• NURSING

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What Can I Do With A Major In...

OCCUPATIONAL POSSIBILITIES

HOME HEALTH AIDE

Helps elderly, disabled, and ill persons live in their own homes instead of in a health facility. Provides housekeeping services, personal care, and emotional support for their clients. Cleans client's houses, does laundry, and changes bed linens. May also plan meals (including special diets), shop for food, and cook. May help clients move from bed, bathe, dress, and groom. May also check pulse, temperature, and respiration; help with simple prescribed exercises; and assist with medication routines. Some accompany clients outside the home, serving as a guide, companion, and aide. Keeps records of services performed and of the client's condition and progress.

Educational Requirements

Avg. Maine Salary:	$7.27 per/hour
Avg. # Maine Employment	3091
Annual Openings:	278
Projected Growth:	82%

REGISTERED NURSE

Cares for the sick and injured, and helps people stay well. Watches and records symptoms, reactions, and the progress of patients. Helps doctors during treatments and examinations. Gives medicine and drugs to patients according to doctors' orders. Instructs patients and their families in proper health care. May help patients during convalescence and rehabilitation. Provides nursing services in hospitals, doctors offices, and nursing homes. Some do research work or instruct students.

To obtain a nursing license, all States require graduation from an accredited nursing school and passing a national licensing examination. Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination or endorsement or a license issued by another State. There are three major educational paths to Nursing: Associate Degree (A.D.N.), diploma, and bachelor of science degree in nursing (B.S.N.). A bachelor's degree is generally necessary for administrative positions in hospitals and for positions in community nursing. Within patient care, nurse scan advance to clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist. These positions require 1 or 2 years of graduate education, leading to a certificate or master's degree.

Avg. Maine Salary:	$17.48 per/hour
Avg. # Maine Employment	10508
Annual Openings:	413
Projected Growth:	27%

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RELATED OCCUPATIONS

SKILLS

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SAMPLE JOBS

Program Director
Responsible for overall administration of the program, a residential substance abuse facility.
Qualifications: Minimum of a Master's Degree in Administration, Social Work, Nursing or in a Human Services related field.

Live-In Couple-
A home with seven bed facility serving adolescent boys; two bedroom apartment included.
Qualifications: Bachelors degree in the social services field: mental health, home management, teaching or closely related field.

Psychiatric Nurse
Member of a team to provide intensive support to people with severe and persistent mental illness; work is done in clients' residences; potential of off-hours coverage.
Qualifications: Master's in psychiatric or mental health nursing from an accredited institution.

Allied Health Instructor
Provide classroom and hands-on training experiences for students enrolled in the Health Occupations Program using actual demonstrations of appropriate health care; coordinate and oversee a hands-on training program with local hospitals or nursing homes; evaluate students' progress and performance; inventory supplies and equipment and place orders as needed.
Qualifications: Registered nurse with a minimum of two years related experience; Maine State teaching certificate or eligibility required.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
  PO Box 56
  Pitman NJ 08071-0056
  609-256-2323
  

• Alpha Tau Delta
• American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• American Academy of Nursing
• American Assembly for Men in Nursing
• American Association for the History of Nursing
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• American Association of Diabetes Educators
• American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
• American Association of Managed Care Nurses
• American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
• American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• American Association of Nurse Attorneys
• American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
• American Association of Office Nurses
• American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses
• American Association of Utilization Management Nurses
• American College of Health Care Administrators
• American College of Nurse-Midwives
• American Holistic Nurses' Association
• American Licensed Practical Nurses Association
• American Nephrology Nurses Association
• American Nurses Association
• American Nurses in Business Association
• American Organization of Nurse Executives
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association
• American Radiological Nurses Association
• American School Health Association
• American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses
• American Society of Pain Management Nurses
• American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses
• American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses
• American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants
• American Subacute Care Association
• Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education
• Association of Camp Nurses
• Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses
• Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
• Association of Operating Room Nurses
• Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses
• Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
• Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing
• Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
• Chi Eta Phi Sorority
• Dermatology Nurses

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The information on this page was taken from the following sources: CareerWare 98; Maine Dept.of Labor, 94; Occupational Outlook Handbook, 98; National Trade and Professional Associations Of the United States, 97; College Majors and Careers