Certification for Nurses: What It Is and How to Obtain It
Nurses are classified as mid-level healthcare professionals. Their responsibilities include carrying out doctors’ orders regarding patient health and treatment, as well as caring for bedridden patients. Nurses are not authorized to prescribe medications or recommend treatments.
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You cannot work in this field without specialized training; in that case, your responsibilities are limited to performing only the simplest tasks. If a professional is interested in earning a higher salary and advancing their career, they must obtain a nursing degree and continue to renew their certification every five years by obtaining a medical certificate to meet the requirements for qualified healthcare professionals.
This article provides a detailed overview of the duties performed by nurses and the knowledge they possess. It will also inform you about where to study to become a nurse or a registered nurse, and what salary you can expect.
Job Responsibilities
We will briefly define the terms “nurse” and “registered nurse,” which are used to refer to professionals of different genders who work in the same field of “nursing.” This means that any reference to the nursing profession in this article automatically implies that both women and men can work in the field of “nursing.”
Let’s take a closer look at what the duties of a nurse or registered nurse entail. Essentially, this involves carrying out a doctor’s orders, but the specific functions of a nurse depend on their workplace and specialization.
- Head Nurse. This specialist’s responsibilities include patient care and medical services;
- A procedural nurse is responsible for setting up IV drips and catheters, as well as drawing blood and cerebrospinal fluid for testing;
- An obstetric nurse. This specialist is in demand in the surgical departments of hospitals and clinics and is directly involved in dressing patients’ wounds;
- Operating Room Assistant. Organizes the surgeon’s work before and after surgery. Provides the surgeon with surgical instruments and prepares suture material. Prepares the patient for the procedure;
- Registration Nurse. Assists the local physician in scheduling and examining patients. Completes medical records.
- Vaccination Nurse. Ensures that the necessary vaccines are available in the vaccination room. Increases patient volume;
- Anesthesiologist-resuscitator. Assistant to anesthesiologists-resuscitators, Candidate of Medical Sciences. Induces anesthesia in patients and prepares anesthesiological and lifting equipment. Monitors changes in the patient’s vital signs during intensive care;
- Department Head. Assists the head of the department in managing the medical staff. Oversees compliance with the chief physician’s instructions and maintains medical records. Unlike other specialties, the head nurse must hold a higher medical rank;
- Emergency nurse. Responds to calls alongside doctors and paramedics;
- Ward nurse. Works in the hospital and assists in providing therapeutic care to patients in designated wards;
- Dietitian. Monitors patients’ adherence to their dietary regimens.
As you can see, nurses perform a wide variety of tasks. They work closely with doctors, thereby facilitating their work. Every healthcare organization needs staff with this specialization. This means that after completing a nursing program, you can find a job right away.
What professional knowledge should a nurse possess
When taking courses in high school or in the “nursing” program, students gain knowledge about:
- The basics of dentistry;
- Applied chemistry, biology, and psychology;
- Medications and the rules for their use;
- Methods of disinfecting medical equipment;
- Interacting with patients and the rules for examining them;
- Various types of injuries and poisonings and methods of providing first aid for them;
- Symptoms of various diseases.
The practical component of the training includes students practicing skills in the following areas:
- Dressing patients;
- Setting up IV drips;
- Preparing patients for procedures;
- Other skills necessary for working as a nurse.
How to become a nurse after high school
To become a nurse or a registered nurse, students must enroll in a university that specializes in “nursing.” This can be done after completing 9th or 11th grade. The former program lasts three years and 10 months, while the latter lasts two years and 10 months. No entrance exams are required for admission—it is sufficient to pass a review of high school transcripts and, in some cases, undergo an interview to assess professional aptitude.
In our country, many educational institutions offer a quality nursing education.
- Novosibirsk Medical University;
- Nizhny Novgorod Medical University;
- St. Petersburg College of Medical Assistants;
- Orenburg Regional Medical University;
- Krasnoyarsk Basic Medical University.
How to retrain as a nurse
With a high school diploma, an adult can become a nurse or a practical nurse. To do so, students must complete an in-person or online retraining course in this specialty. As part of the course, students quickly master the medical college curriculum, study medical topics, and apply their knowledge in practice.
Nurses who wish to deepen their specialized knowledge and skills may also undergo retraining. In accordance with the law and Article 69 of Federal Law No. 323, every nursing professional must undergo retraining if they have not worked in the field for the past five years.
The “Academy of Professional Standards” provides continuing professional education in the field of “nursing.” To complete the educational program, healthcare workers must have a basic post-secondary specialized education in one of the following areas:
- “Medicine”;
- “Midwifery.”
Starting January 1, 2021, specialists who have completed a specialized retraining course will be issued a diploma with an appendix. Additionally, to begin working, they must pass an accreditation exam at the state accreditation center responsible for this field.
Distance learning at the Academy of Professional Standards allows you to acquire new medical specialties without taking time off from work. This is especially convenient for those who are unable to regularly attend in-person classes or who live in another city. To take the course, all you need is access to the Internet and a computer, as well as a desire for career growth.
Where you can work and what salary to expect
Nurses are needed at sports complexes, schools, educational centers, and all healthcare facilities. You can find well-paying nursing positions at:
- Hospices;
- Health resorts;
- Pharmacies;
- Medical centers;
- Public or private clinics;
- Clinics and hospitals;
- Institutes.
Salary depends on specialization, work experience, qualification category, region, and place of work. The average salary for nurses in Russia ranges from 15,000 to 50,000 rubles. The average salary for nurses in the Moscow Region is 45,000 rubles, in the Novosibirsk Region—47,000 rubles, in the Sverdlovsk Region—37,000 rubles, in the Leningrad Region—37,000 rubles, and in the Rostov Region—35,000 rubles.
