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WHAT IS
NURSING?

To do what nobody else will do, a

way that nobody else can do, in
spite of all we go through; that is
to be a nurse.
Rawsi Williams

WHAT IS NURSING?
Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of
health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury,
alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and
treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care
of individuals, families, communities, and populations
American Nurses Association
Registered Nurses (RNs) work as a vital part of a health care team,
providing direct care to patients. The duties of RNs are broad and
encompass the full range of lifespan care including a variety of handson skills, in addition to a high level of critical thinking skills, cultural
competency, compassion, empathy, and a passion for lifelong learning.

WHAT IS NURSING?
Where do they
work?

What do they do?

Perform assessments that monitor the conditions of their patients

Hospitals

Collect detailed health histories and other pertinent information

Clinics

Community Health
Centers

Provide health promotion, counseling, and education to patients and their

families

Administer medications, wound care, and numerous other personalized

interventions

Assist with daily activities such as bathing, toileting or other personal care
functions as needed

Schools

Homes

Long-term Care Facilities

Interpret patient information and make critical decisions about needed actions

Prisons

Coordinate care in collaboration with a wide array of healthcare professionals

Outpatient Services

Homeless Shelters

Sporting Events

Direct and supervise care delivered by other healthcare personnel such as

licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and home
health aides.

Document the condition of the patient as well as all medications and care that
are administered

Conduct research in support of improved practice and patient outcomes

WHAT IS NURSING?
Nurses can specialize in a variety of different areas including:

A specific health condition, such as a diabetes management nurse who helps patients with
diabetes or an oncology nurse who helps cancer patients.

A specific part of the body, such as a dermatology nurse working with patients who have skin
problems, or a cardiac nurse who cares for patients with heart disease.

A specific workplace, such as an emergency or trauma nurse who works in a hospital or standalone emergency department or a school nurse working in an elementary, middle, or high school.

A specific group of people, such as a geriatric nurse who works with the elderly or a pediatric
nurse who works with children and teens.
There are many possibilities for working with a specific patient group. For example:
A neonatal nurse that takes care of newborn babies or a labor and delivery nurse who takes care of
mothers during labor and mother and baby after birth.
Critical care nurses work in intensive care units in hospitals, providing care to patients with serious,
complex, and acute illnesses and injuries that need very close monitoring and treatment.
Addiction nurses care for patients who need help to overcome addictions to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and
other substances.
Genetics nurses provide screening, counseling, and treatment of patients with genetic disorders, such as
cystic fibrosis.
Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary or permanent disabilities.

WHAT IS NURSING?
Additional areas of nursing specialty that one can focus on include:
Nurse case management. Nurse case managers work with specify groups of people who
have a chronic illness in order to assist them in managing their condition to increase
their quality of life.
Community health. These nurses work to promote general health by educating the public
on ways to increase healthy habits in order to prevent illness and disease. They may
also run general health screenings or immunization clinics, blood drives, or other
outreach programs.
Clinical nurse specialty. These are a type of advanced practice registered nurse or APRN.
They provide direct patient care in one of many nursing specialties, such as psychiatricmental health, pediatrics, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, or nurse practitioners.
Some nurses have jobs in which they do not work directly with patients, but they must still
have an active registered nurse license. For example, they may work as nurse
educators, healthcare consultants, public policy advisors, researchers, hospital
administrators, salespeople for pharmaceutical and medical supply companies, or as
medical writers and editors.
As you can see, the possibilities within nursing are truly endless!

WHY CHOOSE NURSING?

Nursing is one of the most rapidly growing professions. Over

43 million Americans are aged 65 or olderthis number is
expected to double over the next 35 years. A larger elderly
population means a greater need for long-term health

MEN IN NURSING
Men have played a vitalalthough often overlookedrole in the history of the
nursing profession. They attended the worlds first nursing school in India in
250 B.C. and have tended to the ill and injured over the millennia. While
nursing is viewed as a nontraditional career for men today, the stereotype is
changing.
Currently, men are enrolling in nursing programs at a higher rate than ever
before. Emphasis on gender diversification and inclusion in the workforce are
factors in the increase of the number of men pursuing nursing as a career.
The percentage of male nurses has more than doubled in the past three
decades but still lingers at around 7% today. This percentage is expected to
triple within the next few decades as the need for both male and female
healthcare professionals continues to grow.

MINORITIES IN NURSING
Nursing still lags behind many other professions in terms of diversity, but it is
uniquely positioned to play a more dynamic role in a nation with steadily
increasing racial and ethnic diversity.
According to findings from the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses,
ethnic and racial minorities constituted just 16.8% of the nursing workforce.
Although those of Asian background were slightly overrepresented, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, Native Americans and Alaska natives were significantly
underrepresented, making up more than 28% of the population.
Increasing minority faculty representation has been identified as a crucial step in
making nursing a more diverse profession. Faculty serve as role models and
strengthen their school's ability to deliver culturally competent healthcare
education.

HOW DO YOU
BECOME A NURSE
IN OREGON?

HOW DO YOU BECOME A NURSE?

Start College Prerequisites

Apply
BSN Program (Bachelors
degree
3 years)

ASN Program (Associates

Degree
2 years)

Take national licensing

exam

Take national licensing

exam

Become a Registered
Nursing, BSN

Become a Registered Nurse,

ASN
Start BSN Bridge Program
(Additional 1 year)
Become Registered Nurse,
BSN

HOW DO YOU BECOME A NURSE?

Registered nurses usually take one of two education paths: a bachelor's of science
degree in nursing (BSN) or an associates degree in nursing (ADN).
Most nursing education programs require extensive prerequisite coursework before
applying to their program. The prerequisite course work includes taking courses in
anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other
social and behavioral sciences as well as liberal arts. BSN programs typically take 4-5
years to complete with the prerequisite coursework; ADN usually take 3-4 years to
complete with the prerequisite coursework. All programs include supervised clinical
experience.
Generally, licensed graduates of any of the two types of education programs (bachelor's or
associates) qualify for entry-level positions as a staff nurse. However, many employers
may require a bachelors degree. Many registered nurses with an ADN choose to go
back to school to earn a bachelors degree through an RN-to-BSN program.

**There is a shift in the nursing field that is requiring nurses to have a bachelors degree. A bachelor's
degree or higher is often necessary for administrative positions, research, consulting, and
teaching. Bachelor's degree programs typically include additional education in the physical and
social sciences, communication, leadership, and critical thinking. Furthermore, BSN programs also
offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings such as schools and community centers.**

SO MANY CHOICES!
Why Direct
Bachelor
Degree?

Why Associates
Degree to BSN
Bridge?

The nursing profession is

moving towards requiring
a Bachelors of Science for
nursing

Can be less expensive

You end up with the same

degree as everyone else with
a Bridge Program

Less steps in the pathway

Many hospitals already

require you to have a BSN
to work there

Get experience working as a

RN while doing the BSN
bridge program makes you a
better applicant for some jobs

Enter workforce earlier

Either way is a good choice, the important thing is that you end up
with your Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN will provide
you with job stability and increased income potential as well as many
more career opportunities. Nursing is changing and the BSN will
eventually be required for most RN jobs.

APPLYING IN OREGON
OCNE
(Oregon Consortium of Nursing
Education)

If you go to any of these

community colleges you
automatically are accepted
into the OHSU BSN Bridge
Program to complete your
BSN:
Clackamas Community College
Portland Community College
Southwestern Community College
Rogue Community College
Blue Mountain Community
College
Umpqua Community College

NON-OCNE

If you go to any of these

community colleges you
automatically are
accepted to the Linfield
BSN Bridge Program to
complete your BSN:
Chemeketa Community
College
Clatsop Community College
Central Oregon Community
College
Columbia Gorge Community
College

These are the easiest way to earn your BSN but other options include:
Going straight to OHSU, Linfield, Walla Walla University, University of
Portland, Concordia University, etc.
Going to a community college that does not have an automatic entry into a
bridge program and then applying to a bridge program with competitive
entry instead of an automatic entry.

Pick Schools

Pick the schools you are going to apply to and research

their admittance requirements and application process.
Make sure to note prerequisites, discretionary application
points, fees, and deadlines.

Complete
Meet with an academic advisor and start a plan to
Prerequisites

complete the required classes. This is also a good time

to gain healthcare experience such as working as a CNA
if this will earn you discretionary points on your
application.
Fill
Out Applications
Most applications open in October and close in February,
but some schools have different dates. Get organized,
keep folders for all the forms, and create checklists.
Make sure to order your transcripts and other documents
early.
Essays
Many applications will require an essay. Use resources
such as Purdue Owl for tips on writing a successful essay:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/978/04/

Interviews

Although many schools do not have applicants interview,

it is a growing trend. If you are invited to an interview
dress in professional attire, have confidence, be yourself,
and breathe! Remember everyone else is nervous too.

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

As the Breakthrough to Nursing Director for the Oregon Student
Nurses Association, I can be a resource to anyone who is
interested in pursing a career in nursing.
OSNA can:
Answers questions
Provided one-on-one advising when appropriate
Identify appropriate schools and providing contact
information to those schools
Identify CNA programs and provide contact information to
those programs
Provide a list volunteer opportunities that you can get
involved in
Provide a list of upcoming events and conventions that
students can attend

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO NOW?

Job shadow

Volunteer at a local hospital or nursing home

Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Attend job fairs and conventions for nursing

Get into contact with Laura Maxwell at OSNA

Laura Maxwell: [email protected]

Explore the OSNA website for current nursing

student/pre-nursing information
Oregon Student Nurses Association:
http://www.oregonsna.org/
Consider membership with OSNA

This document was completed with information contained within the

following websites and organizations:
American Nurses Association
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses conducted by the Health
Resources and Services Administration
American Assembly for Men in Nursing (http://aamn.org/)
American Journal of Nursing
(http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2013/02000/Increasing_Minorit
y_Representation_in_Nursing.2.aspx)
Minority Nurse
https://collegegrad.com/careers/registered-nurses
http://www.rwjf.org/en/library/articles-and-news/2011/09/male-nurses-bre
ak-through-barriers-to-diversify-profession.html