The Nightingale Pledge outlines the solemn vows that nurses take to faithfully practice their profession with purity, abstain from harm, maintain patient confidentiality, and aid physicians. Nurses provide healthcare in various settings like hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and even camps or prisons. Their roles include performing exams, providing education and counseling, administering medications, interpreting patient information, coordinating care, and conducting research to improve practice and outcomes. Nurses can obtain associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees and specialize in areas like pediatrics, emergency rooms, operating rooms, and more.

1. Health Care Careers
By:
Mary Spears RN, BSN

2.  The Nightingale Pledge reads as follows:
 “I solemnly pledge myself before God and presence of this
assembly;
 To pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully.
 I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and
will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.
 I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of
my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters
committed to my keeping and family affairs coming to my
knowledge in the practice of my calling.
 With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and
devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”

4.  Hospitals
 Nursing homes
 Medical offices
 Ambulatory care centers
 Community health centers
 Schools
 They also provide health care in more surprising
locations such as camps, homeless shelters, prisons,
sporting events and tourist destinations.

5.  Perform physical exams and health histories
 Provide health promotion, counseling and education
 Administer medications, wound care, and numerous other
personalized interventions
 Interpret patient information and make critical decisions
about needed actions
 Coordinate care, in collaboration with a wide array of
healthcare professionals
 Direct and supervise care delivered by other healthcare
personnel like LPNs and nurse aides
 Conduct research in support of improved practice and
patient outcomes

6.  Education
 There is more than one educational pathway leading
to eligibility to take the standardized National Council
Licensure Examination (NCLEX)-RN.
 Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two-year degree
 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS/BSN) is a four-year
degree
 Master’s Degree in Nursing(MSN) is a six year- year degree
 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a eight year degree
program focusing on clinical practice or leadership roles

7.  There are 100’s of different areas a nurse can specialize in ,
here is a list of the more common areas:
 Pediatrics
 Emergency Room
 Operating Rooms
 Intensive cares
 Flight Nurses
 Nurses Anesthetist
 Labor and Delivery
 Educators
 Military