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Minnesota RN Certification and Schools - MN
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 16th, 2010
The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that, as of May 2008, there were 55,730 registered nurses (RNs), or 2.2% of the RNs employed in the United States working in Minnesota. In addition, Rochester, Minnesota, home of the Mayo Clinic, is reported to have the greatest concentration of registered nurses in a metropolitan area. Couple these facts with an average salary for the state that is well above the national average for the profession, and it is easy to see that it is a great time to be a registered nurse in the state of Minnesota.
Registered nurses are the largest group of health care professionals in the nation with almost 2.6 million RNs, nationwide. While specific duties vary from job to job, RNs treat and educate patients in a variety of settings, within a variety of medical disciplines. Some typical duties include taking medical histories, administering medication, and helping to teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses. Registered nurses work in a variety of settings including hospitals, physician offices, home care, and schools, though approximately 60% work in the hospital setting.
www.bls.gov
Minnesota RN Education
There are three types of educational programs offered online and through Minnesota RN schools that can ultimately lead to the ability to sit for the qualification examination for registered nurses. The first is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This is a four year degree, offered by colleges and universities, and take about four years to complete. The second is an Associate Degree in Nursing (AND). These programs are offered by community and junior colleges and take about two to three years to complete. The third is a diploma. The diploma programs are offered by hospitals and take about three years to complete. All programs include both classroom instruction and clinical education, focusing on patient care across all age groups and all medical disciplines. Coursework focuses on anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition, microbiology, psychology, as well as nursing specific courses.
In addition, there are transitional programs that allow current RNs to earn their BSN degree without totally beginning a new program. There are also opportunities for advanced degrees, including an MSN, or Master of Science in Nursing degrees, as well as PhD programs. These advanced degrees would be necessary if one wanted to focus on research or teaching.
Through campus or online programs, aspiring Registered Nurses in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester, Minnesota may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the United Hospital, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Children’s of Minnesota and St. Mary’s Hospital.