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ZenaidaVargas
Hipp/Pena
HealthInstitute12
22January2016
ZenaidaTheRN
Manypeoplelivedifferentlives,andmanypeoplehavedifferentstories.My
nameisZenaidaVargas.Myfamilyisabitdifferentthanmost,butitsacceptable.In
totalIhavesixsisters,howevernoneofthemarefullsiblings.OutofsixsistersIdidnot
havesuchgreatrolemodels.Mylifehasnotbeensimplesamegoesformysisters,but
wehaddifferentperspectivesonhowweviewedthings.Iamcurrentlytheonlyonethat
hasbeenenrolledintoschoolthelongest.Iwillbethefirstonetograduatehighschool,
aswellasIwillbethefirstonetograduatefromcollege.Iamafighter,Iam
determined,Iwillsucceed.
Mostpeopleonlyhaveonedadwhichistheirfather,notme.Myfatherwasnever
involvedinmylifeandwhenhewasitwasnotverylong.Hewasachildthathadachild
andwasstuckinhischildishways.FortunatelyIdidhaveafatherfigure.Biologically
speakingheisnotmyfather,buthedefinitelylovedmeasifhewere.Henotonlyraised
mebutalsotherestofmysisters.Mydadalwaysmadesureweweretakencareof
evenwhenhimandmymotherhadgottenadivorce.Mydadwasthepersonthat
broughthopeandloveintomyheart.Ilookeduptohimsomuch.
Then,tragically,onedayhegotintoanaccident.Asmuchasweallprayedand
hopedthathewouldpullthroughit,hecouldntanditwasjusthistimetogo.Ittookme

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alongtimetounderstandthat.IremembertalkingtoGodandaskinghim,Whyme,
Godwhywouldyoutakeawaythepersonthathadsuchanimpactonmylifeawayfrom
me.AsIgrewolderIfeltashamedabouthowangryIwasattheworld.IrealizedthatI
hadnocontroloverthematteroflifeanddeath.Manypeoplegetillnessesandpass
awaysojustbecauseIcouldnotacceptthefactthathewasgoneIknewtherewasa
reasonforit.

MymotherandIhavenorelationship.Shewasdiagnosedwithbipolarmood
disorder.Growingupwithamotherthatisdiagnosedwithabipolardisorderisvery
difficult.Shestartedbecomingviolentandabusingdrugs.
WhyIchoosethiscareerisquitesimple.Ifeellikethisisthebestfitformeand
myqualifications.IwanttogohomeandrightbeforeIgotosleepandthinktomyself,
everydayIgetachancetohelpsomeone.Tomethatwillbethegreatestfeeling.Iam
awarethatthisisachallengingfieldtoworkin,butIdobelieveIcantakeonthis
challenge.GettingtowhereIwanttobewillhavemanydifferentpathsanditall
dependsonwhatpathItake.
Whatisaregisterednurse?Whatdotheydo?Howdoyouknowifitistheright
fitforyou?Ihavealltheanswersforyou.Youwillneedtotocompleteclassesthatare
necessaryforthegeneraleducation.Aftercompletingthemandatoryclassesyoucan
geteitheryourassociate'sdegreeormasters.Thecommoncoursesyouwillneedto
takearechemistry,anatomyandphysiology,biochemistry,microbiology,physiology,
nutrition,statistics,healthcarelawandethics,healthcarepolicy,patientcare,nursing
research,andintroductiontoprofessionalnursing.(Allnursingschools)Aftercompleting

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yourassociate'sdegreeyouwillthenneedtoenrollintoamedicalschool.Youwill
eithertakeatwoyearprogramorfour.Allnursesmustpassalicensingexambefore
beginningtheirpractice.(medicalschoolsfornurses)
Theworkenvironmentforaregisterednursecanvary.Notallnursesworkata
hospitalordoctor'soffice,believeitornotbutitdoesexpand.Manynursesarefinding
manyjobsatcorrectionalfacilitiestoprovidehealthcaretoinmates.Howeveritcanbe
dangerous.Ahugeamountofmedicalprofessionalsworkfromthepatient'shome.
Whileworkingfromthepatient'shomeitisimportanttobeabletocarryapatientandto
bepatientwhensituationsgetfrustrating.Canyoucountalltheelementaryandhigh
schools?Welleveryschoolneedsaschoolnurse.Somespecializednursesworkin
aircraft.Thatmeanstheyaretraintohelpwhiletheyareinhelicoptersorairplanes.
Publicationcompaniesisalsoaplacewhereregisterednurseswork.Forexamplethey
wouldwriteascriptforanactressoractorinatelevisionshow.Haveyoueverimagined
travelingandworkingallovertheworld?Missionarynursesdoitandenjoyitdearly.
Theygettheabilitytosharetheirfaithwithothersaswellashelpandteachothers.
Nursescanserveourcountry!Militarynursesprovidehealthcareforthosewhoarein
themilitary.Theyalsotraveltowarzones.(
11PlacesYouDidn'tKnowAbout
.)How
manyregisterednursesdoworkathospitals?Roughlyabout60percentofRNsdo.
("NursingFactSheet.")
Thetypeofenvironmentregisterednursesworkinisverycritical,itcanalsobe
differentdependingonwhereyouareworkingat.Majorityofthetimeregisterednurses
spendtheirtimeontheirfeet.("What'sTheWorkEnvironmentLikeForAnRN?")They

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areconsistentlyontherefeetandonthego.Astheyshould,RNshavetobeabletobe
mobileandpickuponemergencysituations.
Theremanydifferenttypesofnurses.Whatkindofnursewouldyouwant?Itis
obviousyouwouldprefersomeonewhoknowsexactlywhattheyaredoing,butlets
thinkbeyondthat.Thetraitsanursehascandefinitelyimpactapatient.Icanlistmany
characteristicsanurseshouldhave,howevertherearesomenursesthatlackinthis
department.Yesofcourseitonlymattersifthenurseknowsthebookwork.Knowing
thesestraitscanmakesomeoneagreatnurse.Oneofthetraitsanurseshouldhave
istobeoptimistic.Beingoptimisticcanchangesomuchevenifwedonotthinkso.If
youareoptimisticyoucaninfluencethepatient's.Youcangivethemhopethattheywill
overcomethisobstacleinlife.Havepatience.Insomecasespatientsdonottakethe
medicationproperly.Around60percentofAmericansdonotfollowtheordersthere
doctorsgivetothem.("ONLINEMASTEROFSCIENCEINNURSINGCLINICAL
SYSTEMSLEADERSHIP.")Anotherqualificationanurseshouldhaveistheabilityto
communicate.Registerednursesarealwayinteractingwithpatientsandfamily
members.("Top11SkillsforBecomingaSuccessfulRegisteredNurse.")Beinga
registerednursecanbeverystressfulandoverwhelming.Youareresponsiblefortaking
careofanotherlife.Ifyoudothewrongthingitcouldpossiblyendinatragedy.Tobea
greatnurseyouneedtobeabletomanageyourstress.Itisnotonlymentalstress,but
aswellasphysically.RNsworkcrazyshiftsandareconstantlyonthego.Itisvery
importantthatwhilebeinganurseyoucanreframeyourfrustrationandremaincalmin
anytypeofsituation.(Top11SkillsforBecomingaSuccessfulRegisteredNurse.)You

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shouldbeabletocomfortapatient.Besympatheticandnonjudgementalalsokind.
Kindnessalwaysmakespeoplefeelbetter.(Top11SkillsforBecomingaSuccessful
RegisteredNurse.)Oneofthereasonsitisveryimportantforaregisterednurseto
furthertheireducationistodevelopthinkingskills.Criticalthinkingisagreataspectto
have.Itcanhelpyoumakedecisionsandyouwillanalyzeandhypotheticallythinkof
theoutcomeofwhatcouldhappen.(Top11SkillsforBecomingaSuccessful
RegisteredNurse.)
RNshavemanyresponsibilities.Theykeeprecordsofpatientssymptomsand
medicalrecords,assignsmedicineandtreatments,Operateandmonitormedical
equipment,helpperformdiagnostictests,analyzeresultsteachpatientsandtheir
familieshowtomanageillnessesorinjuries.Alsotheyhelpexplainandanalyzewhatto
doathomeaftertreatment.
Sincetheredifferenttypesofnursestheyaredifferenttypesofroutinesthatthey
have.Youwillneedtocheckonthepatientatalltimes.Itisimportanttokeeptrackof
themonitorsaswellasvidals.Youshouldbeveryobservanttothepatient'sbehavior.I
feellikenursesshouldpaymoreattentiontothepatient'sbehaviortoseeifthe
medicationtheyaregivingthemisnotmakingthemhallucinate.Registerednurses
needtobeableitmaketreatmentplansfortheirpatients.RNsneedtooperatemedical
equipmentcorrectlyandcommunicatewithphysiciansandhealthcareprofessionals.
(RegisteredNurse(RN)JobDescriptionandSalary)ThroughouttheirdayRNsperform
diagnostictest,treatingmedicalemergencies,administeringmedicationsand
treatments.

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AneducatornamedClaraBarton,aroundthetime1838.Shehadwenttoschool
roughlyfor12years.ShehadattendedaschoolthatislocatedinCanadaandWest
Georgia.Bartonthendecidedtofurtherhereducationin1850.Shehaddonethatby
practicingwritingandlanguagesattheClintonLiberalInstituteinNewYork.After,Clara
BartonhadopenedafreeschoolinBordentown,NewJersey.Itwasthefirstfreeschool
tobeopenedinthestate.Theattendanceunderherleadershipgrewupto603,
howeverinsteadofhiringClaraBartoninchargeoftheschool,theboardhiredaman.
ClaraBartonbecameveryflusteredin1855.shemovedtoWashingtonD.C.andbegan
workasaclerkintheU.SPatentOffice.Shethenhopedshecouldmakewayformore
womeningovernmentservice.Bartonwasoneofthefirstwomentoholdagovernment
jobintheU.S.A.("ClaraBarton."
History.com
.A&ETelevisionNetworks.)
BeforeClaraBartonsfatherdied,Shewasabletotalktohimaboutthewar
effort.Herfatherhadthenpersuadedhertohelpthesoldiersbecausehesaidthatit
washerdutyasaChristiantodoso.TheAprilfollowinghisdeath,Bartonwentbackto
Washingtontogathermedicalsupplies.
Ladies'Aid
societieshelpedinsending
bandages,food,andclothingthatwouldlaterbegivenoutduringtheCivilWar.August
of1862,BartongainedpermissionfromQuartermasterDanielRuckertoworkonthe
frontlines.Shehadfoundsupportfromothersthathadthesamebeliefasherand
formedagroup.Thosepeoplebecameherpatrons.ClaraBartonsbiggestsupporters
wasSenatorHenryWilsonofMassachusetts.Sheworktodistributestores,cleanfield
hospital,applydressings,andservefoodtothehurtsoldiers.

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SinceClaraBartonmadeachangeshehadgottenveryinspired.Bartonmetwith
RedCrossofficialsinSwitzerlandaftershereturnedtotheUnitedStatesfromEurope.
TheyrecognizedherleadershipabilitiesforincludingthiscountryintheglobalRed
CrossnetworkandforinfluencingtheUnitedStatesgovernmenttosigntheGeneva
Treaty.("ClaraBarton|AmericanRedCrossFounder|WhoIsClaraBarton.)
TheAmericanRedCrosshadClaraBartonastheirleader.Shewasdevotedto
disasterreliefforthefirst20years.In1881thatwasthefirsttimethetheRedCrossflag
wasup.ShesuppliedtheOhioandMississippiriverstoassistfloodvictimsaroundIn
1884.Bartonhadand50volunteerstakentothefirsttrainin1889,intoJohnstown,
Pennsylvania.Shehaddonethattohelpthesurvivorsofadambreakthatcausedover
2,000deaths.Duringherlastreliefoperation,in1900,Bartongaveoutover$120,000in
financialassistanceandsuppliestosurvivorsofthehurricaneandtidalwavethatstruck
Galveston,Texas,andcausedmorethan6,000deaths.("ClaraBarton|AmericanRed
CrossFounder|WhoIsClaraBarton.)
Thehourlyrateforaregisterednursetomakecanvary.Itcandependonwhere
youareworkingatandhowmuchschoolingtheydid.AccordingtotheBLSregistered
nursesmakearound$32.66anhourinMay2012.(HowMuchDoRNsMakeon
AverageanHour?)AtahospitalRnsmake$33.41perhour,asfordoctorswhoworkat
privateofficesthatmake$29.86.Thetophighestpayingrnsmakeupto$49perhour.
Howmucharegisterednursemakesalsodiffersdependingonwhatstatetheylivein.
(HowMuchDoRNsMakeonAverageanHour?)

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Anaverageregisterednursesamakesmedianwageof$66,220in2013.
("RegisteredNurse:Salary.")Assoforthelowestpaidregisterednursestheygetpaid
roughlyaround$45,630ifnotless.("RegisteredNurse:Salary.")Thenursesthathave
extraspecialtiesmakemorethan$96,320ayear.Thehighestpayinglocationsfor
registerednursesaremostlyinCalifornia,likeSacramento,SanJose,Oakland,Vallejo
andSanFrancisco.
Registerednursesgetthesamebenefitsasanyothermedicalprofessorthatis
underthesameemployer.Theygetfullcoverageformedical,dentalandvision.
("Wages&BenefitsforaRegisteredNurse.")Thishealthcoverageisnotonlyspecified
forjustyou,butaswellasyourfamily.Itisverycommonformostregisterednursesto
getvacationuponrequest,aswellasapaidholidays.Asforpaidtimeoffyoucanget
upto160hoursfor13daysor180for15days.Thosearehowmanydaysyoucanget
offayearandstillgetpaidforthem.Thepensionplanforregisterednursesalsoknown
asretirementaccountiswhereyougetpaidonaregularbasis.Howthepensionplan
worksisquitesimple.Thelongeryouworkforahealthcareorganizationthemore
moneyyouwillreceiveinthefuture.Ifyouarelookingtosavemoreontaxthereare
someoptionsyoucanlookinto.Therearesomeretirementaccountswhereittakesa
portionofyoursalaryandtransfersittoyouraccount.Thehealthcareorganizationwill
matchapercentageoftheamountofmoneythatisinyouraccount.RNsalsogetlife
insurance,usuallytheseplansgivemoneytoyourspouseorfamilytohelppayfuneral
coast.Itisverycommonforthelifeinsurancemoneytocoverallexpenses.

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Theemploymentforregisterednursesispredictedtoextentandgrowabout16
percentfrom2014to2024.Thatismuchfasterthantheaverageofalloccupations.The
growthwilloccurforanumerousofreasons.("Summary."
U.S.BureauofLabor
Statistics
.U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.)Thedemandforhealthcareserviceswill
enlargeduetoourpopulationaging.Typicallyspeakingelderlypeoplehavemorehealth
problemsthantheyouth.Itisimportantthatnursesstarttofurthertheireducationin
arthritis,diabetes,dementia,andotherchronicconditions.Duetofinancialpressure
morepeoplewillbegintobeadmittedintoalongtermcarefacilitiesandoutpatientcare
centers,andgreaterneedforhealthcareathome.("Summary."
U.S.BureauofLabor
Statistics
.U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.)Growthalsoisexpectedtobefasterthan
averageinoutpatientcarecenters.Thatiswherepatientsdonotstayovernight,instead
ofstayingovernighttheywillstayinareasthatprovidesamedaychemotherapy,
rehabilitation,andsurgery.Growthalsoisexpectedtobefasterthanaveragein
outpatientcarecenters,wherepatientsdonotstayovernight,suchasthosewhich
providesamedaychemotherapy,rehabilitation,andsurgery.Inaddition,anincreased
numberofprocedures,aswellasmoresophisticatedprocedurespreviouslydoneonly
inhospitals,arebeingperformedinambulatorycaresettingsandphysiciansoffices.
EveryTuesdayandThursdayIvolunteeratcommunityregionalhospital.IntotalI
spendfourhoursaweekinShortStay.Shortstayiswherepatientsgowhentheyare
goingtobehospitalizedforashortamountoftime.DuringthattimeofmevolunteeringI
havehadinsiteonwhatregisterednursesdoonadailybasis.Ilearnedhowto
dischargepatientsaswellastokeeptheirenvironmentcleanandsafe.Imakesureto

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trytohelpthepatientasmuchasIcan.Ihaveorganizedlinensaswellasproperlyfold
andmakeabed.Thenurseslocatedinshortstayhaveshowedmetheproperwayto
wheelapatientoutaswellascleantheareathatthepatientwasin.Whenthepatent
evacuatedtheareayoumustchangeallofthesheetsandsterilizeeverypossibleitem
thepatientmighthavetouched.AttimeswhenIvolunteeratthehospitalitcanbevery
intimidatingduetothefactthateverythingisatsuchafastpace.Whilethehospitalisat
anoutrageouspaceItrymybesttobehelpfulbutnotintheway.Whileothertimesthe
hospitalcanbeveryslow,notmuchexcitementgoingonorpatientsinthearea.
SincedoingtheresearchonaregisterednurseIhavediscoveredmanythings.
OneofthethingsthatIhaveencounteredwasthatRNshaveahugeresponsibilities.I
amunawareifiwilltakeonthiscareerinthefuture.Idolovethefastpace,excitement
andadrenalinethatcomeswithit.Ilovethatregisterednursesdevotealloftheirtime
helpingpeoplethataresick.Ifeelthatregisterednursesdonotgetasmuchcreditas
theyshould.TheydosomuchforpatientsandIhavewitnesseditfirsthand.Many
peopledojusttakeonthisjobforthemoneybutitiswaymorethentheycanimagine.
Itsfilledwithstressandlonghours.Yes,theydogetpaidwellbutwhysettlefora
careeryouhavenointerestin.Ijustfeelthatthisisnottheexactfitforme,Iamnot
sureifIwillfindtheexactfitformebutIwillcontinuetofurthermyeducationtobe
successful.IknowIwilltakeonacareerthatwillhelpothers.Iwanttobeabletohelp
peopleinanywaythatIcan.ThetypeofpersonthatIamwillhopefullysetmeinthe
rightpaththatIwillneedtotake.IdoknowthatIwilldefinitelydoresearchonthe
careerbeforeIjumpintoit.AtthebeginningofthisprojectIwassetonbecominga

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registerednurse.NowthatIhavehadmoreofanexperienceofitIknowthatIwillnot
enjoyworkinginahospital.IalsoknowthatIwillsucceedinwhateveritisichooseto
do.Iwillstandbymymottoandcontinuetodogreatthings.Iamafighter,Iam
determined,Iwillsucceed.

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"ClaraBarton|AmericanRedCrossFounder|WhoIsClaraBarton."
AmericanRed
Cross
.Web.22Jan.2016.
"HowMuchDoRNsMakeonAverageanHour?"
Work
.Web.20Jan.2016.
"MedicalSchoolforNurses|DoNursesAttendMedicalSchool?"
Study.com
.Web.11
Jan.2016.
"NursingFactSheet."
AmericanAssociationofCollegesofNursing
.Web.13Jan.2016.
"ONLINEMASTEROFSCIENCEINNURSINGCLINICALSYSTEMSLEADERSHIP."
6
PersonalityTraitsofSuccessfulNurses
.Web.14Jan.2016.
"RegisteredNurse(RN)JobDescriptionandSalary."
VillanovaUniversity
.Web.15Jan.
2016.
"RegisteredNurse:Salary."
RegisteredNurseSalaryInformation
.Web.20Jan.2016.
"Summary."
U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics
.U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.Web.20
Jan.2016.
"Top11SkillsforBecomingaSuccessfulRegisteredNurse."
RegisteredNurse:All
GuidesaboutRNSchoolsandPrograms
.Web.14Jan.2016.
"Wages&BenefitsforaRegisteredNurse."
Work
.Web.20Jan.2016.
"What'sTheWorkEnvironmentLikeForAnRN?"
What'sTheWorkEnvironmentLike
ForAnRN?
Web.13Jan.2016.
"WhereDoRegisteredNursesWork?11PlacesYouDidn'tKnowAbout."
WhereDo
RegisteredNursesWork?11PlacesYouDidn'tKnowAbout
.Web.11Jan.2016.