Betty Long, RN, MHA, President and CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, and Dr Lisa Gill, CRNP. Nurse Practitioner and Chief Clinical Officer for Primary HomeCare, discussed nursing in today’s healthcare systems.  Far from their original support role in a hospital or private practice, today nurses are an integral part of health care delivery.  They discussed the types of nursing and specialties, from recent RN graduates who pad the acute care hospital positions, to nurse practitioners who can diagnose and prescribe, to obstetrical and psychiatric, oncology, surgical and more, and the training required.  We spoke on how, by default, they are often the unofficial medial navigator for many patients, they spend more concentrated time with patients.   Both admitted that even as medical professionals the amount of paperwork and requirements are too involved, well above a layman.

They discussed the gender diversity, today men make up an almost equal share of students, but they gravitate to emergency and high-energy, critical jobs.   We also discussed home health care and caregivers, with the need growing, LPNs and other certificates are in demand.   Often an entry level to nursing,  Ms Long noted that they are a vital part of healthcare, allowing people to stay at home longer and more cost effectively.  But while it’s an attractive job to parents who need flexible hours, the low pay keeps many – mostly men – from applying.

Despite the rapidly growing need for more nurses, there are barriers: an RN degree is expensive, and there are too few nursing schools and educators to meet the demand.  We also discussed the salary, while US nurses make more than their counterparts in other countries, they are often paid on a service basis, not outcome.  For someone who is interested in the profession they suggested the American Nursing Association.

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