Nursing
Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region



Tori Dumitru
Registered Nurse
Family Birthing Center
Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Today, opportunities for nurses are greater than ever before and will continue to offer excellent careers through the 21st century. They play an extremely important role in caring for the sick. They also help to prevent illness and promote good health by educating both the sick and well. This requires an understanding of patients’ psychological as well as physical needs, knowledge of medications and their side effects, and ability to use a variety of medical equipment.

Ideal Career For
Nurses must be problem-solvers, compassionate and work well one-on-one.

Job Listings:

Job Title | back to top
Registered Nurse (RN)

Nature of Work:
RNs work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs also develop and manage nursing care plans; instruct patients and their families in proper care; and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health.

Hospital nurses form the largest group of nurses. Most are staff nurses, who provide bedside nursing care and carry out medical regimens. They also may supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides. Hospital nurses usually are assigned to one area, such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, emergency room, intensive care, or treatment of cancer patients.

Job Outlook
As the largest healthcare occupation, registered nurses held about 2.4 million jobs in 2004. About 3 out of 5 jobs were in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient departments. Others were mostly in offices and clinics of physicians and other health practitioners, home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, temporary help agencies, schools, and government agencies. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014, and because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result.

Average Starting Wages for Sacramento Sierra Region:
$63,000 - $77,000

Education and/or Training
In California, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination, by endorsement of a license issued by another State, or through a multi-State licensing agreement. California requires periodic license renewal, which involves continuing education.

There are two major educational paths to registered nursing: associate degree in nursing (ADN) and bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN). ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take 4 or 5 years.

Career Path
Experienced Registered Nurses may specialize in areas such as emergency medicine, surgery (operating room) critical care or neonatal intensive care. RNs with a bachelor's degree often have a better chance for advancement than those with an associate's degree. Many with bachelor's degrees become nursing administrators or educators. With additional education, they can become Advanced Practice Nurses such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Nurse-Midwife, or Nurse Practitioner.

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