What are the primary work settings for RN's? - Correct Answer 1) Hospitals 63.2% (where
most nurses work!)
An increase of 25% in the past decade (HRSA, 2013). 39.6% work in inpatient units in
community hospitals. Others work in specialty hospitals, long-term hospitals, and
psychiatric units. 1.1% of RNs work in VA hospitals
2) Ambulatory care (outpatient) 10.5%
Nurse-based practices, physician-based practices, and free-standing emergency and
surgical centers
3) Public and community health 7.8%
4) Home health 6.4%
5) Extended care facilities (e.g. SNFs) 5.3%
6) Others - 6.8% ... school nursing, nursing associations, local, state or federal
governmental agencies, state boards of nursing, or insurance companies
What are the trends in nursing education? - Correct Answer - The number of diploma
programs (hospital based) has steadily declined, educating only 4% of all new RNs in 2013
- Most nurses (53%) have initial ADN programs education
- 39% reported having an ADN and 36% having a BSN as their first degree or credential.
- Many ADN-prepared RNs eventually return to school to complete a BSN degree, often
online
Currently, about 55% of RNs have BSN or higher degrees
- Globalization and the international migration of nurses has resulted in an increase of
internationally educated nurses (3.7% in 2004 to 5.6% in 2008).
,How do BSN nurses affect outcomes to patients in hospitals? - Correct Answer Patients on
surgical units with more BSN-prepared nurses had fewer complications than patients on
units with fewer BSN nurses.
Hospitals with a higher percentage of nurses with a BS in Nursing had both a higher
standard of patient care and a lower incidence of patient post-surgical mortality
Understand the variety of practice settings for nurses and the related practice styles,
philosophies, benefits and challenges - Correct Answer 1) Hospitals
- Within the last 150 years: Nursing practice shifted from informal home and community
settings to hospitals
_ Medical centers offer comprehensive specialty services, such as cancer centers, heart
centers, etc
- Community-based hospitals have less severe patients; typically identify, stabilize and
transport those to high level of care
- Entry-level positions require RN licensure
- Bachelor's degrees are required to advance on the clinical ladder or to assume
management positions.
- Nurse managers often require a Master's degree.
2) Communities
- Lillian Wald was the founder of community nursing.
- Government and private agencies
- Home health and cost-effectiveness
- Knowledge and skills of the home health nurse
3) Medical Offices
- Nurses work in tandem with physicians, NPs, and their patients
- Office-based nursing activities
- Nursing knowledge and skills
- Communication skills
4) Workplace
, - Occupational and environmental health nurses provide basic health care services, health
education, screenings, and emergency treatment to employees in the workplace
- "Good employee health reduces absenteeism, insurance costs, and worker errors,
thereby improving company profitability"
- Roles/responsibilities
- Knowledge/skills
5) Armed Forces
- Peacetime and wartime settings
- Military nurses have broader responsibilities and scope of practice than do civilian nurses
- Major benefit is the opportunity for advanced education
6) Schools
- "Specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic
success, life-long achievement, and health of students"
- Counseling, health curriculum, routine illness, and emergencies
- Specific issues: Abuse, school violence, and obesity
7) End-of-Life Settings
- Palliative care (relief to those with serious illnesses) and hospice (end of life)
What demographic trends are particularly important today? - Correct Answer - 2004:
NSSRN reported 12.2% of RNs have minority backgrounds
- 2013: Racial and ethnic minorities: 37% of Americans, 19% of RNs
- 2015 The nursing workforce has grown more diverse. Non-white RNs accounted for
almost half (48%) of employed nurses.
- Hispanics/Latinos: Largest disparirty (underrepresented) 15.4% US population, 3.6% of
RNs
- Black/African American, non-hispanics: 12.2% US population, 5.4% of RNs