Guide To A Successful Nurse Career Path

Filipino nurses are in demand both here and abroad. In fact, the World Health Organization predicts a global shortage of nurses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Philippines, the WHO's projected shortfall is expected to reach 249,843 by 2030. So, why should you consider being a nurse? Because, no matter what happens in the world, health will always be important. Moreover, the health industry offers many jobs that can help you grow both as a person and professional. Nursing lets you make a difference in people's lives. Here is your guide to a nurse's career path.

What does a nurse do?

Usually, nurses provide direct care to the sick and injured. But in reality, there are many kinds of nurses who work in and out of clinics and hospitals. Generally, they are all involved in helping patients recover.

A nurse's duties depend on the workplace and specialty. However, all of their tasks may include the following:

• monitors patients' behavior and vital signs
• answers patients' questions
• gives treatment prescribed by physicians
• keeps accurate and detailed records
• does physical examinations and diagnostic tests
• helps in medical procedures
• works with superiors and physicians in making treatment decisions
• instructs and supervises nurses, nurse assistants and nurse aides

Salary Range

Different nursing positions have different salaries. But the average annual salary of a registered nurse in the Philippines is at around ₱162,000. The pay is higher in other countries. As a result, Filipino nurses often migrate. Factors that affect salary are job experience, skills, and the role itself. This is because nursing covers various fields such as intensive care, surgery, therapy, and research.

The Nurse Career Path

Nurses can have many career choices. For instance, they can work in hospitals, communities, schools, or companies. They can be teachers, researchers and managers. But to gain work experience, all nurses start out by directly caring for patients. Here are some nursing roles depending on work experience:

Junior Level (1-3 years' experience)

Staff Nurse, Company Nurse

Mid-Level (4-8 years' experience)

Public Relations Nurse, Head Nurse, Nurse Trainer, Nurse Case Manager, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Supervisor

Senior-level (8 years' experience or more)

Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing

Requirements for your nurse career path

Nurses have important roles in health care. Therefore, they need to have particular skills and knowledge. Here are some of them:

Required knowledge

Anatomy and physiology

This is a required class that usually lets the student know if he or she is built for nursing. By knowing how the body functions, nurses can better treat their patients.

Biochemistry

By understanding the chemical process our bodies experience, nurses can diagnose diseases and disorders.

Critical thinking

This aids nurses in identifying the patients' illnesses. By interpreting data, nurses can make smart decisions on how to carry out treatments. Critical thinking also helps them choose the best action plan among possible solutions.

Nutrition 

At all times, nurses must be ready to answer patients' questions, including those on nutrition. All medical professionals should know the importance of good nutrition in preventing diseases, patient recovery, and health maintenance.

Health assessment

All the things nurses learn in school and on the job strengthen their health assessment skills. With this knowledge, nurses can make care plans that fit their patients' needs.

Required skills

Reading and comprehension 

Regularly, nursing students read a high volume of literature. This improves their reading and comprehension skills. This way, they understand concepts they can apply in real life. Nurses go through so much data and records at work. With a high reading comprehension, they can weed out the important information.

Communication 

Because people's health is on the line, nurses need to write down and verbally share accurate information. Good communication skills are  an important part of customer service. Patients and their families are assured when nurses talk to them in a considerate way.

Observation

Nurses should be observant to know their patients' needs. They should be able to see right away if there is anything wrong. A misplaced IV, a misspelled word on record, or any other mistake can be costly.

Problem sensitivity

This is the ability to tell when something is wrong or likely to go wrong. Recognizing the problem or potential problems helps nurses avoid and prepare for them.

Compassion

This soft skill makes patients feel cared for. It also builds trust between the nurse and patient. When patients get emotional support from caregivers, they are less likely to feel alone and depressed. This boosts their will to survive.

Educational background

To become a registered nurse, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) is required.

What is a BSN?

• This is a four-year program in a college, university or professional institution recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
• BSN teaches professional courses on nursing concepts.
• Its main components include promoting health, preventing diseases, reducing risks, and restoring health.
• BSN requires Related Learning Experience (RLE) wherein students learn and apply knowledge. RLE is done in skills laboratories and hospitals.

Those who want to enter the health industry can also take the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). However, those with an ADN are not qualified to take the Nurse Licensure Exam.

What is an ADN?

• ADN is a two-year degree in practical nursing.
• Graduates can work in hospitals by assisting registered nurses and doctors.

BSN degree holders are likely to have more opportunities in the nurse career path than ADN graduates. With a 4-year degree, nurses are not tied down to clinical tasks and daily patient care. They can try roles in bigger fields like management, research and education.

Required certification and training

To become a registered nurse, you need to take the Nurse Licensure Exam. This is conducted by the Board of Nursing and supervised by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Registered nurses need Continuous Professional Development (CPD) before renewing their license every three years. CPD can be in the form of seminars, online classes and programs. These keep nurses up to date on health knowledge. Recently, because of COVID-19, the PRC has been granting CPD units to essential health workers who have served during the pandemic.

Opportunities for Continuous Education

Because the profession has many aspects, continuous learning is part of a successful nurse career path. But they can also take courses either online or in a university to gain more knowledge.

Master's Degree in Nursing

You can take a master's degree in nursing from a college or university. This program can be completed in two years at least. Some of the nursing specializations offered are:

• Adult Health
• Community Health
• Maternal and Child
• Mental Health and Psychiatry
• Administration
• School Health

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in Nursing

This focuses on science-based subjects and theory.

Online courses

Online courses for a nurse career path are a convenient way to upskill so you can succeed in any industry. For example, if you wish to boost your tech-related skills, you can do so with these courses from Luna Academy in collaboration with JobStreet.

How to write a resume for a nurse career path

A nurse's resume should make your skills and experience shine. This grabs the attention of hirers. Let them know you are the right one for the job!

Sample Resume for Nurses

Download this nurse resume HERE.

All set for job hunting? Visits JobStreet for the #JobsThatMatter to your healthcare career. Create or update your profile. And for more tips and news, check out our Career Resources Hub.