Career Profile: Nursing

From the emergency room to at-home care and even post-secondary institutions, there are registered nurses working in all kinds of positions and environments. Nursing is a highly rewarding profession, and the demand for nurses is only increasing as baby boomers reach old age and need more health care.

Nursing offers unique experiences, including the option to work anywhere in the world, and the ability to work in a variety of positions. Each day as an RN differs from the previous, which provides an exciting and open learning environment.

Youthink recently had the opportunity to take a peek into the career of Brent Strobbe, a registered nurse who recently received the honour of “Nurse of the Year” twice consecutively at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

YT: What are your daily responsibilities and expected activities?
BS: Basic responsibilities of a Registered Nurse include patient assessment, implementation of medical orders, direct patient care (vital signs, dressing changes, basic care), medication administration, assisting doctors or other staff with any procedures, being an advocate for patients and family members, discharge planning/teaching – we do it all!

YT: What are your work hours? Holidays?
BS: I currently work the night shift so my hours are 7 pm to 7 am (12-hour shifts). There are also day shifts which are the opposite and some units also do eight-hour shifts (7 am to 3 pm, 3 pm to 11 pm or 11 pm to 7 am). I work various holidays – scheduling varies – we end up working about half of all statutory holidays each year.

YT: What is the salary range for RNs?
BS: This varies greatly depending on the geographical area in which you work, your area of specialty, years of experience, the shift you work, your various certifications/training, etc. Current starting wage at my hospital for an RN is $73,000 per year. This does not include overtime, shift differentials, years experience, etc. – these add greatly to the base amount.

YT: Where did you go to school for nursing? Where can one find reputable training for nursing?
BS: I received my nursing diploma from Okanagan University College (now UBC Okanagan) and my BScN from the University of Victoria. Nursing schools in Canada must be accredited and their educational programs have to be recognized by the Canadian Nurses Association. Information on nursing schools can be found on the CNA’s website.

YT: What other opportunities can this training/job lead to?
BS: Nursing has so many options available! There are countless different areas in which you can work, graduate courses available which could lead to careers in nursing education, nursing leadership, administration. You can also specialize in different areas of nursing such as cardiac, pediatrics, obstetrics, critical care, gerontology, orthopedics... too many to mention!

YT: The BC health care system continues to be subject to cutbacks. How do you foresee the future of the nursing industry?
BS: Nursing is in a unique position currently within the health care system. Nurses are essential to patient care; hospitals could not function without nursing. With the aging population, the demand for nursing care is growing each year. The future for nursing will only grow along with that demand.

YT: You are Canadian and completed your education in Canada, what made you decide to work in the United States?
BS: A career in nursing opens so many doors, including the ability to work anywhere in the world! I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity, working in a different country to gain more experience.

YT: What advice would you give a high-school student to prepare him/herself for a career as a nurse?
BS: Nursing school initially focuses on biology and human anatomy and physiology. Courses in science, as well as mathematics, will assist any future nursing student. Nursing school focuses heavily on writing (research papers) so courses in writing will also help.