Profession! Areas of nursing include:Academic Nursing EducationAdministrative NursingAerospace NursingAgency NursingAmbulatory Care NursingBusiness and Marketing Nursing

Clinic NursingEmergency NursingEmployee Health NursingEntrepreneurial NursingEpidemiological NursingForensic Nursing7

Geriatric NursingHome Care NursingHospice NursingHyperbaric NursingInfection Control NursingIntensive Care NursingLegal NursingLong Term Care NursingMilitary NursingNeonatal NursingNeuro NursingNurse AnesthetistNursing InformaticsNursing PsychologistNursing ResearchOB-GYN NursingOffice NursingOncological NursingOperating Room Nursing

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Opthalmological NursingOrthopaedic NursingParamedical NursingPediatric NursingPerioperative NursingRadiological & Radiotherapy NursingRehabilitation NursingSchool NursingTravel Nursing9

Why Consider Nursing?Make a difference in the lives of others every single day.Salary to support a family.Flexible hours and scheduling.Respected profession.Think on your feet.Many employment options and career paths available.Opportunity for advancement.Exciting profession.

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Kentucky Needs Nurses!

Ethnicity of Nurses in KentuckyKBN 5/06

Pharmacists

African American0.026131858

Asian0.0071738128

Hispanic0.0027478101

Native American0.0034301521

Other0.0041862609

Caucasian0.956330106

Sheet1

African American113%1417

Asian131%389

Hispanic30%149

Native American110%186

Other50%227

Caucasian232496%51857

2367100%54225

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Where RNs Work in KentuckyKBN 5/06

Field of Employment

Hospital0.6236607032

Nursing Home0.0548338406

Public Health0.1786306387

Office Nurse0.0286788905

Home Health0.0541162497

Other0.0600796773

Sheet1

Hospital2520462%

Nursing Home22165%

Public Health721918%

Office Nurse11593%

Home Health21875%

Other24286%

40413100%

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Gender of Nurses in Kentucky

Source: Kentucky Board of Nursing 5/06

How Much Do Nurses Get Paid?The average pay for an RN in Kentucky hospital is:

$22.70 per hour or >$47,000 per year

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Average Hourly Pay for Kentucky Hospital Nurses1/0616

Path to Registered NursingHigh SchoolScience & Math CoursesTake SAT & ACT

PrerequisitesAssociate Degree Nursing (ADN) 2 years or PN+1

Baccalaureate Degree Nursing (BSN)4 yearsPass NCLEX

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)2 years (approx.)RN to BSN1 yearDoctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)3-4 yearsDoctorate in Nursing Science (DNSc)3 years17

Nursing Schools in Metro LouisvilleRegistered Nursing Programs12

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How Do I Pay For Nursing School?

ScholarshipsLoans (Student Loan Peoples Best In Care Program)Pay as you goSponsorship by hospitalSponsorship by employerSponsorship by armed forces

How Can I Learn More About Nursing?Talk to your school counselor.Take Health Science Technology Courses.Become a Junior Volunteer in a hospital.Join a Medical Explorer Troop.Search the Internet.Call a nursing school.Ask a nurse!21

ResourcesKHAs Center for Health Care Professions 502-426-6220

Visit www.kyhealthcareers.org

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