Washington Nursing Schools

The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future Raises Funds for Washington

Seattle, WA - To help ease Washington's growing shortage of nurses, a statewide coalition of hospitals, nursing schools and nursing organizations joined Johnson & Johnson for the Promise of Nursing for Washington gala. More than 650 local nurses and health care professionals attended last night's event at the Seattle Westin Hotel to celebrate the nursing profession while raising funds to help relieve the shortage.

"The shortage of registered nurses in Washington and across the country impacts each and every one of us," said Scott Armstrong, CEO of Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, WA. "In Washington alone there is a need for at least 1,900 hospital nurses. As a result of the shortage, emergency rooms are unable to handle all the patients they receive, elective surgeries are cancelled and care cannot be delivered, as it is needed. This problem needs the help of the entire community and our business leaders. Collectively, we can step up to the plate and solve the nursing shortage."

The collaborative efforts of the state's health care organizations along with The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future , raised $510,000 at last night's event, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward regional nursing school grants, faculty fellowships and student scholarships. Nursing student scholarships and faculty fellowships are granted to qualifying applicants for the duration of their program.

"It's great that we are seeing a significant increase in interest in the nursing profession, but there's still much work to be done to alleviate the very acute faculty shortage that our nursing schools are experiencing," says Dorothy Detlor, dean and professor, Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing. "Funds raised through events like the Promise of Nursing for Washington help support nursing schools and colleges to provide the educational programs needed to prepare the next generation of nurses."

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, by the year 2020, Washington is expected to suffer a nursing shortfall of 56 percent, or 26,000 nurses.

"Washington is experiencing a growing nursing shortage that will only intensify as the demand for health care increases," said Patty Mulhern, chief nursing officer of Visiting Nurse NW. "Nurses are a critical part of patient care, and I'm thankful for the generous support of Johnson & Johnson in their efforts to honor the nursing profession."

"With the aging baby boomer population, the nursing shortage in this country is of critical concern as it impacts the quality of health care now and in the coming years," said Curt M. Selquist, company group chairman, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. "The state of Washington is a region that is impacted by the nursing shortage and collective efforts such as this event can enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit and retain nurses and attract nurse educators to help mitigate the shortage."

Since 2002, the Promise of Nursing galas have raised more than eight million dollars nationwide. The final gala for 2006 will take place in Southern California on April 27.

The organizations that comprise The Promise of Nursing for Washington Steering Committee are: Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center; Gonzaga University Department of Nursing; Group Health Cooperative; Health Work Force Institute at the Washington State Hospital Association; Home Care Association of Washington; Kennewick General Hospital; Kindred Hospital Seattle; Mark and Huldah Buntain School of Nursing, Northwest University; Mid-Valley Hospital; MultiCare Health System; Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives; Planned Parenthood of Western Washington; Providence St. Peter Hospital; Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; Seattle Pacific University School of Health Sciences; Seattle University College of Nursing; Swedish Health Services; UFCW Local 141 USNU; University of Washington Medical Center; University of Washington Tri-campus Nursing: Bothell, Seattle, Tacoma; Virginia Mason Medical Center; Visiting Nurse Services of NW; Washington Center for Nursing; Washington State Nurses Association; Washington State Nurses Foundation; and Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing.

About The Promise of Nursing

The Promise of Nursing for Washington gala is part of a public-awareness campaign - The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future - launched by Johnson & Johnson in February 2002. The multi-year, $30 million campaign is designed to enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, as well as help retain nurses currently in the profession. Working in cooperation with various professional nursing organizations, schools, hospitals and other health care groups and providers, the campaign focuses on promoting opportunities within nursing as well as increasing awareness of the value of the nursing profession to our overall society and health care community.

In January 2006, the Campaign for Nursing's Future accepted the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership on behalf of Johnson & Johnson. The Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership is the only presidential award to honor companies for the exemplary quality of their relationships with employees and communities. Johnson & Johnson was one of three companies this year to receive this prestigious award established in honor of the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is the world's most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care products, as well as a provider of related services, for the consumer, pharmaceutical and medical devices and diagnostic markets. The more than 230 Johnson & Johnson operating companies employ approximately 115,600 men and women in 57 countries and sell products throughout the world.

Registered Nurses (RN) in Washington

Registered nurses (RN), regardless of specialty or work setting, perform basic duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients' family members. Registered Nurses record patients' medical histories and symptoms, help to perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.

Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations. Job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough Registered Nurses. The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor's degree, an associate degree and a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation with 2.4 million jobs and about three out of five RN jobs are in hospitals.

Washington registered nurses teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. Some Washington registered nurses also are trained to provide grief counseling to family members of critically ill patients. registered nurses work to promote general health by educating the public on various warning signs and symptoms of disease and where to go for help. Registered Nurses also might run general health screening or immunization clinics, blood drives, and public seminars on various conditions.

Registered nurses can specialize in one or more patient care specialties. The most common specialties can be divided into roughly four categories by work setting or type of treatment; disease, ailment, or condition; organ or body system type; or population. Registered nurses may combine specialties from more than one area-for example, pediatric oncology or cardiac emergency-depending on personal interest and employer needs.

Washington Registered Nurses may specialize by work setting or by type of care provided. For example, ambulatory care nurses treat patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries on an outpatient basis, either in physicians' offices or in clinics. Some ambulatory care nurses are involved in telehealth, providing care and advice through electronic communications media such as videoconferencing or the Internet. Critical care nurses work in critical or intensive care hospital units and provide care to patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or pulmonary failure.

Emergency, or trauma, nurses work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks, and strokes. Some emergency nurses are flight nurses, who provide medical care to patients who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical facility. Holistic nurses provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback, which are meant to treat patients' mental and spiritual health in addition to their physical health.

Home health care nurses provide at-home care for patients who are recovering from surgery, accidents, and childbirth. Washington occupational health nurses provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses and help employers to detect workplace hazards and implement health and safety standards.

Washington radiologic nurses provide care to patients undergoing diagnostic radiation procedures such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging. Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary and permanent disabilities. Transplant nurses care for both transplant recipients and living donors and monitor signs of organ rejection.

Registered Nurses specializing in a particular disease, ailment, or condition are employed in virtually all work settings, including physicians' offices, outpatient treatment facilities, home health care agencies, and hospitals. Developmental disabilities nurses provide care for patients with physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities; care may include help with feeding, controlling bodily functions, and sitting or standing independently.

Diabetes management nurses help diabetics to manage their disease by teaching them proper nutrition and showing them how to test blood sugar levels and administer insulin injections. Genetics nurses provide early detection screenings and treatment of patients with genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease. Oncology nurses care for patients with various types of cancer and may administer radiation and chemotherapies.

Washington registered nurses specializing in treatment of a particular organ or body system usually are employed in specialty physicians' offices or outpatient care facilities, although some are employed in hospital specialty or critical care units. For example, cardiac and vascular nurses treat patients with coronary heart disease and those who have had heart surgery, providing services such as postoperative rehabilitation. Ophthalmic nurses provide care to patients with disorders of the eyes, including blindness and glaucoma, and to patients undergoing eye surgery.

Orthopedic nurses care for patients with muscular and skeletal problems, including arthritis, bone fractures, and muscular dystrophy. Dermatology nurses treat patients with disorders of the skin, such as skin cancer and psoriasis. Gastroenterology nurses treat patients with digestive and intestinal disorders, including ulcers, acid reflux disease, and abdominal bleeding. Some nurses in this field also specialize in endoscopic procedures, which look inside the gastrointestinal tract using a tube equipped with a light and a camera that can capture images of diseased tissue. Gynecology nurses provide care to women with disorders of the reproductive system, including endometriosis, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Nephrology nurses care for patients with kidney disease caused by diabetes, hypertension, or substance abuse. Neuroscience nurses care for patients with dysfunctions of the nervous system, including brain and spinal cord injuries and seizures. Otorhinolaryngology nurses care for patients with ear, nose, and throat disorders, such as cleft palates, allergies, and sinus disorders. Respiratory nurses provide care to patients with respiratory disorders such as asthma, tuberculosis, and cystic fibrosis. Urology nurses care for patients with disorders of the kidneys, urinary tract, and male reproductive organs, including infections, kidney and bladder stones, and cancers.

Finally, Washington registered nurses may specialize by providing preventive and acute care in all health care settings to various segments of the population, including newboRegistered Nurses (neonatology), children and adolescents (pediatrics), adults, and the elderly (gerontology or geriatrics). Washington Registered Nurses may also provide basic health care to patients outside of health care settings in such venues as including correctional facilities, schools, summer camps, and the military. Some Registered Nurses travel around the United States and abroad providing care to patients in areas with shortages of medical professionals.

Most Washington registered nurses work as staff nurses, providing critical health care services along with physicians, surgeons, and other health care practitioners. However, some registered nurses choose to become advanced practice nurses, who often are considered primary health care practitioners and work independently or in collaboration with physicians. For example, clinical nurse specialists provide direct patient care and expert consultations in one of many of the nursing specialties listed above.

Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs during surgery, and provide post-anesthesia care. Nurse midwives provide primary care to women, including gynecological exams, family planning advice, prenatal care, assistance in labor and delivery, and neonatal care.

Nurse practitioners provide basic preventive health care to patients, and increasingly serve as primary and specialty care providers in mainly medically underserved areas. The most common areas of specialty for nurse practitioners are family practice, adult practice, women's health, pediatrics, acute care, and gerontology; however, there are many other specialties. In most States, advanced practice nurses can prescribe medications.

Some Washington Registered Nurses have jobs that require little or no direct patient contact. Most of these positions still require an active Washington RN license. Case managers ensure that all of the medical needs of patients with severe injuries and illnesses are met, including the type, location, and duration of treatment. Forensics nurses combine nursing with law enforcement by treating and investigating victims of sexual assault, child abuse, or accidental death. Infection control nurses identify, track, and control infectious outbreaks in health care facilities; develop methods of outbreak prevention and biological terrorism responses; and staff immunization clinics.

Washington legal nurse consultants assist lawyers in medical cases by interviewing patients and witnesses, organizing medical records, determining damages and costs, locating evidence, and educating lawyers about medical issues. Nurse administrators supervise nursing staff, establish work schedules and budgets, and maintain medical supply inventories. Nurse educators teach student nurses and also provide continuing education for Registered Nurses. Nurse informaticists collect, store, and analyze nursing data in order to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and improve patient care. Registered Nurses also may work as health care consultants, public policy advisors, pharmaceutical and medical supply researchers and salespersons, and medical writers and editors.

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Washington RN Working Conditions

Most Washington registered nurses work in well-lighted, comfortable health care facilities. Home health and public health nurses travel to patients' homes, schools, community centers, and other sites. Registered Nurses may spend considerable time walking and standing. Patients in hospitals and nursing care facilities require 24-hour care; consequently, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and holidays. Registered Nurses also may be on call-available to work on short notice. Washington nurses who work in office settings are more likely to work regular business hours.

Nursing has its hazards, especially in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and clinics, where nurses may care for individuals with infectious diseases. Registered Nurses must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers, such as those posed by radiation, accidental needle sticks, chemicals used to sterilize instruments, and anesthetics. In addition, Registered Nurses are vulnerable to back injury when moving patients, shocks from electrical equipment, and hazards posed by compressed gases. Registered Nurses who work with critically ill patients also may suffer emotional strain from observing patient suffering and from close personal contact with patients' families.

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Washington RN Training and Advancement

In all States and the District of Columbia, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination, known as the NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination or by the endorsement of a license issued by another State. Currently 18 States participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement, which allows nurses to practice in member States without recertifying. All States require periodic renewal of licenses, which may involve continuing education.

There are three major educational paths to registered nursing (RN) in Washington: A bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take about four years to complete. ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about two to three years to complete. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about three years. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses.

Many Washington Registered Nurses with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor's programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find a staff nurse position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. Washington accelerated master's degree programs in nursing also are available. These programs combine 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field and who are interested in moving into nursing. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree.

Washington individuals considering nursing should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN program, because, if they do, their advancement opportunities usually are broader. In fact, some career paths are open only to nurses with a bachelor's or master's degree. A bachelor's degree often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties-clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Individuals who complete a bachelor's receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor's degree programs offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings.

All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master's degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require a BSN degree and some programs require at least one to two years of clinical experience as an RN for admission. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty. All Washington nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.

Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number of Washington programs include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients' conditions, and determine when consultation is required. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.

Some Washington Registered Nurses start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then go back to school to receive their RN degree. Most Registered Nurses begin as staff nurses, and with experience and good performance often are promoted to more responsible positions. In management, nurses can advance to assistant head nurse or head nurse and, from there, to assistant director, director, and vice president. Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration. They also require leadership, negotiation skills, and good judgment.

Some Washington nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers-including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among others-need Registered Nurses for health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and university faculty or conduct research.

Washington Registered Nurse Employment

As the largest health care occupation, registered nurses held about 2.4 million jobs. About 3 out of 5 jobs are in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient departments. Others work in offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, home health care services, employment services, government agencies, and outpatient care centers. The remainder work mostly in social assistance agencies and educational services, public and private. About one in four registered nurses work part time.

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Washington RN Job Outlook

Job opportunities for registered nurses in all specialties are expected to be excellent. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014, and, because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. In fact, registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations. Thousands of Washington job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation, especially as the median age of the registered nurse population continues to rise.

Much faster-than-average growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of medical problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly.

Employers in some parts of the country and in certain employment settings are reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number of Registered Nurses, primarily because of an aging RN workforce and a lack of younger workers to fill positions. Enrollments in Washington nursing programs at all levels have increased more rapidly in the past couple of years as students seek jobs with stable employment. However, many qualified Washington applicants are being turned away because of a shortage of nursing faculty to teach classes. The need for nursing faculty will only increase as a large number of instructors nears retirement. Many employers also are relying on foreign-educated nurses to fill open positions.

Even though Washington employment opportunities for all nursing specialties are expected to be excellent, they can vary by employment setting. For example, employment is expected to grow more slowly in hospitals - which comprise health care's largest industry - than in most other health care industries. While the intensity of nursing care is likely to increase, requiring more registered nurses per patient, the number of inpatients is not likely to grow by much. Patients are being discharged earlier, and more procedures are being done on an outpatient basis, both inside and outside hospitals. Rapid growth is expected in Washington hospital outpatient facilities, such as those providing same-day surgery, rehabilitation, and chemotherapy.

Despite the slower employment growth in hospitals, RN job opportunities in Washington should still be excellent because of the relatively high turnover of hospital nurses. Registered Nurses working in hospitals frequently work overtime and night and weekend shifts and also treat seriously ill and injured patients, all of which can contribute to stress and burnout. Hospital departments in which these working conditions occur most frequently - critical care units, emergency departments, and operating rooms - generally will have more job openings than other departments.

To attract and retain qualified Registered Nurses, Washington hospitals may offer signing bonuses, family-friendly work schedules, or subsidized training. A growing number of Washington hospitals also are experimenting with online bidding to fill open shifts, in which nurses can volunteer to fill open shifts at premium wages. This can decrease the amount of mandatory overtime that nurses are required to work.

More and more sophisticated procedures, once performed only in hospitals, are being performed in physicians' offices and in outpatient care centers, such as freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers. Accordingly, employment of Registered Nurses in Washington is expected to grow much faster than average in these places as health care in general expands. However, Registered Nurses may face greater competition for these positions because they generally offer regular working hours and more comfortable working environments.

Employment of Registered Nurses in Washington nursing care facilities is expected to grow faster than average because of increases in the number of elderly, many of whom require long-term care. In addition, the financial pressure on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible should produce more admissions to nursing care facilities. Job growth also is expected in units that provide specialized long-term rehabilitation for stroke and head injury patients, as well as units that treat Alzheimer's victims.

Employment in home health care is expected to increase rapidly in response to the growing number of older persons with functional disabilities, consumer preference for care in the home, and technological advances that make it possible to bring increasingly complex treatments into the home.

The type of care demanded will require Registered Nurses who are able to perform complex procedures. Generally, Washington registered nurses with at least a bachelor's degree will have better job prospects than those without a bachelor's. In addition, all four advanced practice specialties - clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists - will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas. Relative to physicians, these Registered Nurses increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers.

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Nursing Resources

For a list of accredited clinical nurse specialist programs, visit the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. For information on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Information about employment opportunities may be obtained from local hospitals, nursing care facilities, home health care agencies, psychiatric facilities, the Washington State Board of Nursing, and local offices of the State employment service.

For information about accredited programs in other states visit one of the following websites: Montana Nursing Programs, North Carolina Nursing, Delaware Nursing Schools, and Nursing Schools in Texas.