May is National Nurses Month, a time to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of various medical professionals in nursing who are dedicated to keeping our communities healthy.
To learn more about the diversity of the field of nursing, The Daily sat down with Evelyn G. Duffy, the Florence Cellar Professor of Gerontological Nursing and associate director for Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing’s University Center on Aging and Health.
Read on to learn more about how nurses make an impact—and the different ways nurses can advance their expertise at Case Western Reserve University.
1. Nurses are everywhere, from the boardroom to the bedside.
From the laboratory with test tubes and dishes to the clinic where they serve as primary care providers with their own roster of patients, nurses can be found everywhere, prepared with a framework that oversees patients’ holistic needs—whether biologically, psychologically or socially. Many can also be found making home visits caring for their patients, or serving in the United States Congress and many state legislatures. And, many nurses are sought after to serve on various boards of directors within healthcare institutions.
2. There are many diverse roles within nursing.
Many people picture the providers they see when hospitalized when they think of what nurses do, but that is only one of many roles within the nursing field. Beyond the surface, some nurses help coordinate the care of patients in clinics or ambulatory care centers, while others are in administrative roles or leaders in public health. They can also be researchers and inventors helping to develop new medications, vaccines and methods of healthcare delivery.
3. Nurses will be a key player in implementing the hospital-at-home model.
Since the start of COVID-19, there have been many discussions about moving healthcare from institutionalized settings into homes. Following the huge success of telehealth during the pandemic, it has been more palpable than ever that the option for phone-based appointments (or other virtual interactions) will continue and increase in popularity where nurses are often the first for screening. Even prior to its current popularity, many patients have used “Call a Nurse” and “Ask a Nurse” as their avenue for health screenings.
4. Nurses can become advanced practice nurses, and even doctors.
Many nurses graduate from school and study to become certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and other advanced practice nurse positions. Nurses can also enter PhD nursing programs to become nurse scientists, where they are later responsible for conducting cutting-edge research in various areas of healthcare.
5. There are endless opportunities to advance in the medical field at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
The School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University offers two options for entry into the nursing practice: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Master of Nursing (MN). The BSN program is unique because first-year students can start their clinical rotations during their first semester, while students of the MN program can enter with an undergraduate degree, even if it’s in another field. And, the school offers a number of nurse-practitioner specialties, whether it’s neonatal, adult gerontology acute care, primary care, pediatric acute, women’s health, or family.
Interested in learning more about our diverse academic offerings for nurses? Check out the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing’s website.