Today, the nursing profession in America is in trouble. This is what my chosen profession looks like to me. Registered nurses all meet a national standard for licensure and can expand their studies to bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels in nursing. RNs are a richly diverse group, many having other degrees or careers outside of nursing. Many pursue specialty areas of nursing.
All nurses are responsible and accountable professionals.
Nurses have a responsibility to provide their patients a safe environment where integrated plans of care are implemented. They are responsible for setting priorities in an environment that is constantly changing and must often make crucial decisons that affect the care a patient receives as his or her condition changes, sometimes critically. Nurses feel a responsibility to advocate for their patients' welfare and to correct errors in their plan of care. The more experience, knowledge, and skill nurses have, the better off their patients are. If a patient asks a question that no one else answers, chances are the nurse will.