Hello all,

I have to ask several lay people, as well as RNs some questions regarding the role of an RN. I would appreciate if a few RNs will answer the following questions:

1. What is your definition of a RN?

2. How would you describe the role of an RN?

3. What do you think the educational requirements for a RN should be?

I'm to form my own opinions about how your answers play into the field of nursing. Thanks so much for all those who take the time to answer.

TeleNurse2010

What is this for exactly?

What is your definition?

:)

An RN is anyone who passed the NCLEX-RN and has an active/current license. The degree obtained while getting the knowledge necessary is irrelevant. A degree is just a slip of paper you pay for. It doesn't tell you the knowledge acquired.

The definition and role of a RN is being an excellent multi-tasker, psychologist, educator, computer expert, fast thinker, pyschic, maid, personal servant, mediator,advocate, and someone the doctor can blame for everything not happening fast enough.

rn - obtains nsg license upon passing a state exam.

role - executes dr's orders, assisting w/pt as needed, monitors and maintains effect of txs ; intervenes as needed, ensuring pt goals are met. the rn is the team leader, directing pt care as needed.

education - bsn should be minimum entry. yes, duties are the same as an asn/adn, but bsn will designate nurses as professionals.

it is not merely a piece of paper. bsn nurse more desirable, because of being further educated. nsg needs this professional and polished image.

leslie

What is this for exactly?

What is your definition?

:)

My definition is what I will put in my paper. The questions I listed above are the interview questions that my instructor has put to us to ask the individuals that I mentioned in my original post. Thanks anyway.

There is No complete definition of an RN. There have been novels/ studies/ articles written to try to define our role.

You have an esoteric assignment. I have done this for 30 years, I don't know what my role is, it is constantly changing and evolving according to the "rules".

The fact that our role cannot be defined would be the more important question.

rn - obtains nsg license upon passing a state exam.

role - executes dr's orders, assisting w/pt as needed, monitors and maintains effect of txs ; intervenes as needed, ensuring pt goals are met. the rn is the team leader, directing pt care as needed.

education - bsn should be minimum entry. yes, duties are the same as an asn/adn, but bsn will designate nurses as professionals.

it is not merely a piece of paper. bsn nurse more desirable, because of being further educated. nsg needs this professional and polished image.

leslie

I am currently working on the BSN and the whole point of these questions was to use the responses and determine the implications for our field and possibly coming up with ways to alter the public's view of our image. Some of the answers I've gotten from those outside of the nursing field are amazing, but sad. Many people do not know of the educational requirements for an RN, and some even asked me the difference between an LPN and an RN (which isn't bad, it's just many do not know the difference.) Some of the role of a RN that people described could be that of a CNA. They didn't know the difference. Anyway, thanks for your reply.

RN: A licensed professional who has completed advanced education and training

Role: a fluid description, constantly in flux and currently broader than in past history. Nurses practices in a variety of arenas, some independently (thinking of APN's here) with varying requirements for practice. I'd also like to say a valued member of the healthcare team and a strong patient advocate. (Ok, so it's a bit pie in the sky but that's what I'm hoping it will one day be)

Education: I know many are saying the BSN should be the minimum entry for practice. I'm not sure I can support that idea. I think, as a profession, we need standardized requirements for practice (so many issues can vary from state to state, especially when you look at the requirements for APN's). Whether the Associate's degree or the Bachelor's degree is the requirement, we need standardization. It's that standardization as well as demanding our seat at the table of healthcare that will start to lend our profession the image it needs.

The topic of the public's view of nursing is a hot one with me. If you haven't already found it, The Truth about Nursing website may help you (used to be called the Center for Nursing advocacy). I realize you are a student and probably don't have a lot of time but a book that really helped me in this area is: Nursing against the Odds by Suzanne Gordon (available on Amazon). We must get the word out as to what we truly do, we need to stand up for ourselves and learn to be counted! Stop minimizing what we do and show how healthcare CAN'T take place without valuable nurses like us!

Ok, sorry...passionate topic for me. And as I'm down with a knee injury right now, I've got WAY too much time on my hands.

My definition is what I will put in my paper. The questions I listed above are the interview questions that my instructor has put to us to ask the individuals that I mentioned in my original post. Thanks anyway.

Just thought you might like to share your own definition with everyone else since they were nice enough to share theirs.

:icon_roll

education - bsn should be minimum entry. yes, duties are the same as an asn/adn, but bsn will designate nurses as professionals.

So my BA + upcoming ADN means I'm not a professional since I don't have my BSN? I thought the BON said we were both qualified to pass the exact same test and be licensed in the exact same way?? Maybe your nursing informatics or nursing research or pharmacology or nursing leadership or OB or med/surg or peds or assessment courses were better than mine.

i disagree for BSN as minimum standard for education requirement; i've observed both new adn and bsn educated interns and the bsn looks a little lost when it comes to hands on down and dirty nursing (bath, poop patrol, iv's, catheters, adl's) versus the adn nurse this was the meat and potatoes of their clinical experiences. in my area the bsn nurses "shadow" their working nurses to "watch and learn". the adn's shadow to "learn and do". i think continuing from adn to bsn is strongly advised, but from what i've seen it shouldn't be the standard. even as far as professionalism, i've seen many an adn that had classier manners and professionalism compared to some bsn's....

perhaps the kicker for me today, was giving vaccines in a retail setting.

my name tag read clearly : Name, RN.

the lady i'm giving a shot to says she used to work for the CDC regulating the production of vaccines against MMR, smallpox etc. She looks at me and asks, so what do you have to do to be able to give shots? Are you a CNA?

Seriously??? talk about burned biscuits... 2 yrs science prereqs and 2 yrs nursing plus a board exam via the state.......

No, I just picked my license up out of a crackerjack box and slept at a Holiday Inn Express :madface:

rn - obtains nsg license upon passing a state exam.

role - executes dr's orders, assisting w/pt as needed, monitors and maintains effect of txs ; intervenes as needed, ensuring pt goals are met. the rn is the team leader, directing pt care as needed.

education - bsn should be minimum entry. yes, duties are the same as an asn/adn, but bsn will designate nurses as professionals.

it is not merely a piece of paper. bsn nurse more desirable, because of being further educated. nsg needs this professional and polished image.

leslie

To me (disagreeing with you on this part, Leslie:)), being able to apply the knowledge- whether associates, or bachelors, is much more important than just going through the program. I've seen both ADNs and BSNs who are dumb as rocks clinically, or REALLY good clinically; either can have book knowledge, and be clueless about what to do with it. Professionalism isn't based on a degree- but what one does with the education they have. I DO agree that continuing on with education is a very good thing. But if someone wants to do bedside nursing (or is in a more rural setting where BSNs are not required for most jobs- up to supervisory), it shouldn't be mandatory.

The polished image comes from how people present themselves- not their book learnin' :) If a PhD has no ability to either work as a nurse, apply their knowledge, or communicate to others, they're useless.

JMO :)