Nursing Care Plans in the Real World
Most TV sitcoms and movies portray doctors as the people who are at every patient’s beck and call, and as a result, most of us have a distorted view of the healthcare system. We are unaware that the true patient-care providers are nurses and nurse’s assistants, a vastly different reality than what Hollywood has portrayed to us for years. Take Grey’s Anatomy for instance: the doctors run to a patient’s bedside at any little alarm, and residents are typically assigned to different patients on the show. However, in real life, nurses are each assigned to a patient and doctors would never be caught sitting with a patient throughout the night or running blood tests on patients (jobs that nurses are in charge of).
Nursing care plans are essentially unheard of in most of these shows and movies, calling into question what writers and producers are creating the show. There are rarely any prominent nurse figures in these shows, and when there are, it is difficult to distinguish the line between the doctor’s duties and the nurse’s duties. The nursing care plans are discretely laid aside in favor of the more dramatic pagers that indicate a “code black” has occurred. However, in most hospitals and clinics, patients are taken care of through a relatively easy system to master in which nurses communicate to each other the patient’s diet, medication, and current health status, all through the same portal.
Most nursing care plans remain written down for easy access and changes, but more and more hospitals are updating their protocol so that nurses can communicate with their coworkers even easier through computer updates. It always seems like the hospitals and clinics in TV dramas do not have a very organized system; otherwise, how else would someone get the wrong heart transplant? However, in real life, nurses are extremely well-organized and are the backbone of the hospital. Doctors have relatively little contact with patients and the nursing world aside from the initial and post exams. Nurses are instead in charge of follow-up care, and ensuring the patient continues to take their medication.
While nursing care plans are never mentioned within Hollywood, and much less their movies/TV dramas, they remain a vital part of the health care industry and are responsible for each patients’ continuing care. Nurses in general are slighted within most of these shows and do not receive the recognition they deserve. It is therefore up to the audience to be informed of the many tasks nurses perform throughout the hospital – a vastly different job description than that which Hollywood would like us to believe.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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