Calling All Pennsylvania Nurses

New Interdisciplinary Simulation Lab Puts Gannon on the Map

2009-08-18T20:49:00.006-04:00

Submitted by: Dr. Kathleen T. Patterson,
Assistant Professor and Director, Villa Maria School of Nursing

There are exciting things happening in the small western corner of Pennsylvania. The Morosky Academic Center at Gannon University in Erie was the newest building that opened during the 2008-09 academic year. It is home to the College of Health Professions and Sciences and includes the Villa Maria School of Nursing—the oldest BSN nursing program in Western Pennsylvania. It also houses the Schools of Physician Assistant, Respiratory Care, Sport and Exercise Science, Radiologic Sciences, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Each specialty area is equipped with its own classroom space, faculty offices and laboratories.

The shining gem in the new building is the state-of-the-art Patient Simulation Center, which is as impressive as it is technologically complete. It includes an eight-bed mock hospital unit with eight moderate-level simulation “manikins” and two IV simulation computer programs. These “patients” are all “fluid friendly” and can be programmed to have changes in breathing patterns and blood pressure readings.

In a separate ICU area, there are two high-fidelity adult simulation manikins that can be programmed for more critical changes related to trauma or intensive care anomalies. These manikins simulate breathing and can be programmed to talk and have severe metabolic imbalances. There is also an infant simulator that can be programmed much like the ICU patients. In addition, a separate room is available for a birthing manikin and an ICU neonatal area. All of the simulation areas are equipped with cameras to videotape scenarios that are conducted by students. In addition, there are two debriefing rooms in the sim lab and a technologically advanced classroom space that seats 50 students.

The intent of this center is to have interdisciplinary simulation and management by several professions, mirroring the “real life” expectations in the hospital. “This space and equipment allows our students to feel more confident in the hospitals caring for their patients. Here at Gannon, we encourage the spirit of collegiality and inclusiveness and want the health professions to interact together towards the goal of holistic patient care,” noted Dr. Carolynn Masters, Dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences. One parent commented at orientation, “We have looked at several schools in Pennsylvania and this is by far the most impressive center we have seen.”

The Villa Maria School of Nursing has a 4-year BSN program, an RN to BSN and an RN to MSN option, School Nurse Certification, and Master’s programs in Family Nurse Practitioner, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing Administration and Nurse Anesthesia. The School has been honored by the State Board of Nursing for its impressive NCLEX first-time pass rate of between 95 and 100% over the past five years. Course work reflects the goal of preparing a nurse who is well-rounded; a nurse with an understanding of the physical, emotional and spiritual self of patients and families. In addition, liberal arts coursework supports Gannon’s local and global mission of service learning. Visit www.gannon.edu/nursing for more information.

Mansfield University’s Online MSN Program Offers Flexibility and Balance

2009-04-09T09:47:00.004-04:00

By Susan Lanzara, MSN RN, C
Nursing Instructor
Mansfield University

The Master of Science program at Mansfield University is designed for professional nurses who seek an advanced nursing degree while maintaining current employment. Students may choose either the educator or leadership/administrator track. The program builds on knowledge acquired in a Bachelor’s program. It provides additional knowledge to prepare graduates for roles in nursing education, staff development or leadership roles in health care organizations.

In the nurse educator track the learner will integrate perspectives from nursing science, education and evaluation to design, implement and evaluate nursing curricula. Other areas of study specific to this track are design, implementation and evaluation of teaching strategies for classroom and clinical areas. In the nurse leader/administrator track courses are geared to provide the learner with knowledge of strategic planning in health care organizations and nursing services. Also emphasized is the management of fiscal and technological resources to improve patient care. The impact of public policy on the health of clients and healthcare organizations is analyzed.

So, why Mansfield? The Master of Science program is offered online. The program is designed to give you the flexibility you need to balance work, family and coursework. Ideally, learners take two courses for six semesters to complete the program in two calendar years. However, you may take courses at a pace that meets your individual needs. Our online nursing faculty team is made up of caring and supportive members who combine strong academic qualifications with extensive real world practical experience. Our team has a broad range of research interests which include nursing education, evaluation research, clinical expertise and rural health. Here is what some of our graduates have to say about our program: “I like the online format, it gives me the flexibility I need to juggle career, family and school”, “The Professors are available. They don’t just disappear halfway through the semester.”, “The two different tracks allows you to pick the focus, either leadership or education that you are interested in.” These are just some of the reasons our learners give for choosing our program. Join our online community of learners in the Mansfield University MSN program and further your nursing career.

For more information please visit us at our link, below left.

How Nursing Online Continuing Education Can Put $10,000 in Your Pocket

2009-04-07T07:33:00.007-04:00

A recent survey revealed that nurses having certifications had an annual full-time income averaging to almost 10,000 dollars higher compared those who are not certified.

In fact, so to maintain certification or licensure, nurses are required to finish courses in nursing continuing education units also referred as CEUs.
CEUs or nursing continuing education are essential to comply with certain States' licensing re-certification and renewal requirements, because a number of States in the U.S. have compulsory yearly requirements on nursing continuing education.

Nursing continuing education is generally offered thru workshops, seminars, conferences, finishing a certificate program or completing a learning module online.

But nurses do pursue continuing education for the primary reason of keeping themselves well educated and informed as well as to keep current their nursing expertise and skills.

Nursing continuing education will:

1. Impart training opportunities in a short period which are not a part of a degree academic program.

2. Foster growth and continued proficiency of nursing capabilities.

3. Concentrate on fields of specialization and expertise (chemotherapy, diabetes, domestic violence, etc.) that promote professional advancement.

4. Show employers that personal development and education are important.

Get it online

Many nursing continuing education programs are obtainable online which makes completing CEUs easier for most individuals.

With today’s online advancements like teleconferencing, it is probable not only to go away with your degree but also from the encounter, gain greater knowledge as well as comfort with online technology.

Most universities include online continuing education that provides highly skilled instructors to effectively assist you in learning a range of subjects.

Likewise, many companies today provide in-house workshops and seminars for their employers.

Several nursing continuing education are available via correspondence courses which arrive at either your email or mailbox. Depending upon the nursing continuing education program that you select, expect to shell out less than 100 dollars or more than 1000 dollars.

Remember that it is significant to verify the courses provided by the facility you have chosen are recognized and accepted by your company.

Kinds of nursing continuing education

You can locate courses on almost any facet of nursing. When you specialize you can select CEUs that directly are associated to your area.

This option permits you to study about fields wherein you are really not familiar with, and desire additional knowledge on specific nursing fields.

However, note that several States necessitate that you finish certain CEUs. So before you select programs of your interest only, confirm with your area or state in order to find out if you are required to complete first a nursing mandatory program.

CEU program accreditation

When selecting CEU online options, decide on an accredited provider. Likewise, you need to make certain that you are aware what is needed to earn your CEUs. Several online program providers grant CEUs without any charges, however before you select one these options, make sure that the module meets your requirements.

Do your research before enrolling in any type of nursing continuing education provider. Inspect their website and if possible, call so that you can ask questions and they can readily answer all your questions.

Nursing continuing education permits you to successfully stay competitive as well as be ahead on the most modern technologies in nursing in order for you to efficiently serve your patients to your best ability.

Nursing Certifications and Expanding Your Career

2009-04-06T06:03:00.004-04:00

By Cynthia Andrews

If you are a registered nurse, you already hold the key to unlock an almost unlimited number of career opportunities.

The only thing you have to do is choose the door to walk through. There is little risk here, if you feel like you have traveled down the wrong path you can simply choose another door. This is what it’s like to obtain advanced nursing certifications. You have the ability to choose a career path that suites you, but you can always gain additional certifications and change your career track.

With a nursing certification there is no limit to the things you can do throughout your career. There are many new and emerging nursing fields popping up all the time. Obtaining certification in areas such as forensic nursing, holistic nursing and genetic nursing will you allow to work in these nontraditional fields. Most of the certifications do not take a long time to obtain, so you can gain as many as you feel necessary.

Obtaining nursing certifications can easily help you advance from a registered nurse into a number of different leadership roles. Although the most common is nursing supervisor, you may gain certifications in specialties such as nurse manager or nurse administrator. These specialties help you land positions in the operational and financial management sectors within the healthcare industry. You may only be working at the hospital, but you could become one of the key leaders that ensure that the hospital runs efficiently and effectively.

When you obtain advanced nursing certifications you give yourself the opportunity to break out of the hospital and into many different types of organizations. Advanced certifications allow you to work in environments that a regular registered nurse may not be able to. For example, with fields like genetic nursing and nurse researcher, you are able to work in a laboratory setting. With specialties like legal nurse consulting, and nurse advocacy you might even find yourself in the courtroom. With ethics in nursing and nurse educator you are sure to be in the classroom.

Not only can you find yourself working in multiple types of organizations during the course of your career, but with some nursing certifications your nursing career may even be able to take you to different states or countries. International nursing gives you the tool to take your nursing knowledge to a variety of different countries. Right now, this is one of the more popular specialties, and though most choose to take their expertise to an underdeveloped nation, you can choose to go where ever you would like, as nurses are in demand all over the world.

Choosing an advanced certification such as independent nurse consulting could give you the option of starting your own business. You can choose to start a consulting business, a mobile or in home nursing business, or maybe even a case management business. The possibilities are endless. Along with the consistent boom in medical services that is forecasted to last for years to come, your chance of turning a profit sooner and staying in business longer is greater than that of the average first time entrepreneur. As the largest group of people in the country (the "baby boomers") begins to age, the need for healthcare workers and businesses will continue to grow.

Becoming certified within a particular specialty will allow you to explore other career interests, possibly writing. A number of nurses lend their knowledge to various media outlets and organizations through either full time or part time writing. Regardless of whether you choose the specialty of nurse writing or you choose to write about other medical procedures, you will find the opportunities endless, possibly allowing you to cultivate this knowledge into a career. Aside from writing articles you may choose to write for seminars, continuing education course materials, or even product reviews.

Nursing certifications allow you to expand your career by giving you options. As you can see there is no limit to the number of career paths that you can take. You can manage your career to change as you change. In this economy some may see career longevity as a great reason for gaining nursing certifications. Many nurses see the flexibility of obtaining these additional credentials as their greatest asset. You should be able to obtain certifications while still working full time. Your certifications can help you move from the hectic pace and schedule of a registered nurse to the more structured business hours and standard schedule of a consultant. Then there is the consistent demand of specialty nurses. Unlike most of those entering the workforce today, you should be able to get a job anywhere in the U.S.

Nursing certifications not only expand your career, but they give you the control of turning your career into whatever you would like it to be. Certifications such as these allow you to take your favorite part of your job and perform that service possibly for the rest of your career.

Looking for Alternative Nursing Careers

2009-04-05T09:08:00.004-04:00

By Andri Irawan

For some nurses, the daily hospital life can be too demanding and stressful. You need to provide care to your patients eight hours a day, and this means you can get caught up dealing with other people’s problems. Also, at some point in time you can make a mistake that would take away someone’s life. That’s pretty painful, right? If you’re growing sick and tired of your traditional hospital job, you better start looking for alternative nursing careers.

There are lots of career routes out there that will pave your way out of the clinic or hospital. But it doesn’t mean you have to give up your hard-earned nursing expertise; you just have to use it in a different way.

Yes, there are numerous opportunities that require your nursing skills in alternative settings. So if you are an experienced nurse who’s not happy with your job anymore, you have no reason to fret. Remember: you are capable of more than you think. You got skills and talents so you are generally well-equipped for working out of the traditional clinical setting.

Here are some interesting career alternatives for nurses:

• Clinical Research Associate

A CRA ensures that clinical trials are done properly and without compromising the patient’s wellbeing. She also ensures accuracy of the gathered data. So if you want to be a CRA, most of your time will be spent visiting clinicians who perform such trials. You can work on different companies such as biotechnology, academic medical centers, pharmaceuticals, government agencies, the list goes on.

Clinical trial is a research study of a medical device, a drug, or a biologic treatment in humans. Pharmaceutical products, for example, undergo clinical trials to find out if they are safe and effective before they will be approved. Clinical skills are so important in this job; that’s why nurses are the most ideal candidates for such.

• Telecommuting Nursing Career

It is one of the most practical options for nurses who want t stay away from the traditional nursing jobs. You can work by telecommuting for Health Information Technology Companies, Clinical Research Centers, health organizations, medical transcription centers, and freelance sites looking for writers in the medical field.

• Nurse Contractor

Unleash the entrepreneur in you by becoming an Independent Nurse Contractor or by setting up a Nursing Agency Business. This career will not only give you financial freedom but will also make you recognize your worth. You just need to know the ins and outs of such business and voila, you can be a successful nurse entrepreneur.

• Legal Nurse Consultants

Why not use your nursing expertise and be a healthcare professional? You can take Certified Legal Nurse Consultant training and after that, you can start accepting consulters on medical-related cases. You can work for attorneys who aren’t really familiar with medical records and terminologies. Also, you can provide services to government agencies, private corporations, and even for insurance companies. Among the services you can give are researching and reviewing medical records, preparing reports on the area of illness and injury, classifying standards of care and many other services.

• Travel Nurse

A travel nursing career will surely make a difference not just in your own but in your patient’s life as well. Aside from fulfilling your traveling desires, you can also serve your patient in a way that satisfies both of you. You can work at your own pace and in different places. You just have to be careful in choosing your placement agency. Pick the one that will help make your dream a reality. Go for the agency that offers a competitive hourly rate, free housing, complete insurance plans and medical coverage, retirement plans and enticing bonuses.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to look outside your exhausting traditional role! Spread your wings for new career adventures. Alternative nursing careers are just there waiting for you.

Let Humor Keep You Well

2009-04-04T07:44:00.004-04:00

By: Audrey Pihulyk

Our bodies are intricately designed, so that when a breakdown occurs in one area, due to stress, it can have an adverse effect on other parts of our body. Stress is the body’s reaction to a demand made upon it. Unfortunately, stress is all around us and we do not have to look far to find stressed-out people, whether at work or at home.

In these fast-paced days there are increasingly heavy demands being placed on our emotional and physical well-being. Because of these demands we at times may break down and give in to the emotions of fear and anger, resulting in rigidity of thinking and behaviour. At this stage we may begin to feel like things are out of control, precipitating paranoid thinking.

Thankfully, there is one important antidote that has been shown to provide relief from this dilemma, which if utilized wisely can restore us back to productive living. I’m speaking of humour, or more specifically, playfulness and laughter.

Dr. Kenneth Pelltier, author of Longevity: Fulfilling Our Biological Potential, travelled to Pakistan, the Sudan, Mexico and other areas to study the secrets of longevity among people who claimed to be 120 to 150 years old. His study revealed that many of these people possessed similar traits, the most striking of which were their vigour, humor and love of life. Many of us, too, have acquaintances who, though up in years, also possess the same joyful attitude as those found in Pelltier’s study. Gathering from this, therefore, we can assume that integrating humor into our everyday life experiences can contribute much to our health and long life.

Our physiological make-up as human beings has three components: the mind, the emotions and the body. The mind is the rudder that directs our emotions which in turn directs our subsequent actions. When the mind operates at or above its potential, it increases our mental flexibility, giving us the capacity to think clearly and creatively, while at the same time enabling us to block out negative emotions. This can give us a shift in perspective, enabling us to see humor in just about anything, even in mistakes and failures. To see humour in this way is helpful to those who deal with life-and-death situations, helping them stay sane and flexible even in the midst of unpleasant circumstances.

With change occurring rapidly around us, we cannot afford to be caught in mental ruts. Change and adaptation are the mode of the day. Fortunately, humor brings incongruity; that is, we get the opposite of what we expected, giving us the needed shift in perspective. Looking at potential stressful situations with a humorous eye is what it is all about. At a crowded event a quadriplegic friend of mine, while in his wheelchair, quipped, "At least I can always find a seat in a crowded auditorium."

Have you ever sat down to tackle a project and then experienced a mental block? After taking a few minutes for a break, possibly a musical interlude, looking out the window, or physically stretching your mental block disappeared and you were able to finish the task. In his book, Humor Works, Dr. John Morreall tells of how humor helped turn around the fortunes of the Xerox Company. Management decided to set up a project to be housed in a dilapidated warehouse which they named Skunk Works. The employees were instructed to leave the building in its broken-down state, to come and go as they pleased, and wear whatever they wished. All the usual office restrictions were lifted, and their only task was to be creative and innovative, and have fun at the same time. Projects were given humorous names such as "Bulldog" and "Chainsaw." The employees were relaxed, creative and productive. Amazingly, through this change of perspective, and even without the usual rules and leadership of an authoritarian boss, Skunk Works managed to succeed in saving Xerox Company millions in research dollars.

In addition to the mental and emotional benefits mentioned, humor also benefits a person’s physical being. In 1960, Dr. William Fry of Stanford Medical School began studying the physical benefits of humour. His study and others like it, show that laughter is very beneficial in reducing the levels of physical pain. He also found that laughter gives the muscles of the upper body a workout that releases six times more oxygen into the lungs than talking alone. Another benefit is the increased blood circulation which occurs through laughter. In fact, Dr. Fry stated that twenty seconds of hearty laughter gives the heart the same exercise as three minutes of hard rowing.

In his book, Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by a Patient, Norman Cousins wrote of his own journey from an illness―in which the connective tissue of his spine was disintegrating―to full recovery. By his own admission, he had made himself sick from overwork. Scrutinizing his lifestyle, he began to make some changes. One key decision he made was to let loose his laughing spirit. As he watched humorous videos and visited with humorous friends, he found that ten minutes of belly laughter brought him two hours of pain-free sleep. Gradually, through laughter and other lifestyle changes, he regained his health and became free from the devastating disease.

An incident that I experienced recently brought home the value of humor in reducing stress and maintaining optimum health. Six months ago, I encountered a number of deadlines that needed to be met in a very short time, almost impossible for even two people to meet. Nevertheless I pushed on, developing in the process a severe headache that no medication in the house could relieve. With my head pounding, as if it was about to explode, I sat on the couch, petted the family dog and watched the children play nearby. In this relaxed state I soon became detached from my problems, felt the stress lift and my headache disappear.

As we can see, it is important to disengage our minds in stressful moments from what is troubling us and allow humor and playfulness to take over. Remember, laughing about something will help you from getting stressed about it. It even states in the Bible, "A merry heart does good like a medicine," a good motto to follow indeed.

Audrey Pihulyk is Nurse Audrey, the "stress specialist" who brings stress relief through her speaking, writing and entertaining. When it comes to stress and balancing your life - Nurse Audrey has been there and done that! If you are experiencing damaging stress, check out her 2CD set: Surviving & Thriving On Stress found at: http://www.nurseaudrey.com/resources.html. While you are there read the Blogs where you will find ideas on how to balance your life more effectively.

Help Yourself and Others by Mentoring and Volunteering

2009-04-03T08:34:00.003-04:00

By David Maillie

We see and hear about them every day - Charity runs, walks for Breast Cancer, Dinners, Golf outings, etc... These events raise needed money for research, medical expenses and expensive treatments, to provide medical care to underprivileged people, and for disaster relief among other things. These are all great endeavors, the problem is that no one person can donate to all of them and some funnel a higher percentage of funds to their recipients. The best way around this is to volunteer and give a little of your time to the cause of your choice.

As the saying goes - "If you give someone a fish, you feed them for a day. If you teach them how to fish, you feed them for a lifetime." Everyone has knowledge, abilities and experience they can pass on to help others. For instance, Habitat for Humanity provides a nice home and a better community to people who could not afford it, but are willing to put in some sweat equity. Several charities provide counselors for drug rehab, family problems and even credit counseling. Big Brother is a great organization that provides a mentor to kids of all races that need a father or extra parental figure as they don't have one. You don't have to even volunteer with a large charity, you can do it on your own.

There are thousands of nursing homes with elderly residents that would absolutely love to have someone come and talk to them for just an hour or two. Many of these nursing home residents have little or no visitors and are very lonely. The Orange County Choppers family, famous for their show on Discovery Channel, went and played bingo with the residents at a local nursing home and made a big difference in their lives. It also made them feel better helping these people. That is what happens when you volunteer - by helping others you help yourself.

It has been proven that people who donate their time and help others by volunteering have lower stress rates, lower blood pressure, and live longer. It just makes you feel good to know that you had a positive effect on someone else’s life. The 20th century prophet Edgar Cayce hinted at the meaning of life and our future has to do with helping others and becoming fulfilled and happy therefore helping ourselves in the process.

Regardless of your beliefs and choice of charity or method, volunteer and make a difference in someone’s life. Could you imagine what the world would be like if everyone volunteered just 1 hour a week? Take the time to volunteer and help others and make the world and your world a better place.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): Growing Nursing Career Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

2009-04-02T08:20:00.003-04:00

By: Erik John

With the life expectancy of the elderly increasing, the number of senior citizens unable to care for themselves, or families not being able to provide the essential care at home, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are rapidly popping up all over. Hospitals and doctors offices are seeing an increase of patients due to the new studies, infections, and diseases being discovered every day. Nursing is one of the most demanded positions in the 21st century. Nurses will always be needed.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

LPNs work in all areas of the healthcare field: nursing homes, sub acute rehabilitations, hospitals and doctor’s offices. In long and short term nursing facilities LPNs pass medications, evaluate residents upon admission. During routine follow-ups, LPNs determine the patient’s needs and develop care plans. They also oversee nurse’s aides. LPNs in a doctor’s office duties include making appointments, taking vital signs when a patient arrives for an appointment, being responsible for keeping medical records up to date, and additional office duties. Some LPNs work as visiting nurses for those families who chose to keep their family member at home but cannot provide necessary care that a trained medical professional can. They visit patients at their home to take vital signs and look for any changes that would need to be reported to a doctor. LPNs also teach family members how to administer medicines, prepare foods if there is a specialty diet required, and perform care on the patient when there is not a caregiver a the home.

Education for an LPN would include a one-year program with a state approved training program. This would include classroom study and clinical education. After finishing the program, students would be required to pass a licensing exam known as the NCLEX-PN.

LPN Salary for LPNs range from $28,000 to $50,000 and is determined by factors such as setting, region, and experience. Prior experience as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) or patient care associate in a hospital and/or skilled nursing facility can increase the starting salary and provide experience in the field giving that extra foot in the door when searching for an LPN position.

Job Outlook for LPNs is high as in all phases of nursing. Over the next ten years it is predicted that job opportunities will increase by at least 15%. The majority of these will be in home healthcare settings and skilled nursing facilities. Due to the growing elderly population and hospitals discharging patients before they can thrive at home, the population of people entering a skilled nursing facility, whether for short term or long term care, continues to grow. This requires the need for more licensed professionals to care for them.

Nursing Degrees - BSN or ADN

2009-04-01T06:07:00.003-04:00

By Jeff Morrow

Nursing students are sometimes confused about what kind of nursing degree to obtain. The two choices nurses most often consider are between an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN), which usually takes two years to complete, or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which takes four years. Both of these nursing degrees lead to the Registered Nurse (RN) designation, but there are crucial differences between them. Choosing one over the other depends on financial factors, the length of time to be spent in an educational program, and long-term career goals.

The major differences between the two nursing degrees involve the length of time required to complete each program and the number of academic credits required. A typical ADN degree will take two years, compared to four years for the BSN - plus the time it takes to finish the prerequisites necessary to enroll in a BSN program. (This may not be a factor for individuals who already have Bachelor's degrees (BAs) from accredited institutions, since accelerated BSN programs allow them to complete all requirements in 18 to 21 months.)

While nursing instructors had previously believed that the ADN degree was likely to be phased out, the fact is that some 66 percent of current nursing graduates complete training programs resulting in the ADN or Associate of Science (AS) degrees. These Associate degrees continue to provide health care facilities with capable nurses who can manage patient care. As insufficient numbers of nurses are graduated from four-year BSN programs each year to meet the needs of the health care industry, two-year Associate degrees are expected to remain important for some time to come.

However, BSN programs prepare graduates more effectively to make critical patient care decisions and to question doctors when orders appear inappropriate. The education provided in a BSN program is more focused on critical thinking, exposing students to more people and cultures, and enhancing the skills required for nursing management. They also offer more opportunities to improve skills in patient assessment and provide a greater examination of disease pathophysiology. Nurses who have the BSN degree will also have an easier time winning faculty teaching positions and high-level administrative jobs.

In summary, ADN programs usually cost less and take less time to complete, so graduates can begin working in the field more quickly. BSN graduates have more chances to advance to higher positions in the health care industry, and they are better prepared to take an advanced nursing degree - to become a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist, for example - if they decide to do so. There are many innovative choices for online nursing degrees in today's digital world. Many traditional and prestigious schools now offer their nursing degrees online.

My-nursing-career offers listings of online nursing degrees with no admissions waiting list. You can graduate in less time at about half the cost of traditional nursing schools. You can also find a complete list of nursing degrees offered throughout the United States.

Registered Nurse (RN): Fastest Growing Nursing Career Registered Nurse (RN)

2009-03-31T10:55:00.005-04:00

By: Erik John

RNs make up the largest portion of jobs in healthcare. About sixty percent of the over two and a half million jobs are in a hospital setting. Others work in skilled nursing facilities usually with a role of manager or supervisor, in home health care, or doctors’ offices. There are other job opportunities for Registered Nurses such as occupational health, addition recovery services, hospice care, and holistic medicine.

Specialization

Working in a hospital gives a RN the chance to specialize in a particular field of medicine just as a doctor would. These opportunities include, but are not limited to: • Emergency or trauma, transplant• Rehabilitation, radiology• Psychiatric-mental health• Perianesthesia• Critical care• Ambulatory care

Focusing in the care of a specific disease, genetic disorder, or illness is an option for an RN: • HIV/AIDS and cancer • Disabled populations, such as physical, mental, or emotional• Wound nurses treat patients with openings due to traumatic injury, bedsores, diabetes, amputations, etc.

RNs also specialize in specific physiological areas and the diseases and illnesses associated with them: • Urology• Cardiovascular• Dermatology• Gastroenterology• Gynecology• Nephrology• Neuroscience• Ophthalmic• Orthopedic• Otorhinolaryngology• Respiratory

Another form of specialization a nurse might find interesting is by age population: • Neonatology - newborns• Pediatrics - children and adolescents. • Gerontology and geriatrics - adults and the elderly.

Settings

RNs who specialize may work in hospitals, rehabs, and/or doctors offices. Some registered nurses who chose not to work in typical healthcare settings work in places such as correctional facilities, camps, military, resorts, ships, and schools.

Education

RNs have three different paths to acquire licensure: • BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) offered by four-year colleges• ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) • Diploma from an approved nursing program

Most nurses obtain their RN from either the Associate or Bachelor Degree programs. The ADN takes two to three years to complete. A BSN usually takes four to five years to complete. There are accelerated programs (12 – 18 months) for those who have a bachelor’s degree in another field.

After completing the education and clinical training requirements, students must pass a national licensing examination known as the NCLEX-RN. Additional training is often needed if a specialized nursing career is to be pursued.

Registered - RN Nurse Salaries

Salary for RNs usually ranges from $50,000 to $70,000 depending on experience, work environment, and specializations. Nurses who acquire a managerial position may have the opportunity earn a higher salary similar to the salary of nurses with years of experience.

Job Outlook

Job outlook for RNs is excellent overall. Location and environment determines the amount of employment opportunities a nurse may have. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has determined that employment opportunities for RNs are anticipated to be the fastest growing occupation in the next ten years, including more than a half million jobs. These statistics do not account for the hundreds of thousands of jobs that will become available by those nurses retiring from their careers.

Nursing Careers: Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse

2009-03-29T20:14:00.010-04:00

If you're interested in the Nursing profession, you might be aware that there is more than one type of nurse and designation. One is the Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN. Training to become an LPN is a one year program in most instances, involving classroom education and supervised clinical practice. Training must be acquired at a state-approved school, and graduates must pass a licensing examination, the NCLEX-PIN, to become qualified to practice. LPNs are qualified to perform a range of services in hospitals, doctor's offices, skilled nursing home facilities, and in a number of other healthcare settings.

The duties of a Licensed Practical Nurse are performed under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN), and encompass a variety of patient bedside care tasks, such as checking vital signs, preparing and administering injections and enemas, applying bandages and dressings, monitoring catheters, and treating pressure sores. In some states, Licensed Practical Nurses are allowed to administer medications prescribed by a physician and to start intravenous fluids. Collecting samples and performing routine laboratory tests are also among the duties of an LPN, as are monitoring and recording patient food and fluid intake. In a nursing home setting, experienced Licensed Practical Nurses can be responsible for supervising care given by Nursing Assistants, and aid in developing resident care plans.

There is a demand for Licensed Practical Nurses in a variety of settings throughout the healthcare industry. Demand for LPNs in hospital settings has declined in recent years, but has increased in many other segments of the health care industry. Among the fastest growing areas is the home health care field, due to an increase in older patients with disabling conditions that choose to be treated at home, and advanced technology that makes home care more feasible, even for more complex medical conditions. Nursing homes are next in line as far as job growth for Licensed Practical Nurses, due to a growing number of elderly and disabled persons requiring long-term care. Nursing home facilities are also seeing a significant increase in rehabilitation patients, released from the hospital before they are able to function sufficiently for self-care - another area in which LPNs are used.

Licensed Practical Nursing can be a very rewarding choice for many, as well as the fast track to job security in a profession that is increasingly in demand. Nursing care is required worldwide, ensuring that the nursing professional can practice in nearly any location of their choice. With the broad range of settings and specializations to choose from, Licensed Practical Nurses can easily find their perfect health care niche, ensuring long-term career growth and satisfaction.

Frameworks in Nursing Theory and Practical

2009-03-28T07:52:00.004-04:00

Nursing theory is the term given to the body of wisdom that is used to support nursing practice. In their professional education, nurses will study a range of interconnected subjects which can be applied to the practice setting. This knowledge may come from experiential learning, from formal sources such as nursing research or from non-nursing sources.

Nursing theories provide a framework for nurses to systematize their nursing actions: what to ask, what to observe, what to focus on and what to think about, to develop new and validate current knowledge. They define commonalities of the variables in a stated field of inquiry, guide nursing research and actions, predict practice outcomes, and predict client response.

Nursing theories are used to describe, develop, disseminate, and use previous/present knowledge in nursing. Descriptive theory identifies properties and components of a discipline. They identify meaning and observations and describe what elements exist in that discipline. Explanatory theory identifies how the properties and components relate to each other and accounts for how the discipline functions. Predictive theories predict the relationships between the components of a phenomenon and predict under what conditions it will occur. And, Prescriptive theories address nursing therapeutics and consequences of interventions.

There are generally 4-levels of Nursing Theory: Metatheory is the most abstract and not easily tested. Grand Theory is a conceptual framework that defines broad perspectives for nursing practice. Middle Range Theory is moderately abstract and has a limited number of variables. They can be tested directly. Mid-range is very useful in nursing research and practice. Practice Theory traces the outline for practice. Objectives are set and actions are set to meet the objectives. Four steps in the development of practice theories are: factor isolating, factor relating, situation relating, and situation producing control.

In nursing, theories can also be analyzed by types which are needs, interaction, outcome, and humanistic-focused.

It is interesting to note that 90% of all nursing theories have been generated just in the last 20-years. Many schools encourage students to formulate theories of Nursing as part of their curriculum. In fact the pages of Nursing Science Quarterly are a major mouthpiece for Nursing Theory. Some still argue though that this multiplicity of theory is detrimental to the practice and undermines common vision. Others would say that the nature of the young science is sufficiently far reaching to require such tactics in order to elicit true consensus. It cannot be denied, however, that there is much vanity involved in the formulation of nursing theory.

Nursing theory is essential to the framework of nursing practice. Nursing theory information will assist in guiding individual practice and research methods.

Help Solve the Nursing Shortage: Second Degree BSN Nursing Programs

2009-03-27T13:32:00.009-04:00

By Jeff Morrow

The changing U.S. economy and the desire of many working people to 'make a difference' after the events of September 11 have contributed to a growing interest in nursing as a career. Additionally, over one million new and replacement RNs will be needed in the United States by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In response to these factors, nursing schools are offering new ways to attract and quickly train more nurses while maintaining the quality and integrity of nursing education overall.

A popular approach is the second degree nursing program. Sometimes called accelerated nursing programs, they allow individuals who already have a baccalaureate degree (BA) from an accredited university or college in an area other than nursing to obtain the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in under four years. These programs are offered at both baccalaureate and master's degree (MA) levels.

Second degree programs accept all course units successfully completed by students in their first degree. This effectively fulfills the prerequisites of a BSN plan. Many second degree BSN programs can be finished in 12 to 18 months, while MSN programs designed for non-nursing graduates usually take three years to complete. The accelerated nature of these programs makes them especially appropriate for people who are looking to make a career change, but the pace of the programs can be challenging. They usually involve intense instruction periods and include the same number of clinical hours as those given to students in traditional programs.

Typical second degree nursing students tend to be older and more motivated, with higher academic expectations than students who enter traditional nursing programs right out of high school. Students in second degree nursing programs generally have high grade-point averages and nearly always pass their licensing exams on the first try.

Admission standards for second degree nursing programs are high and usually require a 3.0 GPA at minimum. Persons interested in such programs must make a formal application to the educational institution of their choice and meet all of its admission requirements. College transcripts are reviewed to ensure that all prerequisites for a second degree nursing program are met.

According to second degree program educators, most applicants meet the arts and social science prerequisites of their programs, while some do not meet the natural sciences requirements. To help these students, most second degree nursing programs offer these prerequisites just before the start of the accelerated program. Personal interviews with representatives of the Department of Nursing at the given educational institution are usually required as well.

Upon completion of an accelerated or second degree program, students are eligible to take the licensing exam for RNs, the NCLEX-RN, which is required by the Boards of Nursing in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

In 1990, there were 31 second degree BSN programs and just a dozen accelerated MSN programs in existence in the U.S. Today there are 205 BSN programs and 56 MSN programs.

Nursing Education - Passing the NCLEX

2009-03-26T08:10:00.007-04:00

By Robyn Knapp

The time is going to come for every graduate nurse to sit for their state boards. To become a Registered Nurse, the graduate nurse must pass the NCLEX. This is a comprehensive examination of the skills necessary to practice nursing safely. It is important for the graduate nurse to use all of the tools available to ensure success at passing. Many schools prepare the student nurses early in their curriculum with test questions that mimic the format of the NCLEX.

This is done to familiarize the students with the type of questions that they will face when they take the NCLEX. Many schools, in addition to in class tests, are also incorporating outside resource testing. These companies offer a wide selection of computerized nursing test bank questions that measure the student's comprehension and application of practice and theory for each nursing course. The student's are required to pass these tests with an acceptable score that is decided by the school that they are attending.

Most of the time, the score that the student tries to achieve is at or above the national average. If the student's score falls below the national average, that student is then required to take the test until their score is acceptable. This can be most bothersome for many nursing students. Although these tests do not add or detract from the student's grade point average, they are mandatory for many schools. Most nursing schools will with hold the student's diploma if the student has not completed all of the necessary required tests. These questions not only help to measure the student's knowledge level in regards to the material covered, but it also acts as a tracking tool. In acting as a tracking tool, student's scores from all participating nursing schools can be compared and contrasted.

These same students are followed up until the end of the program, and then determinations regarding one schools performance over another can be interpolated. Once the student graduates from nursing school, they are further tracked by their mandatory and or voluntary participation in a four day NCLEX review seminar. These seminars are usually offered by the same testing corporation originally used by the school throughout the program and are offered at no extra expense to the student's. The performance of the student's throughout the program can then be interpolated with some degree of confidence on how well they perform on the NCLEX.

Of course all of the tracking and testing statistics can only predict outcomes. Only the student knows how much effort that they need to expend to pass their nursing courses and the state boards. Ask any nursing student, and most will concur that there is a lot of work that goes into getting through nursing school. It is important for the nursing student to look objectively at the numbers and percentages of those who pass the NCLEX. The rumor, that is supposedly based on fact, in, that all "A" and "B" students pass the NCLEX the first time, and all "C" student's fail the first time, is a false assumption, and one which can be detrimental to a "C" student's psyche. The only fact, is that the student must be the final judge of themselves, as far as knowing what they are capable of accomplishing, and not what rumor or statistics reflect.

Students should be aware that the use of outside practice resources is an acceptable and proven method to increase their chances of passing the NCLEX Nursing student's are encouraged to study not just one NCLEX study guide, but many. Using two or three NCLEX study guides as a reference is a solid strategic plan. Knowledge gained from the nursing program is of course valuable. However, a student cannot possibly remember every little detail. They would have thousands of flash cards to study, if that were the case. So, as the saying goes, "study smarter, not harder" applies.

The NCLEX is scientifically designed and percentages are assigned in respect to different content areas. The student is urged to study how the test is put together and use review material that best supports a similar format. This article will not recommend any study material, but it will impress upon student's to use up to date, current and respected sources. Nursing instructors are a good resource for suggesting resources. It is a good beginning strategy. Nursing instructor's have a lot of experience and are consistently revising their test bank material to keep current with the latest NCLEX question format.

Students are encouraged to practice online computer tests as well. Not only does familiarity with computer testing ease the student's anxiety, but it also gives the student the computer skill necessary to maneuver through the test without difficulty. Here is an example, imagine having to drive two thousand miles, and getting into a car. You know the direction to where you are going, but you never drove a car before in your life. How do you think you are going to feel getting behind that wheel, with such a long road ahead, and not being able to anticipate or know what to do when confronting unfamiliar situations?

It is the same thing with navigating the NCLEX. Knowing how to work the controls is very important, and it will save you time and energy that can be better put to use answering questions.

It is important not to go into the test thinking that luck is on your side, without having studied. Luck, may or may not be, but the fact is, most teachers will tell you, that if you didn't study, then you won't do well. The same thing can be said about the NCLEX. Study, is the key. Know what you are facing. There is so much information out there that gives the graduate nurse all the tools that they need to be successful in passing the NCLEX. Remember, it's up to you. So best wishes, on your test, and study, study, study.

Penn Nursing Science: Care to Change the World

2009-03-25T05:52:00.012-04:00

By Dr. Afaf I. Meleis
Dean of Nursing
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Consistently ranked among the top graduate programs in the country and second in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is dedicating to changing the world through the science of nursing. The research we perform defines the course of healthcare practice around the globe, and the students we educate gain the experience and exposure only an Ivy League education can provide at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral level.

Recognized worldwide, the 18 master’s programs at Penn Nursing offer valuable opportunities to concentrate in a specific field of nursing while expanding the depth and breadth of nursing science and knowledge. The mission of Penn Nursing focuses on integrating research, education and clinical practice to create a unique academic experience in which faculty, clinicians and students engage in a culture of discovery.

Today’s nurses have more responsibility for healthcare strategies and delivery than ever before, and nurses represent our greatest opportunity to create a healthier world. At Penn Nursing, we offer scientific rigor, seasoned with compassion. We build a trajectory of research, apply it to practice, and create lasting change that improves the quality of the patient experience.

Our motto here is “care to change the world.” I hope you care to join us in our mission to do so.

For more information please visit us at our link, below left.

How To Find Scholarships To Help You With Nursing School

2009-03-24T06:25:00.004-04:00

By Gregg Hall

Statistics show that college costs are rising dramatically. Some schools cost upwards of $30,000 per year, not including textbooks and other supplies. This is leading to a sharp decline in enrollment. Should you give up your dream of becoming a nurse? Perhaps not, there is high demand for nurses. For this reason, nursing school scholarships are easy to find.

Though there are many nursing school scholarships available to men and woman who dream of entering the field of nursing, you do have to do your research. Plan to spend a good deal of time searching for grants and scholarships online, in medical publications, local hospitals, and through university financial departments.

The best place to start searching for nursing school scholarships is at the colleges or universities where you plan to apply. Every college or university has a toll-free phone number. Call the financial department and ask for help in finding scholarships or grants that apply to your needs and financial standing.

In some cases, the institution for higher learning will only give you this information if you have been accepted. If that is the case with one or more of your choices, you may want to start your search online. Check with the federal government as they have many programs available. Many online companies will run the searches for you at no charge, use them to your advantage. Avoid companies who make you pay any fees.

Check with hospitals and medical practices in your area for any grants and nursing school scholarships that are available. They will have lists of grants, scholarships, and even work study programs. They may also be able to help you select the best area colleges and universities. Some hospitals may even agree to pay for your education if you sign a contract with them that states in exchange for your college education you will remain an employee of their hospital for a certain number of years. This is an excellent program that keeps young adults from leaving states after college.

Remember that some scholarships will be restricted to minority groups, low income families, children of labor union organizations, athletic groups, children whose parents are employees of certain businesses, foster children, and honor students. Do not become discouraged when you discover that there is not much out there that fits your needs. Keep searching because you will come across a number of suitable programs. It just takes time.

Being organized is essential when searching for nursing school scholarships and grants. Keep all necessary paperwork on hand and ready to be faxed or mailed to the financial program. Income statements, personal essays, and school transcripts are usually required additions to the application. Make sure you have them handy.

Regardless of your financial or ethnic standings, there are nursing school scholarships available. Stick with it and you can make your dreams of nursing come true.

Attention Registered Nurses- Nursing Schools Need You!

2009-03-23T05:09:00.008-04:00

By Sara Ellis RN, BSN

Nursing

is the nation's largest health care profession, with more than 2.7 million registered nurses nationwide, and nursing students account for more than half of all health professions students in the United States. Applications to attend nursing schools continue to increase nicely but did you know that thousands of students are being turned away because of an acute shortage of Nursing Educators?

A study done by the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions indicates that by 2020, the U.S. nursing shortage will grow to more than 800,000 registered nurses. How can we put a serious dent in stemming this dangerous tide unless nurses take an active role in educating the nurses of tomorrow?

Becoming a Nurse Educator is a wonderful career step

Registered nurses ARE teachers! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work.

Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!

Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!

Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!

Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.

Career Flexibility

Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities. A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.

Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!

Earn an NLN accredited Master's in Nursing Education Degree While You Work

You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.

Don't have a BSN Degree?

There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.

Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!

For Additional Information about NLN Accredited Online Nursing Degrees and programs including LPN to RN/BSN, RN - BSN Degrees, Specialty Nursing Certification in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, and Advanced Practice Nursing visit Medi-Smart's Online Nursing School Directory.

Benefits of Continuing your Education after becoming a RN (Registered Nurse)

2009-03-22T13:00:00.006-04:00

By Ryan Anderson

The opportunities for a RN or registered nurse are growing each day, and those who continue their education after gaining their RN license quickly learn that there is no end to their career possibilities. It is important to understand that continuing a nursing education entails an array of education, including secondary degrees, additional certifications, and specialized trainings and coursework. Though we will discuss in greater detail, continuing your nursing education and/or credentialing opens the door to a management or leadership position, the ability to change specialties, and even start your own business.

Seeking a masters or doctoral degree is one on the more traditional ways to continue your nursing education. Gaining a masters degree gives you the option of higher level nursing occupations, such as nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. Not to mention the ability to obtain supervisory and leadership roles. A master’s degree program goes beyond medicine and looks at the other factors that effect healthcare, like social, economic, financial, and cultural factors. These programs teach leadership and resource management, allowing nurses who obtain a master’s degree to have careers in healthcare management and administration. A doctoral degree can possibly open the door to management and administration. Doctoral degrees allow nurses to pursue research opportunities and the abilities to teach at colleges and universities. These nurses can also be found as consultants on health systems and policies.

Another way to continue your nursing education is to obtain certification in one or more nursing specialties. Within the field of nursing, there is a long list of specializations that a nurse can choose to pursue. While some fall within the traditional idea of nursing, such as pediatric nursing, others are considered more alternative career choices such as genetic nursing. The majority of these specializations do in fact have their own certification programs. The greatest benefit of continuing your nursing education through gaining additional certifications allows you to change your specialty throughout your nursing career. You can choose to stay on the cutting edge of new and emerging specialties. You could also make yourself a more attractive candidate for various healthcare organizations.

Though it may not come with the added credentialing of a degree or certification program, there is also the ability for a nurse to further his or her education by additional trainings, seminars, and other CEU courses. In the field of nursing there are numerous opportunities for additional training. The type of training that a nurse chooses to take can be determined by particular interests within the field. There is a need to stay on top of new changes within the healthcare industry, how to get a better understanding of patients, and even new advancements in medical technology and treatments. Continuing education units or CEU’s are often required in some specialties after a specific certification has been achieved.

These may be different ways to continue your nursing education, but the actual benefit of continuing this education mirrors the benefits of going into the nursing field itself. One of the key benefits is flexibility. Having additional education in a specific or general area of nursing provides you with the flexibility of changing career paths to suite your changing life. For example, as many nurse’s children are becoming school aged, they begin looking at career paths and schedules that allow them to work during the early part of the day, allowing them to be home when their children arrive home from school. Others decide to look into a more executive or administrative role as their career progresses.

Continuing your nursing education also gives you control over your future. By gaining added credentials you can ensure that you will always be in demand. You should position yourself to allow your nursing career to transition, just as you do various stages of your life. For instance, a nurse in her 30’s may feel like the daily routine of a RN would be a bit taxing physically for her in her 40’s. She could decide to obtain her master’s degree and transition into a consulting or administrative role. Furthering your nursing education doesn’t just give you the power to secure an enviable position within a healthcare organization. It could also give you the power to enter both the academic and business sides of the healthcare field. If you have the entrepreneurial spirit you can even become your own boss. Home healthcare and nurse case management are two booming businesses that with the proper certification can be started fairly easily.

Continuing your education in any field is beneficial, but few fields can offer the benefits of continuing a nursing education. Possibly the best and most practical benefit of all is that you can easily continue your nursing education while working full time. With a career in nursing, a bright future is in your hands, all you have to do is decide which path to take.

Associate Nursing Degree- A Great Way to Start Your Nursing Career

2009-03-21T09:31:00.006-04:00

By Kris Koonar

To make a career in the medical field is very challenging. Many young girls are taking up the profession of nursing. Doctors and nurses will never get 'out of demand'. Nursing as a profession does have a brighter side. One has to be genuinely interested in becoming a nurse and as a nurse has to take care of patients with lot of patience and dedication. An associate nursing degree is the first step towards the nursing career. It trains a person to be a certified nurse without obtaining the bachelor's degree. The associate nursing degree leaves you with a good chance to stand out once you approach your bachelor's degree in nursing.

You can choose to take an associate nursing degree through a campus-based college or with the help of an online college. An online nursing degree is very convenient especially if you are working. You can complete the course without disturbing your daily schedule. If you are self-motivated and hard working you can manage to complete your degree in the shortest period. An online degree proves very beneficial as it gives you a lot of flexibility. You can finish the nursing course without disturbing your daily routine. You can continue working and giving more time for the family, you can plan your time accordingly and study for the course.

The online associate nursing degree gives you a benefit of attending the online classes any time and from any place with an Internet connection. During these online classes you can ask your questions and get your quires sorted out. Due to this advantage, online nursing degree is gaining a lot of popularity. An associate nursing degree acts as a foundation for a brighter future in the medical field.

An associate nursing degree will enable you to work in any hospital, any other nursing facility or under any doctor. When you get your higher degree, your chances of getting a better job increase due to the nursing degree. This degree will make your base strong and you have a clear and a better idea of nursing once you finish the degree.

The associate nursing degree acts like a ladder for your career graph and prepares you for the National Council of Licensure Examination for registered nurses. The associate degree has two different programs. One program is designed for those who do not have any knowledge of the medical or nursing background and the other program is for the licensed practicing nurses. The licensed practicing nurses are the ones who have a prior nursing experience.

Hundreds of nurses obtain associate nursing degree every year, due to the rise in the demand for nurses. Nurses enjoy a good salary and are able to help those in pain. A nursing degree will fetch you a job at an entry level with the salary ranging from $40,000 to $45,000 annually. Many hospitals and companies offer tuition reimbursement benefits once you become a registered nurse with the associate nursing degree. You can use this benefit when you plan to do your BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing by completing the RN-to-BSN program. BSN will boost your nursing career and help you earn more.

Hospital or Private Practice - What Nurses Need to Consider When Making This Vital Decision

2009-03-20T12:09:00.009-04:00

By: Grant Eckert

In any career, there are a number of decisions to make. Within the nursing path, there are a number of directions you can take when you are first starting out, often resulting in different career paths and positions. The first and most vital decision you will make is whether to enter the hospital setting or the private practice setting. Both have their rewards, as well as their limitations, so this is a choice you need to spend time on making.

When You Choose the Hospital Setting

Any graduate of nursing school is probably going to be flooded with offers from hospitals and hospital type settings. And with the hiring bonuses they offer, these offers can be quite tempting. Here are the main benefits of talking to these human resources departments:

· Often unionized workplaces - Once you're into these hospitals, you're nearly guaranteed steady work for the rest of your life. Your wages will be raised yearly and your benefits will be negotiated regularly.
· Possibility of promotion or transfers - In a larger hospital setting, you will be able to change your position as your experience increases. Most hospitals will post jobs in other departments with preference given to those already in similar positions or with more years on the job.
· Variety of work - You can start out in one position and then transfer to other positions as your knowledge increases or you simply want a change of scenery and patient care.

But as with any setting in which you would choose to be a nurse, there are downsides too.

· Problems dealing with seniority in the beginning - Since seniority tends to be rewarded, as a new nurse, you might find that positions are slim and the hours are poor until you have a few years of experience.
· Fast paced setting, high patient to nurse ratio - While this can also be a benefit, the fast paced setting and high patient ratio can be exhausting for some nurses, often leading to burnout.

When You Choose the Private Practice Setting

If you're looking at joining a private practice as a nurse, you will find that there are just as many benefits as there are problems with this arrangement.

The benefits include:

· Regular hours - Because you are only working when the doctors are there, you can establish a more regular schedule. This works well for nurses with families that need their care.
· More chance for patient interaction - When you're only dealing with one patient at a time, you can feel more connected to the patients you do meet.
· Smaller patient population - This allows you to learn and to remember patients that come in regularly. You also can have less stress than in a hospital setting.

But the disadvantages to this setting are:

§ Lack of unionization in many cases - This can cause your job to be at risk for termination at any time, regardless of seniority. Your benefits will also be decided by the practice management instead of being supported by a union representative.
§ The pay can be less - While some practices pay better than others, the pay is often much less in a private setting as the revenue can be smaller.
§ There are fewer jobs - You might not be able to get into a higher position as a private practice nurse, plus the number of jobs available is fewer.

Whether you choose the hospital setting or the private practice setting, you will still be able to do what you do best - care for patients. However, most nurses find that one setting is a better fit than another. And that decision is up to you.

Flight Nursing

2009-03-19T05:47:00.006-04:00

By Michael A. Morales

Critical Care Transport Nursing as a Career

Flight nursing, or any kind of critical care transport nursing, is a job that requires extensive knowledge and experience. These nurses are responsible for assessing the condition and needs of critically ill or wounded patients, and providing competent care for these patients while they are being transferred from the scene of an accident to the hospital. In some instances, patients are transferred from hospital emergency rooms that are not equipped to deal with the patient’s level of trauma to a facility that can meet that patient’s needs. However, in either case, the transport nurse is responsible for gathering appropriate and accurate information that can passed onto the receiving care team, and it is to be expected that the patient arrives in better, or at least the same, condition than when first picked up.

Due to the variety of skills needed when dealing with those who are critically ill or wounded, most critical care transport teams consist of pilots/drivers, paramedics, and nurses. Thus, paramedic training is not necessary for nurses who choose a career in transport or flight nursing. Critical care transport nurses are expected to bring extensive critical care nursing experience to the table, therefore, any nurse considering this career path should first pursue ICU training, certification, and experience. Most critical care transport companies, especially flight transport companies, will not even consider hiring a nurse with less than 3 years of intensive care/critical care experience. Many of the more reputable companies, particularly those that can offer better pay and benefits, will require 5 years of experience. The national average salary for flight nurses is $62,000 per year.

Obviously, this is not an entry-level job, or one that is suited to new graduates. The variety of situations a transport nurse encounters, and the critical nature of the patients’ conditions, does not allow room for error. Thus, learning on-the-job is not an option. The only training that critical care transport companies expect a nurse to need is specific flight nursing or transport nursing protocol and safety policy training. Usually, companies prefer to offer this training themselves (and usually during a paid probationary period), so they can ensure the nurse is following the company's established policies and procedures, but previous flight or transport training or experience is always a plus.

However, there are some nursing schools that offer complete flight nursing or transport nursing training programs, although acceptance to these programs usually require 2 years of intensive/critical care experience. Even if you do not choose to complete a specific transport nursing training program, there are several regular nursing school courses you can take to increase your chances of success, and of gaining employment in this highly competitive career. Recommended courses include Basic Trauma Life Support, a Trauma Nurse Core course, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and an Intensive/Critical Care core course. In addition, consider taking the Air-Medical Crew National Standard Curriculum.

In conclusion, a career in critical care transport or flight nursing is not something to be engaged in lightly, as the necessary education and experience takes years to complete. However, many transport nurses will tell you that, although it is one of the most difficult and intense nursing jobs out there, it is also one of the most extremely rewarding experiences they could ever have.

Nursing Careers - Exciting Specializations to Consider

2009-03-18T06:39:00.005-04:00

By Brent McNutt

There are numerous choices to consider when taking up a specialization in nursing. Specializing allows you to practice in the field that interests you most, whether it is in the psychiatric, pediatric, neuroscience, genetics, or any other medical field. Of course, getting in a specialized field will require you to take up further studies, but you can think of it as a wonderful opportunity to wear your landau scrubs free shipping and expand your horizons and advance your career, not to mention that specializing also pays significantly better than a regular nursing job. Below are only some of the most exciting fields in nursing today, which you might want to consider:

Genetics Nurse

A genetic nurse cares for patients with genetic diseases or problems such as hereditary breast cancer, Huntington's disease, cystic fibrosis, spinocerebellar atrophy, and neuromuscular diseases. The responsibilities of a genetic nurse include testing, screening, identifying risks, early detection, and administering treatment. Genetic nurses may work in either inpatient or outpatient facilities and may work as case managers, counselors, educators, researchers, program coordinators, and administrators. This type of specialization typically requires long-term patient and ongoing care, as well as building relationships with the patient and the family. A genetic nurse has to be able to deal with negative outcomes, handle disclosing and breaking sad news to the patient and the family, and keep private and confidential information to his or herself. To be a genetics nurse, one must be a registered nurse with a BSN, MSN and doctorate degree.

Neuroscience Nurse

A neuroscience nurse cares for patients who have a dysfunction or condition of the nervous system such as alterations in cognition, communication, consciousness, rest and sleep, mobility, sensation, and sexuality. It involves planning and implementing interventions to promote healing and support bodily functions. A neuroscience nurse also educates patients and their family regarding the particular condition and helps the patient cope and adapt to persistent neurological difficulties. Those who wish to pursue this specialization may work as a staff nurse, nurse care manager, clinical nurse specialist, head nurse, or executive. Helpful characteristics include patience, tact, people skills, understanding, flexibility, and medical-surgical assessment and related skills.

Pediatric Nurse

A pediatric nurse primarily cares for children and adolescents. The responsibilities of a pediatric nurse go beyond disease prevention and health promotion; he or she must be prepared to respond t the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness in children. A pediatric nurse also manages mental and physical disabilities, as well as responds to chronic and acute illnesses in children. Possible roles in this field include nurse practitioners, staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, case manager, and nurse manager. To be a pediatric nurse, it helps to be empathetic, patient, flexible, and be less prone to stress, and of course, have a fondness for children.

Psychiatric Nurse

A psychiatric nurse cares for patients of all ages who suffer from mental illness or mental distress such as bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, dementia, and schizophrenia. Various roles are available for this specialization including staff nurse, therapist, counselor, case manager, or clinical nurse specialist. In this type of field, one must undergo additional training in psychological therapies and must have a lot of patience and understanding.

How Nursing School Grants Work

2009-03-17T07:35:00.004-04:00

If you're a nursing student who is going out of your mind to find money to pay for your studies, nursing school grants would be your best choice. It is a financial assistance given by organizations or agencies to support all kinds of schools and studies.

Q. How do you apply for nursing school grants?

A. The most recognized nursing school grants program is from the U.S. Government. It is called Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. Money awards or grants could be given to any qualifying student and does not need to be paid back.

1. Usage of grants

These grants could be used for long-term nursing training or for the entire four or five years of your college. Many of these nursing grants are used in the cost of the study or program. They could be used in thesis of nursing students and other medical studies.

2. Planning

By planning to acquire nursing school grants, you are ahead on everyone else. Request for a submission form and check for the deadline of the application process. Remember to complete the form with valid information. Double-check your work. Get hold of the procedures in applying for nursing school grants and follow it correctly. You should send your application sooner than the date of the deadline. By preparing earlier, you would prevent missing the deadline and qualifying for the nursing school grants. It would cause you to apply for it on the following year.

3. Eligibility

The grants would be given to any individual (attending private or public schools. or any educational organizations (whether private or public offices. that has been qualified to receive the grants. The main key to qualifying is to prove the nurse's capability on safety and health training (whether college level or professional level). The nursing school grants could be also based on the financial need of the student, the ranking of the grades, and special talents. The agency would be the one to pass the criteria for the applicants.

4. What Amount Should You Aim For?

The amount of the grants would depend on the criteria passed by the nursing student. Although there are only 208 grants provided a year, the nursing student applying for grants should be able to meet the requirements. When successfully passed, the nursing student would be given sufficient additional training for nursing practices or researches and updated techniques.

5. Procedure

The highest scoring nursing student would be given priority. Although it would still be processed by the FAFSA, once permitted the grant would be given to you. Usually, the awards are divided into two - initial and final grants.

6. Guidelines

- Make sure to get hold of a written policy that a refund will be given if your grant is not approved.

- Never give your information in particularly with credit card numbers.

- Don't believe when an agency says that they would do all the processing for you. You should be the one to sign when your signature is needed.

- Never give money to agencies that claim you owe them interest in the handling of the processing. These nursing school grants should not cost you anything.

- If you are not approved, don't give up. There is always next year to apply.

How to Receive a Nursing Scholarship

2009-03-16T07:36:00.012-04:00

By Grant Eckert

First Things First: What is FAFSA?

The first step in receiving any sort of scholarship or financial aid for college is to complete the FAFSA. FAFSA, or free application for student aid, is a form that is filled out by every student wishing to be considered for college tuition. This is a federal form, and you only have to complete it once, unlike the past when you had to complete separate paperwork for each college you hoped to attend.

The FAFSA form will provide you with information that will determine the amount of money your family is expected to provide for your education. The difference between what your family is expected to pay and the amount of tuition at your chosen college can be covered by federally backed grants and loans. To reduce the amount that you are expected to pay further, you can apply for a variety of scholarships.

Academic Based or Need Based Scholarships

While there are a variety of scholarships available, they generally fall into two categories, academic based and need based. Academic based scholarships are determined on grades and test scores. Financial need is not a consideration. Competition for these awards is typically stiff, with many very strong candidates vying for the same scholarship. You may be required to submit an essay, or chronicle any previous volunteer work.

Need based scholarships are determined on the financial need of applicants. While grades are typically considered, the academic pressure is usually not as intense as with an academic based scholarship. Many scholarships are a combination of the two: needs based scholarships that require a high GPA, a concentration in certain subjects, community involvement, or specific career goals.

The Nursing Shortage

There is currently a nursing shortage, and the future outlook is that a shortage will remain through the immediate future. As our population lives longer and medical technology continues to grow, the need for nurses outstrips the rate in which they are completing school. This nursing shortage means that an industrious student is likely to earn enough scholarship money to pay his or her way through college and graduate debt free.

One program many hospitals have implemented is paying tuition for current nursing students. Of course, this does come with strings attached. Once the student graduates from nursing school, he or she is expected to work for the hospital for a prearranged period of time. If the nurse leaves before that time, he or she is responsible for paying back part or all of the tuition. This can be an excellent way for students who would otherwise not be able to afford college to earn a degree. Not only does the student graduate debt free, but they automatically have a job once they leave school. The years after nursing school can be spent gaining experience in a variety of hospital settings, and if they decide to move on once their obligation is fulfilled, they have a good idea of what field of nursing they are most interested in.

Financial Help for Graduate Degrees

The lack of nurses with graduate degrees indicates that it is possible for you to earn a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, or Nurse Anesthetist degree without the burden of taking on a significant debt. Previously, it was often difficult to weigh the benefits of returning to graduate school against the problem of expensive graduate school credit hours. With many hospitals and clinics lowering costs by employing Nurse Practitioners in place of physicians, and Nurse Anesthetists to assist the Anesthesiologist, it is very likely that the medical group that you currently work for offers tuition reimbursement. If they do not, you should speak to your supervisor or human resources personnel. They may be willing to offer tuition reimbursement on a case by case basis. If your current employer does not offer tuition reimbursement, you may want to consider moving to a different employer. Many employers will offer full tuition reimbursement or even allow you to attend school full time, with the agreement that you will work for them for a specified time once you receive your graduate degree.

Increasing Your Likelihood of Receiving a Scholarship

Whether you are looking for a needs based scholarship for an undergraduate nursing degree, or are searching for a hospital financed scholarship offer to complete your graduate degree, there are several things that you can do to improve your chances of success.

Work in your field. It does not matter if it is paid employment or volunteer work, but working in the field you plan to earn a degree in shows the decision makers that you understand the work and are less likely to switch majors or drop out.

Watch your grades and your money. No matter if you are looking for a need based or academic based scholarship, keep your grades high, even in classes that you do not think matter, and watch your money. When you receive your scholarship money be sure to buy the books and study materials that you will need to succeed. If possible, hold some money back so that you can afford a tutor before exams if you find yourself struggling.

Best Nursing Jobs - The Top Three Highest Paying Nursing Jobs

2009-03-15T09:12:00.004-04:00

By Brent McNutt

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are more than 2.5 million practicing nurses in the country; overall, nurses make up the largest workforce in the healthcare industry. In the field of nursing, there are many different career options and types of nursing jobs to choose from. For many registered nurses, job security and level of compensation are very important considerations that affect their decision on what nursing job or career path to pursue. Because nursing can be a very taxing and demanding job, it helps to get paid a lot so that all your efforts and landau scrubs free shipping are worth it in the end. Those starting out in the nursing profession (newly graduates or less than a year of experience) will inevitably have to start at the entry-level but after a few years of experience you can set your sights to higher paying jobs and advance your nursing career.

A high-paying nursing role requires advanced education and training compared to other types of nursing roles. The top three highest paying nursing jobs (excluding management and supervisory levels) are advanced practice or clinical practice nursing.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Receiving one of the highest salaries in the nursing field, a nurse anesthetist earns an average of over $100,000 a year. To become a CRNA, you have to take further studies in addition to your nursing degree. If you are already a registered nurse, you will have to finish a graduate degree program and pass an examination to be a licensed nurse anesthetist. One of the main responsibilities of a nurse anesthetist is delivering anesthesia during surgery and works with an anesthesiologist. It is an ideal option for those who are less inclined to patient interaction (since patients will be unconscious most of the time) and are more interested in technical skills or surgery. This requires a more impersonal role in contrast to most nursing duties especially since you are unlikely to see the same patient twice in the surgical field.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

A nurse practitioner usually works under the supervision of a licensed physician and administers mid-level patient care. NPs are usually authorized and qualified to do some minor procedures and examinations, depending on the regulation imposed by the state. Some states allow NPs to practice independently of physicians while some states legally require NPs to practice under supervision. Those who are allowed to work independently may prescribe medications and provide primary care. Salaries of NP may vary from state to state but may approach the same level as CRNAs. Unlike CRNAs, NPs care for patients directly and often build long-term relationships with patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

A clinical nurse specialist assists in specialized research, advocacy, education, and even management. It is an advanced practice that requires a Master's of Science degree in Nursing and a CNS certification for the particular field of interest (i.e. oncology, psychiatry, cardiology, etc). This type of job is ideal for those leaning towards scholarly pursuits as it requires rigorous research, critical thinking, gathering of data, and other academic engagements. The average salary for CNS is $70,000-$80,000 a year but can easily approach to over $90,000 with experience.

Nursing Master Degree: For A Better Future

2009-03-13T22:47:00.007-04:00

By: Ekta Jain

A nursing master degree is essential to create a work force that is high on quality. Nurses deliver most of the nation’s long-term care and there is no form of health care service that does not need the assistance of nurses.

Add to this, the technological advancement in patient care and newer discoveries in medical sector that call for extra work force in the form of nurses. All this reinstates the fact that there is a huge demand for nurses not just quantitatively but qualitatively too. A nursing master degree can prepare you for the higher complexities of health care involved in this profession.

Nursing Master Degree: Preparing Future Nurse Force

Online nursing schools are there to prepare effective and capable nurse scholars who prove an asset to any organization. The curriculum of a nursing master degree program includes basic clinical skill development, introduction to research, integration of practice and theory and much more. In other words, it gives an additional depth to the knowledge you have already acquired through your associate or bachelor nursing degree. Even employers are seeking nurses who have qualification and skill to match the more complex demands of today’s patient care. Because when you are qualified and trained, you can adapt yourself in a better way.

You would not have any problem in getting an employment after acquiring a nursing master degree. The demand for nurses does not limit itself to just hospitals or private clinics. Nurses are required in a wide range of other settings as well like – public health agencies, primary care clinics, and home health care, out patient, surgicenters, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, schools, mental health agencies and many more.

Although it is researched that employment opportunities in hospitals, the largest sector, will grow at a relatively slower pace but the opportunities in other sectors more than make up for that. These other sectors include home health care. There is a growing tendency among people to undergo complex medical treatments at home. Also even older people with functional disabilities prefer medical care at home. The technological advances in medical sector make all this possible but it also establishes the need for nursing degree professionals who are rightly qualified to perform complex medical procedures.

Then employment in nursing home is also expected to grow faster than usual due to increase in the number of elderly who would need special nursing care. The growth in long-term rehabilitation centers will also boost employment in nursing sector. You can take advantage of these job opportunities through an online nursing degree program that will prepare you to meet the growing challenges in this field.

The Upcoming Nursing Shortage- How You Can be Best Positioned to Capitalize

2009-03-11T07:56:00.006-04:00

By Stephanie Larkin

There are a variety of reasons why there is a shortage of nurses, and just as many reasons for why the shortage is expected to grow. The cost of healthcare is astronomical, and continues to get higher. One way that hospitals are dealing with the rising costs of healthcare is to increase the duties that everyone performs. Jobs that used to be handled by a physician are taken care of by nurse practitioners. In addition, nurse anesthetists do much of the work that anesthesiologists did, and registered nurses are required to perform a variety of functions, from administering medicine and taking vital signs to helping a patient to the restroom.

As a nurse's responsibilities increase, it takes more nurses to run the same size hospital. While this may not seem like a way to cut costs, every duty that can be taken from a doctor and passed to a physicians assistant, nurse, or technician is a huge savings.

Another reason that there is an increasing gap between the number of nurses available and the number that is needed is because of the aging population. As the baby boomer population ages, not only does that reduce the number of nurses due to retirement, but the aging population is at greater need for healthcare services.

A final reason that there is a nursing shortage is because of all the advancements in the healthcare industry. New treatments are helping people live longer and survive illnesses that were previously thought of as death sentences. While this is wonderful news, it creates more openings in the nursing industry as new jobs open up in different sectors of the healthcare industry.

Many nurses also choose to work outside of their main career path. Many registered nurses move from the clinical setting into writing patient brochures for pharmaceutical companies or employee wellness newsletters. There are numerous careers that are open to someone with a strong medical background but do not want the stress of working in a clinical setting.

What Can I Expect in the Future?

Education is crucial to being in the best position for the nurse shortage. If you are a registered nurse, consider getting your bachelor's degree, if you have your bachelor's, think about getting a master's in a health related field, or your nurse practitioner's license. Any advanced degree will make you a more attractive candidate when job hunting.

Also, make an effort to stay up to date on new technology and new medical advancements. No one expects you to know every new development. However, by following developments in your field, if you choose to branch into management or a side career, as a writer or training coordinator, for example, you will know what is going on in the field, and will be capable to discuss it at length. Any outside research you can conduct can demonstrate a willingness to be "self-starting" and can help set you apart from the other applicants.

As more and more nursing duties are computerized, it is important to be comfortable using new technology. Many hospitals use hand held computers to enter patient information, and a computerized approach to dispensing medication, so it is important that you remain confident that you can use these computerized systems.

As more hospitals merge and are taken over by large corporations, the work environment gradually changes. The informal tone many hospitals sought after is becoming more formal. While there is no end in sight to nurses wearing scrubs, the way that nurses deal with coworkers and supervisors could become more formal. You should polish your business skills, know how to follow the chain of command and use a professional manner when speaking with those you work with. Some informality and stress induced behavior will always be part of the hospital culture, but as more hospitals become corporate enterprises, the importance of behaving professionally increases.

Due to the shortage of nurses, there is no reason for a nurse to be unable to find the right job or be stuck in a job that he or she does not like. The best way to position yourself for a lucrative healthcare career is to invest in your own education, stay up to date on new technologies, and develop your professional skills.

A Career in Psychiatric Nursing

2009-03-10T09:31:00.008-04:00

What is Psychiatric nursing?

Psychiatric nursing is a flexible profession, which involves the application of expertise that evolves out of a wide range of knowledge and addresses many concerns. Not all mentally challenged patients receive sufficient medical care and support from family and friends, to help in effectively conveying the illness to the medical establishment. These patients have impaired ability to process information.

Psychiatric nursing is ideal to help reorganize relationships and nursing responses. The nurse is required to be engaged and self-directed in the on-going professional development. It is the responsibility of the nurse to practice leadership within the paradigms of the profession and the community at large.

Levels of Education in Psychiatric Nursing

Clinical practice of psychiatric nursing takes place at two levels.

-Basic: At this level, registered nurses work with families, individuals, communities and groups. They diagnose the mental ability and define the nursing plan. They are also responsible for putting the plan into practice and assessing the nursing care.

-Advanced: At the advanced level, psychiatric nursing requires nurses to possess Masters Degrees in Psychiatric Nursing. They take the role of Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist. They evaluate, diagnose and treat families and individuals with psychiatric disorders and problems. These nurses work as researchers, professors with private agencies and programs and hospital administrators.

There are a number of programs available to pursue a career in psychiatric nursing. A two-year program for an associate degree in nursing, a hospital based three-year diploma in nursing and a university four-year bachelors degree in psychiatric nursing are just some of the available options. All graduates are eligible for the registered nurse license.

A degree in advanced practice registered nursing makes a person eligible to specialize in Forensics or Substance Abuse, Gero-psychiatric Nursing and Child-Adolescent Mental Health Nursing. There are few who specialize in consolation liaison, where they can counsel people who suffer from physical illnesses or suffer from psychiatric problems.

Many debates have been sparked over the relationship between the psychiatric patient and nurse. Besides the medical and education qualification, a psychiatric nurse should possess compassion and understanding, to create a bond of trust with the patient. A patient usually appreciates the efforts of a nurse who makes an attempt to understand his situation and works diligently towards improving it. The nurse is also expected to manage ethical dilemmas. This profession demands the patience to tackle all kinds of mental and emotional upheaval.

Salary

Like most other professions, the salary in of a psychiatric nurse depends on the experience and the size and location of the hospital or agency. Psychiatric mental health nurses usually earn $35,000 to $40,000 per year. Advanced practice registered nurses earn $60,000 and above. Nurse executives earn $100,000 and above. Teachers and faculty members earn approximately $65,000 and above.

Future of Psychiatric Nursing

The demand for psychiatric nurses is expected to rise in the coming years. At present, there is an increase in the number of students pursuing careers in psychiatric nursing. You can access lots of information from books and journals, easily available online.

An Introduction to Psychiatric Nursing

2009-03-09T13:33:00.003-04:00

By Rachel Jackson

What do psychiatric nurses do?

Psychiatric nurses are nurses who specialize in the treatment of those with mental disorders. They are sometimes known as mental health nurses. Psychiatric nurses may treat patients on an in-patient or out-patient basis, and may see those suffering from depression, bipolar disorder and many other types of mental health conditions. Psychiatric nurses work with those who are seriously ill as well as those who are taking proactive steps to improve their health.

Psychiatric nurses receive specialized training to become familiar with different types of treatment therapies as well as methods of effectively dealing with what at times can be extremely challenging behavior or non-compliant patients.

What are the challenges of psychiatric nursing?

One of the largest obstacles that a psychiatric nurse must overcome is the fact that many of the patients they are responsible for may not wish to receive treatment. There are few other specialties in medicine where the patient may not wish to be well. This reluctance to receive treatment may be present whether the patient is working as an outpatient or is in a secure psychiatric facility. This general unwillingness to receive treatment complicates the treatment process.

What specialized training does the psychiatric nurse receive?

Psychiatric nurses are trained in the administration of different types of psychiatric medications. Not only must they be comfortable giving medicines both orally and through intramuscular (IM) injections, they must know what types of side effects to watch for with each type of medication.

While medication is commonly used when treating mental health patients, the psychiatric nurse must also be familiar with the different forms of therapy used as part of the treatment plan. While a physician or counselor will be in charge of any psychotherapy the patient receives, the nurse must understand the concepts of the therapy as well as the goal. Since the nurse sees the patient more than the doctor or counselor, she can be on the alert for changes of behavior or worrisome new developments that may affect the patient's recovery.

Jobs for psychiatric nurses

There are a variety of career paths for those nurses that are interested in the mental health field. While most people think automatically of working in an in-patient facility, there are many other areas where psychiatric nurses are employed. Out-patient hospitals are commonly used for those mental health patients that pose no immediate threat to themselves or others. Additionally, many psychiatric nurses work in rehabilitation hospitals, to help patients who have suffered a stroke or other health problem and need help to reclaim their life.

Psychiatric nurses also work in many community based health clinics. They may work with the public, in an office, or make home visits to those in need of mental health care. Psychiatric nurses that work in this capacity often run community based addiction programs, providing counseling for those struggling with alcohol or drug dependency. Psychiatric nurses also work with the incarcerated population, both before and after trial. Many psychiatric nurses work in retirement communities and assisted living homes. As the population ages, the incidences of dementia are increasing, and psychiatric nurses are often best trained to deal with the increasing demands of an elderly patient suffering from dementia.

Types of psychiatric nurses

Licensed practical nurses and licensed psychiatric technicians are permitted to dispense medications to psychiatric patients. They also help maintain the patient's records. A registered nurse, or a specialized registered psychiatric nurse, can perform the same duties of the LPN, and also help with assessments and provide counseling (if trained). The RN that goes on to complete their masters or doctorate degree can work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. In addition to other duties, the psychiatric nurse practitioner can provide psychiatric diagnosis and prescribe medications. In some states the psychiatric nurse practitioner can work independently, while in others they work under a physician.

Job outlook

The job outlook for psychiatric nursing, like many other types of nursing, is good. Several reasons for this are: Our aging population may increase the number of psychiatric nurses required in assisted living homes. As the cost of health care continues to increase, more insurance companies and private pay patients can make the decision to see a trained nurse rather than a more expensive doctor or counselor.

For those interested in taking on the challenge of working in this field, the career path is wide open. The job is well suited for those who enjoy a challenge, have the ability to think on their feet, and those who enjoy seeing their work directly help others. If you believe that this is the career path for you, talk to others in the field. They can give you insight on a typical day and tell you the particular challenges and rewards of working in the field of psychiatric nursing.

Hybrid Mentoring Solution to Nursing Shortage

2009-03-08T22:21:00.005-04:00

A productive nurse mentoring program requires time, effort, and commitment - resources no registered nurse or healthcare-related organization can afford to waste these days. With web-based mentoring software, it cuts attrition in half in less than six months and streamlines the administration of nursing mentorship in direct care, education, administrative and research work environments.

Mentoring new nurses helps acclimate them to their new job roles and corporate environment. It boosts JCAHO compliance scores, nursing recruitment, nurse retention, staff nursing development, and ultimately, the quality of patient care. Also, a mentoring nursing program has a potential expense reduction of $50,000 per retained nurse (based on average turnover costs) according to a 1999 Nursing Economics financial implications analysis. In addition, a nurse mentoring program is an important criterion to attain Magnet Hospital status. Unfortunately, with the current nursing shortage, there aren't enough nurses to do patient care, let alone mentoring.

A successful mentoring program has many positive benefits and outcomes. In spite of that, it has its pitfalls. A blend of traditional face-to-face mentoring and eMentoring addresses two major issues found in mentoring situations - time constraints and distance constraints. This "hybrid" Mentoring in Healthcare Management System is "a personalized, on-demand collaborative mentoring experience that uses web-enabled technology and integrated knowledge sharing and management to quickly build knowledge, nursing skills, and capability to optimize human performance, anytime, anywhere, while providing the ability to track and measure results". Mentoring partners should use HIPAA compliant collaboration tools, such as e-mail, video conferencing, Instant Messenger and file transfer to discuss patient information, maintain patient confidentiality, and to carry out aspects of mentoring.

Hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, associations, schools and other healthcare-related organizations need customized mentoring solutions precisely tailored to their requirements. This solution would be used enterprise-wide or for a small group to automate the process of filling out forms, templates, and reports typically used to coordinate time-consuming and antiquated paper-based nursing mentoring programs. With a web-based system, after a nurse mentor or nurse preceptor completes a profile, a sophisticated matching algorithm will find a perfect match based upon such factors as skills, personality, personal information, and career background. The mentee or preceptee should choose his or her own nursing mentor or nursing preceptorship.

Best-practice mentoring guidelines need to be based on nursing research gleaned from the most respected nursing journals and nursing articles. Also, nursing staff development and training to manage and close gaps in organizational knowledge, nursing competency, and skills across an enterprise needs to be provided. Ideally, mentoring partners would be able to pick and choose from thousands of web-based staff training courses such as "JCAHO regulations", "JCAHO inspection", and other nursing contact hours.

A web-based platform needs to be easily adaptable and would also help administer a nursing preceptor program as well as a coaching, learnership, externship, internship, apprenticeship, residency, diversity, and tutoring program for nurses, new nurse graduates, nursing students, physicians, medical students, residents, pre-med students, and allied health professionals.

With a hosted, pay-as-you-go, and collaborative mentoring software solution, the system would need to be delivered on-demand from secure servers without any hardware, infrastructure or IT people necessary.

Nurse Salaries for Different Nursing Fields

2009-03-07T09:55:00.006-05:00

By Robyn Knapp

Many new graduate nurses are readily offered jobs prior to graduation. The positions that they are offered are usually those with the title graduate nurse or GN. For the most part, new graduates are looking for employment near their home. Since the general nursing student is now in their early to late thirties, they have already established a secure family base. While jobs for graduate nurses are plentiful it helps to have some idea of how many jobs are actually offered throughout the United States. The wonderful fact of being a nurse is that they can work just about anywhere.

The following information should be helpful in getting some idea of the pay for different nursing fields. Hospital Nurse Recruiters will inform the new graduate nurse that obtaining a bachelor degree in nursing is favored. Many hospitals will offer some form of tuition reimbursement for those nurses who seek to obtain a BSN degree. Tuition reimbursement can go as high as one hundred percent to fifty percent. For nurses who work in hospitals, there is a world of opportunity to move into many different nursing specialties. As the nurse gains more experience in their field, their salary will also increase. The salaries listed below are not all inclusive, but merely present to the reader a general idea of the salary range that exists. The reader should keep in mind that each hospital will be unique in what type of salary is offered depending on the nurse’s qualifications and prior work experience.

Just as you might think, large cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago hold the top spots for the number of nursing jobs available. The larger cities also have higher salaries and better benefits for their nurses. The tradeoff is longer hours and more stress in large city nursing jobs versus the small community jobs where hours are usually better and the number of patients to serve is lower.

The median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse - RN in *Detroit**, MI*, is *$65,817*. This basic market pricing report was prepared using our Certified Compensation Professionals' analysis of survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at employers of all sizes, industries and geographies.

Job Description

Staff Nurse - RN:

Evaluates, plans, implements, and documents nursing care for an assigned patient population. Assists physician during examinations and procedures. Performs various patient tests and administers medications within the scope of practice of the registered nurse. Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals and teaching patient and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills. Requires an associate's degree and is certified as a registered nurse. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department.

Registered Nurse Salaries

Staff RNs working in the United States average a median base salary of $41,642. Half of all US RN's are expected to earn between $38,792 and $44,869. Nearly 67% of nurses are employed in hospital inpatient and outpatient settings. 32% of all nurses are employed in medical offices and clinics, home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, temporary help agencies, academia, and government agencies.

Learn more about nursing education at The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide.

5 Strategies for Stress Reduction for Nurses

2009-03-06T11:19:00.008-05:00

By: Michael Roth Dc

Do you feel as if you are being stalked by a grizzly bear? Is your system always on high alert? Do you experience headaches, body aches, digestive distress, anxiety, or sleeplessness? The common culprit behind these symptoms could be....STRESS!

What are the stressors in your life? Do you have neck or low back pain from lifting and transporting patients? Do you feel pulled in different directions, trying to meet the needs of your patients and their doctors? Are you trying to get more done in less time? "Stress" has become such a common household word that we use it to describe everything from the rush of the morning commute to the hours of homework our children complete after their mandatory club soccer practices.

Stress is harmful because stress imbalances every hormone system in your body. To achieve optimum health and an ideal body composition, you must focus on regular stress management. When you experience a stressor, there are three phases to your response: 1) the stressful event, 2) your inner appraisal of it, and 3) your body's reaction. The stress response is difficult to handle because once it begins, the mind has no control over it. Sitting in traffic or being criticized at work can trigger a stress response 'the "fight-or-flight" reaction ' that has no hope of being physically carried out, thus dissipating the hormones that create the body's call to action.

Although you may not be able to control the stressful event -- or your body's reaction to it -- your inner appraisal of it, the link between the event and your reaction, is up to you. The totally personal way in which you filter all events determines how stressful they are. Everyone has a different level of stress tolerance. What seems to create the greatest perceived threat in any given situation are these three factors: 1) lack of predictability, 2) lack of control, 3) lack of outlets for frustration.

5 Strategies to Manage Stress

1. Receive some bodywork. Massage therapy or chiropractic sessions can reduce the muscular and skeletal stress that result from tense, overwrought muscles. Caring for the physical body helps reset the emotional self as well.

2. Develop a practice of breath work. Breathing seems such a natural event; we often don't realize when our breath has become shallow and limited. When we breathe fully and deeply, expanding the air into the bottom of our lungs, we receive the full benefit of oxygenating our brain and body. Our brain is 2% of our body's weight and uses 20% of our body's oxygen! Lack of oxygen increases feelings of helplessness, fatigue, and uneasiness. Full, deep breaths help balance the nervous system.

3. Meditate. Make time once or twice a day to turn within and commune with the still small voice that is the "you" inside your physical body. Even if it is only for five minutes, turning your attention within can help reset your thoughts and feelings and refresh your perspective.

4. Exercise. Move your body! Walking, biking, swimming or dancing all get the blood moving, carrying fresh oxygen to all parts of your brain and body. The "fight or flight" response shared by humans and animals is extremely helpful when you are faced with physical danger, like that grizzly bear in the first paragraph. If the problem can be solved by "fighting," taking action to scare the bear away, or by "flight," running away so fast the bear can't harm you, the solution itself dissipates the stress and bodily functions return to normal. When stress is caused by a problem, situation, or condition that can't be solved through such a response, the impact extends for a longer period. Exercise helps dissipate the hormones that accumulate in the body when it is stressed.

5. Be here now. Keep your thoughts focused on the present moment. It is really all that you have. Fretting about past events or worrying about what may happen in the future both sap your ability to enjoy where you are right now. Reviewing the past and planning for the future are two abilities of higher reasoning that humans have that differentiate us from other mammals. Don't let circumstances take over your opportunity to see the gift that this moment brings you—that's why it's called the "present!"

Our bodies are wired for health and vitality, not for illness and disease. Health is how our bodies function, not how they feel. Health comes from the inside out. And, importantly, the choices we make play a part in our health and well-being. For more information on health and wellness, stress management, weight loss, and releasing emotional blocks that may be sabotaging your health, go to www.drmichaelroth.com or www.rothwellnesscenter.com.

Becoming a Nurse Educator is a Wonderful Career Choice

2009-03-05T08:31:00.005-05:00

Registered nurses are teachers already! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work. Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!

Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!

Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!

Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.

Teaching Nursing Offers Outstanding Career Flexibility

Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities.

A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!

Earn a Master's in Nursing Education While You Work

You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.

Don't have a BSN Degree?

There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing bridge program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.

Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!

Know the Work of Nurses Before You Become One

2009-02-26T20:20:00.004-05:00

By Brent McNutt

"What do you do for a living?" This question gets to the nitty gritty of our jobs. It goes beyond the job title. It goes beyond the salary. It even goes beyond the "job description." When people ask this question, it gets to the heart of our job. For example, an incident manager might reply, "I contact people who know what they are doing, and then I ask them what they are doing." Likewise, if you are considering becoming a nurse, then you should have a clear sense of what the job entails. Here are some key elements:

1. Nursing is flexible

Nurses have one of the most flexible occupations in the world. Think about it this way: every person in the world has health, thus they need healthcare services. If you are a breathing human, then you can get sick. Typically, we imagine nurses working in hospitals. However, they can labor in several different environments, including:

• hospitals
• doctors' offices
• home care places
• nursing homes
• occupational places
• schools
• government agencies
• clinics
• retirement communities

Many nurses appreciate the flexible hours that they enjoy, as nurses. This allows them to keep a balance between their professional and personal lives.

2. Nursing can be demanding

On the other hand, the demand for nurses has become increasingly high, with about 6% of nursing positions being yet unfilled. This can place a strain at some healthcare facilities, requiring nurses to work overtime or even double shifts.

Furthermore, in certain situations, nurses need to provide patient care 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. Fortunately, certain methods can help nurses to cope with the situation. For instance, scrubs such as cheap landau scrubs provide nurses with attire that is lightweight, comfortable, and hygienic. Nevertheless, providing around-the-clock nursing care for a patient can place a huge strain on the nurses themselves. This can result in both physical and emotional stress.

3. Nursing provides a solid salary and benefits

How much do nurse earn? According to official studies of the US government, RNs' median yearly earnings are about $52,000 (2004). During that year, RNs salaries ranged from about $37,000, to about $74,800. Those RNs working in emergency departments, and those with their own nursing practice, earned up to $90,000! Finally, several employers of nurses provide the workers with benefits such as bonuses, educational benefits, and childcare.

4. Nursing involves education and training

Education and training are vital in the field of nursing. All nurses must earn a nursing license, before they can practice in any state, as a nurse. Afterwards, nurses may renew their license. They can also hold licenses in multiple states. Finally, RNs can earn an associates', bachelors' or masters' degree in nursing, opening the doors for salary raises and promotions.

What is the world of nursing REALLY like? The aforementioned aspects include a few of the most important features of nurses' work, such wearing scrubs. Before knowing that you want to be a nurse, know what you would do!

How to Stay Motivated In Keeping Fit

2009-02-23T21:16:00.004-05:00

By Alan Tii

Staying focus and determined in is one of the most important criteria towards keeping fit. People often give up halfway towards keeping fit when they lost focus and determination. At times like this, we will need to give ourselves that additional motivational force to encourage ourselves to be back on the right track once again.

With that in mind, I present you the top fitness tips used by most trainers to keep them motivated all the time:

1) Find a partner

Find someone who has the same burning passion as you towards fitness to be your fitness and diet partner. Give positive encourage to each other along the way. In this way, you won't give up too easily towards reaching your goal.

2) Set your goals

Set realistic goals that can be achieved in a certain time frame. Your goal can be ranging from simple goals like reduce carbohydrates intake for 1 month to more difficult goals like keeping to your fitness diet for 1 month. Many often give up halfway due to lack of goal setting. They often find themselves training aimlessly and overtime, they will lose motivation towards working out and give up.

3) Treat yourself

After you have achieved a certain goal within your stipulated time frame, reward yourself .Buy yourself a new pair of running shoes. Pamper yourself for that day by treating yourself a sumptuous meal of your favorite food. If you have been following religiously to your fitness diet all the while, a day of self-indulgence won't do serious harm to your body. However, restrict yourself to only one day and leave your next happy moments for your next reward day.

4) Take a Break

Feeling tired and exhausted from your workouts? Well, give your muscles a break then! Your muscles need to rest in order for them to grow significantly. Improvements in strength and fitness will only occur during the rest period after your hard training. This resting process takes at least 12-24 hours to complete. If sufficient rest is not given to your muscles, then complete regeneration cannot occur.

5) Music

Equip yourself with a portable music player and immerse yourself in your favorite music. But of course, if hard rock music is your favorite genre of music, listening to linkin park's song while working out is definitely not going to be beneficial for you. You will tend to follow the beat of the music and this will seriously affect the momentum of your workouts. Go for smoothing classical music to allow your heart and mind to be at peace while working out.

6) Think positively

The main reason why people often fail in keeping fit is because they always think negatively about working out. Even before starting the workouts, they are already thinking of the tiredness and sweat that the workouts will bring about and this negative thinking will deter them .The end result? They won't even want to start the workout anymore. Yes, working out is tiring and will indeed cause you perspiring like hell. However, the results are definitely worth all the sweat and hard work with you slowly chiseling your body towards a model-like body after every single workout. Therefore, the next time when you are about to start your usual exercise routine, think positively about the workouts. Overtime, you will find working out to be a fun-filling activity rather than a strenuous activity.

7) Take a before picture

Take a picture every now and then to monitor closely how your exercises are helping you to sculpture your body. For example, you could take photos of your body bi-weekly and compare week 1 photos with week 3 photos and so on. If you have been following closely to your effective workout routines and your fitness diet, you should be able to observe visible results to your body every fortnightly. These visible results will keep you stay motivated towards achieving your fitness goal.

Advocacy and Inquiry

2009-02-22T18:56:00.005-05:00

By Terry Gault

Dialogue: Its Component Parts

The first step in dialogue is balancing Advocacy and Inquiry. Instead of making statements about what we believe, begin asking questions about what others believe. This is in accord with a principle articulated by Saint Francis and popularized by Stephen Covey:"Seek first to understand; and then to be understood."When I attack your position and repeat my own, I strengthen your attachment to your position. When I ask you about your position in a spirit of inquiry, however, and empathically paraphrase what you say, you tend to hold your viewpoint more gently. You are more open to other perspectives, increasing my potential for influence.

How do you balance advocacy and inquiry?

- Step back.

- Target your inquiry by asking questions to clarify what the other person believes.

- Examine the other person's mental maps.

- Suspend your own assumptions.

- Learn before you try to influence.

- Advocate your opinions through carefully chosen questions and statements.

The Rewards

- Building rapport

- Building business relationships

- Extending your influence

Tips for improved advocacy:

What to do

* State your assumptions, and describe the data that led to them. * Explain your assumptions. * Make your reasoning more explicit. * Explain the context of your point of view. * Give examples of what you propose. As you speak, try to picture the other person's perspective on what you are saying. * Encourage others to explore your model, your assumptions and your data. Refrain from defensiveness when your ideas are questioned. * Reveal where you are least clear in your thinking. * Even when advocating: listen, stay open and encourage others to provide different views.

What to say

* "Here's what I think, and here's how I got there." * "I assumed that . . . " * "I came to this conclusion because . . . " * "To get a clear picture of what I'm talking about, imagine that you're the customer who will be affected . . . " * "What do you think about what I just said?" or "Do you see any flaws in my reasoning?" or "What can you add?" * "Here's one aspect which you might help me think through . . . " * "Do you see it differently?"

Tips for improved inquiry:

What to do

* Gently walk others through their thinking process and find out from which data they are operating. * Use unaggressive language. Ask questions in a way that does not provoke defensiveness or "lead the witness." * Draw out their reasoning. Find out as much as you can about why they are saying what they're saying. * Explain your reasons for inquiring, and how your inquiry relates to your own concerns, hopes and needs. * Test what others say by asking for broader contexts or examples. * Listen for new understanding that may emerge. * Check your understanding of what others say.What to say* "What leads you to conclude that?" * "What data do you have for that?" * "What causes you to say that?" * "Instead of "What do you mean?" or "What's your proof?" say "Can you help me understand your thinking here?" * "What is the significance of that?" "How does this relate to your other concerns?" "Where does your reasoning go next?" * "I'm asking you about your assumptions here because . . . " * "How would your proposal affect . . . ?" "Is this similar to . . . ?" * "Can you describe an example . . . ?" * "Am I correct that you're saying . . . ?"

Inquiry

What is the simplest way to move a conversation toward dialogue? Ask a Question! Whenever your conversation tends toward a discussion, where positions harden and frustration flares, turn the conversation around by asking questions.

As a conversation moves forward, continue to ask questions that relate directly and obviously to what the other person has been saying.

How Many Ways to Overcome Your Sleep Disorder?

2009-02-20T08:09:00.007-05:00

By Mohan Khadka

Sometimes you lie in bed with open eyes and cannot sleep. Sometimes you fall asleep during the day and cannot focus on your work. If you have some of these symptoms, then we must draw your attention to your sleep process. As if you spend too much time trying to fall asleep in bed at night, then you might have a sleep dysfunction. It is really disturbing for people's every day life. Those people who do not have quality sleep at night usually suffer from fatigue with low energy and yawning during the day. All these factors can lead to mental and body disorders, which can spring into accidents and influence relations. In general, bad sleep changes your mood state and disconnects you from the world. There are many ways to regulate sleep disorders: diet, supplement nutrition, herb therapy, physical exercises, meditation, relaxation, sensory practicing or cognitive techniques.

We would like to offer to you some of these methods that might help you to solve issues with your night sleep.

1. Keep your mind busy with the counting or word spelling. The key factor is that you relax your brain by engaging it to do a monotonous task.

2. Alternatively tensing or relaxing the main muscles of your body help to conquer a sleep disorder. Just lie down comfortable and tense then relax your muscles. Start with your toes and go on with all your body muscles. For more details www.activities-little-fingers.com Perform this exercise from your feet to the top of your head. The secret is that your body listens to the orders of your mind and knows how to relax the muscles. Gradually you fall asleep. This is a conscious technique. It is called a progressive relaxation.

3. Deep breathing method is the great way to relax your body and get harmony in all your muscles. Profound breathing is a basic and essential component of yoga. Close your eyes and focus on breathing. In order to breath deeply engage your lower back, ribcage and belly. Make every next breath longer and deeper. Breathing is the very start of our lives. It is just a start. Breath slowly- you do not have any need to hurry up.

4. One of the ways to cope with your sleep disorder is listening to the silence in your ears. It is a very simple technique but rather productive and helpful one. Lay relaxed on your back and close your ears. You will hear a high and jingling sound. After listening to this sound for 15 minutes, relax your hands and sleep peacefully.

5. Another interesting and useful technique involves your feet, especially your toes. It might seem to you strange, but this method works. For more details www.tips-getting-healthy.com Lie down, close your eyes and relax. Now drag all your toes in the direction to your face. Count slowly to 10 in this position, relax your toes and count again 10. Repeat this sequence for 10-12 times.

6. Visualization or imagination technique is the most attractive method. First of all, it can be self-directed or guided by others. This process consists of two stages. Initially you have to relax your body by the means of deep breathing or some other techniques. Then the visualization itself starts. Here you are free to create and perform in your mind the most pleasant images.

7. Meditation is the contradictory to the visualization. Meditation requires your clear brain. Just focus on your breathing, an object or a word. This allows you to calm your thinking and achieve silence in your mind. Stop thinking; stop speaking in your mind. Thus you reach the quiet state and fall asleep.

If you perform some of these relaxation techniques every day, you mind and body will acquire a good habit of being able to relax. Good luck and have a nice sleep!

Average Nursing Salary

2009-02-19T15:46:00.004-05:00

It is commonly known that there is a significant shortage of nurses not only in a specific country, but throughout the world. To all those who are interested and most importantly qualified in the field of nursing, you are all welcome.

Just like in any other profession, it is not all the time that professionals think of how much money they will be getting once they pursue a certain career. Though, let’s face it, it matters. Additionally, in most career fields, a person’s salary depends on certain factors. You may be receiving bigger pay than what your friend is getting from other place. This thing applies also in the world of nursing.

If you want to know how much the recent average is nursing salary, you are on the right page. However, you should know that an average nursing salary can be determined by the needs and capabilities of a community, work schedule, training, skills, and experience, which means that the information you will get from this article maybe a little different from place to place.

For registered nurses (RNs) working in the US, the average nursing salary is a little over $ 41, 600 every year. RNs with more than 3 years of experience are getting more than $ 47, 000, while those who are in the entry level are receiving more or less $ 39, 000 a year. Depending also on the position, the higher position, the average nursing salary could go as high as $ 60, 000 a year and over.

In a hospital setting, an average nursing salary is also affected depending on the specialization. Also, working in various healthcare institutions with different specializations could also mean different average nursing salary. The lowest annual average pay you can get is not less than $ 33,500 and the highest can reach up to $ 65,000 and more.

Even for the hourly paid nurses, there is also a variation on the rates. Depending on the demand of a nurse’s specialty and the kind of responsibilities she/he is tasked with, the rate could go up much higher. The entry level nursing salary per hour is approximately between $17.65 to $19.75 If basing on hospital bed size, hospitals with more than 500 bed size, the possible average nursing salary at an hourly rate can be $ 21.00.

Based on the range of the average nursing salary, it is clear that salary of nurses is dependent on a lot of factors, such as training, the kind of institution you are working with, your position, and the location of your work.

Nursing: Choosing A Specialty

2009-02-16T21:42:00.005-05:00

By: Cynthia Andrews

The nursing profession is a wide open field with many career paths. In today's increasingly specialized world, it is becoming more common for nurses to specialize within their field. The decision to specialize in the nursing field is not one to take lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages, but for an increasing number of nurses it is becoming necessary.

Because of the relatively new practice of choosing a specialty field, each field has different requirements for specialization. There are also some that have no requirements at all. Certainly, a nurse who has worked for thirty years in the obstetrics department should consider that their specialty, but that is not the case when compared to a nurse choosing their specialty field after graduating from nursing school.

Not all nursing fields have formal specialization programs. Some, such as pediatrics, have a national certification program. Even in fields that do not have a national certification process, many hospitals have guidelines for working in a specialized field. Many hospitals recommend that a recent nursing school graduate should work for at least one year on a general medicine floor before moving into any specialty. Nursing schools provide students with intensive training, and the year spent working in the hospital setting should provide invaluable experience in helping the young nurse refine skills and gain confidence.

Once you feel competent in general nursing, you may want to consider choosing a specialty field. Specializing often makes it easier to find a job in your chosen field, and it is possible to draw a higher salary by having skills that are in demand. Once you work in a specialized field, it may become difficult to gain employment outside this field, because employers may be concerned that your skills in some areas may not be up to date. For this reason, it is important to think carefully about what type of specialty you may want to work in before you commit.

Know what is required

Be sure to consider all sides of a specialty before deciding if it is the one for you. While many nurses think they want to work with babies, in reality, the NICU, while full of babies, is a stressful place to work, especially for a young nurse, who may have young children at home, or be thinking of starting a family.

Other nurses may want to work with the elderly, and while this can certainly be rewarding, it often requires a great deal of physical strength to help elderly patients with day-to-day tasks, so it is important to take that into consideration before making a decision.

Work in Different Areas

The best way to learn what is required in each nursing specialty is to work in different areas. Even if you do not work in the area that you are considering specializing in, you can still gain insight into the differences between the available nursing fields. Many hospitals hire “float” nurses that rotate through a variety of positions, filling in on different floors as needed. This is an excellent way to gain a variety of experience.

Network

Before choosing a specialty, take the time to talk with people who work in the specialty that you are considering. The more people you talk to, the better understanding you can gain for the type of work that is required and how rewarding the career path is. Talk with people who are happy in their job as well as those who are not. Remember that what makes one person happy is not the same for another person. While you may relish working independently, someone else may feel isolated. The more nurses you talk with, the better understanding you can gain for the different nursing specialties.

What does the future look like?

Before committing the time and money to specialized training, you should consider the job outlook for your particular career. If the specialty requires intensive classes that you must take on your off duty hours and pay for on your own, and the outlook is stagnate, it may not be the best choice for you. If you can specialize in a career by taking in-service classes while continuing education, which you would be required to take anyway, or the job growth is the specialty is growing, it is probably a good field to choose.

Don't sweat it

Regardless of the choice that you make, it is reversible. Once you have your nursing degree, you are highly employable, regardless of the field of nursing in which you have experience. If you choose one area of nursing, and find that it is not a good fit, it is easy enough to move into another branch of nursing. You can make the switch easier by keeping your skills up to date and working an occasional shift on a floor outside your specialty.

Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation gave $12 million in Nursing Grants for 2008-2009

2009-02-11T11:15:00.004-05:00

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) Board of Directors today announced funding allocations for its Nursing Education Grants for the 2008-09 academic year. PHEF will distribute the grants to Pennsylvania nursing education schools statewide to assist in the creation and retention of new nursing students and nurse educators.

LPN and RN programs at 127 Pennsylvania Schools of Nursing will receive a total of $10.4 million while 35 Graduate Schools of Nursing will share $3 million in grant funding. The Nursing Education Grant awards for individual nursing schools will be announced in July.

“The Foundation has contributed more than $66 million through its various programs in support of Pennsylvania nursing students since 2003,” said Representative William Adolph, Foundation Board member. “It is vitally important that we continue assisting students and nursing schools because the health of our citizens is ultimately at stake.”

“The beauty of the Foundation's student aid programs is that they are privately-funded by generous donors from the healthcare community as well as private individuals,” noted Senator Sean Logan. “In today's difficult economic environment it would be extremely difficult for the State to fund these important programs that are so vital to the health of our citizens.”

The PHEF Nursing Education Grant Program was created to help reverse Pennsylvania's nursing shortage by generating non-taxpayer supported funding which otherwise is not available to schools of nursing. This funding, in turn, helps Pennsylvania schools increase the recruitment and retention rates of their nursing programs, providing more qualified nurses for the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania nursing schools must submit an award proposal to PHEF to receive Nursing Education Grants. Once approved, the nursing schools administer and distribute the awards to their qualifying students based on their unique awarding criteria. Nursing students should contact their school's financial aid office or nursing department for eligibility information.

In addition to the funding for the Nursing Education Grants, the PHEF Board approved more than $1 million to provide awards through the Dr. Edna McKenzie Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students program. Ninety-seven Pennsylvania schools of nursing will each receive $10,310 in scholarship money. The scholarship is named for the late Dr. Edna McKenzie, a distinguished educator, long-time member of the PHEF Board, and noted African American historian.

PHEF was created five years ago and began offering financial support shortly thereafter to help students afford their nursing education. The Foundation currently offers numerous aid programs for students, including:

- Nursing Education Grants
- Nurse Scholars Program for graduate nursing students
- Low-income Nursing Students Tax Credit Program
- Graduate Nurse Education Grant- Nursing Faculty Development Grants
- Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
- The Foundation also supports the Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Health Occupation Students of America (Penn Hosa) Scholarship Program

“Nursing students frequently tell me how important these awards are to them,” said Elinor Z. Taylor, PHEF Board Chairman. “Sometimes the Foundation's awards make the difference between continuing their program of study or dropping out. With the shortage of nurses we are experiencing, every nursing student that graduates is important.”

For more information on PHEF's student aid programs for nursing students, visit FuturesInNursing.org.

PHEF & The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund

2009-02-10T14:23:00.003-05:00

Purpose

The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was established to provide assistance to students and schools for nursing education in Pennsylvania. The fund will provide grant and scholarship monies to nursing students through the use of donations from individuals and organizations directed to Pennsylvania schools of nursing.

Overview

Until recently, the equilibrium of new nurses entering the profession versus tenured nurses retiring remained stable. However, the cycle of quality health care will quickly decline because although demands on the nursing profession are increasing, new entries in the profession are not keeping pace with planned retirements.

Through the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation hopes to reverse this trend by giving students access to nursing education by offering grants or scholarships that otherwise would not be available.

The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund will directly impact the number of educational opportunities students and schools will have to help the Commonwealth continue its cycle of quality health care.

There are numerous flexible giving opportunities for donors to participate in this fund with specific schools, student populations and programs in mind, based on individual interests and relationships. Scholarship and grant naming opportunities as well as generous matching funds from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation are available to foundation, corporate and individual donors.

Guidelines

For information on guidelines, or to find out if your institution is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, contact your school’s nursing department. Contact the Foundation office for more information on giving opportunities.

The Biggest Problem In Your Department

2009-02-09T17:31:00.007-05:00

By Damian Driessen

People.

Yes, that's right; the people in your workplace are, well, people. We sometimes lose sight of this fact. It would do us a world of good if we remembered this little piece of information once in a while. And yes, these "people" are just like us. They are here to earn a living. They have good days. They have bad days. They even have the occasional emotional outburst. Not that we would ever do something like that!

Work is a place where we can really leverage our ability and see magical things happen. We can derive great satisfaction from seeing something achieved. However, it is rare that we can do it all alone. Usually, every achievement is the result of many tiny cogs working together to generate the result. Your co-workers, you and me; we are all tiny cogs in a larger entity, called the workplace.

The workplace is where each worker brings their unique contribution. We are all employed to produce something (usually more profits) for our employer. But this production can only occur as each of us brings our contribution. Although we each may have ambitions and targets to reach, in this place we need to work together for the good of the company.

Difficulties will arise in the workplace; we are all just people after all. We often have strong opinions on what needs to be done. However, not everyone is going to agree with us. When we encounter these kinds of issues we usually choose to fight or run away. There is another option that we often forget about. The other option; take a look at the situation from a new perspective. We understand this perspective in sport, but we often forget it in the workplace.

Play the ball, not the man. Do you remember your coach drilling that rule into you? This sage advice is just as relevant in what we face at work. There is no point attacking the person's behavior. They are people just like us remember? Rather than attacking them, the better option is to play the ball. What is the position here and what is at stake? What is the best result for the employer, for my co-worker and for me? If you emotionally respond to the co-worker you may win a minor tactical victory, but in the overall strategy everyone has lost. And remember, they may just be having a bad day. I'm had them, I'm sure you have too. We all do from time to time.

Burnout: The Effects Of Unavoidable Job Stress

2009-02-05T10:50:00.004-05:00

By Douglas Hardwick, Ph.D.

Stress seems to be an inevitable part of any job. Even minor things can lead to feelings of stress. Petty arguments with supervisors and conflicts with co-workers are among the most common every day stressors. For some employees, however, the level of stress experienced goes far beyond job strain and the irritation of daily hassles. For some employees, the level of stress experienced on the job builds up until it is overwhelming and leads to a condition called burnout.

What is burnout? In general, burnout is described as emotional exhaustion. The most common symptoms associated with this emotional exhaustion include overwhelming fatigue, headaches, stomachaches, and impaired sleep. And, as burnout develops, it often leads to a deterioration in social skills. Individuals in the midst of burnout just do not interact with others as they did in the past. They often withdraw from others. They may lose patience more easily. They may become more abrupt and abrasive in their dealings with others. Their language on the job may become cruder. They may appear to be moody and depressed.

Over time, burnout has profound effects on job performance. Simply put, job performance suffers. Victims of burnout are likely to reduce the amount of work they do. They may avoid tasks that they find most stressful. Their absenteeism is likely to increase. In the worst case, they may suddenly quit their jobs with little notice to their employers. Supervisors may not be able to recognize burnout for what it is, but they certainly will notice the effects of burnout on job performance.

Burnout often occurs in those jobs we think of as the helping professions. Professions such as teaching, law enforcement, nursing, and social work are all potential breeding grounds for burnout. Interestingly, within these professions, burnout tends to strike the most dedicated and most idealistic individuals. While burnout has been observed for years in the so-called helping professions, it can occur in a wide range of jobs. The key seems to be the presence of inescapable, day-to-day frustrations which build up overtime.

The frustrations that lead to burnout can take many forms. Studies of professions such as teaching and nursing have suggested that burnout occurs when workers begin to believe that no one appreciates the work they do or the help they provide. Over time the difficulty of their task and the presence of ambitious, but ambiguous, goals may lead them to believe that their efforts have no real impact. When the feeling "it doesn't matter what I do" sets in, burnout is not far behind. Of course, these feelings are not limited to the helping professions. Anytime workers feel overwhelmed by the demands of their job and think that there is little support for their efforts, burnout becomes a threat.

Fortunately, there are several things that can be done to eliminate or reduce the development of burnout. First of all, it is important for supervisors to actively support their subordinates, to treat them fairly, and to provide them with appropriate feedback. Second, it is important for employees to develop a realistic view of what they can accomplish on the job. Unrealistic goals are a recipe for frustration and stress. Third, employees need to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Individuals who blur the boundaries between work and home are good candidates for burnout. Finally, employees need to learn specific techniques for reducing and managing their own perceived levels of stress. These techniques may include exercise and various relaxation procedures. Meditation, tai chi, and qigong are all examples of holistic health practices that might prove helpful. Practitioners have long argued that these disciplines enhance relaxation and reduce stress in the individual.

9 Steps To Become A Travel Nurse

2009-02-02T19:43:00.005-05:00

By Hina Kamadia

If you go to a website that belongs to a nurse recruitment company, they will have a similar article to this one. But one of the first things they will tell you is to choose a company to work with.

WRONG!

Step 1. Decide where you want to travel. This will dictate which company you go with.Are you looking to live in a large city or small town? East or west coast? Maybe even Hawaii or Alaska? Your location plays a large role in your next decisions.

Step 2. Decide what you want from your travel company.What benefits do you want? Do you require private housing or is a roommate ok? Do you want your housing paid or 100% or will you pay for part of it? Do you want your insurance to start the day you start with the company or is it ok to wait one month after you start working?

All these are benefits that the travel companies play with the get the best package for themselves. If the travel company can get you to pay for something, it will. If you say no, they will pay for it rather then lose you as a client.

Step 3. Research travel companies online.Some companies like American Mobile are very large and have lots of assignments all around the country. So do their sister companies: Medical Express, Preferred Healthcare, Nurses RX, Grady Peyton, and NurseChoice. Other smaller travel companies specialize in one geographic area: like California, or Hawaii.

Step 4. Get these companies to contact you.Filling out their application will mean getting calls and emails from several of the companies. They are almost desperate to have you as a client.

Or you can just contact one or two that you really like, but remember, if one company can do something, the others can as well. Except when it comes to assignments. The larger companies typically have more contracts with more hospitals which means more assignments to choose from.

Step 5. Talk to the recruiters.You want a recruiter that you get along with, is knowledgeable, and that you can trust. This person will be your lifeline while you are traveling. If this person is not responsive now, while they are still trying to get you as a client, they will not be responsive when they have to work for you.

Since you already have your destination choose, hare this with all the recruiters and make them give you a list of all available assignments that they have.

Step 6. Compare all the assignment including pay and scheduling. Also compare the recruiters and company benefits. Choose the company that best offers what you want.

Step 7. Fill out all the forms for the travel company (there are a lot). You also need to apply for a license in the state you are traveling to.

Step 8. Once you are ready to go, you must interview with the hospital you have chosen to work at. They will decide if they want you and you decide if you want them. If it is a yes from both sides, you are ready to go.

Step 9, Get your housing assignment from your travel company, and get all your affairs in order and go!

The Requirements To Work As A Travel Nurse

2009-01-29T20:30:00.004-05:00

By Hina Kamadia

Typically, to work as a travel nurse, you need at least one year of work experience as a nurse in an acute care hospital setting. However, the more experience you have in a variety of areas, the more options you have in choosing the hospital and the city you may want to live in.

For example, if you like pediatrics, and you would like to do an assignment in Jacksonville, FL, it is possible that there may not be a position open in Jacksonville for Pediatrics. However, if you have some experience in pediatrics intensive care unit or neo-natal intensive care unit or even nursery, there is a higher chance that you will be able to find a job in those areas. If you have worked in only one area, you can still surely find a job, but it may not be the area you prefer. However, the more experience you have and the more familiar you are with other units, the easier is it to get the job most suitable for you because you will have more job opportunities to choose from.

In addition, often times, hospitals require travel nurses to float to other units when in need. Although they will provide the orientation to those units, it makes it easier for you to adjust when you have experience in more than one area. The more accommodating you are and the more comfortable you are in various areas, the more in demand you are by the hospital as well. Often times, after the first assignment, the hospital may even offer you another 13 week assignment, if you choose to stay.

Apart from the basic requirements to be a travel nurse, it is also important that you have the ability to adjust in a different environment and enjoy change. It is important that you are flexible, friendly and enjoy making new friends and trying new things. If you do not like constant change from city to city, you can also do local traveling where you stay in the same city but go to different hospitals for assignments.

In addition to having a positive attitude and the openness to change, there are few other things you will need to make sure your travel experience is all you want it to be.

1. Apply for the state license as soon you know where you want to go. That should be your first priority.

2. Pack lightly- take only what you need.

3. Be organized with all your documents: license, certifications, health records, and vaccinations, contracts with agencies, travel expenses and receipts you may need for travel reimbursements.

4. Have all the driving directions: to the apartment, to the hospital, etc.

5. Knowing what you want, where you want to go and how to negotiate with your recruiter and your hospital.

6. You will need a way for someone to take care of your stuff back home.

7. If you are planning on doing a few assignments, it might be a good idea to have mail forwarding service. This way you can have a permanent address and they will forward your mail wherever you go and you will not have to change your address every time you move.

Thinking About Your Goals As a Nurse

2009-01-27T09:40:00.007-05:00

As the student nurse approaches graduation, thoughts of beginning a career in nursing come to mind. A new nurse should think very seriously about their career goals. These include long term as well as short term goals. As with any path of life that an individual takes, it is not random. Each person that seeks an education does so with a set of plans and directionality for their immediate goals and long term. The idea of graduating from a nursing program once again dictates to the graduate that plans once again must be laid for the road ahead. Nothing worthwhile doing is done haphazardly. All things require preparation. Even as one contemplated going into the nursing field, certain pre-requisites had to be completed before hand. Graduating from a nursing program is another transition phase that must be approached with the same dedication and planning as was first applied. The short synopsis below is a sample of a career goal paper. Everyone will have their own unique career goal paper. Now is a good time to start thinking about career goals.

INTRODUCTION

The field of nursing attracted me for several reasons. The first reason being, that a nurse is the front line person in caring for others and saving lives. The nurse will in many cases such as in the hospital or homecare environment discover the patient who needs emergency attention before the physician. It will be up to the nurse to respond accordingly within the scope of their practice and hospital procedures. Why does this facet of nursing attract me? Well, it is because that this type of responsibility is not too far off from the type of responsibility that a physician has, which is what I had hoped to become many years ago. Nurses did not have that crucial level of responsibility initially. Because of this, many patients died. For instance, a nurse from the past may not have known the therapeutic values of electrolytes and blood gases thereby putting the patient’s health in jeopardy. Now, in present times, the nurse must know all of the pertinent lab values and act upon any change immediately, either by calling the physician or implementing standing orders.

The other aspect of nursing that is also attractive to me in becoming a nurse, is that the nurse uses therapeutic communication and treats the patient's response to real or perceived illness. This is the corner stone of which nursing is based on. The holistic approach is so successful in helping patients to heal. I am a firm believer that for an individual to be able to heal from without, they must first heal from within. Therefore the nurse can help clients to adapt and grow in a positive way rather than negative. Since all of nursing is now based on evidenced practice, it is exciting to be able to put the scientific method to use. There are now logical and provable reasons that a nurse should take a particular course of action.

These are just some of the reasons which have attracted me to the profession of nursing.

SHORT-TERM CAREER GOALS

My short-term career goals consist of successfully passing Nursing 255, then passing the national board exam. Once this is accomplished, I hope to be work on a medical-surgical floor and hone my skills as a graduate nurse. I have chosen medical-surgical nursing as a starting point because this particular field will help me to develop my clinical skills.

LONG-TERM CAREER GOALS

I hope to be an active member in the profession of nursing, joining the American Nurses Association, attending seminars and lobbying for the advancement of nurses to prescribe medication independently. Hopefully within the next five years or so I will have a degree as an advanced practice nurse in the field of family healthcare and be working in an emergency room.

PERSONAL GOALS

My personal goals are humble. Money has never been a goal, rather doing that which enriches the soul. I am thankful to my Lord that I have been given the opportunity to have made it thus far. I take care of my mother and help my family as best I can. I am happiest when I am helping others, and owe a large debt of gratitude to my instructors, who have given of themselves their wealth of knowledge and experience to help produce competent nurses. I hope to make them proud.

A Friendly Reminder for ReLicensure

2009-01-26T20:45:00.008-05:00

Below is a reposting of an article from Villanova University on relicensure as a friendly reminder. This article will be reposted from time to time as such a reminder.

Do You Need Mandatory Continuing Education for Re-Licensure?

…If you live in California, Kansas, Delaware and now Pennsylvania, you do. About 60 percent of the states in the United States have some kind of CE requirement. Each State Board has its own specific requirements on the number of hours, prescribed time periods, and mandated topics such as domestic violence and medication error reduction, as in Florida. The National Council of the State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is considering criteria for ensuring the continued competence of RNs. Nurses need to monitor the NCSBN Web site ( http://www.ncsbn.org/ ) for information about the development of recommendations based on a continued competence regulatory model.The Pennsylvania State Board is implementing this process in a cyclical manner (see table below). You do not need to submit CE certificates with your renewal form but must keep the documents for 5 years for auditing purposes. If you do not complete the 30 hours your license will be renewed but you will incur fines. You then have 6 months to complete the CE or be subject to disciplinary action from the Board. Note: Continuing education must meet accreditation standards and certain course content is not acceptable for re-licensure such as: mandatory annual institutional policies, basic life support and self improvement. See www.dos.state.pa.us/nurse for more information.

If your expiration date on your license is: October 31, 2010
Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from: 11/1/08 through 10/31/10

If your expiration date on your license is: April 30, 2011
Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from: 5/1/09 through 4/30/11

If your expiration date on your license is: October 31, 2011
Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from: 11/1/09 through 10/31/11

If your expiration date on your license is: April 30, 2012
Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from: 5/1/10 through 4/30/12

(source: www.dos.state.pa.us/nurse )

Villanova University College of Nursing offers accredited continuing education in a variety of approved areas of study. Day programs on topics like clinical research, nursing management, role excellence and I.V. catheter insertion are just a few of the courses offered in the new state-of-the art Driscoll Hall. Online CE is also available at www.villanova.edu/nursing/ce.

By Margaret “Peggy” Lyons MSN, CRNIProgram Coordinator, Continuing EducationVillanova University College of Nursing

Nursing Informatics

2009-01-23T22:04:00.008-05:00

You can’t ignore the fact that we now live in a computer era, where almost everything is computerized for a more efficient and organized job. Just like in any other field that requires the use of a computer, nursing is greatly blown by the rapid growth of computer use. In response and to compete to the competitive world of health care, nursing informatics exist.

Nursing informatics is a wide-ranging field that brings together nursing skills and computer expertise. Now, this is a high-tech side of nursing that many people didn’t know about. If your interest has something to do with the computers and you like the job of a nurse, why choose either career when you can have both? In the field of nursing informatics, you can get jobs that include a nurse programmer, nurse communicator, informatics nurse manager and nurse vendor representative. To understand fully the concepts of the possible positions you can get in the field of nursing informatics, let us take a look at each of them.

A nurse programmer is someone who writes programs or modifies existing programs to be used by a nurse. The programs may vary depending on the nurse’s area of specialization. For example, if you work in a pediatric nursing station, you definitely use a different program from those working in a mental health nursing station.

Nurse communicator, on the other hand, works with other nurses to identify if there is other computer system needs or assist in the training and implementation of those systems. For example, there are new programs to be implemented or a certain nurse station needs another computer system in order to stay updated, the job of a nurse communicator is to see if there’s a need for a new system and to make sure that the system is properly utilized.

In the management position, the informatics nurse manager is responsible for managing or administering information systems. He or she is the one responsible for implementing new computer systems as well as conduct the training in introducing whatever new systems you’ll have.

Nurse vendor representatives do not necessarily work in a hospital or healthcare institution, but rather they work for certain vendors that sell various computer systems specializing in nursing systems. Demonstrating systems to potential customers is also a part of the job of a nurse vendor representative.

If you think that the positions available in the field of nursing informatics interest you, then there’s no reason why you should not pursue a career where you think you have a good shot at! Possible educational preparation that you can obtain in order to establish a position in the nursing informatics world can take you to different paths. Presently, nursing programs are demanding the use of computers as part of the curriculums, which means you can get basic information when it comes to the computer. Or, depending on how deeply you want to get into the high-tech side of the nursing profession, you may want to consider taking up bachelor and graduate level training whether a nursing program or outside of it just to get the position in nursing informatics you are interested in.

Article originally posted on Staff Quest

A Summary of Various Nursing Positions

2009-01-22T20:56:00.010-05:00

By Shawn Thomas

Today it is clear that the old fashioned image of a nurse no longer holds true. Thanks to the popularity of new medical dramas and sitcoms, people are seeing the field of nursing in a whole new light. We will now look at a few nursing positions that have attracted people from all backgrounds into the field of nursing.

A nurse case manager is a nurse that specializes in tailoring and coordinating health resources and service to an individual’s specific illness or health concern. Though nurse case managers can work for various types of organizations, such as insurance companies, third party administrators, and vocational rehabilitation companies, their ultimate goal is the same. Nurse case managers are brought in to ensure that a patient gets the best care at a reasonable cost.

Nurse educators are the professors of the nursing field, and usually work as consultants. However, the position is primarily designed to teach clinical practices to new nurses and nursing students; and, ensures that practicing nurses maintain their competencies. Similar to other educators, nurse educators spend most of their time working on lesson plans, instructing, evaluating, researching, and helping others solve clinical problems. Though this is a rewarding career path, some nurse educators miss working directly with patients, and are overloaded with paperwork. Those in this position typically work for nursing programs at hospitals, colleges, universities, or staff development organizations.

Though probably not as exciting as it is portrayed on television, forensic nurses use clinical practices and training to help with investigations. Typically services are needed in cases that involve sexual assault, abuse, trauma, and accidental or unexplained deaths. The biggest drawback of this position is that it is new so there are not as many positions available as there are in other nursing fields. Forensic nurses will usually work for a medical examiner, coroner, municipality, or insurance company.

Rehabilitation nurses work exclusively with patients who have illnesses or disabilities that have altered their way of life. So, it is the task of the rehabilitation nurse to help these patients regain their normal way of life. These nurses become extremely close to their patients and share in all of their accomplishments. However, they are usually brought in for extreme cases; so, they deal with their patient’s emotional health, and may have to assistant patients with depression and grief in order for them to progress physically. Usually these nurses work for hospitals, long term care facilities, and special hospitals such as burn clinics.

Since productivity is directly linked to employee health, many employers have decided to retain their own nurses. Occupational or employee health nurses focus on preventing injury, administering non-surgical medical attention and consultation, and assisting in worker’s compensation claims. These nurses may also be responsible for making sure the organization maintains accurate OSHA records and standards, promoting health and wellness, and spotting health hazards within working conditions. The unique thing about occupational health nurses is that the type of health issues you handle will depend on the functions of your organization. For example, corporate occupational health nurses will give physicals and focus on keeping employees working. Those who work for municipalities may find themselves giving trainings, working closely with police and paramedics, or consulting on worker’s compensation claims.

A similar type of nurse as the occupational nurse is the school nurse. Nearly every school in America employs a school nurse, at least part time. This can be a rewarding career for those who love children. You will play a role in teaching and promoting general wellness and a healthy lifestyle as well as dealing with scrapes, tummy aches and the occasional serious emergency.

Trauma nurses treat patients in emergency situations. It is imperative that they use quick thinking and sound judgment to stabilize patients, typically using little or no background information or previous medical history. The biggest challenge to these nurses is that every situation and every day is filled with stress and pressure. Yet, they must overcome obstacles such as language barriers in a matter of minutes. Trauma nurses usually work in emergency centers and specialty hospitals.

Nurse practitioner is a specialty that requires an advanced level of nursing skills. These nurses perform tasks that involve diagnosing, ordering lab and other tests, prescribing medicine, and monitoring patient status. Although these nurses are similar to actual physicians they may face opposition from their colleagues and patients who are unaware of their level of skills. And, they are able to find work at almost any health related organization.

Understand that this is only a few of the career paths in the expanding world of nursing specialties. It is important to note that all of these positions will require a nursing degree and/or certification. If you are interested in any nursing specialty, you should talk to one or more people in that position and in the industry to get a realistic picture of what the position is like. Though there are several types of nursing specialties, not every path is right for everyone.

Nursing Scholarship Sources

2009-01-16T10:58:00.007-05:00

There are many scholarships available to any and all people that are going into the nursing profession. Some people don't want to take the time to find out about scholarships for nursing school. Many believe that the monies that they receive from financial aid will be sufficient. Indeed, sometimes it is, that is if you also take the student loans that eventually have to be paid back.

The payback period usually begins approximately six months following graduation from nursing school. But be careful, if you drop out of nursing school for any reason, and do not apply for a hardship extension, you will be liable to begin paying back the student loan, in spite of your circumstances. With scholarships, you do not have to pay them back, period! This is true even if you have to drop out of nursing school for a short period of time. There is another false hood that is widely accepted. That is, that one has to have a 3.0 grade point average or greater to be eligible to apply for a nursing school scholarship. Not true.

There are many factors that allow an individual to apply for a nursing school scholarship. Maybe your are a single mother living on government aid, there is a scholarship for you. Maybe you are of a low income bracket and have a particular ethnicity, there is a nursing school scholarship for you, maybe you just live in an area that is considered economically challenged, there is a nursing school scholarship for you. The list goes on and on.

Where do you begin to find out if there is a nursing scholarship available for you. Other than the internet, the best other place to begin is in your home town, at your place of worship, your place of employment and the schools that offer a nursing program. You will be surprised to find that there are scholarships out there just for being you! Many places of employment or large companies have foundations and wealthy founders that put monies into funds for scholarships. Maybe your parents worked at a company for most of their lives that now makes you eligible to obtain a scholarship. Automotive company founders offer scholarships. Even large supermarket chains offer scholarships for nursing school.

The main idea behind scholarships is to promote education in the community. So don't ever feel that you are left out in the cold. It might be that you may run into a counselor that may not seem to have the time to do any research for you, but don't let that discourage you. Sometimes when you are going after something that you really want, like a career in the nursing field, you have to take the reigns and be assertive. That means finding someone to help you, if someone else won't.

The point is, that there are people that are hired to help you find the scholarships for nursing school that best fit your needs. That does not mean that you shouldn't do your own research as well. The chances of you finding some other scholarships for nursing school in addition to those found for you can only help not hurt.

Venango-Clarion County Residents Build Nursing Careers and Personal Success with Online BSN Program at Clarion University

2009-01-13T10:24:00.009-05:00

By Professor Andrew Lingwall
Associate Professor of Public Relations
Clarion University

For Paula Scalise and Dawn Linn, it’s all about personal energy and faith.

Personal energy to return to college as adults, to hold down jobs and hold together their families while finishing college degrees. Faith to know that graduation and career success is just around the corner.

“I guess you could say that I’m kind of an adrenaline junkie,” says Scalise, who works as an emergency room nurse at Clarion Hospital. ‘I enjoy the buzz when a new patient comes in and needs attention. That’s how I’ve approached my coursework, too.”

The 43-year-old Fryburg resident is earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Clarion University, with plans to graduate in 2010. Taking one or two courses each semester, she has worked full time while raising daughters Sarah, age 18, and Maria, age 13, with her husband Vince.

Linn is back in college for the third time. In 2005, the 31-year-old Franklin resident earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science from Slippery Rock University. In 2007, she completed her Associate of Nursing (ASN) degree from Clarion University. This time around, she plans to finish her BSN in 2010.

Clarion University’s BSN is a 60-credit degree program that builds upon the background and knowledge of registered nurses (RNs), and enables them to continue their education at a professional level. Founded at the Venango campus in 1962, Clarion’s Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

All along, Linn says her academic journey has been one of faith. “I remember that when I started at Slippery Rock in 2004, I had to quit my job,” she recalls. “The very next day, my husband David was laid off from his job. We lost our health care, and I remember being so scared. But eventually it all worked out. I learned that you have to take a chance and have some faith. Now, I couldn’t be happier.”

Enter the Internet

However, beyond personal energy and faith, Scalise and Linn have drawn upon another powerful tool to finish their degrees: the Internet. Thanks to the availability of online programs at Clarion University, both women have been able to complete their BSN coursework while continuing to work and take care of their families back at home.

“Returning to college as an adult, I was concerned about what the online classes would be like,” notes Scalise. “I am a really a hands-on type of learner, and so I was apprehensive about how it would all work.”

Having earned her Associate of Nursing degree at Clarion in 2003, Scalise was more accustomed to classroom-based work. “But it took only about two weeks for everything to fall into place. I realized that online work is so convenient for adults who have a life outside of academia,” she adds. “You can adjust it according to your job and family demands, and do the work when you are available. A classmate might e-mail me at 11:30 one night, and I could get back to her at 10 the next morning. The flexibility has been unbeatable.”

If Scalise works a 3-11 p.m. shift, she can catch up on her class readings during the day while her daughters are at school. Or, if the girls need help with their homework in the evening, she can fit that in too and still be an active parent. “Also, if I happen to be at the hospital or somewhere else, I can sit down and access the class from anywhere with an Internet connection,” Scalise says.

As Linn completes her BSN degree, she is working as a health facility quality examiner with the Pennsylvania State Department of Health in Meadville. To supplement her family’s income, in 2004 she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves, where she serves as a hospital corpsman. “I have to manage my time carefully, but Clarion’s BSN has been so much more doable because it is all online,” Linn notes. “For me, it’s been far easier to manage than a classroom-based program.”

Dr. Kathy Patterson, Clarion University’s Director of the School of Nursing and Allied Health, adds, “Students should consider online coursework as a unique way of fitting the pieces of their lives together. It enables them to plan their education around their lives, instead of the other way around. It’s like attending a university without walls.”

Online learning at Clarion

Patterson notes that nursing faculty at Clarion have worked hard to build an online BSN program that serves it students well. “Our instructors have made a concerted effort to use technology to engage students…to really pull them into the online learning environment and create a virtual learning community,” she says. “And they are always working to learn new technologies and the best techniques for online teaching. That’s a unique level of dedication that you don’t see in every faculty.”

By design, online coursework in the BSN program is “asynchronous,” meaning that students can complete assignments and discussion board postings at their own convenience, rather than being required to participate at specific times.

“I have been impressed with how organized the online coursework is at Clarion, Scalise says. “Everything is set up so clearly – it’s almost like being in the classroom in your own home. And if I need help, the professors are just a couple of clicks away.”

According to Linn, online coursework at Clarion has been an interactive and interesting experience. “It is much different from being in a classroom, but online learning can be just as interactive,” she says. “My professors always answered my questions and got back to me quickly when I encountered any issues. They kept office hours, so I could call them. One professor even invited me to visit during her office hours, which really helped.

“At Clarion, I don’t feel like a number,” she adds. “All of the faculty and staff know my name. People like (faculty secretary) Patti Shontz are always there to help me out with registration issues or any questions I encounter. They really go out of their way to recognize you and take care of you personally.”

A Bright Future in Nursing

So where does the BSN degree lead a nurse on his or her career path? Scalise says that she plans to use hers as a foothold to earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and to becoming a nurse practitioner. “I have researched the salaries, and it is worth earning that extra degree,” she says. “Also, in these scary economic times, I like the luxury of being more marketable and mobile.”

Before entering Clarion’s Nursing program, Linn worked as an accountant in the business sector. Here, she had to fight for every entry-level job she got. So far, her experience in the nursing profession has been very different. “It was a real eye-opener,” she says. “I had three different job offers right as I graduated with my ASN degree. I felt so blessed. I had never seen anything like it before. Also, nursing has enabled me to utilize my skills in accounting and business. That’s the great thing about medicine: you can use it to pursue a specialized interest.”

National trends indicate a bright outlook for the nursing profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that about 230,000 new jobs will open for registered nurses through 2016, on top of about 2.5 million existing positions. In 2007, registered nurses earned an average of $62,480, according to the bureau. Including overtime, the most experienced nurses can earn more than $100,000 annually.

In her own career, Scalise says that working with the elderly is the most rewarding aspect of her work. “They are so grateful and kind,” she notes. “You just need to sit with them and listen to them for a while. In nursing, it’s often the little things that mean the most.”

Patterson notes that although Clarion’s Nursing program is based on the Venango campus, its students and graduates are everywhere. “We are of high quality, yet we are very affordable,” she said. “In 2008, we awarded $350,000 in scholarships across all nursing programs through public channels and the Clarion University Foundation. If you want to earn your degree here, we can help make it attainable for you.”

Other Online Programs at Clarion

In addition to the BSN program, Clarion University offers online programs in fields including business administration, education, library science, radiologic technology, rehabilitative sciences, mass media and more. Here, students can earn a two-year associate degree, a four-year bachelor’s degree or an advanced certificate online while working full-time, without having to come to the Clarion campus. Online study can be an ideal choice for people who are unable to travel to campus due to distance, job commitments or family responsibilities. Financial aid is available. Clarion University is approved for the G.I. Bill, and offers in-state tuition to active-duty military personnel.

“Clarion University delivers online educational programs that are convenient and flexible, and which are held to the same quality standards as traditional on campus instruction,” said Dr. Art Acton, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. “These programs all meet or exceed the rigorous requirements for regional and national accreditation.”

Clarion professors draw upon a broad mix of academic expertise and field experience in their teaching and research. Most faculty hold doctorates, and have worked extensively in their fields.

For more information

Anyone interested in finding out more about online degree or certificate programs at Clarion University can call 1-866-272-5612, option 2, or via e-mail at distanceed@clarion.edu. They can also visit the university’s website at www.clarion.edu/distance/.

“To any adult student who is considering returning to college, I say go for it!” Linn concludes. “Whatever your aspirations are, just step out there and take that leap of faith. In the end, you will be so glad that you did. But first, you have to take that chance.”

The Omnipresent Resolution

2009-01-08T10:56:00.010-05:00

Arguably, the most universal New Year’s vow is to lose weight. The article below focuses, not directly on losing weight, but to think, eat and be healthy. Eating healthy is the proper first step to approach a suitable diet in order to lose weight and it puts the horse in front of the cart. The following will provide a smart start to accomplishing the proverbial “weight-loss” resolution.

Never to Late to Start Healthy Eating
By Dave Parry

If you currently do not eat a healthy diet, it can be difficult to start such a plan. However, healthy eating is important for maintaining bodily function and living a disease-free life. If you struggle with healthy eating, than you know that breaking unhealthy habits can be the most difficult part of the process. However, if you truly want to live the best lifestyle possible, it is important to follow tips in order to start eating a more healthy diet. So…

A good beginning when you want to start eating more healthily is to rid your home of all foods that do not fall into healthy categories. Keep junk foods and beverages out of your house so that you will not be tempted to snack during the day. If you’re worried about getting hungry, keep healthy snacks like carrot sticks, yogurt, fresh fruit, or whole-wheat crackers on hand. If you find that you just cannot bear to toss out the sweets, try keeping something tiny on hand, like chocolate chips. Eating a few of these won’t ruin your diet but will also give you that small sugary fix you crave.

Another good step to healthy eating is when you are first starting the process take a few moments to learn about what foods are also the healthiest for you and how they work in your body. Most people understand that fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products are good for you, but few people understand why. The key is learning about nutrients. When you understand how specific nutrients work in the body, you will be more likely to make those healthy choices for your body. Knowledge really is power!

When detoxifying yourself to prepare for a new healthy diet, you should also take into account your schedule for meals. If you often eat in a hurry and at odd times of the day, you are probably not getting the best foods possible. Plan ahead! Instead of grabbing a fast food lunch, take a packed lunch to work, complete with some healthy fresh vegetables. Plan ahead for healthy meals in the evening by cooking the day before that is if you have very little time to cook when you get home every night.

Start with small steps. Even if you only replace one bad habit a day with a glass of water, you can really improve your calorie intake. If you eat fast food every day for lunch, try replacing some of the days with healthy food. When you start by taking small steps, it does not seem like you are cutting out all of the foods you love and you can take your time to learn about the healthy foods which you will come to love equally as well.

Getting Started in ‘09

2009-01-07T13:46:00.003-05:00

OK, here we are. One week into the New Year and what steps have been taken toward New Year resolutions? The following may help:

First, commitment. There are various forms of commitment; one would be writing it down in the most conspicuous place. How about a pop-up reminder on your laptop or computer, the one you use daily and preferably for work? Say it out loud as you write it down, really! Isn’t this what you want for yourself and your family in the New Year? On an office bulletin board – first wipe it clean of all the tasks that have been on it since who knows when, and then list it at the top; a note on your refrigerator (you’ve done this before)? How about on a sheet of paper taped to the TV screen (probably the most effective because of the guilt factor)? Do this while you are thinking about it and then when you go to watch TV note how effective this method is!

Support your commitment by beginning your daily routine differently. A good idea is to set your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier, 30 minutes to be truly aggressive, and place the alarm across the room where you have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. That tells us, “today is different” and reminds us to act on the promise to ourselves. Further support could come in the way of getting organized and employing some form of time management (if needed).

Second, list the steps that need to be taken. Baby steps, e.g. gathering information (be serious here – find the information you are looking for, print it, read it, make notes and act on it), filling out an application and especially finding a source for education.

Third, act on your list; now is a good time.

Finally, how is your new attitude? Have you brought it with you everyday? Are you doing what you can to create change? You are not really still waiting for someone else to create the change you want to see in nursing, are you? If you are, please be sure not to complain! Now that it is one week into the New Year, ask yourself what you have done even on the smallest scale to make our profession better. Go one step further and write it down, every instance. Keep this simple as well -- more patience with co-workers particularly while correcting or seeking cooperation from them; smiling at the person you struggle to get along with; asking for the help needed even if you asked for it before. Invite friends to do the same. This is a great starting point and if you write these accomplishments down, you will notice how the accomplishments become greater as the year progresses.

A happy, healthy, prosperous, educated, progressive New Year to all!

By Jenn Foster

New Year Resolutions

2008-12-31T13:21:00.002-05:00

Once again we stand at the threshold of a new year, a juncture to straighten our paths and discard the bad habits for good ones. It also brings on a new outlook, one of invigoration and enthusiasm. As a visitor and participant to many blogs and forums there is no shortage of acrimony, all that warrant merit. It’s time to recommit to our convictions and address all that is amiss. As our President-elect is sworn into office this new year, it would behoove us to adopt his theme of change. It's time to act on what needs to be corrected. We can start by simply speaking up rather than being silent. Every moment we take to correct a situation is a step in the direction for improvement.

Let us become more cognizant of what is in our power to better our profession. Be mindful that every small effort toward change is the first step to whole and complete change. Approach each day with a positive and constructive attitude. As the critical mass, each one of us is responsible for the change we want in our profession. We are professionals in the most vital occupation that exists and this attitude, and its reality, is supported by the legacy and ideals of Florence Nightingale.

Together, we can make each professional resolution, a comprehensive advocacy. Suggested theme for change in 2009: The best is yet to come.

By Jenn Foster

New Year’s Resolution: Education

2008-12-30T23:37:00.004-05:00

The road ahead always appears long and difficult; the terrain unmanageable. Looking back at the road traveled helps to assess our needs, wants and what is right; often we struggle to make the necessary changes. A new year triggers a time of renewal for our hearts and minds and brings us to that proverbial clean slate that makes us more energetic for making those changes.

There is so much to be done – where do we start?

We can not accomplish everything overnight. The question for each of us is what can we do now? Keep it simple. Simply put, once begun is half done. It is that simple! The thing that we can be sure of is that we need to do something. A few mouse clicks on the internet can take us anywhere.

Everything in our profession revolves around education. We can not stand still. Assess the knowledge and credentials in which you are in need and recommit to education. Are you in need of a degree or just simply some refresher courses? How about ReLicensure?! Please see October 31 article from Villanova University concerning ReLicensure.

As this blog continues to evolve, research the opportunities that are provided. Explore the schools of nursing that participate (and the many that are forthcoming) for the program and specialty they offer and take that first step.

Many of you maybe ready for your next step, a new beginning. Please examine the postings on CareerBuilder.com at left for the latest job openings and click on “Nursing Positions in Pennsylvania” and “Nurse Educator Postings in Pennsylvania” for a complete list.

Thank you for visiting this site in 2008. Your comments are not only welcomed here but encouraged. Your contributions will help make each one of us better, and in turn, better the healthcare industry. I look forward to hearing from you in 2009.

By Jenn Foster

Professional Standards and Expectations for Nurses

2008-12-17T08:28:00.004-05:00

By: Stephanie Larkin

Every major profession carries with it a group of expectations and standards by which those that work within each industry must adhere to in order to maintain quality practice. These standards are, in many ways, how institutions and businesses gain the trust of their clients, or in the case of nursing the trust of their patients, which enables the institution to become legitimate.

There is no business sector which needs standards and expectations more than any profession within the medical and health services field. This is a field by which employees are working with people on a daily basis, and the quality of their lives and health care. As such, maintaining a set of practices and standards are imperative. Because nursing is the profession through which more patients will have one on one contact with than many other professions in health services, standards are even more important. While each country and each specialization of nursing carries with it its own unique sets of standards and expectations, nurses have a common ground where they meet, and why their standards are understood across every field, and every country.

Standards within a professional practice are known as statements of an authoritative nature through which the profession to which they relate to provide a unique description of the responsibilities of all practitioners within that profession. Further, the standards and expectations are in place to ensure that all practitioners are also accountable for the work and duties they perform. When it comes to nursing, this is done in order to create boundaries and to provide a level of care that is equitable for all patients. Further, the priorities and values of nurses must be common to each nurse within the profession, and the standards and expectations outlines this as such.

While standards will vary in specifics across nursing specializations, and across countries, there is a general mindset as to what is expected of nurses in terms of expectations and standards. They are intended to provide daily guidance to nurses as they practice. Accountability, ethics, competence, knowledge, and the practical application of knowledge are key elements that are common to all nursing standards and expectations.

Nurses are required to be held accountable for every action that they take on a daily basis. This requires constant documentation of every element of their daily job, and following a chain of command within their select position. They are also required to maintain ethical standards within their practice, and to follow all ethical guidelines as set forth by their governing body of nursing. Furthermore, nurses are expected to have a set amount of knowledge before they enter the field of practitioner work, and with that knowledge set come an expectation of competence and practical application. Nurses are expected to be competent in their knowledge base such that they know and understand what they are supposed to in the medical field, and also, are supposed to know how to apply that knowledge in a practical manner.

For example, nurses will be taught in school how to implement an IV procedure. Knowing how to do this is not enough, nurses should be able to apply this knowledge practically through the actual conduct of IV procedures, and should be capable and competent of doing so.

Quality Assurance is another issue that is common across all standards and expectations for nurses. Through this, quality assurance standards ensure that nurses are practicing with quality efforts which in itself promote their competence and practical applications. This will require continuous education on the part of the individual nurse, as quality assurance standards across many medical centers, cities, and countries are in a constant state of evolution. It is the responsibility of the nurse practitioner to understand their quality assurance expectations at all times.

Confidentiality is another element of most standards and expectations for nurses. This is a requirement that nurses do not have an option to practice or not. Legislation and privacy concerns are in effect all across the globe, and nurses have the expectation that they will maintain confidential and private information for their patients within the patient doctor realm. Patients use medical services under the understanding that their information and medical records are not being seen by the wrong person, or found in the wrong hands, and because nurses have the most contact between patient and doctor, these are standards of paramount significance to the nursing profession.

While these are only a tip of the iceberg when it comes to nursing standards and expectations, these standards are among the most common across specializations and countries.

Overview of Nursing School Programs

2008-12-09T10:31:00.004-05:00

By: Lisa Parker

If you are interested in obtaining a degree in nursing, you could not have picked a better time. Nurses are in great demand today, and with people living longer, that demand is likely to increase in the coming years. Nursing school programs can be characterized by the type of degree they offer, and although there are actually 5 degree types that one can obtain as a nurse, the more popular degrees are the Associate's and the bachelor's. However, if you are interested in newer professions such as forensic nursing, there are also certificate programs. Maybe you are considering legal consultation or teaching and you may even decide to get your master's degree. The other defining characteristic is whether you are in an online or distance learning program, or taking courses at a traditional college or university.The Associate's degree programs focus predominately on teaching students what is needed to prepare them to enter the workforce with the skills of a professional nurse. Their education typically has four major components, which consist of evaluation of care, health teaching, wellness and prevention, and the administration of treatments and medications. The evaluation component includes observation, nursing diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. The main focus of the Associate's degree is for their student to achieve employment either while in school or directly after graduation. Although it is not a requirement, most nursing programs for a bachelor's degree operate from the assumption that most of their students are registered nurses and/or they have already obtained their Associate's degree in nursing. The focus of these programs is to prepare students for a higher position, such as a supervisory role, or to enter into a master's degree program. These programs usually revolve around the cultural, political, economic and social issues that can affect patients and the health care industry in general. There is also a focus on understanding the allocation and management of resources, which includes but is not limited to, people, money, and time. The most common variations of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or a student's route to this degree include going from an RN to a bachelor's degree. Other variations include the accelerated bachelor's program, LPN to a bachelor's, the traditional 4-year bachelor's, the online RN – bachelor's degree, and the second-degree bachelor's program. The master's degree program revolves around the type of career you want, as you can get a master's degree that focuses on a more specific nursing path such as, Nursing, Nurse Education, Midwifery, Administration, and Health Care Systems Management. If your focus revolves around Nursing, Nursing Education, Midwifery, or any other similar specialty, your training should focus more on the actual health and expanding upon the knowledge received in your previous educational programs. If you have decided on receiving a masters degree with a focus on Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Nursing Administration, Health Care Systems Management, or any other similar specialty, your program should focus on management, leadership, finance, managed care strategies, workforce management, and other courses designed to prepare students for obtaining leadership positions in their chosen health care organization.

It is important to note that in the field of nursing many programs often offer certificates as well as degree programs. The certificate programs are more specialized than degree programs and there are certificates that can be obtained before you receive a bachelor's degree or after you gain your master's degree. Some of the certificate programs that are pre-master's degree include case management and geriatric care management. A few certificates for those with a master's degree include legal nurse consulting and life care planning. Most online schools and traditional colleges and universities also offer more specialized programs like the Nurse Practitioner program and Clinical Nursing Specialist programs. As other nursing careers and specialties gain popularity, you should begin seeing more degree and/or certificate programs available in the field of Nursing. Unlike online programs, colleges and universities can boast a combination of classroom training, lab work, and on the job experience as a part of their programs. Although this has been the greatest advantage of traditional schooling, some online programs are starting to catch up, especially the distance learning programs. One of the greatest selling points of distance learning offered by traditional colleges and/or universities is the ability to graduate or "walk" with their traditional program peers. Yet, the main draw of complete online programs is the ability to gain a degree on your own time that works with your schedule while allowing you to work a full time job. Take your time and financial situation into account before settling in on a program. Regardless of the certificate or degree program that you choose, be sure that you pick a program that is good for you. There are many options available in the field of nursing and this information can help you find the correct path to the degree that you are seeking.

Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to nurses and the nursing profession including nursing school and nursing accessories.

Nursing, the Next 10 Years, a Brief Overview

2008-12-08T09:09:00.005-05:00

By: Craig Elliott

General Outlook for Nurses

The outlook for individuals considering entering the nursing field is excellent. Registered nurses, or RN's, make up the largest number of health care workers in the country. In addition, registered nurses will make up one of the fasted growing population of workers in all occupations over the next ten years.

Many registered nurses begin their career in the hospital setting. This allows the nurse to become familiar with various branches of medicine. While there is a demand for hospital nurses, this area of nursing will remain relatively level over the next ten years.

Many healthcare experts predict a surge in demand for registered nurses in the home health care setting. As Americans live longer, have more disposable income, and desire to remain home, nurses that can oversee care and treatment in the home setting will become increasingly valuable.

Another area of nursing that will see a surge in growth is with nurses who continue their education with Master's level work. With the rising cost of healthcare many families are using nurse practitioners and nurse midwives as a replacement for their primary care physician.

Hospitals, also, are realizing the cost saving benefit of highly trained nurses, and many employ nurse anesthetists, clinical nursing specialists, and nurse practitioners to keep their costs under control.

Not a Registered Nurse?

Job prospects for licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, while positive, are not as strong as those of registered nurses. Licensed practical nurses will continue to be in demand, particular in hospital and long term care facilities.

Many licensed practical nurses continue their schooling to become RNs while employed. The responsibilities of an RN are greater, but they also include more opportunities. RNs typically supervise LPN in a clinical setting, and the greater skill level allows the RN more job options.

RN or BSN?

The schooling necessary to become a registered nurse can be completed in anywhere from two to four years. The coursework is very intensive and involves many clinical hours. A program completed in less that four years, however, will leave you with an RN, not a BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. An RN is fully qualified to do all the duties required of a registered nurse, depending on the state. Obviously, the addition of a bachelor degree has many benefits.

An RN with a bachelor's degree in nursing is at an advantage when administrative positions open up in a hospital or clinical setting. In fact, due to the degree of federal and state oversight on healthcare facilities, many require a BSN for administrative, case management, and supervisory positions.

If you are considering working on your Master's degree, either as a nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, or to teach, you are required to have a bachelor's degree. While not all programs will mandate that your bachelor's must be in nursing, it is certainly helpful.

Considering a Career Switch?

Nursing is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to move into a different career. With the high demand for nurses, many potential employees, particularly hospitals, will pay for most or all of your schooling. Even if you must foot the bills for your education initially, signing bonuses, combined with the near guarantee of a job upon graduation, takes much of the risk out of a career switch.

Another attractive fact concerning the nursing profession is the attractive tuition reimbursement plans offered by many employers. These offers, combined with the flexible shift scheduling available at many hospitals and care facilities make it possible to go from a LPN, to RN, to RN with BSN and on to acquiring a master's in your desired specialty without hefty student loans or a disruption of your income.

The Future of Nursing

Clearly all nursing professions will continue to grow over the next ten years. Nursing is an excellent career choice for those who wish to make a good income, have a flexible schedule, and continue their education. While the hours can be long, and the work physical, a quality nurse should never find themselves without their choice of jobs.

While long hours and the physical demands of the job may scare some people off, many others are attracted to the flexibility, the fast paced environment, and the ability to help others. For those concerned about the rigors of a nursing career, there are many positions available in private doctor's offices, public schools, and other lower stress environments. Nursing, whether in a clinical setting or administrative is a job in great demand.

Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning the nursing profession.

Misericordia University: An 84-year Tradition of Hospitality, Justice, Mercy and Service

2008-12-03T05:46:00.007-05:00

Misericordia University - Description of Program

Misericordia’s nursing program is committed to providing an educational experience which produces competent nurses who are critical thinkers and educated consumers of research. This program prepares its graduates for productive careers in nursing and advocates for life-long learning. As an entry-level professional program, the nursing curriculum reflects a commitment to the relationship between liberal arts and professional studies that enables graduates to adapt to constantly evolving societal and professional needs. The Department of Nursing is committed to the provision of affordable, quality professional education that expresses the founding Sisters' values and attitudes of hospitality, justice, mercy, and service. The overall goal is to develop a competent professional who will provide the highest quality of care to individuals, aggregates, and populations.

The goals/outcomes support the mission of the University and the principles of academic excellence, service leadership, and professional preparation which are components of the Trinity of Learning. Evidence based practice is a strong component of this curriculum which requires students to critically think and problem solve. This curriculum will build on the reputation of the nursing program and continue to provide high quality graduates. The proposed changes are consistent with the program’s mission, goals and educational goals of the university.

Philosophy for Misericordia’s Department of Nursing

The nursing department at Misericordia University supports the mission statement and philosophy of the University. The undergraduate nursing program is based on a complementary relationship between liberal arts and professional studies. The approach to education focuses on critical thinking, as well as on the values and attitudes of justice, mercy, service, and hospitality. Humans are viewed as intellectual, spiritual and creative beings that are in constant interaction with their environments. Human beings have the potential for self-direction based on their developmental level and are characterized by the capacity for emotion, reasoning, and perceiving. The holistic view of humans takes into account the physical structure, mind and spirit of the individual, as well as the environment in which each functions. Humans interact on the basis of respect for each other’s worth and dignity.

The environment as experienced by human beings is multidimensional and dynamic. It can be viewed as encompassing biological, physical, psychological, socio-cultural, political and economic forces. Human beings experience the environment as individuals, families, groups and communities who can be described in terms of micro-systems and macro-systems.

Health is a dynamic sense of wellness, which results from a process of making choices over time. A particular sense of wellness is perceived by individuals and is influenced by their self-esteem, inner sense of meaning, and desire to achieve their highest potential.

Nursing is an art, involved in caring, and a science based on its own theory and research. The nursing process guides nursing practice and involves critical thinking as related to the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of knowing. Ethical and legal issues have a strong impact on the practice of nursing. Professional nursing is a vital, effective health service to the community. The faculty believes that professional nursing is committed to making quality health care available and accessible to all, thus reflecting the commitment to mercy, justice, and service. Professional nursing exerts an influence on, and is influenced by several factors that contribute to the complexity of the health care system. These include: the newly developing patterns of providing services, the roles of other members of the health team, scientific and technological advances, research, and social and economic pressures. Leadership in nursing involves directing and managing client care, as well as collaborating with other health care professionals.

Learning is directed toward the development of values and professional role identification. It is lifelong and involves developmental changes. Learning involves critical thinking, which encompasses analysis and synthesis of knowledge. The faculty believes that learning occurs when the student actively participates in the learning process. Students have the responsibility to achieve their highest potential with the assistance of the faculty who act as facilitators. Teaching, therefore, is a collaborative process in which a student assumes progressive responsibility for personal learning.

Undergraduate education in nursing is built on a strong core of general education requirements and is generic in nature. Included within the undergraduate nursing curriculum are liberal arts and the sciences such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology, and developmental psychology, as well as other pure and behavioral sciences. The undergraduate program prepares nurse generalists who are capable of using nursing research, nursing process, and theories in a variety of settings. Students are prepared for graduate study in nursing.

Graduate education enables professional nurses to realize their creative leadership potential and provides opportunities for collaborative functioning with health professionals and others in effecting change in nursing practice and health care. Specialization occurs on the graduate level which provides for in-depth knowledge and experience in specific clinical and functional areas. Advanced knowledge provides the foundation for effective leadership in nursing. Scientific inquiry is an integral part of graduate education in nursing. Such inquiry provides the basis for acquisition of increased competencies in utilization of research and increased knowledge base in the analysis and synthesis of theories related to the practice of nursing. Graduate education provides the foundation for doctoral study in nursing.

By Cynthia Mailloux, PhD, R.N.
Associate Professor
Chair Nursing Dept - Misericordia University

Solutions for the Current Nursing Shortage

2008-11-28T10:20:00.008-05:00

By Stephanie Larkin

The nursing shortage in the United States is estimated between 340,000 to over a million nurses. Many of the nurses that are leaving the field are management and faculty nurses needed by nursing schools for training the new crop of nursing graduates. Many of these upper level administrative nurses are nearing retirement age, just at the time that demand for nursing care is increasing as the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age. The number of nurses in hospitals, public nursing, teaching and geriatric centers are all falling behind the demand, with little improvement seen in the immediate future. Some of the solutions for resolving the nursing shortage which have been suggested by various study groups and interested partners are as follows:

Developing public/private partnerships

In many instances, the plans for public/private partnerships involve public funding to increase faculty and attendance at nursing education facilities. Due to an aging population, the same time the demand for nurses is increasing; nursing educators are aging as well and subsequently leaving the workforce. A three fold program has been implemented to increase the number of classes, increase the number of faculty in the nursing field and increase the number of students who have been unable to enter the field previously because of lack of resources and limited enrollment quotas. Public funding will cover part of the gap between supply and demand in the nursing field.

Using technology as a training tool

Although a major part of nursing education is clinical experience, much of the classroom education can be handled through today's advanced technology. Internet education, distance learning, and accelerated learning programs based around adult work schedules are all ways in which technology can be used as a training tool for nursing educators. As the care of the patient becomes more related to technological advances, routine nursing practices can be drilled by using that same technology. Technology advancements can also be used in testing and certification settings for nursing educators.

Creating healthy work environments

Healthy work environments are important in every field, but more so in the hospital or clinic setting where patients are incapacitated with a variety of ailments, many of which are contagious. The strains of viruses and bacteria are often mutating faster than medical researchers can create designer drugs. In addition to physical ailments, the stress of caring for injured, ill or dying patients will take a heavy emotional toll on nurses. Creating better ways of keeping nurses healthy both mentally and physically helps to keep the nursing force strong and capable.

Changing roles for advanced practice nurses

The nursing shortage can also be alleviated by utilizing practical nurses. Already in the system, these nurses’ skills could be further enhanced by improving their education level through adult education, continuing education and seminars. Still better utilization could be made of existing nurses and staff who are interested in advancing their careers in nursing. Also, as more duties are being picked up by staff with intermediate levels of training, registered nurses are able to perform more of the teaching, administrative and more highly skilled nursing tasks.

Partnerships with nursing schools

Partnerships with nursing schools can take many different forms, each of which could be valuable in reducing the growing shortage of nurses. Assistance in replacing nursing school faculty is of key importance so that nursing classes can continue to be staffed adequately. Provision of grants, loans and scholarships in order to attend educational classes in nursing will allow students who would otherwise not be able to afford nursing school to attend. Adult education classes at nursing schools allow for an increased level of graduates in nursing. Using student nurses effectively could increase nursing caregivers on the job. By covering educational costs in return for a service commitment by graduate nurses is another way to increase the number of nursing staff in the field.

Financing alternatives

Many jurisdictions are recognizing the need to make additional public and private funding available to nursing students. Student loans, grants, low interest government loan scholarships, and employer paid training are just a few of the ways many individuals can afford a nursing school education. If the programs are accelerated so that the students are able to complete the course and enter the work force more rapidly, the education will cost less and the payoff will be larger for the student. This scenario could lead to a larger work force of capable, certified nurses.

It is becoming more and more apparent that there is a large and growing nursing shortage in the United States. It is imperative that actions are taken in order to avoid a complete breakdown in the health care system.

Message from the moderator:

Financial aid for higher education is available in the forms of scholarships, grants and loans for those applicants and nurses interested in becoming nurses and nurse educators at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF), link at left.

RN to BSN - Career Benefits and Education Options

2008-11-24T06:37:00.005-05:00

By: Michael V. Gruber, Mph

The complexities of a changing medical field in technology, advanced information, and facing a growing leadership role among nurses has increased the need for a degree of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing among registered nurses (RN to BSN). This higher level of education takes commitment and dedication and in the following article, we will outline how to achieve these goals.

Advancing your nursing degree – The difference between RN and BSN

Beginning a career in nursing for those who desire an abbreviated education will get an associate’s degree (AD) which usually involves 2-3 years of schooling. A nurse may also follow a diploma program, usually through a hospital, that is also 2-3 years in length before becoming an RN. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Sample Survey, 70% of nurses have AD or diploma level degrees. An RN must also pass all required examinations such as the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses) before practicing with patient contact.

For many nurses looking to advance their careers, a BSN is the natural next step. It is a 4 year program that includes research oriented learning, leadership training, and liberal arts. Many of the students that are enrolled in the BSN program are previous RN’s with associate degrees or diplomas. They are now going back to school with all the hardships involved; financially, time inflexibility, family and other outstanding commitments.

The differences between an RN and BSN are not necessarily clear to the patient who is being treated with basic care. A nurse treating a patient won’t be asked, “excuse me, are you a RN or a BSN?” Yet the differences lie within. The education gained, the additional technical training, and the potential advancement are not immediately recognized by the patient. A nurse with a BSN can review research papers, advocate for the patient, work with leaders in the hospital or medical facility with confidence and advanced management skills. A nurse with an RN may have all these abilities, yet a BSN enhances them and increases advancement opportunities.

Career Opportunities with a BSN

RN’s return to school for a number of reasons, yet many are personal in nature: To become leaders in the nursing industry, advancing their careers, or move to the next level and receive a master’s or doctoral degree.

Management-level nursing requires an advanced degree such as a BSN. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in management, nurses can become anywhere from the assistant head nurse or head nurse, to assistant director, director, and vice president and upwards. Other career opportunities include research, consulting, and teaching. A nurse with a BSN can manage a home health care clinic and ambulatory services, etc. Nurses can also move into the business side of nursing to becoming an manager of an insurance company, pharmaceutical manufacturer, and managed care organization (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2005).

Salary Benefits of advancing a degree from RN to BSN

Advanced nursing degrees create new career opportunities and justify an increased salary. An RN and a BSN will receive the same salary for the same nursing position, but as the BSN moves through the ranks to a higher position, salaries tend to increase. For example, a promotion to a management position of head nurse with a BSN has a higher salary than being the floor nurse with an RN.

Education Opportunities and Education Cost

In 2004, there were 600 RN to BSN programs in the United States. Many RN's use the tuition reimbursement from their employer as an incentive to go back for the BSN. There are also accelerated BSN programs for those individuals who already attained bachelor or higher degrees and wish to go into nursing. There are more than 165 of these programs in the United States. These programs are 12 to 18 months in length (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2005). In choosing the appropriate program, it is necessary to choose whether to work in a classroom setting or study through an online RN to BSN program.

The classroom setting has many benefits which include peer contact and live lectures. Sharing experiences with others and learning from other previous like-minded RN’s is a great benefit. The dilemma with classroom education for most nurses is the stringent scheduling and time management needed to attend class and work around an RN’s busy schedule.

An online nursing degree course is the other alternative. It is a way for nurses to work while continuing with their education with flexibility around time commitments. The non-clinical portion of the classroom courses are given online and the clinicals are usually arranged at a medical facility near the nurse’s home. There may be timed lectures or the nurses may do lectures at their own time with assignments being sent to the lecturer by fax or mail on designated due dates. Examinations are usually offered online. Many times the online school follows a semester schedule and has a set start and finish date, though this is not true for all schools. To learn more about online RN to BSN programs, refer to your school of choice and learn what that school offers.

Conclusion

Personal satisfaction, a qualitative factor that can not be measured or quantified, is what many BSN students say is most important about receiving their advanced degree. Our society is advancing in all areas, with technology and intellectual expertise. The information is available and the prerequisites allow many RN's to attain an advanced degree; the determining factor is, we must advance as a society and create leaders in all areas of industry. A BSN gives the degree and knowledge and critical leadership skills for an RN to advance in the world of medicine, business, and personal achievement.

What is Holding You Back?

2008-11-18T20:15:00.010-05:00

Are you happy with your present job, employer, and income? Are you living the lifestyle you desire? Do you feel the self-satisfaction and gratification you are looking for, maybe not at the end of each and everyday, but at the end of the week or even the month? How about self-esteem? If you answered yes, congratulations. For those that can not answer yes to these questions, where are you headed? Have you thought about what you want to do and where you want to go? What are your goals? Do you have a plan? Most important, what is your next step?! Undoubtedly, there are some obstacles.

Procrastination and Complacency

There are two very formidable opponents that face us on a human level: Procrastination and complacency. While there are similarities between the two words, they are two different conditions. The common theme of these two conditions is a lack of results.

Complacency is usually the result of accomplishment or achieving a certain level of success. Complacency is defined with “an unawareness of actual dangers.” Complacency creeps up on us unexpectedly, and most times we do not realize that we suffer from this condition until we are faced with the actual danger. The danger we could very easily face is allowing a lapse in our education, such as the mandatory continuing education required for re-licensure as talked about in a previous article dated October 31st on this site by Margaret Lyons, program coordinator at Villanova University.

Perpetual goal setting is one of the best practices we can employ to prevent complacency from setting in. Using a benchmark set by others can further insure that we will never have a goal in which we are satisfied. Tell yourself there is always someone doing it better, and find that someone.

We also need to create our own mechanism that will prevent complacency. It can be something simplistic such as an office bulleting board (hand-written to do list with due dates), or something more sophisticated employing technology (timed reminders on your computer). Keep your goals in front of you - carefully measured in achievable steps - so that you face them everyday. Choose the mechanism that will best work for you; just be sure to implement something. While at this juncture (nurses in Pennsylvania, California, Kansas and Delaware), have you addressed the mandatory continuing education for re-licensure?

Procrastination can be a byproduct of complacency however it has many sources. Unlike complacency, procrastination does not necessarily (and most times probably does not) result from success. It is a factor that prevents accomplishment.

Procrastination is a more conscious opponent usually a result of fear or poor prioritization. Concerning fear, it is never personal; identify and face your fear in order to alleviate anxiety. Our prioritization sometimes needs to be scrutinized. Life in nursing gives us a work load with more than our fair share. We begin to juggle instead of prioritize, and I am not referring to patient care here. When prioritizing, be sure your personal and professional advancement weighs in.

Time and Money

Now for the proverbial obstacles: Time and money. As you address procrastination and analyze your prioritization, commit the time needed for continuing education. Visualize where you will be and of the advanced opportunities afforded you once you have gained the desired (and necessary) degree. Do not let the economy be your excuse. Our profession is experiencing a shortage with a projected increase for the next 12 years. Nonetheless, by the time the economy improves, you could have positioned yourself for the place you want to be, rather than it being too late.

If you still have unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, take the first step to get started.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is the first place to look. See if you qualify for the financial assistance they offer. Simply click on their link at left. And do not stop there. Schools of nursing often have assistance for those in need as well. As an example, visit Villanova’s College of Nursing, link at left, to see what they have to offer and peruse their site to learn more about their programs to see if their program may be right for you.

As this site continues to build its resources, please visit frequently for opportunities in education, advancement and employment.

As always, thank you for visiting and please share your comments.

By Jenn Foster

College Nursing Grants – Financial Assistance

2008-11-11T11:23:00.004-05:00

College grants help to increase nations’ healthcare workforce. Because of the shortages of nurses and educators that we face today, college nursing grants are offered with the hope of producing more nursing majors, direct care nurses, and nurse educators.

There are thousands of nursing scholarships and college nursing grants from local community-based to college scholarships that are available to nursing students. Financial assistance may come in many forms. Many provided online request information and forms to be filled up for easy inquiries and registration.

College nursing grants are offered to students who are not able to foot the bill for college education. The purpose of these grants is to make educational funds minimal for those who can’t afford. Grants are not only given to students but directly to the college to help expand curriculum, build new facilities, and hire fresh faculty. Compared to college scholarships, grants are need-based or a combination of need and merit.

College Nursing Grants are monetary gifts; they need not be repaid by students. They may be given in general categories or to different degree levels or those who pursue doctorate. College grants may come from federal and state, college and university, and public and private organizations. These college grants are not only awarded to the financially impaired but also to underrepresented students and minorities. In some cases, students may need to exchange their financial assistance for service after graduation. This also helps to retain well-trained professionals in health care professions.

The federal government provides grants and loan repayment programs in the fields of medicine and teaching to foster the growth of these socially necessary professions. The nursing profession affords above average income and earning potential depending on which professional level is earned.

Some examples of college grants are AACN, providing a variety of programs and resources to assist members in conducting research projects and using research to shape their practice; AANP (Grants and Scholarships), providing financial assistance to academy members who wish to pursue graduate study; ANF (founded in 1955), managing grants to support advances in research, education, and clinical practice; Moore Foundation, grant ensuring that additional nurses will be trained to meet the health care needs of San Francisco; and the National Black Nurses Association, established to provide professional and educational support to African American nurses, those that are working and those pursuing a nursing degree.

Undergraduate nurses who are actively enrolled in a 4-year nursing program are assisted by dozens of college nursing grants and scholarships. Because of the acute nursing shortage, more financial aid – specifically college nursing grants – are available to help with the nursing education.

Article originally posted on Staff Quest

Do You Need Mandatory Continuing Education for Re-Licensure?

2008-10-31T15:36:00.018-04:00

…If you live in California, Kansas, Delaware and now Pennsylvania, you do. About 60 percent of the states in the United States have some kind of CE requirement. Each State Board has its own specific requirements on the number of hours, prescribed time periods, and mandated topics such as domestic violence and medication error reduction, as in Florida. The National Council of the State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is considering criteria for ensuring the continued competence of RNs. Nurses need to monitor the NCSBN Web site ( http://www.ncsbn.org/ ) for information about the development of recommendations based on a continued competence regulatory model.
The Pennsylvania State Board is implementing this process in a cyclical manner (see table below). You do not need to submit CE certificates with your renewal form but must keep the documents for 5 years for auditing purposes. If you do not complete the 30 hours your license will be renewed but you will incur fines. You then have 6 months to complete the CE or be subject to disciplinary action from the Board. Note: Continuing education must meet accreditation standards and certain course content is not acceptable for re-licensure such as: mandatory annual institutional policies, basic life support and self improvement. See www.dos.state.pa.us/nurse for more information.

If your expiration date on your license is:
October 31, 2010

Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from:
11/1/08 through 10/31/10

If your expiration date on your license is:
April 30, 2011

Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from:
5/1/09 through 4/30/11

If your expiration date on your license is:
October 31, 2011

Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from:
11/1/09 through 10/31/11

If your expiration date on your license is:
April 30, 2012

Then you must obtain 30 hours of Board Approved CE from:
5/1/10 through 4/30/12

(source: www.dos.state.pa.us/nurse )

Villanova University College of Nursing offers accredited continuing education in a variety of approved areas of study. Day programs on topics like clinical research, nursing management, role excellence and I.V. catheter insertion are just a few of the courses offered in the new state-of-the art Driscoll Hall. Online CE is also available at www.villanova.edu/nursing/ce.

By Margaret “Peggy” Lyons MSN, CRNI
Program Coordinator, Continuing Education
Villanova University College of Nursing

Nurses Who Serve Those Who Serve

2008-10-31T07:15:00.005-04:00

By
Linda S. Smith, MS, DSN, RN, CLNC

Professor and Director of the Associate Degree Registered Nurse Program at the College of Technology, Idaho State University

Last year, New Jersey born Army Captain Maria Ines Ortiz was the first army nurse to be killed in Iraq since the 2003 US invasion. She was killed during a mortar attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Ortiz was doing what military nurses do best – caring for the sick and wounded on or near enemy lines. She was survived by her parents, four sisters, and a fiance’. Ortiz gave her professional nursing skills and dedication, as well as her life, to serve those who so selflessly and heroically serve us.

Many of us consider great military nursing to have originated with Britain’s Florence Nightingale. It is true that the events in Scutari, Turkey gave birth to professional nursing. It is not true that Scutari was the first military location for nurses. For America, military nursing officially began with the birth of our country - the revolutionary war.

Nursing during the Revolutionary War (1776) was not recognized as a separate and distinct service. It was often included and described along with such tasks as cooking, cleaning, washing, and sewing. “Nursing” was designed to keep sick men clean, well fed, and comfortable. Camp followers on both sides of the war effort were women who washed, cleaned, cooked, and “nursed” the men. And medical care given to the wounded included purging, blistering, and bleeding. Most battle wounds were followed by uncontrolled infections, forcing surgeons to amputate. Over 90% of deaths were caused by disease – 10% by battle wounds. Wounded men would be placed side by side with men suffering typhoid and typhus, thus wiping out whole wards.

The Civil War

In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to help care for sick and injured Union Soldiers. Simultaneously, women in the north began to organize relief societies. Dorthea L. Dix came to Washington, DC to volunteer her services and was immediately appointed superintendent of women nurses of the Army. (Dix had already made significant contributions to the improvement of care for the mentally ill). Dix established strict criteria for her nurses, with the idea that these women would be nursing supervisors. Her nurses were sent to Bellevue Hospital New York City, for one month of training. Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, began her Civil war work in 1861 when she established an agency to distribute medical supplies to wounded soldiers.
Though enormously dedicated, hardworking, and successful, the idea of female nurses was met with opposition from male doctors and military personnel. These nurses were often outspoken about incompetence, pilfering, and corruption among army surgeons. Many hospitals had little food and even fewer supplies. Nurses wrote to their contacts and reported these terrible conditions – further angering the male physicians. They took cleanliness and organization into their own hands.
Transport services for sick and wounded men were available via railroad, steam ships and wagons, often taking days and even weeks to reach hospitals. Tents were pitched along waterways where a corp of male and female nurses worked. Religious sisters also became a vital part of the nursing staff.
Importantly, medical efforts during the Civil war led to many scientific improvements and paved the way for a new profession of nursing in the US.

Scutari and Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale’s best-known triumph, the organization of military nursing, took place during the Crimean War (named after Turkey’s Crimean Peninsula). In 1854, Great Britain and France declared war on Russia in order to protect Turkey from Russian attacks. Due to poor military decisions, fierce fighting and enormous numbers of causalities from wounds, cholera, and dysentery, men were dying by the thousands. Four miles of the Turkish “Barrack Hospital” housed Great Britain’s sick and dying soldiers. British people were outraged, as news of these atrocities reached England, and the Secretary of State Sidney Herbert asked his long time friend Florence Nightingale to organize a group of nurses for war service in Turkey.
Nightingale saw four miles of rat-infested corridors filled with starving, freezing men. They had no blankets, beds, or bandages. Amputations were performed without anesthetic or even the crudest sanitation. Nightingale and her 38 nurses arrived on November 5, 1854 and were given charge of 1,500 patients. In only a few months, Nightingale decreased the death rate from 42% to 2%. She transformed the Barracks into efficiently run hospitals and won the admiration and respect of the world.
Nightingale understood medical and military politics and the scientific method for gathering and reporting data. Advocating for the sick and wounded soldiers, Nightingale used her statistical and writing skills to influence increased funding and appropriations of supplies. The grateful British people donated $200,000 to her, which she used to start the Nightingale School of Nursing four years later in 1860.

Spanish American War

For the first time in US history, professionally trained nurses were accepted into military hospitals. During the Spanish American War, these contract nurses became forerunners to our present military nursing corp. The Spanish American War took place against Spain (Cuba) in 1898 and the first call for nurses came on May 7, 1898 because of the 30% sick rate among American troops. Typhoid patients would remain for hours and even days without care. Some had bedsores down to the bone. Because of the resistance to having female nurses, these health professionals knew they had to excel in every possible way. One single nurse often had to care for 40 or more delirious typhoid patients per day. Nurses worked at a frantic pace in unfurnished facilities. They also helped gather statistics and medical data related to typhoid – statistics implicating the contaminated water, food, and insects.

These trained nurses were considered by the men as angels of mercy. Thus, in December of 1898, a committee of women and nurses moved to establish a permanent Army Nurse Corp. In 1901, the Army Nurse Corp was established. In 1908 the Navy Nurse Corp (the only females in the Navy) became an important component of the US Navy. They won the praise and admiration of navel officials because, for the first time, two large nursing services were made up entirely of graduate nurses.

World War I

The US committed itself to WWI in 1917 and our Army and Navy Nurse Corp increased their numbers significantly to meet the needs of the American soldiers. Unfortunately, as our nation faced a devastating flu epidemic at home, more and more civilian nurses were leaving for military and Red Cross service. Therefore, student nurse recruitment efforts were increased.
Conditions in camp hospitals were difficult. However, World War I provided nurses with experience related to the new projectile bullets, shell fragments, poison gas, explosives, and other injury causing war machines. Nurses learned to use a weak chlorine solution for cleansing wound infections, and developed debriedment operations. Almost 300 nurses died in WW I, mostly due to disease exacerbated by overwork.

World War II

On December 7, 1941, Japanese pilots bombed Pearl Harbor and so began America’s involvement in WWII. Even before that date, however, the Nursing Council on National Defense was organized. Composed of representatives from the six American nursing organizations, this committee set out to recruit more student nurses, improve nursing education, decrease the numbers of inactive nurses, and educate and use voluntary nurses’ aides.
As with WWI, the war effort created a major civilian nursing shortage. A national plan for federal financial aid allowed schools of nursing to provide scholarships to needy student nurses and for refresher courses for inactive nurses. On July 1, 1943, a nursing student could join the Cadet Nurse Corp, receive full scholarships and a small monthly stipend. In return she had to promise to serve as a military nurse after graduation. Thus, students could complete their nursing education AND serve their country. Notably, and as a result of this national effort, nursing schools voluntarily upgraded curriculum and faculty to meet the military standards.
With the Cadet Nurse Corp and its 150,000 members, the concept of aid to nursing education became reality and civilian and military nursing collaborated. WW II also brought about the important idea of placing medical and nursing services as close to the war front as possible. The type of firepower used created more casualties but mortality was decreased because of the high medical standards and nursing services. By the end of the war, 100,000 nurses had volunteered for military service. Nurses went ashore with the invading troops and were placed where their special skills were most needed.

Today

Today, a career as a nurse in the military means that a nurse’s educational advancement and career goals can be met through military service. Experiences in state-side military hospitals and bases, as well as overseas duty positions, are available. Reserve nursing is also available to nurses who choose this type of military service.

American military nurses continue to stand firm in their beliefs and commitments for quality, efficient health care given to our nation’s sick and wounded military personnel. Just as was the case with New Jersey born Army Captain Maria Ines Ortiz, they are proving themselves as expert, valuable, dedicated nurses – they are bravely caring for and serving those who serve us.

References

Austin, A. L. (1975). Wartime volunteers-1861-1865. AJN, 75(5).
Berges, F. & Berges, C. (1986). A visit to Scutari. AJN, 86(7), 811-813.
Bullough, B. (1976). The lasting impact of WWII on nursing. AJN, 76(1).
Culpepper, M. M., & Adams, P. G. (1988). Nursing in the civil war. AJN. 88(7), 981-984.
Dolan, J. A. (1966). Goodnow’s history of nursing. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co.
Kalisch, P. A., & Kalisch, B. J. (1978). The advance of American nursing. Boston: Little, Brown, and Co.
Selavan, I.C. (1975). Nurses in American history: The revolution. AJN, 75(4).

* Portions previously published Journal of Military Nursing Research, 1(2), 12-13, 1995

Nurses: Take Time for Health and Fitness

2008-10-28T22:38:00.006-04:00

As a nurse, you are continually concerned with the welfare of others. The demands on your time for work (your patients), family, education can stretch you in so many directions that it is very easy to neglect the one person that you need to take care of first in order to take care of others – you.

Health and fitness are central to the medical field. As a nurse who treats people on the mend, you emphasize the patient’s need to follow doctor’s orders: Take their medicine, eat right, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise. You explain the importance of a good diet and to avoid toxic food and beverages, getting ample sleep and work in a daily exercise regimen. But do we practice what we preach? It seems impossible. What can we do now that will at least get us headed in the right direction?

A proper diet is the first place to start and it does not take any time out of our day to be sure that we are eating healthy. The best motivator may be to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to measure your body fat relative to your height and weight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Once you have assessed where you are and where you need to be, the next step would be to create a suitable diet. Build the proper diet using the food pyramid. MyPyramid.gov will create the diet that is right for you. http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html

Next – sleep! This may be more challenging than coming up with the right diet, but sleep deprivation certainly hinders your mental health and is just as important to correct as your nutritional regime. What bad habits keep you from getting to bed when you should? Having something to eat or drink that you can forgo, knowing it will keep you up? Staying up to watch just a little more TV? Engaging in frivolous internet activity? You can start here by simply…going to bed.

Finally, the real challenge – exercise! How do we take time to work out? A much tougher question to answer by mere suggestion. Here is where we really need to find time in our day and then, what exactly do we do? There is truly only one way to implement exercise into your day and that is by dedicating the time needed. If it takes away family time, include family in your workout routine; everyone can go for a walk, go swimming, bike riding and lift weights. You may even find this to be quality family time and open up lines of communication to discuss family issues. The time in front of the TV can be the time we use for exercise. We can argue this time is used to “take our mind off things.” This will still be accomplished during your workout and will achieve the healthier objective of rejuvenating your brain. If you can not pull yourself away from the TV, then how about some calisthenics while watching?

Finalize your health and fitness regimen and keep to your established routine. You do not have to do everything at once but it is imperative to get started. As you get started, implement reminders that there is change in your life. Move your alarm clock to where you need to get “out of bed” to shut it off. This will get you out of bed in the morning (as opposed to giving your workout, to your snooze alarm) as well as being a “reminder.” Write a short shopping list of the nutritional foods you need to buy for your new diet – right now, right a couple of things down! Put that list in your car where you will see it as a reminder that you need to stop at the market on the way home.

In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.

The following links may also be helpful:

http://www.prohealth.com/weightloss/tools/exercise/calculator1_2.cfm?b1=WTLRSWEBO

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

http://www.shapeup.org/interactive/rmr1.php

by Jenn Foster

Welcome CareerBuilder.com

2008-10-24T09:43:00.001-04:00

As this blog site evolves, it is our intent to build a network of partners that could help all of us achieve our career goals. We are extremely excited and proud to have CareerBuilder.com as one of our partners. The job opportunities listed on their site for various nurse positions in Pennsylvania is extensive. They have averaged 1,600 nursing positions over the past month and over 50 nurse educator positions throughout our state.

There are several ways in which to search (at left): Peruse the latest listings in the CareerBuilder.com Job Stream unit; mouse-over “Nurse Positions in Pennsylvania” for a comprehensive list of nursing positions, “Nurse Educators” for teaching jobs available, and the “CareerBuilder” logo for their search engine.

CareerBuilder.com also offers a variety of other services including articles and advice for job seekers, resume help and uploading your resume for greater visibility among searching employers.

Those of you that are eager for a new beginning, prepared for a greater challenge, or are in transition, as CareerBuilder.com would say, “Start Building.”

by Jenn Foster

A Tribute to Nursing

2008-10-23T14:58:00.002-04:00

To venture the task of discussing the great people and events that have made American nursing the powerful profession it is today, is to undertake an impossible task. I do firmly believe, however, that a taste of history is somewhat like eating one Idaho potato chip - it will stimulate and support a lifelong interest in the subject.

We in nursing are fortunate indeed to be able to emulate the leadership and political savvy of Florence Nightingale. She, more than any nurse before or since, shaped and expanded quality health care throughout the British Empire and world. Most people, however, think of Florence Nightingale only as the founder of nursing education. Though this is true, her contributions exceed far beyond nursing and into the realm of illness prevention, health promotion, and community health and safety.

Florence Nightingale (born 1820) was better educated than most men of her day. She was an accomplished linguist, mathematician, statistician, philosopher, and historian. She understood that contrary to the belief of the day, forward thinking people could alter their destiny. She had an insatiable curiosity and a probing, analytical mind. But her greatest handicap by far was being a woman.

Despite this handicap, Nightingale created and developed a system of education affording women a respectable profession. Additionally, she used her strong political powers to enact hospital and military reform. She reformed health care for the British Empire, including India. Nightingale presented rationale for her decisions and needs with expert mathematical skill. She used the power of the press and her own outstanding prolific writing abilities to keep public health issues in full view of the people.

Nightingale was a national heroine and she used this popularity, along with her expert health care and political knowledge, to influence major leaders, including the queen of England.

US Nursing

In the early 1900s, American women did not have the right to vote nor were they allowed political status. Though nursing was almost exclusively female, nurses as a group were enormously conservative in their approach to the women's movement. In 1907, at the 10th annual convention of the Nurse's Associated Alumnae of the US (now known as the American Nurses Association), the question of women's suffrage (right to vote) was hotly debated and a resolution in support of the women's movement defeated.

Nurse Lavinia L. Dock, however, stands out as one of the strongest, most pro-feminist American nurse of all time. She marched in Washington and went to jail for her belief in equal rights for women. When, in 1920, congress passed the 19th amendment to the constitution giving women voting rights, Dock continued her equal rights crusade in opposition to countless other discriminations against women. Her basic premise, until she died, was that all people are equal.

The power of the press was the motto and mission of Nurse Sophia Palmer, first Editor and Publisher of the American Journal of Nursing. Palmer had great insight into the need for nurses to control their own profession. Her editorials helped create the first American nursing licensing laws and boards in 1903. Palmer took risks and made a major difference for us all. Because of her and others, boards of nursing govern American nurses and American nurses have legal standards for practice and education. These standards forbid unqualified, unlicensed persons from calling themselves registered nurses or RNs.

This is an exciting time to be a nurse! Because of increasing population census, a growing number of elders, expanded technology, health care reform, and emerging nursing roles, many new nursing jobs in Idaho will surface. These new jobs will require well-educated, dedicated, competent, caring, decision-makers and client advocates. Nationally, the healthcare system will require more than 1.2 million new nurses over the next decade. That means that the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations will be for RNs.

RNs work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients and families cope with illness and disability. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, communities. RNs develop and manage patient treatment plans; instruct patients and families in proper care; and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain health and quality of life.

Though there will always be a need for hospital nurses, in the future, a growing number of nurses will be employed in home health, long-term care, hospice, parish nursing, prison care, community care, surgical centers, and ambulatory clinics.

This week, please stop for a moment to thank a nurse who has helped you or someone you love find health, wellness, strength, and an improved quality of life. Individuals, families, communities, organizations, specialties, and health services have discovered the importance of quality nursing. Florence Nightingale, we are proud to be walking in your nursing shoes.

By Linda S. Smith, MS, DSN, RN, CLNC
Professor and Nursing Program Director, Idaho State University

Paying Homage to our Mentor

2008-10-01T15:09:00.003-04:00

Florence Nightingale was a revolutionary and well ahead of her time. We know of her numerous and purely astounding accomplishments with nursing through advocacy, reform, and the transformation of nursing into a legitimate profession. But do we truly grasp the depth of her accomplishments?

Born into an affluent family, Florence Nightingale ignored the societal norms of the time, which separated social class and disparaged nursing, and got down in the trenches to treat the poor and impoverished. In the process she addressed equality for the indigent and for women.

Claiming to have heard the voice of God on several occasions, Florence Nightingale’s calling must have been a powerful one. Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” wrote a daily meditation entitled, “Downward Mobility.” He wrote the following:

“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.

The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.”

This certainly describes the path in life Florence Nightingale chose and the conviction to her divine calling. Florence Nightingale rejected her life of privilege and had the courage to oppose her parents’ wishes, despite their attempts to steer her away from nursing, to do what she believed she was called to do. Florence Nightingale looked for her downward mobility to transform nursing and address the injustices of society. It was action that she took or as the saying goes, “She walked the walk.”

Her true accomplishments: Not as much transforming nursing into a legitimate profession, as much as making it a vocation; not as much treating the ill for their physical needs, but the healing of their whole being; not as much her advocacy and reform for the time, but setting a precedence for all time; and maybe most of all, treating people as equal and as children of God. All because she answered her calling and of her “Downward Mobility.”

There are only a few people in the history of mankind that truly denied their very selves to embark on a journey that was ominous, perilous and denigrated to accomplish so much for the destitute, never to be repaid by worldly riches… or paid at all. Thank God nursing got one of them.

by Jenn Foster

L.E.A.D. (Learn. Educate. Advocate. Disseminate.)

2008-09-04T10:48:00.006-04:00

It may seem old fashioned to affirm; nursing is a calling. Goetzman (2005) defines a great nurse as: (a) someone who comes to the profession with natural talents; (b) a creative mind, ready to innovate in ever changing patient situations; (c) a deep sense of compassion, enabling them to intuitively provide the emotional as well as physical care their patients need; (d) and an affinity for collaborative work, as the rigors of the job include working with a team of other nurses, physicians, and family members all holding the same goal in mind to provide the best possible care of the patient. What about the individuals who feel the calling to join the nursing discipline but whose talents are not well defined, and creativity is limited? Do individuals who lack the so called natural elements of nursing have an inability to reach the levels of nursing compassion, innovation and collaboration? It is possible to have the heart of a nurse and yet require assistance in completing a nursing actualization. The possibilities lie within nursing education. Colleges’ doors are being pounded upon by individuals who wish to answer the nursing calling. The need for nurse educators is not being met by colleges and the nursing discipline in need of members who will keep the profession’s commitment to serve as the first line life savers, care givers and health promotion innovators. Nursing today is rapidly moving into the path of a perfect storm; complex healthcare infrastructure, shortage, and an educational void (Bartels, 2005). The future quality and maybe professional existence of nursing is dependent on discipline individuals realizing their duty to learn, educate, advocate and disseminate lessons learned (L.E.A.D.).

Learning is a fundamental element of nursing’s foundation. The knowledge of nursing is vast, complex and in a state of constant evolution. Learning takes courage and the realization that educational stagnation is devastating for the profession and patient outcomes. Nursing leadership is not for a few in the profession. Every nurse is a leader. Miracle (2006) notes lifelong learning as a characteristic of leadership. It is worth noting that every nurse who is not afraid to learn does not have to utilize lessons learned to leave the bedside; learning is necessary at every level of nursing. However, learning tends to open doors that an individual never knew existed. Acting to learn may move an individual to hunger for greater challenge such as becoming involved in hospital, local and national organizations to promote excellence in the discipline. Motivation for preceptorship and mentorship without need of request may follow. Knowledge empowerment can open a nurse’s vision to become a professional innovator in ensuring the continuance of the profession. The individual may dare to take on a baccalaureate, masters or even a doctorate program. Learning can open awareness paths unknown to the stagnant nurse. Once knowledge empowerment takes place a drive to educate colleagues blinded by stagnation may become a renewed nursing mission.

Educate is an act of growth and an opportunity which every nurse needs to embrace. Educating is career building, and a life restoring action congruent with nursing’s calling. Taking the hand of a novice and providing the leadership that teaches successful strategies has rewards equaled to life restoration. Is it not life restoring to lead others to practice in a life saving profession? Effective leaders are people who can empower others and assist them in identifying their passions and talents so that they can make the most significant contribution possible (Grossman, 2007). The key is to remember that you are the leader upon which the future of nursing depends. A progression away from stagnation and embrace educating those who feel a calling to be a nurse, novices newly graduated, or experienced professionals awaken to the realization of the need to stay current is the cultivation of the nursing mission. There is no need to limit nursing’s potential. Nurses with master’s or doctoral degrees have many career choices (Nursing Education, 2006). Excuses abound in limiting the self in taking on an advanced educator role; lack of time, age, and resources. The time issue can be rectified by taking the on line route to an advanced degree. The age excuse is no excuse as second career individuals are attempting to enter nursing programs; awaiting your presence. Resources can be attained via the workplace, nursing organizations, grants, scholarships and tuition management programs. Nurses, realize that by limiting yourself, you are limiting the present and future of the profession. Nursing must develop self and professional advocacy.

Advocate is nursing’s voice in action. Silence is important in promoting patient comfort. It is not and should never be nursing’s defining characteristic. It is nurses who consistently rank as the most respected professionals in America (DeMoro, 2007). Others deem the nursing profession as an entity worthy of advocating respect, trust, and excellence in care. Knowledge stagnation is contrary to professional advocacy. Communicating nursing’s contribution to humanity should be a nurse’s life slogan. There is no greater act of advocacy than sharing lessons learned, triumphs, and life changing nursing experiences with others who have a vision to follow in your foot steps. Every time a nurse takes a step toward growth, professional advocacy takes place. However the crux of advocacy depends on nurse’s willingness to advance and educate. Who better to carry on Nightingale’s legacy than you? Evolving into a professional educator by reaching for a Masters and doctorate is within every nurse’s grasp. Advocacy via educating is an opportunity that can not be discarded. An advance degree in nursing is an excellent way to build self esteem, knowledge, and leadership in the profession; it can be one of the most rewarding choices a nurse will make (Nursing Education, 2006). One of the greatest rewards of advancing professionally is the strengthening of your nursing voice; advocacy. Once a nurse utilizes professional voice, disseminating lessons learn is sure to follow.

Disseminate is a selfless act of spreading nursing’s calling to learn, educate, and advocate. Once a nurse awakens the individual inherent leadership synonymous with the profession, communicating lessons learned follows and is typically displayed by cultivating mentorship. Mentoring is thought to be one of the highest forms of leadership and consequently, to be very significant in assisting individuals to empower themselves (Grossman, 2007). A great remedy in overcoming nursing advancement barriers is mentorship. Sharing strategies in dealing with time management, financial restraints, and self doubt can impact the present and future quality of the nursing profession. Establishing the ground work for increasing the number of educators in hospitals and colleges can have a direct impact not only in ensuring professional excellence but in diminishing shortages as doors are opened to a greater number of nursing students. Mentorship is a professional development strategy that strengthens collegial relationships, facilitates the retention of skilled nurses, and enhances overall practice (Nickle, 2007). Nursing’s present and future is in the hands of every practitioner and their willingness to answer the calling to L.E.A.D.

Leadership in nursing education is within the grasp of every nurse. Nurses forging toward educational advancement strengthen nursing’s professional foundation. Professionalism is not an award or a gift. Professionalism is the result of a collaborative knowledge development dedicated to constant cultivation and a commitment to never stop learning.

Roxana Gonzalez RN, CCRN
Saint Michael’s Medical Center
Newark, N.J.

References

Bartels, J. E. (2005). Educating nurses for the 21st century. Nursing & Health Sciences, 7(4), 221-225.

DeMoro, R. A. (2007). Nursing power goes beyond bedsides: Nurses will be the group leading the healthcare revolution in America. Journal of Patient Advocacy, 103(9), 11.

Goetzman, A. (2006). Educating the nurses of tomorrow. Creative Nursing, 11 (1), 3.

Grossman, S. (2007). Assisting critical care nurses in acquiring leadership skills. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 26(2), 57-65.

Miracle, V. A. (2006). Leadership. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 25(2), 93.

Nickle, P. (2007). Cognitive apprenticeship: Laying the groundwork for mentoring registered nurses in the intensive care unit. Dynamics, 18(4), 19-27.

Nursing Education: At the Crossroads of Change. (2006). Critical Care Nurse, 26, supplement, 49-73.

Be the Change You Want To See In Nursing

2008-08-21T19:42:00.005-04:00

Understaffed. Overworked. Precarious situations. Underappreciated. Ready to give up. Start a new career.

After reading and participating in many nurse blogs and forums, there is certainly a fair amount of acrimony toward the nursing profession by its own. After talking with a number of nurses, this sentiment and the stories that are told have been corroborated. Some of these stories are truly alarming; some situations are in need of immediate intervention.

The writer of this blog holds the nursing profession and nurses in the highest regard; even places these individuals on a pedestal! They deserve the highest respect.

The answer, however, lies with the multitude that comprises this esteemed vocation. Our healthcare system is dependent upon you for the change that needs to occur. This seems unfair and unjust. The reality is, it’s not going to come from anywhere else. At stake, as many nurses have pointed out, is the care that is needed, and that is given to, our families, friends and one day ourselves. You are the critical mass. We the people are dependent upon you to change the environments of where you perform your duties in an extraordinary way, and to impose the nurse’s oath, on any entity in opposition.

While the work environment at some facilities maybe better than others, there is no utopia. You have a far better chance of making your current work place the place where you want to work as opposed to finding job gratification elsewhere. Moreover, many are ready to quit the profession altogether. Before leaving for greener grass, why not channel that energy and use it to better your existing situation? Some questions worth asking yourself: How do I make my current employer, the place where I want to work (and do the thing I want to do!)? What can I change about myself that will help change the environment? How can I influence my colleagues to create change? What am I going to do differently to initiate change? When am I going to speak out, rather than remain silent? Change does not happen overnight. It comes about in steps and it must be brought about constructively. Be content with what you are able to accomplish, no matter how small, and find a way to build on it. Your demeanor is also essential for change, as it will determine the degree of effectiveness.

It is crucial that working environments change and the mood and tone improve. This profession needs to answer the call of its impending crisis -- and there is one!

There seems to be doubt as to whether or not there is a nursing shortage. Please see the following link: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htm
The crux of the problem going forward is the insufficient number of nurse educators. The industry struggles now to maintain its current number of educators which is unable to meet demand (capacity of nursing students at schools of nursing). With the number of current nurse educators due to retire over the coming years, the problem will only escalate.

The fact is, healthcare is in dire need of nurse educators. This is an opportunity for those of you where change is inevitable to help remediate the situation. Below is a link for the schools of nursing in Pennsylvania as well as a link for financial aid. You may find it to be a possible solution.

With regard to adverse working environments, I strongly encourage some constructive dialog to begin on this column, so that together we can put an end to this impasse.

http://www.allnursingschools.com/find/PA/

http://www.futuresinnursing.org/aid/special_programs_educators.shtml

by Jenn Foster

The Nursing Shortage

2008-07-22T17:18:00.012-04:00

The projected nursing shortage in our state is 17,000 nurses by the year 2010 and 54,000 in 2020. There is no shortage of applicants as waiting lists at Pennsylvania's 127 schools of nursing are growing. However, without a sufficient number of nurse educators, this shortage will become a reality. It is not an overstatement to say that the crisis is now!

Additionally, thousands of qualified college nursing applicants are being turned away, left to find opportunities in other states or even to pursue other worthwhile occupations. The inability to educate the number of people needed, coupled with the forecast that 75% of current nurse educators will retire by the year 2019, will lead to the biggest nursing shortage ever.

There are many talented and dedicated nurses in the field with overwhelming conviction for their vocation, yet may feel stagnated with their current assignment.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is searching for those nurses who have had rewarding careers and are searching for deeper fulfillment. You can give exponentially by becoming a nurse educator. By sharing your experience along with your knowledge to hundreds of nursing students, you will be helping to assure that care for the sick will not only continue but reach higher levels of quality care and medical assistance.

This is an opportune time for those looking for a new career path. You can affect the entire nursing industry and renew your vocation to nursing by choosing to become a nurse educator. Please give this opportunity serious consideration.

For information on continuing education, a list of graduate schools in Pennsylvania and financial aid, please click on the following website link: http://www.futuresinnursing.org/aid/special_programs_educators.shtml

by Jenn Foster