Nursing: A Positive Career Choice

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingales’ birthday. These permanent dates, set in 1993 by the American Nurses Association Board of Directors, help recognize National Nurses Week as an established event that can be celebrated annually.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA's state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

Nursing is a most rewarding career. Despite, the ever present economic issues and rising unemployment, nurses continue to be in demand. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the nation will need at least 2,575,000 by the year 2020.

Registered Nurses are licensed by the state and legally responsible for their own practice, as independent professionals. Job security is just one of the many reasons that make a career in nursing a good choice. The opportunity to make an impact in the daily lives of individuals and connect through personal elements of healing, counseling and education by playing their role in the health care system are other areas in which a nurse can make a difference.

Former resident of NHCC, James “Mac” McGarry, is quoted as saying, “After an operation I spent the next 50 days at the Northome Nursing Home to recuperate and get physically in shape so I could go home. I would like to speak to the type of care I received. The nursing home and the people who work there from the casual workers to nurses, aides, CNA’s and all the staff can be justly proud of the care they provide. I found them to be compassionate and dedicated. I consider the care I received to be top shelf and I thank each – every one of them. At one point, I had a chance to transfer to another nursing home closer to my home. I turned it down in order to stay here (Northome Healthcare Center) because I felt I couldn’t get any better care than what I was getting. Thanks again.” A testimonial, such as that from McGarry, ensures that a dedicated nursing staff truly touches the heart of the individual receiving care.

A career in nursing is available to men and women, including recent high school graduates or individuals who have chosen to return to the work force. There are now over 75 different specialties in nursing. Some nurses’ practice in specialty areas which are hospital based; others can be practiced in patients' homes, clinics, universities, offices, long-term care facilities, industries, and community agencies. You can become a registered nurse by graduating from one of several different types of education programs that will prepare you to take the national RN licensure exam. It is necessary to pass this exam before you can practice as an RN. Admission to these RN programs requires a high school diploma with courses in algebra, biology, and chemistry.

A vocation in nursing offers an extreme amount of flexibility. Registered Nurses have the ability to work nearly anywhere in the world and have job security. Careers are available in small cities, rural areas, suburban communities, resort towns, overseas, the Peace Corps and the armed forces.

Nurses have the ability to adjust their work schedule to fit their own changing personal schedule. Nurses have the option to choose from various shifts. These shifts can include full or part time, by the day, the week or the month. They can also choose to work eight or twelve hour days and select from day, evening or overnight shifts. Currently, Lakeside Living Memory Care Unit and Northome Healthcare Center employs eight Registered Nurses and twenty-three Certified Nursing Assistants(CNA’s.) According to state policy, eight hours out of each day has to have an RN on duty, which LLMCU and NHCC abides by. The facility employs 3 CNA’s during the day, 3 CNA’s during the evening and 2 CNA’s throughout the overnight shift.

Lakeside Living Memory Care Unit(LLMCU) is a part of the Northome Healthcare Center and opened in December 2010. Since opening, the nursing staff, has had the opportunity to observe many positive changes in residents upon their initial entry into the unit.

Christine Beck, a granddaughter-in-law to a resident at LLMCU, has stated the following: “Our family was in an emergency situation that we need to place a loved member in a care facility and there were only two places available. We chose Northome Healthcare Center on a whim because it was closer than Clearbrook Nursing home, not ever have visited this facility. We are completely satisfied with our decision. It sits peacefully on the edge of a beautiful lake with wild life roaming the woods. Northome maybe an older care center but what it lacks in fancy bling like many new care centers; it definitely makes up for in personalized care! When it comes to patients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia you need a consistent loving staff and not a high turn over with employees. Some members have been employed for over 10 years and they love their jobs. I could go on about everything good about Northome but the MOST important fact is: Northome is home where everyone is family. Thank you to everyone at Northome for taking care of our grandma. You are all wonderful and we are so grateful.”

Beck, stated that ‘Northome is home where everyone is family,’ which is what we make every effort to attain as a facility. The nursing staff connects on a personal level with each resident and strives for his or her best on a daily basis. The staff at LLMCU and NHCC knows that a few minutes of extra personalized care can make a lasting impact.