What to Look for in a Good Nurse Education Program

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Recently there have been dramatic shifts in the healthcare industry. As the largest generation of Americans, the baby boomers, ages, the emphasis of healthcare is shifting from physician-based care to nursing. As a result, nursing has become one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. The Department of Labor projected a 22 percent increase in nursing jobs between 2008 and 2018. However, to take advantage of this boom you need a nursing degree, and unfortunately there are many diploma mills out there just waiting to take an unsuspecting person for granted. Therefore if you wish to get a degree in area like nursing, it is important that you look for several key things while searching for the right school.

Is the School Accredited?
Whether or not a school is accredited is of key importance whatever sort of degree you’re after. Accreditation is not only crucial for continuing education, but also for employment; many employers are hesitant to hire graduates of non-accredited programs because they have no accountability. In short, a non-accredited program considered inferior and should be avoided. To find out if your school is accredited, visit Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), which are two of the premier accrediting agencies for nursing schools in the country.

What is the NCLEX Pass Rate?
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the yardstick by which nursing schools are measured. All nurses have to take the NCLEX before they are licensed to practice in the state in which they are trained. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing the average pass rate for a first time tester is around 90 percent. The school you choose should have a passing rate of 85 percent or higher. This is a good predictor of how many graduates from the school are actually able to find employment and will also inform you of the caliber of education that students receive. Check with the program’s admissions office to find out if their passing record falls within your criteria.

Can You Get References?
Your school’s job placement office should be able to give you information on people who have graduated from the program, passed their exams and landed a job. You should also obtain the contact information of people who have recently completed the program. Get in touch with them and ask them if they would recommend the program, and if they wouldn’t: why. Also ask them how long it took them to find their first job in the field. Nurses are in high demand: if the program has done its part they should have been able to find related employment easily.

Nursing is an exciting profession, but jumping into anything new can be scary. With a little time and research, it is possible to find the school that is the best fit for you and will provide you with the education that you need for your new career.

 

What Nursing Shortage

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What Nursing Shortage?!

As “graduation season” approaches once again, another class of nurses will be looking for jobs and many will be disappointed that there seem to be no jobs available which is not what they expected when they became nursing students.

For years we have experienced and heard about this terrible shortage of nurses and if you want to walk out of school and write your own ticket, go to nursing school. And then theses students began to graduate and found they need six years of experience to get a job!

What happened to the nursing shortage? Why can’t new nurses find jobs? Well in a simple explanation, the recession stalled the nursing shortage. But as the economy recovers, the nursing shortage is expected to be worse than ever before.

According to Peter Buerhaus PhD, RN a leading researcher into trends in nursing at Vanderbilt University, there are currently over 900,000 working nurses in the U.S. who are over 50 years of age. By 2008 the total number of RNs had risen to 3.1 million.

When the economy tanked beginning in 2008, many retired and semi-retired nurses were forced to return to the workforce and essentially took up the available jobs. In the recessed economy, non-emergent and non-essential healthcare all but vanished causing employers to freeze hiring. Those who were hiring only wanted experienced nurses.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 37,000 new jobs became available in healthcare in March 2011 alone. In fact so far this year, 283,000 new jobs have been created and many of those jobs have and will go to RNs with or without experience.

As the economy recovers, we may well see a mass exodus of older nurses who came out of retirement or passed on retiring for the time being. And as these nurses age, they will join the masses of a growing and aging population which is going to demand more and better health care. Combining all of the nurse grads who have not been able to find jobs, there will still be a considerable and growing shortage of nurses.

Buerhaus encourages new grad nurses to be patient and in the course of the next few months or year expect to find multiple opportunities. Those who take the time to continue their education and obtain advanced degrees while they wait may even find themselves much better poised to find even better career choices.

For the present, new grads need to be open to relocating. Many less populated and less popular locations do have job openings where larger metropolitan areas that can attract more candidates will most certainly be more picky and looking to get experienced nurses for fewer job openings.

In predicting the need for more nurses, the economic downturn and the effects of the recession were not part of the thought process. And as the economy normalizes, the nursing shortage will definitely return and with a bang.

Volunteer Options for Retired Nurses

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Many nurses have, before retiring, spent countless hours on the job in a high pressure environment. If, after a few years of retirement you realize that you miss the excitement of nursing, a very high-energy career, and you find that you still feel called to service others, consider the benefits of volunteering. Volunteer medical care workers are in high demand, both here and abroad. Here are a few organizations and positions you may want to check out.

  1. Peace Corps
    While many consider the Peace Corps to be a group that more actively recruits recent college graduates, in recent years, this volunteer organization is shifting its focus to older, more mature volunteers. All retirees who are in good health are welcome to apply, and those who have medical expertise are especially sought after. If you want to embark on a minimum two-year-long adventure overseas, in which you’ll be called upon to help those in some of the poorest and most conflict-ridden countries in the world, consider signing up for the Peace Corps.


    2. Community-based nursing
    Only a few days ago, the New York Times ran an article about faith-based community nursing across the nation, a movement that is helping provide nursing to the elderly, who otherwise don’t have access to health care. The article notes that some 15,000 nurses, working for little or nothing, provide care for a population that is “falling through the cracks.” Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship are donating large amounts of money to back their individual community-based nursing initiatives, which help volunteer nurses find work, mostly through women’s shelters, food pantries, health fairs, and more.
  2. Public education
    Whether it’s working through public schools to teach health classes, or working for a non-profit organization like Planned Parenthood as an advocate, education is a field that is rife with opportunities for volunteer nurses. Shifting from a treatment-centered approach to working on prevention initiatives, especially with young people, can be extremely rewarding for nurses who want to help others help themselves.
    These are just a few general areas that you may want to look into if you are still seeking work after retirement. Many retirees find that they want to put their skills to use to help others in need, and volunteer nursing is one of the best ways to do just that!

 

Road Map for a Successful RN Career

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While my years of experience in nursing have exposed me to many successful and happy nurses, I have also encountered many colleagues who regretted studying this career and many others who felt “stuck”. So to avoid disappointment, I suggest you consider the following while building your career road map:

  1. Check your reasons for becoming an RN. Some call this profession a calling and I do believe there is some truth to this. You need to have a desire to help others and be able to deal emotionally with all you will encounter. There are amazing days of hope and positive outcomes which balance out the sad days. I read many patient satisfaction surveys and for the vast majority of positive experiences, it was always a nurse who made the difference.
  2. Get experience before you commit. I would recommend spending time in a health care setting to see how you adjust. You must feel comfortable with all the sights, smells and sounds you will encounter. Some people just can’t work in this environment and you might as well figure that out before all the hard educational work begins.
  3. Select your path to getting licensed. You can choose a two-year AAS (Associate in Applied Science) degree or a four-year BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree. In addition, there are many bridge programs for transitioning from RN to BSN or MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), many of which are available online. Your decision will depend on availability of programs, personal choice, time commitment, and finances.
  4. Choose your specialty carefully.All degree programs will expose you to Medical, Surgical, Psychiatric, Maternal/Child, and Pediatric Nursing as these are the basis for the licensing boards. As you experience these rotations, pick an area that fits your personality. This may take time, but it is worth it in the end. For example, I could not work in Pediatrics because I was too emotional to be of much help to my patients and/or their families.
  5. Keep learning to advance. Most hospitals offer tuition re-imbursement and you should leverage this benefit. You can take courses over time and as you complete each level, you will be qualified for advanced practice. This will open doors to advancement, such as management and education positions.

If you like direct care and shift work (weekends, evenings and nights) then you will probably be satisfied with an Associate’s degree and there is always a need for this level of care.

But if you want to expand your options, you need to obtain an advanced degree. Most managers in hospital settings have their BSN or MSN. To teach nursing, you need a minimum of a Master’s Degree but a PhD is required to teach at the Master’s level. Nurse researchers typically hold a Master’s or a Doctorate degree.

I started with an Associate’s Degree and over the years added to my education, providing many opportunities that have made for a rewarding career. I have never regretted my choice to pursue nursing and I wish you the best as you continue along your career path. I hope that you will feel as satisfied as I do, even after all these years.

 

Nurses: Tips for Eating Healthy on the Job

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Tips for eating healthy on the job
Nursing students typically learn about good nutrition and eating habits in college, but the second they graduate and start to work in a real healthcare facility, even the simplest nutrition practices fly out the window.
It’s no surprise. The combination of an intense schedule and a hectic atmosphere of a hospital can make “eating right” a very difficult challenge. But there are ways to ensure that that while you’re busy saving lives, you’re helping to keep yours in tip-top shape as well. Below are some easy and effective ways to eating healthy during your shift.
Drink Lots of Water
Sometimes that tumbling in your belly occurs because you’re thirsty, not hungry. Before you rush off to grab a couple of cookies, drink water. Consuming the standard 6 to 8 glasses a day will not only help ensure you have a stable diet, but will also hydrate you, which will in-turn make you more alert during the day.
Snack Regularly

Despite what you think, experts say eating more is good. So it’s imperative that you don’t skip any meals. Just be aware of portion-sizes (keep them small). A good way to stay full and prevent yourself from indulging in a heavy meal come dinner time is to snack regularly throughout the day. Healthy snack choices include fresh fruit, nuts such as almonds, carrots, dried fruit, yogurt or a granola bar. Fruits, like apples in particularly, are known not only to satisfy your hunger cravings but also restore energy. This is because fruits are more easily digestible than many other foods and can give you the instantaneous fuel you need to keep going. Need a pick-me-up but don’t have an apple on hand? Try a fruit smoothie instead.
Despite the convenience, avoid vending machines and fast food
If you have no other choice but to grab a quick bite from the vending machine, make sure to choose low-fat and whole grain options and be cautious of serving portions (a bag of chips can actually be two servings, not one).Here are some of the more healthier options to select: turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread, baked chips (especially sweet potato or veggie), nonfat yogurt, unsweetened tea and water.
Make wise food choices in the cafeteria
This includes adding fresh vegetables, fruit or a salad to your meal. But remember that just because you opt for a salad doesn’t automatically make it a better choice. Choose lower calorie dressings if the option is available. Creamy dressings like ranch, even if low calorie, are usually not the best options. Try to go for vinaigrettes. Pass on the croutons and take it easy on the cheese. Also, avoid salads with dressing already in them.

 

Clearing Up Misconceptions Regarding Nursing Assistants: Balancing a Family and a Career

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If you currently have a family or kids on the way, a job as a full time nurse may be more demanding than you think. Many people believe nursing assistants are women or men who are solely incapable of becoming RNs, This is a very inaccurate generalization. A job as a nursing assistant can be fast-paced and fulfilling. Additionally, nursing assistants can usually work less demanding hours than full-time RNS. This is one of the main reasons people choose this career path, not due to their incompetency in any sense. As a mother of three, I have found this career choice to be the perfect fit for me. I am still in touch with the field of medicine, and my job allows me to help people with everyday tasks. However, I still have time to attend my son’s basketball games or my daughter’s ballet performance. Below, I would like to clear up three common misconceptions I hear regularly (regarding the career of a nursing assistant).

Nursing Assistants Have No Formal Training in the Medical Field
A common misconception regarding nursing assistants: they have no training in the medical field. This is an unfair, inaccurate assumption. In addition to obtaining a high school degree or GED, prospective assistant nurses must also enroll in a 6-12 week certification program. Most certification programs require nursing assistant students to take courses in subject such as: anatomy, physiology, nutrition, infections, safety control, and bedside nursing skills. Additionally, nursing assistants must pass a certification exam after they finish their respective programs.

Nursing Assistants Get Paid Hourly
This is another misconception that bothers me. Many nursing assistants are hired full time, and they get paid salaries in addition to qualifying for benefits! According to most career websites, the average salary for a nursing assistant is $21,000. Although $21,000 may not be enough for a whole family, it can still be substantial additional income for a family of 5!

Nursing Assistants Solely Engage in Housekeeping Tasks
Although nursing assistants do have to take care of some mundane housekeeping tasks, they definitely engage in medical related work too! Nursing assistants often have to brief nurses or even doctors about the condition of certain patients, and with additional training set up x-ray machines, and draw blood when necessary. After a few years of experience and training, nursing assistants may become more involved in other more important tasks. After all, everyone has to start at the bottom of the food chain to some extent. You have to prove your competence and work your way up!

 

Advance Your Nursing Degree Now

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5 Reasons Now is a Great Time to Advance Your Nursing Degree

Are you a nurse who has been mulling over the idea of going back to school for an advanced degree or certification in the nursing field? Now is an excellent time to take the plunge that will bring your career to new levels in the coming years. But what makes now such a great time?

Beat the Rush

The “Baby Boomer” generation is now aging fast. This means that there is a greater need than ever before for specialized fields in the career or nursing just as the need for regular nurses is growing. Getting in now for an advanced degree will give you a head start when needs rise and shortages in these specialized position reaches critical stages.

This means you have the opportunity to get in now and get your education, and some experience, before the need, and as a result compensation, for these nursing positions really sees a huge increase. You’ll be out of school with your advanced degree in hand gaining valuable practical experience while others are just beginning to enroll in these programs. It’s a win-win situation for you.

Earn the Respect of your Peers

The sooner you do this, the sooner you are available for advancement. This will not only earn you the respect of your peers but also those who make hiring decisions. Administrators love to see nurses who are real go-getters. They want to see nurses that are committed to success on a personal and professional level. This is just one more way to earn respect and admiration by the people who can help you seriously advance your career.

Gain Valuable Personal Fulfillment

If you’re thinking about it now, then now is a good time to do it. You’ll feel better about yourself and be in a position that is much better suited to help the people you care for once you earn your advanced degree and certifications in the nursing field.

No career move is a good move if it doesn’t work to make you feel good about yourself, your future, and the world of possibilities ahead of you. There are very few advanced degrees in nursing that do not provide nurses the opportunity to really help other people. If this is your goal then advanced studies, education, and training can help you achieve that goal.

Income Opportunity

In a world where almost every industry is being negatively impacted by the economy there is one field that is growing in demand and income. That is the medical field. Why is that? The laws of supply and demand make this growth possible. People are living longer. Baby boomers are aging. The population of the world is growing and so is the need for qualified professionals to care for all these people.

The more specialized and “in demand” the skill is, the greater the compensation or income for those who are qualified will be. All nurses, for the time being, enjoy some degree of financial security and job stability. The higher the degree and certification the greater the possibilities for income and demand become.

 

5 Tips for Effective Writing That Any Nurse Can Learn

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Learning to write well is not impossible for nurses. In fact, nurses already possess a fundamental writing skill just from successfully completing their medical training: writing concisely. Nurses regularly synthesize information, such as patient symptoms and treatment effects, and condense all of this data down into short and to-the-point sentences and descriptions on patient charts. This ability is valuable in effective writing, and is a great foundation to have on which to build up more writing skills. This means that most nurses only need to learn a few more tips and skills in order to utilize their existing knowledge so that they may write effectively outside of the hospital.

Use active voice whenever possible. The active voice is a sentence structure where the subject of the sentence is doing something, whereas the passive voice is a sentence structure where the subject does nothing while something is happening to it. For example, this sentence would be active: The dog barked at the cat. This sentence, however, would be passive: The cat was being barked at by the dog. Passive sentences typically sound clunky and wordy in comparison to active sentences, so try to always structure your sentences in the active voice when writing. This will make it sound more lively and clear.

Use more powerful descriptive words. Certain words pack a lot more meaning and imagery than others. For example, simply saying that someone “ran” is much less evocative than saying that someone “sprinted.” This is because the word “ran” is bland and generic, whereas the word “sprinted” indicates not only that the subject was running, but also the manner in which he ran. You can make your writing more intriguing by selecting words that are inherently descriptive. Doing this will eliminate the need to add multiple adjectives to a sentence, which can weigh a sentence down. Instead, using only strong, vivid words will make your writing descriptive without being overly wordy.

Eliminate unnecessary words. Some words simply do not add anything of value to your writing. Every time you find yourself writing down the word “very” or “really,” delete it. Chances are you will find that your sentence will not suffer from the omission. While you may use it in everyday conversation to emphasize a point, in writing, these words are empty and only serve to get in the way of your point.


Show, not tell, what you are trying to say. It is one thing to simply state that it is raining outside, and another to show that it is raining outside. For example, this sentence would be stating that it is raining: It is raining outside. On the other hand, this sentence would be showing that it is raining: The streets are slick with rain, and businessmen parade down the street with their umbrellas deployed. The idea behind “showing and not telling” is that writers should strive to describe an event so that the reader will come to a conclusion on his own. This is preferable to having the writer blatantly tell the reader what to imagine or think all the time. Allowing the reader to see or understand something on his own is much more powerful, and more likely to help emphasize a point or argument.

Read more. This writing tip does not involve writing at all, but it will likely aid many nurses into better understanding the mechanics of effective writing. Whenever you have free time which is admittedly rare for busy nurses! consider picking up a book that you enjoy and reading through it. Explore more books in the genre you like or from a favorite author. The more reading you do, the better writer you will become because you will grow accustomed to knowing how complex and simple sentences should sound.

 

Top Career Tips for Nurses

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The healthcare sector is in constant demand for nurses and it is one of the only sectors that is showing a constant demand for qualified personnel. Nursing is one of the areas where countless students are taking up studies and looking to begin their nursing careers. Understanding the job market and taking the right steps in your area of study will help you secure your nursing career. These are some tips you can use if you are planning to pursue a career in nursing.

Educational Qualifications

Obviously the first step in securing your nursing career is examining your educational qualifications. There are different educational qualifications required to become a nurse; one option is to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution, and the second option is for students to complete an associate’s degree in nursing, the third option is for students to get a diploma from an accredited nursing program. The third option is ideal for those who are unable to commit to being a full time student however, in the U.S. this option has become rare. The LVN/LPN route for bedside nursing is more common. All options have prerequisites and educational requirements beyond the realm of clinical nursing skills such as math, sciences, and general education courses.

Successful Nursing Career Tips

  • Stress Management– As a nurse you will be faced with tough situations and it is important that you manage your stress levels well. You can learn stress management techniques and use them regularly.
  • Time Management – To be successful in your nursing career, you must be able to manage your time well.
  • Avoid Nurse Burnout– Nursing is a demanding profession and you should take care not to burn yourself out. Take time off for yourself regularly and relax. If you are stressed out and physically tired, you cannot effectively fulfill your nursing obligations.
  • Stay Up To Date– As a nurse you need to keep up with your education and skills. Nursing is a constant learning process and you have to stay up to date with your profession and learn new skills. You can also learn something about other fields as well. This will give you a better chance of moving up or working in other areas if the need arises. Try not to get stuck in only one area of expertise.
  • Excellence– As a nurse it is up to you to strive for excellence. Set the bar high and work hard to achieve your goals.
  • Team Player – As a nurse, you need to remember you are a part of a team. Be a leader when you need to be a leader, and a supporter when you are required to be a supporter. Do not try to be the “I” in the team, be a role model for others and help others be good team players.
  • Limitations– You should know your limitations and how to say “no” if required. If you plan on saying “yes” all the time, sooner or later you will get burned out. Always be part of the solution and never the problem.
  • Strategy Planning– Get involved with strategic planning at your workplace and do your part in making it a better place.
  • Ask Questions– As a nurse you never can say that you know it all. Do not be afraid to ask questions as this will help you grow and be a better nurse.

As you pursue you nursing career, make sure you remind yourself why you became a nurse. This will help you stay focused and on track.

 

Nursing in the Future of Health Informatics

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Modern medicine requires nurses to be aware of new technological developments that deliver a holistic approach to healthcare. Health informatics combines informational science with health care and computer technology in an effort to help better track patient treatment and progress. Health informatics can lead to greater improvements in nursing specifically.

The Technology Streamlines Patient Care
This new technology allows for greater efficiency in current data processes which streamline patient care. Keeping digital records is a way to reduce medical expenses and errors, as well as help eliminate the unnecessary repetition of clinical procedures.

Better Nursing Care through Mobile Technology
Registered nurses (RNs) have always been on the front-line of patient care. Mobile technology allows nurses to use their mobile devices at a patient’s bedside to look up clinical information which reduces errors and saves valuable time. Mobile technology, therefore, is making encounters with patients more effective.

Consolidate and Access Information Faster
The advancement of medical software and record keeping programs help nurses keep accurate and up-to-date records of their patients. This digital data can be retrieved across multiple platforms by numerous healthcare workers much more quickly than ever before.

Bringing Back the Kiosk, Apple Style
Today’s kiosks are smart devices such as the iPad. These modern electronic checkpoints enable the patient’s medical histories to be entered, as well as medications and demographics to be updated. No longer will nurses have to physically hunt down doctors to have them sign off on something, which can be a waste of precious time. Doctors can now easily be notified and sign off electronically.

Health informatics has made a global impact on patient care. Through better data management and ease of information accessibility, the convergence of computer science and healthcare will continue to push for advancements that focus on providing higher quality patient care.