Nursing Career News

Being a Nurse Means Endless Opportunities

2006-10-04T05:55:00.000-07:00

I'm constantly disappointed when I see nurses writing forum posts about being burned out, stressed, hating their hospital job, or worse still, saying they're ready to leave nursing altogether. Let's face it, no job is the perfect fit for everyone 100% of the time. That's not to say that nursing as a profession wasn't a good career choice - even for for those feeling ready to throw in the towel. Not at all! If you're feeling sick to death of your present position or nursing specialty take a deep breath and look around within the profession for something different. Nothing is ever boring or the same in nursing. There is always something new you could do within the nursing profession.

Nurses who feel tired of clinical positions in hospitals can easily take their skills and compassion into new directions such as rehab, occupational health, home health, public health, pharmaceutical sales, management positions, research, teaching, or into private practice as well paid nursing case managers, forensic nurses, or legal nurse consultants to name just a few examples.

How many other career paths can lead you in so many different and exciting directions?

Online learning is an ideal way for busy working nurses to keep up to date through nursing continuing education courses, certification in specialty fields such as legal nurse consulting, case management, and forensic nursing, and to obtain a convenient accelerated online nursing degree.

Today's nurses are able to advance from LPN all the way through Master's in Nursing degrees entirely online. Reshape your nursing career while you work and let your employer's tuition assistance plans help with the cost. Nurses wanting to move into nursing management or health care administration can earn MSN degrees online, Master's in Public Health, and even an MBA in Health Care Management from the comfort of home. How cool is that?

Making Your Nursing Resume As Versatile As You Are

2006-09-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

When you’re job hunting, the most essential thing to have at your disposal is your resume – up to date and ready to impress potential employers.

But how often should you update it?

The answer may surprise you. Although most people don’t update their resume unless they’re actively looking for a new job, not many people realize it can – and should – be changed almost constantly during a job hunt.

That may sound strange, but it could be the key to success.

Now, I’m not advocating you lie on your resume and change it by putting in incorrect information – far from it. And it’s really not necessary. But what I am saying is that you should tailor your nursing resume carefully for each new job that you apply for, so it presents you and your skills in the best possible light.

Try this tactic for every new job you apply for from now on. On a piece of paper, jot down the qualities that the job is looking for in its candidates. What skills are required? What experience is needed? What does this job entail?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you will know which areas of your work experience will be the most important, and which ones you will need to highlight.

If you can show employers that you have acquired and learned new skills from each nursing job that you have had – skills that can now be applied to the job they have available – you stand a very good chance of being shortlisted for an interview.

So you see, rewriting your nursing resume every time you apply for a new job is the best thing you can do to maximize your chances of success.

And to that end, I wish you good luck. Enjoy your new job!

Become a Nursing or Healthcare Leader

2006-09-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

The ever-changing, competitive, and dynamic field of health care is adding new jobs at a record pace. The explosive demand for additional nurses and allied health providers is destined to continue through the year 2020 at least. If you’re ready to take advantage of today’s opportunities in health care by advancing to a leadership position then a Master's degree in Nursing Science (MSN degree) or a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management is your prescription for success!

Walden University's online master's and doctoral degrees are designed to help students achieve personal enrichment and professional advancement. Graduates, in turn, enrich and advance countless others whose lives they touch.

With Walden’s online M.S. in Nursing program, you can become an agent of change and a leader in your field. This online program focuses on developing leaders and educators to fill critical roles in nursing. Based on educational and professional guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Nurses Association, this program uses nationally known experts to help you acquire the knowledge to educate nursing students, staff and patients—and prepare for current and future career opportunities.

MBA in Health Care Management - Walden University has taken the most in-demand master’s degree — the MBA — and married it with specialized courses specific to the health care industry. The result is a highly relevant, respected degree that reflects the latest in emerging technologies, strategies, and management trends in health care. And it’s available through online study. Get the MBA designed for the health care industry.

Best of all — you can earn your M.S. in Nursing or your MBA in Healthcare Management degree at your convenience, from the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere else with Internet access. That’s because Walden University's Master degree programs are 100% online, making it the perfect choice for working professionals like yourself.

Your career is one of the most valuable assets you own. Maximize your earning potential with the degree that will get you the highest-paying jobs in your field.

Get started today. Request free information from Walden University.

Explore Other Featured Schools and Programs

Scholarships for Nursing Students

2006-09-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

Do you know what Google supplemental pages are? It could be called Google purgatory I suppose. I've heard some call it Google Hell. It's the place where Google dumps pages they think are "unimportant" and then they never show up in search results.

This morning I discovered that Google thinks scholarships for nursing and allied healthcare professions students are "unimportant" and they put a Nursing Scholarship Resources into Google Hell- aka "supplemental".

Shhhhhh -- what I'm about to show you is secret! That's right - you'll never find this by searching Google for "Nursing Scholarships" because it won't ever appear in the search results because they don't think it's important enough for you to know.

It doesn't matter that I spent days personally searching nursing associations and every online resource I could find, reading new laws to learn about loan forgiveness for nurses going into areas of critical need or anything else. This information is "unimportant". Who cares about scholarships for nurses after all! Why should it be worthwhile to try to help nurses further their education or help other students interested in healthcare professions afford to go to school after all?

There's only a severe nursing shortage - for that matter there's a critical need for graduates of every sort of health profession you can possibly imagine.... but no matter... we'll keep this strictly between us because Google doesn't want you to see this. Close your eyes. Hush. Dont bookmark what I'm about to show you. Don't share it with friends. Don't pay any attention to this because you aren't supposed to know it exists- right?

Scholarships For Nursing Students

Lessons from 9/11 and Katrina

2006-09-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Where were you on the morning of Sept 11, 2001? I woke early as usual and happened to be watching financial news when a scroller along the bottom mentioned a plane hitting the World Trade Center. I don't know why, but I switched over to CNN and watched in horror as the second plane approached and then struck. It was immediately clear that America had been attacked. We all know about the devastation that followed at the Pentagon as well as the loss of lives in a field in Pennsylvannia as the brave folks on Flight 93 managed to bring their plane down thereby saving the lives of others. Who could possibly watch the funeral processions for New York's brave firefighters with dry eyes?

Sept 11, 2001 is a date none of us should ever forget. In addition to police, firefighters, healthcare professionals, EMS and other first responders, over 40,000 good people from all over the world volunteered to assist in all aspects of relief and clean up efforts.

Fast forward to 2005- Hurricane Katrina devastates parts of coastal Mississippi and Alabama. Levees break in New Orleans resulting in catastrophic flooding and outrageous suffering for thousands.

What do these events have in common and what do they have to do with "Nursing Career News", or career guidance for other healthcare professions?

Everything.

Each of these events accentuate the critical need for Nurses, EMTs, first responders of all types, public health practitioners, healthcare managers, administrators, and allied health professionals of all sorts to broaden their education and career preparedness in all aspects of emergency response and disaster management.

The Jihadists haven't gone away - neither has the potential for natural disasters.

Both events teach us that every nurse, EMT, public health worker, and healthcare manager could find themselves needing to organize and manage massive casualties and disaster management efforts at any time - and at any place. You ARE the front line of survival whether it be a natural event such as fire, flood, or tornado, or whether a man-made event such as 9/11.

Who better to organize disaster management or public health preparedness than those of us who already have degrees or backgrounds in Nursing, as EMT's, Paramedics, allied health, or healthcare management professions? Political appointees like the head of FEMA? I don't think so! Besides, when disaster strikes, you will be the ones who have to cope with it first, and it won't matter whether you're an ER nurse or a labor and delivery nurse - the public will be counting on you.

Nurses and others who might be interested in looking into a degree in public health, EMS Management, healthcare management, or disaster management can find accredited online programs here: Healthcare Management Degrees

New -Online EMT to BS in EMS Management Program!

2006-08-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

The George Washington University has partnered with The College Network to offer an undergraduate degree program with a major in EMS Management designed to accommodate busy working EMS and Firefighting professionals! Now EMT's (minimum requirement - EMT-Basic Certification) can get a degree in EMS management without needing to quit work to do it!

Fill out free information request form!

The George Washington University's online bachelor's degree program in Health Science - EMS Management is designed for practicing EMS professionals seeking opportunities for career advancement while remaining in the exciting and rewarding field of EMS. The program builds expertise in leadership, creative problem solving, team building, clinical decision making, and management. Students will gain knowledge in the characteristics and components of EMS systems, administration and finance of EMS operations, legislative issues in relation to EMS systems and operations, and the role of current trends in the future of EMS.

Financial aid is available AND most EMS services, and all fire departments generally offer liberal employer tuition assistance plans for advancing your EMS related education too! The admissions rep from GWU can advise and assist you with your financial aid needs.

So, sign up for free information to about this exciting new online EMT to BS in EMS Management Degree Program! You'll be glad you did!

The Changing Face of Nursing

2006-08-25T03:48:00.000-07:00

Forget the stereotypical nurses dressed in all white, catering to doctors' every request. Today's nurses are leaders, technology gurus, and patient care managers, thanks to LPN to BSN (Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs that prepare them for professional success. Karen Daley, RN, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU, Danbury, CT), can attest to this. "My graduates are assertive, innovative, and have the ability to make science-based independent care decisions."

In fact, by teaching medical surgical nursing, nursing practicums, as well as leadership and management over the past few years, Daley has noticed a significant change in curriculum. "We moved away from teaching a medical model [memorizing diseases and treatments]. Now, we emphasize conceptual nursing so students can problem-solve and think critically in any situation," she says. "We encourage independent thinking, assertive communication, and professionalism."

Debra Lajoie, MSN, assistant professor of nursing at WCSU, concurs that today's nurses assume an increasingly professional role, and by doing so, become the "glue that holds the health care system together." She emphasizes that in addition to having strong assessment skills and a strong theoretical base, nurses need to be experts in technology-, informatics-, and evidence-based practice. "Nurses look at the patient holistically and manage interdisciplinary care. We truly see the whole picture."

It's no surprise then that these intellectual nurses comprise more than half of all health professionals. In fact, they're the largest single component of hospital staff, the primary providers of hospital patient care, and they deliver most of the nation's long-term care.

Read The Full Article The Changing Face of Nursing

Get $1200 toward your ONLINE BSN Degree*

2006-08-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Earn your degree from a leading university
and make a positive change in your life.

Going back to school used to mean standing in long lines, waiting to register for classes, sitting in a classroom several hours per week, sacrificing time with your family, strict deadlines, and stress. BUT not any longer!

The Indiana State University online LPN to BSN program was designed to help you achieve your educational goals, with very little interruption to your work and family life. Best of all, you can increase your yearly earning potential by $15,000 or more by earning your RN license.

Indiana State University allows you to complete your general education and prerequisite courses using The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules in the comfort of your home, at a pace best suited for you. To help you get started on your degree today, The College Network is offering an education voucher worth up to $1200.*

Earning your nursing degree has never been so convenient!

Complete all course work from home

Finish your program at your pace

No waiting list - start NOW!

Complete required clinicals in a local facility

Financing and academic success are 100% guaranteed!

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*Offer available through August 31, 2006

Gonzaga University Offers New Online Degrees

2006-08-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Gonzaga University

Gonzaga's online students will be able to receive the same degree as those students who attended the campus. A top tier university, Gonzaga offers small class sizes and the personal attention of a private university while conveniently offering completely online degrees to maximize your flexibility and mobility.

Since it was founded in 1887, Gonzaga University has been committed to developing excellent leaders. One of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Gonzaga offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.

Gonzaga University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North West Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Online Master of Science in Nursing degree program was developed to accommodate the needs of working registered nurses. Featuring the same fully accredited content and expert faculty support available to students learning in the on-campus setting, the online MSN allows busy nursing professionals the flexibility to learn on their schedule – at home, at work or on the go.

The Online M.A. in Organizational Leadership degree program provide an advanced degree which synthesizes knowledge from diverse fields into a focused yet flexible plan of study that is useful to leadership in all forms of social organization. The online degree program is designed for the student whose professional goal is a generalist leadership position in corporate, government, not-for-profit, or community organizations.

Click Here to Request More Information

See other Featured Schools and Programs. Click Here!

Online Education will grow 10 times faster than on-campus growth

2006-07-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

A recent study conducted by Penn State University reports that changes in demographics and technology are continuing to result in greater focus on distance-learning by many institutions. The study goes on estimate that the distance-learning component of enrollments at many higher education institutions will grow 10 times faster than on-campus growth in the near future!

Findings from the study include:

- As much as 45 percent of colleges and university enrollment is from adult learners

- Many adult learners take distance learning classes rather than on-campus classes.

- Continuing eduction revenues rose 67 percent at responding institutions since the previous survey in 2004.

Why not take advantage of the opportunity to improve your career by exploring accredited online nursing degrees from leading universities? Did you know that you could complete an LPN to RN transition program, or get your RN to BSN degree in as little as 12 months completely online? That's right, no classroom, no traffic, 100% pre-approved financing, guaranteed NLEX success, and no waiting lists before you can begin your nursing degree program. Why not check it out and request free information today?

Save $500 on Healthcare Degrees Online

2006-07-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

You change the lives of others every day…
Maybe its time to make a change in yours.

Receive $500 toward your education
For a limited time, The College Network is offering an educational voucher of up to $500* to help you get started on your degree.

The College Network, along with its partner universities, including Regis University, Indiana State University, and more, present a number of accredited nursing degree programs designed to fit your busy lifestyle:

Click Here for More Information
*Offer ends July 31, 2006

Earning your nursing degree has never been so convenient!

Complete all course work from home.
Finish your program at your pace
No waiting list - start NOW!
Complete required clinicals in your hometown.
Financing and academic success are 100% guaranteed!

Why Get a BSN Degree?

2006-07-04T03:48:00.000-07:00

The demand for qualified RNs continues to rise. Along with increased demand, today's nurses are required to have more than just training in skill-related tasks. The healthcare industry is constantly changing - new technology, a diverse patient population, and increased bureaucracy require a nurse with management, communication, and critical thinking skills. A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program prepares you to handle the challenges in a complex medical industry.

In addition, a BSN gives you an edge over the competition. Your work experience coupled with an advanced degree helps you stand out to employers who make hiring and advancement decisions. The time and effort spent earning your degree will payoff in a higher salary and more job opportunities.

Returning to school to obtain a BSN can be difficult and sometimes impossible, especially if you cannot afford to quit work or survive on part-time wages. Fortunately, there is a viable option - online nursing degree programs (distance learning) that allow you to earn a BSN at home via your computer.

Easy Access to Quality Programs

As a working RN, you will appreciate the convenience of studying online to obtain a BSN. You can study at home or anywhere you have computer/internet access. Studying online also eliminates travel time to and from the nearest school offering a BSN degree. This can be a lifesaver for nurses working in rural areas.

Several universities offer online BSN degrees so you have a good selection of quality schools from which to choose a program that meets your needs. Our website at http://myonlinenursingdegree.com offers a list with links to accredited schools that offer online study for the BSN degree along with information on choosing right program.

Have Computer, Will Study

For online study, instructors posts lecture materials and assignments on a designated website and the student emails completed assignments to the instructor. While some online programs are self-paced, most run on the same semester or quarter class schedule as do traditional classes held on campus. Classes normally take 6-8 weeks to complete.

Written coursework often takes the place of traditional exams. Exams that are not offered online may be proctored at several convenient locations. The university can arrange for any clinical study to be performed at a medical facility near you.

Help is Always a Click Away

Obtaining a nursing degree online means you don't have face-to-face interaction with professors and fellow students. However, you are able to communicate via email and online discussion forums. Upon acceptance into an online BSN program, you will be assigned an academic advisor to help plan your curriculum. One benefit of online programs is that instructors' lectures are in written form which eliminates the need for note taking.

How to Apply

Online nursing programs have the same entrance requirements as traditional BSN programs. SAT or ACT, minimum GPA, high school credits in requisite courses, and graduation from an accredited nursing school are the basic requirements for those seeking to enroll in a BSN degree program. Many schools will give college credit for past work experience by allowing you to take a proficiency exam in lieu of course-work. Check our website for links to specific schools to find out their entrance requirements.

Costly, But Worth It

The cost of an online BSN degree varies among schools. The average price per credit ranges from $100 to $300 or more. Online programs through public universities may charge less ($100-$170) per credit hour. If you work for a hospital or corporation, your employer may offer full or partial reimbursement for tuition. Our website has information about nursing scholarships available through universities and other programs.

A BSN degree takes time, energy, and money, but the benefits of having one are huge. A nurse with an advanced degree is a more well-rounded employee capable of meeting the challenges of a demanding workplace, gaining more marketability, and increasing his/her advancement opportunities.

What is Nursing?

2006-06-23T04:56:00.000-07:00

Despite having practiced nursing for more than twenty years now across a range of clinical settings and specialty practice areas I’m not sure that I have the writing skills necessary to clearly define the Nursing profession, or “Nurse”, but during the course of my travels through various “nursing information” sites springing up across the web I frequently come across articles that define the nursing profession in such ridiculous terms that I knew I had to say something to try to clear up misconceptions about what nursing is, and what nurses are.

Here’s an excerpt of one such article:

“In hospitals, nurses are the limbs while doctors are the eyes and brains. Neither can work without the other's presence. Without doctors, the patient's diagnosis would not be delivered whereas without nurses, the medical treatment and other services would be put to a halt. Nurses conduct every form of activity from seemingly minor needs like changing the bed sheets and fixing meals, to drawing blood and handling medical equipment and machinery. Nevertheless, nurses are not authorized to do any of these tasks without a doctor's approval.” Source: The Differences Between a Nurse and a Doctor

“Nurses are the limbs while doctors are the eyes and brains”
Despite such ignorant statements, nurses are not mute “doctor’s handmaidens” or “helpers”. Neither are they mere “Nancy Do Gooders”, “Angels of Mercy”, dumb bimbos, sex toys for residents, or servants who perform a plethora of menial tasks “after getting approval from a doctor”.

What is Nursing?
Nursing is a self-governing scientific healthcare discipline practiced by professionals who have received between two to ten years of formal university education taught by nurse educators prepared at the Master’s or Doctoral level, successfully passed state board of nursing examinations, and in many cases have additional education and certification in specialty areas of nursing practice.

Nursing is a distinct and autonomous healthcare profession with its own unique standards of practice, scope of practice, and professional organizations that practices in collaboration with the Medical profession in addition to the Allied Health Professions as part of the health care team. While nurses do ensure that medical orders are implemented and coordinated they do not need a “doctor’s approval” to coordinate or implement all aspects of patient care, neither is nursing a subset of or subservient to physicians.

Nurses certainly do not need permission from doctors in order to ensure patients rooms are clean, patients hygiene has been attended to, or other such tasks. Nurses do not “fix patient’s meals” but nurses do ensure that patients receive the proper nutrition as determined by their medical condition, treatment plan, planned tests, and other factors. Nurses also coordinate and arrange for consultations with dieticians as needed, ensure the patient receives the correct meal, monitor the patients ability to take nutrition, or lack thereof, their tolerance to their nutritional intake, output levels, make adjustments as they deem necessary in the patient’s nursing care as they deem necessary based upon nursing assessment, and inform the patient’s physician of any significant changes in the patient’s condition based upon their objective scientific nursing assessments so that the physician will be able to adjust medical treatment plans as needed.

Although nurses and physicians collaborate as members of the health care team, nurses do not work “for” physicians. Nurses typically are hired, fired and managed by other nurses.

There will be more on this subject to be sure as I run across other idiotic portrayals of nursing online. Feel free to add to it! Give me your comments!

Online Nursing Degree Resources

2006-06-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

June 19, 2006 - Linknet Training - We show you how to earn an accredited Online Nursing Degree. Or earn your Health Care Administration Degree.

Visit our site to explore Allied Health Schools to train for a rewarding career in any one of hundreds of vital allied health professions such as medical assisting, respiratory therapy, medical transcription, x-ray technology, surgical assisting, medical billing and coding and more!

At My Online Nursing Degree we give you the resources to earn your accredited online LPN to RN, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN, and Allied Health Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's Degree or Professional Certificates from the nation's leading colleges and universities.

Or take accredited online nursing continuing education courses, explore nursing specialties, or allied health career pathways. Lots of helpful articles, and healthcare scholarship information in our student resource center.

Take the first step towards advancing your nursing or allied health Career. Visit MyOnlineNursingDegree.com

Introduction of Our New Medical Directory

2006-06-16T03:04:00.000-07:00

As some may have noticed, the pace at which I have been posting here at Nursing Career News has slowed quite a bit. This has been due to the rollout of a new Nursing & Medical Directory which I believe will add greatly to the resources already present. Although you may have noticed the link to it as early as a month ago, the customization and development of it did not really start until around a week ago. When I decided to add a directory, of which there are already plenty of, I wanted to make sure it was up to scratch so to speak. So what we did is make it a true health sites directory with all sites being reviewed for relevance to Medi-Smart's healthcare professionals prior to acceptance. The second part was to actively seek listings, not just by submissions but by adding what I feel are industry leaders manually. I still have a bit of work to do to further organize them into subcategories but I am proud to have the start of a directory that represents true value to the nursing community underway now.

I have just started working on a feature list as I plan to add a lot of custom features to make the directory stand out. Short term there will be opportunities to purchase Sponsored Listing as well as featured listings. If you have a suggestion, feel free to post a comment. Otherwise, why not drop by and submit your site?

Is an LPN to RN Degree the Impossible Dream?

2006-05-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

People who are considering joining the nursing field usually have to first decide if they want to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or a RN (Registered Nurse). A person can become and LPN in about ten months and get out into the work force much quicker than someone going for an RN degree. Many people make the decision to become an LPN for financial reasons. They want to get their nursing license quickly and start earning a living as soon as possible. However, once they become a LPN they are often faced with extremely limited job choices and wish there was a way to go back to school to become an RN.

Working LPNs who are considering returning to college to obtain an Associate or Bachelors degree in nursing are confronted by several harsh realities. The first problem is that campus based nursing schools are facing a severe shortage of nursing educators and are turning away thousands of well qualified applicants each year. The lucky few who do manage to get accepted into traditional nursing programs commonly have to wait between one and two years before they can get a seat in class to begin their studies. Combine those factors with the fact that traditional school schedules are inflexible and make it next to impossible for a working nurse to continue their degree goals without giving up their present job and income and suddenly obtaining a better education seems like an impossible dream!

ONLINE LPN TO RN DEGREE PROGRAMS CHANGE THAT

The internet now makes it possible for working LPNs to continue their education without long waiting time, and without sacrificing their present job and income while in school. LPNs have the opportunity to obtain an accredited RN or BSN degree online from the convenience of their home, on their schedule, at their own pace, and without ever needing to step foot into a classroom.

LPN to RN degrees obtained online from accredited colleges and universities are no different from degrees obtained on campus except for the obvious advantages they offer to working nurses; ability to start right away, ability to complete degree programs at an accelerated pace rather than be confined to the fixed schedules that campus programs demand, ability to attend leading universities regardless of where they live, and the ability to keep their present job and income while attending. In addition to those benefits online nursing degrees cost far less than traditional campus based nursing schools and many forms of financial assistance are readily available.

LPNs who get their RN degree gain an immediate salary increase of $13,000 or more, a larger knowledge base, expanded scope of practice, more autonomy, vastly superior career opportunities, job security, pride in accomplishment, and greater satisfaction in their day-to-day job. LPNs who obtain their RN degree frequently report that becoming an RN opened up a vast array of job opportunities that were previously unavailable to them as an LPN and this refreshed and renewed their nursing career as well as improved their home life since greater opportunities in their career helped reduce nursing burn out and workplace stress.

IN AS LITTLE AS 12 MONTHS YOU CAN BECOME AN RN

RN’s deliver quality care, promote and manage patient care, supervise LPN’s and assistive personnel, collaborate with other members of the health care team as professionals, and function as patient advocates. As an LPN there IS a way you can earn your RN degree from an accredited nursing school in as little as 12 months. You can learn at your own pace, at your own place, and for a fraction of the cost of traditional campus based programs, and you can keep your job and income while you do it. Discover how convenient and affordable earning your LPN to RN degree online can be. Don’t delay any longer. It’s your future. It’s your career. You can have a better tomorrow – starting today.

Continuing Professional Education a Must in Today's Work Climate

2006-05-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

The dramatic shift in employment patterns in the past decade, and particularly in the past five years, has dealt a blow to the American workforce. The development of the Internet, particularly high-speed Internet, World Trade Organization treaties, and the explosion of container shipping are only three of the many factors which have resulted in millions of jobs, including highly paid, skilled jobs, being exported to countries from Mexico to India and China. As American workers have seen their jobs disappear to outsourcing, many have responded by going back to college, either for individual professional development courses or for degrees in a new field.

Even as computer-related positions disappear to foreign programmers and graphic designers, many U.S. workers are finding they can fight back. Programmers, website developers, and graphic artists have discovered that, with up-to-date knowledge of software and hardware and a little business sense, they can contract their skills to a number of companies more than willing to hire a local worker in exchange for the chance to forgo business expenses involved in keeping a worker on the payroll: income and social security taxes, unemployment compensation, holiday and vacation pay, health insurance benefits. This silver lining in the outsourcing cloud has kept computer and business classes filled at community colleges and vocational schools, many of whom are seeing a sharp spike in enrollment among older students in their continuing education programs.

Other workers are changing careers entirely, opting for fields that can't be outsourced. Jobs that require a warm body and a pair of hands onsite, like broadcast communications, nursing, and medical technician positions, make sense to an increasing number of students; and both health-related industries and communications are growing while other industry sectors are shrinking in their need for local employees.

Even workers whose jobs are safe for the moment are exploring continuing education in increasing numbers. Employees who have survived one or more company downsizings, for instance, often find themselves taking on more responsibilities, and need to update their professional skills in order to survive. Others recognize that today's work environment demands much more flexibility, and decide to be proactive in developing skills that may protect their jobs in the future.

Perhaps the only certainty in an uncertain world is that things will continue to change. That includes the demands of the workplace, and employees will have to be able to adapt quickly and skillfully to these changes. It's a good bet that continuing professional education is going to be an ongoing part of American workers' defense in protecting their livelihoods.

Written by Aldene Fredenburg, a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for the Internet and for local and regional publications. She can be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.

Nursing Schools Reject 30,000 Qualified Applicants

2006-05-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

With Enrollments Rising for the 5th Consecutive Year, U.S. Nursing Schools Turn Away More Than 30,000 Qualified Applications in 2005: Enrollment Increase Falls Far Short of Meeting The Projected Demand For RNs

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 12, 2005 - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) released preliminary survey data today which show that enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 13.0 percent from 2004 to 2005. Though this increase is welcome, surveyed nursing colleges and universities denied 32,617 qualified applications due primarily to a shortage of nurse educators. AACN is very concerned about the increasing number of qualified students being turned away from nursing programs each year since the federal government is projecting a shortfall of 800,000 registered nurses (RNs) by the year 2020.

“With the nation’s health care system calling for more baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce, AACN is pleased to see that the trend toward enrollment increases has continued for the fifth consecutive year, ” said AACN President Jean E. Bartels. “Despite the successful efforts of schools nationwide to expand student capacity, our nations nursing schools are falling far short of meeting the current and projected demand for RNs. ” According to research conducted by Dr. Peter Buerhaus from Vanderbilt University, enrollments in nursing programs would have to increase by at least 40 percent annually to replace those nurses expected to leave the workforce through retirement.

AACN’s annual survey is the only resource for actual (versus projected) data on enrollment and graduations reported by the nation’s baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in nursing. This year’s 13.0 percent increase in enrollments is based on data supplied by the same 408 schools reporting in both 2004 and 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year of enrollment increases with 14.1, 16.6, 8.1, and 3.7 percent increases in 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. Prior to the five-year upswing, baccalaureate nursing programs experienced six years of declining enrollments from 1995 through 2000. For a graphic depiction of enrollment changes in baccalaureate nursing programs from 1994-2005, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/ppt/94-05EnrChgs.ppt.

The AACN survey also found that the number of graduates from entry-level baccalaureate programs increased by 19.1 percent from 2004 to 2005. This data is based on information supplied by the same 393 schools reporting for the past two years. The recent rise in graduations follows 14, 4.3 and 3.2 percent increases in the number of graduates in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. This upward trend was preceded by a six-year period of graduation declines from 1996 through 2001.

AACN’s latest data confirm that interest in nursing careers continues to grow, which is good news considering the projected demand for nursing care. Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor identified Registered Nursing as the top occupation in terms of job growth through the year 2012. According to the latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012.

Given the demands of today’s health care system, the greatest need in the nursing workforce is for nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and higher degree levels. With the federal Health Resources and Services Administration calling for baccalaureate preparation for at least two thirds of the nursing workforce, the evidence clearly shows that higher levels of nursing education are linked with lower patient mortality rates, fewer errors, and greater job satisfaction among RNs. Nurse executives, federal agencies, the military, leading nursing organizations, health care foundations, magnet hospitals, and minority nurse advocacy groups all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting and their contribution to quality nursing care.

“AACN is committed to working with the health care community to create a highly educated nursing workforce able to meet the challenges of contemporary nursing practice,” added Dr. Bartels. “We strongly believe that encouraging all nurses to advance their education is in the best interest of patients and an important step toward enhancing patient safety.”

The robust interest in professional nursing can be attributed in part to successful outreach efforts guided by nursing schools nationwide. Strategies employed to increase student capacity this year included forming alliances with hospitals, the business community and other stakeholders to address faculty and clinical space constraints. Some schools have expanded or opened new accelerated programs for second-degree seekers looking to transition into nursing while others have taken advantage of state and federal funding aimed at strengthening the nursing workforce. In addition to these school-based initiatives, both Johnson & Johnson and the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow coalition continued their national media campaigns to encourage careers in nursing.

Qualified Students Turned Away Despite Nursing Shortage

Though interest in nursing careers is strong, access to professional nursing education is becoming more difficult. AACN’s preliminary findings show that 32,617 qualified applications to entry-level baccalaureate programs were not accepted in 2005 based on responses from 432 schools. The number of qualified students turned away each year from these programs continues to increase with 29,425, 15,944 and 3,600 students turned award in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The primary barriers to accepting all qualified students at nursing colleges and universities continue to be insufficient faculty, clinical placement sites, and classroom space.

To address these issues, AACN has focused its advocacy efforts on increasing funding for existing Nursing Workforce Development programs administered by the federal Division of Nursing and shaping new legislation to support faculty development and enrollment growth. Earlier this year, AACN secured a new funding stream for doctoral nursing education through the Department of Education’s Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program, which will help to address the faculty shortage. AACN successfully lobbied to have nursing identified as an area of national need for the first time through the GAANN program.

Further, AACN has worked with colleagues in the health care community to introduce new legislation to address the faculty shortage and other nursing school resource constraints, including the Nurse Education, Expansion and Development Act and the Nurse Faculty Education Act. Without increased federal support, the potential for future growth in nursing education programs may be limited at a time when the demand for well-educated nurses is rising.

“To stabilize the nursing workforce, the federal government and other stakeholders must focus on increasing nursing school enrollments at the baccalaureate level,” said AACN Executive Director Geraldine “Polly” Bednash. “Besides adding to the RN workforce, graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs are much more likely to pursue graduate education and achieve the credentials needed to serve as nurse educators. Efforts to address the nursing shortage will fail unless decisive action is taken to resolve the underlying shortage of nurse faculty.”

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing is the national voice for university and four-year-college education programs in nursing. Representing more than 585 member schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide, AACN's educational, research, governmental advocacy, data collection, publications, and other programs work to establish quality standards for bachelor's- and graduate-degree nursing education, assist deans and directors to implement those standards, influence the nursing profession to improve health care, and promote public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice. Web site: http://www.aacn.nche.edu

Interesting Nursing News Items

2006-04-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

Pandemic flu training urged for health workers
LONDON (Reuters) - Researchers called for more training, better equipment and counselling on Tuesday after nearly half of health workers questioned in a U.S. survey said they would not report for work during an influenza pandemic.
Read Full Article

Wal-Mart to Offer More Health Coverage
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it will relax eligibility requirements for part-time employees who want health insurance, allowing an additional 150,000 workers to gain coverage if they choose.
Read Complete Article

My Thoughts....

Avian Flu: Most of the healthcare employees that indicate they wouldn't go to work if we get hit with a bird flu epidemic are non-nursing staff. That should definitely send a clear message to hospitals that they had better start providing more on the job training about health basics, handwashing, isolation procedures and rationale, and other subjects as well as looking into obtaining protective gear such as micron filter masks, isolation suits, etc for all employees, not just thouse involved in clinical duties.

Walmart's Health Insurance: It's a step in the right direction and I'm glad to hear that more employees will have the chance to have some insurance coverage. On the other hand, how many low paid employees will be able to meet the high out of pocket deductable?

Your thoughts?

How prepared are nurses for terrorism?

2006-04-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

The global threat of bioterrorism is here and it is serious. "It is a prospect so terrifying that the very thought of it can rob our world leaders of their sleep" states Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D., MPH, former Minnesota State Epidemiologist and internationally recognized leader in the area of infectious diseases (Osterholm & Schwartz, 2000, p. xvii). Domestic episodes that we've already seen such as the biological agent exposure of B. Anthracis has renewed concern for the tremendous effects that such exposures can have on our nation's health care system.

A bioterrorist attack may be initially difficult to identify. Unlike conventional weapons of mass destruction, explosives, an atomic bomb or chemical releases, the unique effects of biological agents could go undetected for days. Only when individuals present themselves to health care providers in emergency rooms and ambulatory clinics with symptoms would any evidence of the attack appear, and even then the initial symptoms might not be recognized and accurately diagnosed.
The registered nurse performing triage often will be the first health care professional a symptomatic victim will encounter when arriving in the emergency room or ambulatory clinic. Therefore, early detection and response by this first-line responder is imperative. As potential first-line responders, all registered nurses must know what to do in such situations because our decisions can have dire consequences on the survival of the RN and her coworkers as well as on greater health care system and on the public's health.

The threat is very real. Nurses and other healthcare professionals who actually think they don't need to know anything about the medical management of nuclear, chemical or biological casualties are self delusional, and in this case, self delusion can only lead to their own death as well as the deaths of countless others through ignorance.

Just how many nurses and healthcare workers are receiving any sort of education to help them survive and deal with the very real possibility of exposure to biological or chemical agents? Please raise your hands!

Nurses and other healthcare professionals might care to begin learning here: Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Nursing Continuing Education For the 21st Century

2006-04-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Nursing Continuing Education For the 21st Century
By Sara Ellis

One need only to scan a newspaper or read a weekly magazine to be astounded by the number of stories about new medical breakthroughs, disease processes, emerging threats of disease, or innovations in medical and health care technology. The World Health Organization warns us to prepare for a potential worldwide Bird Flu epidemic, terrorists threaten us with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and new protocols for ACLS are released. How is a working nurse to keep up?

Nursing education provides the basic building blocks of medical, scientific, and nursing knowledge, but competence in the nursing profession requires an ongoing process of continuing education. Continuing education for nurses is necessary for the nurse to remain up to date with the latest practice issues and it is necessary for patients safety as well. Some states have made continuing education for nurses mandatory and require a certain number of course credit hours be attained before license renewal, or require certain mandatory course subjects, while other states... leave it to the nursing professional themselves to accept a personal responsibility for their own continued learning. Regardless of whether nursing continuing education, or Nursing CEUS as such programs are commonly referred to, are mandatory in ones state or not, all nurses who describe themselves as professionals need to be willing and ready to implement change in their own practice by realizing that competence in any profession requires periodic updating.

Methods of obtaining nursing continuing education hours and the pros and cons of each:

1. Professional Journals: Most professional nursing journals offer an article for continuing education credit. Some offer a partial credit hour or one credit hour to readers who fill out a post test after reading the article and mail it in. While some journals offer the credit for free, others charge $10 or more and in addition to the inconvenience of needing to tear out a post test form and mail it in the nurse has no official record of having taken and passed the course. Obtaining continuing education hours through professional journals is costly and inefficient in that the cost of the journal itself must be taken into consideration along with the cost of the course if there is one, and the time and expense of mailing in addition to the lack of official record of completion and lack of central maintenance of all credits accumulated by the nurse. Additionally, nurses who rely on professional journals for their CEU hours are typically only exposed to courses related to their own specialty rather than a broader range of topics that they actually need to be exposed to in todays ever evolving health care climate.

2. Seminars: Professional development programs and seminars that offer accredited continuing education hours for nurses are frequently offered at various locations in every state, in some foreign countries, and even on cruises. Employers frequently pay the registration fees for nurses to attend local seminars of short duration such as one day, but nurses still have to sacrifice their precious day off to attend them or lose time from work to do so. In addition nurses who attend seminars away from home have to pay their own travel expenses, hotel bills, and costs of meals. Needless to say cruises and foreign travel are an appealing avenue, but obtaining one's continuing education by that method is not something every working nurse can afford to do.

3. Online Nursing CEUS: The internet provides nurses access to extremely affordable and high quality accredited continuing education courses covering a plethora of professional nursing topics. Online nursing ceu courses are the gateway to nursing continuing education for the 21st century! Nurses who take advantage of online ceu courses are not restricted by geographical barriers, financial hardships, or the inconvenience of taking time from work or family in order to attend courses.

Online nursing continuing education courses are readily available for both mandatory state required subjects, courses in ones own nursing specialty, and courses that all nurses regardless of practice specialty need to be familiarized with so nurses have access to a much broader choice of subject matters than they ever had before when restricted primarily to journals or seminars.

In addition to those benefits, substantial as they are, online nursing ceu courses are inexpensive, up to date with changing trends, can be taken from the comfort of ones own home, generally allow nurses who take them to keep an official record of courses completed and credit hours earned online with the course provider, and allow nurses who complete a course to print the course certificate immediately upon completion.

In order to stay professional and to safeguard the wellbeing of the public nurses need to continue their education over the course of their career through a variety of means including taking continuing education courses. The most convenient and most cost effective method of nursing continuing education is by taking online Nursing CE courses. Online nursing continuing education courses are readily available, flexible, offer online tracking, and provide nurses with the broad scope of subjects they need to familiarize themselves with in order to keep up to date in today's ever changing health care climate. One useful place for nurses to obtain online nursing ceus for free is Medi-Smart.com's Free Nursing CEU Directory. Online nursing continuing education is indeed the face of nursing continuing education for the 21st century!

10 Steps To Containing The Health Care Stress Epidemic ...

2006-04-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

10 Steps To Containing The Health Care Stress Epidemic or How to Get off the Stress Treadmill
By Diane Cate

The recent changes in health care have brought with them increased stress levels for all people involved in the medical field. Predictions indicate that this rapid pace of change will continue for the foreseeable future. There is, unfortunately, a resulting epidemic level of fear and stress among health care providers and their support staff.

The following tips are designed to be helpful to physicians, nurses, medical practice staff, as well as any hospital or treatment staff exposed to this toxic disease.

1. Provide positive reinforcement for those around you
When co-workers (in your practice, in the hospital, professional peers etc.) do a good job, or appear to be having a difficult day, compliment them on their work or on how well they handled a situation recently. You will feel less stressed and more confident when you give and/or receive a compliment. Not giving or getting positive reinforcement can cause "hardening of the attitudes."

2. Be willing to ask for and take a "time out"
We all need brief stress reduction breaks during hectic days. Productivity and overall effectiveness increases when you take a moment to clear your head and collect your thoughts. Everything and everybody are likely to be right there waiting for you after you take your quick "time out."

Remember heroes are like hemorrhoids--they are both a pain in the butt.

3. Shift discussion and concentration from the problem to all the possible solutions.
Stress is diminished when you concentrate on the positive vs. focusing on the negative. While you may not be able to control changes that come your way, you do have control over how you act or react to change. Encourage those around you to discuss solutions and concentrate on your own ability to come up with creative methods to cope with changes. When using a solution orientation in approaching serious problems you are likely to feel less stress and more resiliency.

4. Reach out to others and ask for help
You are not the only one in the medical field experiencing extreme stress at this time. No one person can possibly have all the answers. Ask fellow professionals and experts for ideas and assistance. Given the independent nature of most physicians (and their staff) this may be foreign and therefore take some real effort. Synergy, team work and continuing education are effective medicine for stress.

5. Develop positive affirmations, verbalizations and visions of change
Since you can't escape it, you must learn to envision change itself differently. Use post-it notes and repeat phrases in your mind that allow you to transform the stress (or threat) you feel from change into a vision of change as an opportunity and a challenge to grow, learn and evolve WITH your chosen field. Change can be an antidote for high stress levels. Use positive statements to strengthen your resolve to succeed.

6. Get out of the office at lunch time (or sometime mid-work period)
Even if you end up at a meeting, get air, get perspective and remind yourself that there is something beyond the pressure of telephones, patient demands and managed care craziness.

7. Today's problems may not be solved with yesterday's outdated solutions
Each day new books, continuing education workshops, newsletters, templated forms, magazines (i.e.. Medical Economics) etc. come across your desk. While these items may include news you don't really want to hear, they also contain practical, ready to use tips and tools that can help reduce stress and improve time management. Use ALL resources that are available to you--particularly those you have already paid for or those that may be free to you. Make "let's try a new way" your motto for new and old challenges.

8. Use a regular exercise program to reduce stress
Research has proven that when you exercise you experience an increased sense of well being and a reduction in stress. If it doesn't get written into your appointment book you are probably not prioritizing it high enough. You can't blame anyone but yourself for your not exercising. Besides, blame is the name of the no win game.

9. Set realistic goals and limits in your work and write them down
The way you set goals and your self-confidence will greatly effect the level of stress you experience. Maximized work output is critical in health care now (--always has been as far as most of us are concerned!) however allowing yourself to think you can "do it all" or that you are indispensable will set you up for added stress and ultimately for serious disappointment. Be realistic as you MAKE A LIST of your short and medium term goals. Goals should be challenging yet attainable, written and measurable, clear and unambiguous.

10. Avoid the contagious nature of the stress epidemic
Never forget that, in most interactions, what you give out dynamically effects what you get back. If your tone communicates stress, resistance, displeasure or impatience you can expect to experience those same reactions right back from the person with which we are communicating. The result is generally an increase in intensity and a stressful experience for both parties. When you have the ability to meet stress exhibited by others with calm and understanding you prevent stress from being contagious. Don't be infected by stress and don't be responsible for infecting others with stress.

About the Author: Diane Cate is a medical practice management consultant with Professional Management and Marketing in Santa Rosa CA, a member of the American Academy of Family Physician's Network of Consultants, the American Medical Association's Doctors Advisory Network, and the American College of Physicians Managed Care Resource Center Network of Consultants. Phone 1-707-546-4433 for consulting and appraisal information

New RN TO MS in NURSING Bridge Program Started

2006-04-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Regis Univesity (AACN-CCNE) accredited RN to MS in Nursing program via The College Network allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs. Local clinicals and No Clinical Testing. Get Started Today- No Waiting List! Regis University, founded in 1877, has been consistently ranked as one of "America’s Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report and is a top-rated Jesuit program like Georgetown University, Boston College, Loyola University, and Marquette University.

Nursing Teachers Needed Desperately

2006-04-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

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 choice

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
hospital administration or nursing 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.

Nurse Educators Enjoy 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 an 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 programs offered by the University of Phoenix Online and Walden University.

Don't have a BSN Degree?

The Regis University (AACN-CCNE) accredited RN to MS in Nursing program via The College Network allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs. Local clinicals and No Clinical Testing.

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. Explore the schools and degree programs they offer and request free no-obligation information from as many as you like. It's best to request information from several so you can compare requirements, time involved and costs to find the one that meets your needs the best.