Career pathways in trauma unit nursing

Career in Nursing (Trauma Unit)

A nursing career in trauma unit has been my desire for a long period of time, especially after joining college. I have found this an attractive career for me simply because it will provide me with an opportunity to wear different hats when dealing with emergency situations. Trauma nurses are usually the line of healthcare or nursing professionals to attend to emergency situations involving seriously injured patients (Health Career Institute, n.d.). Through this career, I'll be able to provide different kinds of nursing interventions to seriously injured patients. I chose this career because I enjoy fast paced working floors and helping people during their most difficult and challenging moments. Since working as a trauma nurse entails being the first line of healthcare professionals dealing with emergency situations, I'll enjoy the fast paced working floors and helping severely injured patients.

My personal values that align with trauma nursing include happiness, living a healthy lifestyle, demonstrating competence at work, contributing to the welfare of others and making important contributions to humankind. I found my happiness when I began taking better care of my health and believe that living a healthy lifestyle and being happy go hand in hand. Once I started eating healthy and working out consistently, I found that I was sleeping better and became a more pleasant person. I really enjoy helping other people when given the opportunity to do so, and I also take great pride in my work which is why I believe a career in nursing will fulfill my aspiration's. I think that the biggest reason of me coming back to complete my education was my will to contribute to my society and humankind. My main goals in life are to be successful in my field of work and also financially successful, start a family, and be happy.

Working as a trauma nurse requires proper education and training before being licensed as a practitioner in this field. Registered nurses and licensed practice nurses in New Jersey are licensed by the state's Board of Nursing. For licensed practice nurses, the licensing process requires completing a criminal background check. The state utilizes MorphoTrak electronic fingerprinting services, which are carried out after the candidate pays $67.50. However, candidates whose fingerprints have been examined after November 2003 do not need to be fingerprinted again, but are still subjected to another background check for a $22.55 fee. Candidates are also required to register with Pearson VUE and undertake the NCLEX-RN for a testing fee of $200 (Nursing Licensure, n.d.). Upon determination of eligibility, the candidate can plan an exam in three different ways i.e. online, paper registration form or by telephone at Pearson sites across the state. In contrast, RNs are required to complete an approved registered nursing program whose certification should be sent to the New Jersey Board of Nursing upon completion of requirements. The renewal deadline for licensed registered nurses in New Jersey is May 31 though these nurses are allotted an odd or even year for renewal. A minimum of 30 hours of continuing education is required for every RN licensee in New Jersey within a two-year period before renewal.

The minimum level of education needed to be a registered nurse in a trauma unit is an associate's in nursing. A two-year associate degree is required for one to obtain an entry-level position and provide a suitable platform for commencing a career in this field because there are few entry-level registered nurse positions in trauma nursing. I plan to obtain my I plan on achieving my Bachelors degree in nursing because I feel it would be challenging become a trauma nurse without the additional education. I intend to obtain my Bachelors Degree in Nursing at Georgian Court University in New Jersey. My next steps include completing my associates nursing program at Brookdale Community College and receive my Certified Nurses Aid (CNA). I'll then start working at a hospital to develop work experience before joining the communiversity program at Georgian Court for my bachelor's degree. However, since the Georgian Court communiversity program will not be finalized until 2018, my plan is to go to NJCU for the program though if an opportunity arises at Georgian Court, I'll take it.

To be admitted for this associate degree program at Brookdale Community College, students will need at least a C. or higher. At the Brookdale Community College, the courses for an associate's degree in nursing include; "HESC 105 - Medical Terminology or HESC 115 -- Nutrition and Health or HESC 165 -- Pathophysiology, HESC 107 -- Exploring Careers in Healthcare, NURS 111 -- Professional Roles I, NURS 112 -- Professional Roles II, NURS 125 Pharmacology for Nurses, NURS 165 -- Issues in Nursing, NURS 171 -- Nursing Concepts I, NURS 172 -- Nursing Concepts II, NURS 211 -- Professional Roles III, NURS 212 - Professional Roles IV, NURS 273 -- Nursing Concepts III, NURS 274 -- Nursing Concepts IV" (Brookdale Community College, 2016). Moreover, the general courses are; "BIOL111 - Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL112 - Anatomy and Physiology II, BIOL213 -- Microbiology, ENGL121 - English Composition: The Writing Process, ENGL122 - English Composition: Writing and Research, PSYC106 - Introduction to Psychology II, PSYC208 - Life Span Development" (Brookdale Community College, 2016). The associate degree program takes a period of between 2 and 3 years and requires 64 credits.

For the bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) at Brookdale Community College, an individual may apply for the NJCU through the communiversity program. The required courses for one to receive the BSN include; "Math 136, 145 or 151, Marriage & the Family SOIC 215, Statistics MATH 131 or PSYC 247 (PSYC 247 replaced PSYC 245 either PSYC is accepted), - NURS 310 Contemporary Professional Practice for the Baccalaureate Nurse 3 cr. -NURS 303 Nursing Informatics and Technology for Quality Patient Care 3 cr. -NURS 466 Culture and Diversity in Nursing Practice 3 cr. Nursing Elective 3 cr. -NURS 351 Health Assessment for the Professional Nurse 3 cr. -NURS 475 Population Healthcare in Nursing 5 cr. -NURS 460 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice 3 cr. -NURS 440 Leadership and Management in Nursing 4 cr. -NURS 425 Quality and Safety 3cr. Nursing Elective 3 cr. Additionally, there are free electives determined by total number of credits transferred into NJCU Nursing Electives including "Pathophysiology, Perspectives in Global Health, The History of Nursing Practice, Spanish for the Healthcare Professional" (Brookdale Community College, 2016). The completion of the bachelor's degree in nursing program requires a total of 120 credits.