Personal Statement: A Career As A Registered Nurse

Harley Lunsford
Mrs. Lozares
English II
15 February 2017
It Started With a Cheek Swab Registered nurse in my dream career. I chose this career because I want to be able to help people at their weakest moment, but not have to go through the rigorous amount of schooling to become a doctor. One time I was ill and while I was at the doctor’s office they had to take a cheek swab. I told the doctor that if the test came back negative I had Tonsillitis (because I’ve had it before and the test was the same), and if the test came back positive I had Strep. The test came back with a positive result and the doctor told me that I was right. From then on I’ve wanted a job as a registered nurse. The educational requirements for a registered nurse varies

A registered nurse’s responsibilities involve recording patients’ medical histories and symptoms, administering patients’ medicines and treatments, operating and monitoring medical equipment, and explaining what to do at home after treatment (bls.gov). 7. RNs work in shifts through the day, night, weekends, holidays, and they may be on call (bls.gov). I would love to work the night shift at a hospital because I find night time to be calming and when my shift ends I can go grocery shopping with very few people in the store. However, even the best careers come with dangers. 8. Health hazards for RNs involve back injuries due to lifting and moving patients, being in contact with diseases, radiation, needle sticks, and exposure to chemicals used to create a sterile and clean environment (bls.gov). If a registered nurse follows regulations and proper protocol, they should not be at risk for most of the hazards. 10. McCauley says, “Nurses get the privilege of helping make a patient’s worst day the best it can possibly be, given the circumstances” ( money.usnews.com). Bringing comfort to people who are feeling awful is why I want to be a RN. If I can make a patient laugh and for a second forget the pain that they are in, I’ve done my job

Donna Cardillo, RN, a speaker known as the “career guru” for nurses, addressed one of the limiting factors for registered nurses, “Even though there’s great growth potential, the market is still competitive” ( money.usnews.com). The lack of family time is another major limiting factor for a registered nurse. This limiting factor won’t bother me too much because I plan on having no children and I have little to no social life. 12. But being a registered nurse definitely hinders your family life. For example, all medical field employees are required to work two major holidays. If the nurse chose Christmas, the family may have to delay their celebrations until she/he is done with their shift. Working on major holidays wouldn’t bother me because I don’t particularly like Christmas and my family doesn’t do any big celebrations for the holiday. Thankfully, with the downfalls, come the perks. 13. Registered nurses in Oklahoma make a median of $27.56 dollars an hour and $57,330 dollars a year (ok career guide.org). The amount of registered nurse jobs available in Oklahoma is approximately 32,100 between the years 2012 and 2022 (ok career guide.org). 14. There is an expected 1,180 job openings between 2012 and 2022, that is a 17.34% increase in the number of jobs available (ok career