Nursing The Next 10 Years A Brief Overview

General Outlook for Nurses

The outlook for individuals considering entering the nursing field is excellent. Registered nurses, or RN’s, make up the largest number of health care workers in the country. In addition, registered nurses will make up one of the fasted growing population of workers in all occupations over the next ten years.
Many registered nurses begin their career in the hospital setting. This allows the nurse to become familiar with various branches of medicine. While there is a demand for hospital nurses, this area of nursing will remain relatively level over the next ten years.

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

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

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

Not a Registered Nurse?

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

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

RN or BSN?

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

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

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

Considering a Career Switch?

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

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

The Future of Nursing

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

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

Guaranteed College Nursing Scholarship

If you’re on the way to college, you might be confused while using the many courses being offered. Choosing one can provide you with a headache, but if you already know what particular career you intend to pursue after college, you won't have much difficulty.

Observe the trends in the job market. The medical field hires many competent people every year, as well as the demand for medical professionals is still increasing at present. Even those who already have a career are researching ways to join this particular field.

Medical professionals are badly needed. The demand for nursing graduates keeps growing. Health agencies and other services are looking for highly trained and qualified nurses. That is probably why many students are consumed by this field.

The primary problem that the majority of students encounter before they check out college, especially with a breastfeeding course, is funding. Though this field is incredibly much in demand, not all aspiring nursing students can graduate because of financial difficulties.

Public colleges which offer nursing courses will set you back around $14, 000 a 12 months; and if you want to attend college in a private college, the cost can reach of up to $30, 000 a year. And also to think that the tuition fees increase on a yearly basis. You can just imagine the amount it’s going to cost you if you wish to graduate with a nursing diploma.

Nursing is quite an expensive course, and if you don’t have the cash, you can’t possibly graduate. What sad ending for an aspiring scholar, but don’t lose hope however. There are still ways to help pursue your college studies without anymore worrying for ones expenses.

Education helps people discover more about different things, but it doesn’t conclude there, it is also a company in itself. If you don’t can pay for, you can’t get the very best education possible. If you don’t possess money, that is not problems. If you want to finish an application in nursing, you must be aware that it entails a lot regarding coursework. So if you really are a working student, you will surely have difficulty in maintaining your job and the coursework. What you require is a college scholarship to totally concentrate in your education.

Above all, you must contact nursing associations in your locality, your state’s nursing mother board, and the American Nurses Affiliation (ANA). Check the website of ANA on the internet because they can provide you with the necessary information you will desire for a nursing scholarship and grants or loans. All it takes is slightly research.

Federal government funds specific nursing scholarships, as well since private entities. Schools, agencies, in addition to corporations offer nursing scholarships with regard to individual students.

You will need all essential information from certain people such as the college of nursing department head. He/she can provide you with scholarship/grant applications. Or you can also contact the person in authority who provides scholarship/grants to breastfeeding students.

You’re quite lucky in case you have parents who can fund towards you to college, but if you’re one of several less fortunate ones, you definitely need some sort of assistance. Stand up and take action, don’t just sit there in addition to wait for someone to provide you with a scholarship of some sort. Chances are it wouldn’t come looking in your case.

If you are quite confident that you can maintain a scholarship, apply first. It never hurts to attempt.

Pediatric Nursing Is It Right For You

Pediatric nursing, or the field of nursing that relates to treating children, is a specialized and sometimes stressful field. Pediatric nursing is not for everyone. Before you decide to specialize in pediatric nursing it is important to understand some of the drawbacks to the field, as well as the benefits.

How Do I Become a Pediatric Nurse?

Pediatric nursing is not offered as a specialty in nursing school, so the training that pediatric nurses receive comes through the job. Some hospitals provide an orientation for nurses that are interested in pediatric nursing. This training includes classroom as well as clinical training. Other hospitals do all of their training on the floor, partnering the new pediatric nurse with an experienced nurse as a mentor. Regardless of which method is used at the hospital where you are employed, no one expects you to come directly from nursing school prepared to work in pediatrics without additional training.

Beyond the training that you receive from the hospital, there is specialized coursework available for nurses who are interested in becoming pediatric nurses. The American Heart Association offers a Pediatric Advanced Life Support course, and the Emergency Nurses Association offers the Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course. There is also the Society of Pediatric Nurses, a professional association for those in the field. After you have received training in pediatric nursing, you may want to obtain the Certified Pediatric Nurse certificate, which is available by exam.

Do I Want to Become a Pediatric Nurse?

While these facts address the amount of training that is involved in pediatric nursing, they do not explain the emotional toll of working as a pediatric nurse. Because pediatric nurses work solely with those under eighteen, it can be a difficult job. Working with young patients that are very ill is stressful. Not only must you deal with your patient, but the parents as well. It is a job that can be rewarding, but draining as well. For those that are interested in working with children, it helps to understand what is involved.

Some types of pediatric nursing are less stressful than others. Working in the emergency room of a pediatric hospital will provide a good deal of variety to your day, and most patients suffer from cuts, broken bones and other injuries that, while frightening, are highly treatable. Working as a pediatric nurse in the oncology unit, on the other hand, is a very difficult job. The day after day exposure to extremely ill children and distraught parents require a special person to perform this job. Another challenge that many people have with working around pediatric patients that are very ill is that the children who spend so much time in the hospital become close to their caretakers, and the reverse is true as well. A child in the oncology unit may be there for weeks at a time, or come in several times a week. This creates a strong attachment between the patient and nurse, which, if the patient does not survive, is very painful.

For those that can work as a pediatric nurse with very sick patients, the job can be very rewarding. The joys of watching a child regain his strength and get to return to school cannot be compared to any other situation, and the bond that you develop with your young patients is priceless.

To determine if you are suited to work as a pediatric nurse, it helps to be very self aware. Are you easily upset? Does seeing other people sad or frightened upset you? If so, pediatric nursing may not be your best career path. If you want to work with children, but are concerned that you may not be comfortable working around very sick children, consider a career as a pediatric nurse in the emergency room or operating room. In those places you are exposed to less illness and you are not around the same children for extended periods of time.

Make Pediatric Nursing Work for You

If you choose to become a pediatric nurse, there are a variety of steps that you can take to reduce the stress of your job. Regular exercise and healthy eating both contribute to a general sense of well being. It is also important to develop an informal support group of friends or family members that you can talk to about the stress of your day. Another way to reduce the stress involved in pediatric nursing is to rotate to other units. Spend some time in the pediatric intensive care unit, and then move to the OR. Not only does this give you an emotional break, but it provides you with a well rounded skill set.

Nurse Educators In Critical Demand

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

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

Becoming a Nurse Educator is a wonderful career step
egistered the medical staff ARE teachers! RNs teach patients and their own families how to manage their health issues or injury, including post-treatment household care needs, diet and physical exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept completely new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing carrying on education activities within clinical options. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in many ways every time they operate. Nurse Educators make use of these same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future from the nursing profession- one student at the same time!

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

Some RNs elect to advance their nursing career by stepping into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn’t for all. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the near future of nursing the best career path to take into account is becoming a nurse educator!
Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.

Career Flexibility

Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities. A Master’s degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!

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

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

Don’t have a BSN Degree?

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

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Nursing School

Nearly every major city – and a lot of not so major ones – has at least one accredited nursing school. The school that you choose to attend could be a major factor in more than just the education you receive. Graduating from a well-known nursing school can put the finishing touches on your resume and guarantee you a higher starting salary, for instance. Choosing a nursing school associated with the right hospitals for your practice work can also boost your credentials – or even help you choose a specialty that you’d never have considered. If you’ve decided on your career, but not your education, here are some basic considerations to help you make the decision of where to go to nursing school.

 Location

The most basic location consideration is how far away from home you want to be, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A nursing school located in a busy metropolitan area, for example, can offer unexpected benefits in outside training, mentoring and hospitals/venues in which to complete your practicum. On the reverse side, a smaller, local school can offer a far more personalized approach. Take stock of what’s important to you to help you zero in on schools in your desired area.

Area of Study

Speaking of areas, that’s another consideration. Do you have a yen to practice pediatric oncology? Are you interested in learning the basics of patient care in a research facility? Is general nursing exactly what you want to do? Check course listings and certifications offered by the schools that you’re considering in order to determine which teach the beyond-basics things you want to learn.

Accreditation

It is important that the school you choose be accredited by one of two national organizations for general nursing (The National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education). If you are applying to a specialized program, there are separate accrediting organizations such as the Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse Midwife, The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and The American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation.

Most schools are approved by a state board, but that’s not the same as accreditation. While it will enable you to sit for your NCLEX examination, it may prevent you from using the credits and going forward for continuing education, such as a BSN or master’s degree. While it is possible to get a good education from a non-accredited school, you should thoroughly investigate it to be certain that their standards meet your needs.

Hands-On Experience

You want as much experience as you can get during your training time, and that’s why it’s important to check out the school’s clinical rotation program. This is where some schools that are affiliated with major teaching hospitals may have a major advantage, particularly if they specialize in one of your particular interests. When you’re evaluating nursing schools, ask how much time you’ll spend in clinical rotation, and what disciplines and specialties you may have a chance to observe and participate in.

Examination Success

Perhaps one of the most important factors in considering a nursing school is the rate at which their students pass the NCLEX exam. Obviously, a high pass rate indicates that the school’s students have been well prepared, but a low pass rate should be a huge red flag. Don’t be shy about asking the school to provide you with their record of examination rates for the past few years.

Tuition

Finally, the amount of money that it will cost you to attend the school will have to come into play. And because tuitions in nursing schools can vary so much, your goal should be to get the absolute best education for the least amount of money. Unfortunately, the only way you’ll be able to determine this is by doing some good research into your potential schools.

Don’t let money stop you from attending the school of your choice, though. Besides traditional routes of student aid, the nursing shortage over the past two decades has opened many opportunities for education funding. Ask about financial aid and work study programs, and be sure to check with local hospitals and organizations to find out if any offer scholarships for which you can apply.

Forensic Nursing The New Breed Of Nurses

With the continuing rise in crime rates, forensic nursing is quickly becoming a popular part of the American judicial system. Forensic nursing is one of the newest forms of forensic sciences recognized by the American Nurses Association. The new field combines the health care profession with the judicial system.
                                                                                   
Nurses trained in forensic nursing are needed to quickly and appropriately gather evidence that can be used in a court of law. Along with gathering forensic information, they also testify in trials of their jurisdictions.

The appeal of forensic nursing is mainly with victims of violence. Multiple people are seeing victims, social workers, doctors, the police etc. This can be hard on the victim. Having one expert that can do everything from start to finish including going to trial would make it a lot less stressful for the victim.

Because forensic nursing is such a new and growing specialty, it offers great opportunities for recent nursing graduates and experienced RN’s looking for a career change.

In 1992, approximately seventy nurses gathered together in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the first national convention for sexual assault nurses. This convention led to the founding of the IAFN, the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Their mission statement was the concept of nurses willing to devote their energy and resources to develop a role in nursing that can have a impact on the future of forensic science and the health care industry.

Forensic nurses practice in many diverse fields. They range from nurses who specialize in domestic violence, emergency trauma, and sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE’s), witch SANE’s are often the entry point into forensic nursing. Forensic nurses may also serve as legal nurse consultants or attorneys.

The education for forensic nursing vary. Degree programs are available in forensic nursing but are not required for entry into the profession. Certification courses required for the SANE program is a good start.

The employers of forensic nursing specialists vary as well. They include acute healthcare facilities, correctional institutions, county prosecutors, coroner’s offices, medical examiner’s offices, insurance companies, and psychiatric facilities.

Another opportunity is working independently on a per job basis to all of these employers – starting a forensic nursing business.

The industry of forensic nursing is only getting more and more attractive to nurses that really want to make a difference in the community around them. It’s an opportunity for them to help victims of violence and helping the perpetrators of violence to get help.




Source : http://plrplr.com

Starting New With A Nursing Career

 “I just want to give something back,” says one new nurse from a recent graduating class. Unlike your typical newcomer to a nursing career, Steve is not in his twenties and female. Rather, he’s one of the growing number of ‘non-traditional’ nurses who have adopted a nursing career after a lifetime of work in another field. Nursing is growing in popularity as a second career for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it’s a job that makes you feel good about yourself.

Known as second-degree or second-career nurses, this growing segment of the nursing world brings a unique slant to patient care. According to instructors and supervisors, second career nurses have a strong work ethic and a commitment to helping others that makes them a credit to the profession. Second career nurses come from all walks of life. Many have advanced degrees in other fields, but have traded in their Wall Street portfolios for a pair of rubber-soled shoes and a stethoscope. For some, the impetus was the loss of a job due to downsizing, but for many, the decision was a conscious commitment to giving something back to the world. They want to work in a job that directly benefits people, where they can make a visible difference in someone’s life. The hands-on medical care in a nursing career gives them a satisfaction that’s hard to find in any other line of work.

If you’re considering re-entering the work world as a nurse, you can find opportunities open in hospitals, rest homes, medical facilities, outpatient programs and public health areas. You can create a nursing career working in analysis and technology, or doing direct patient care, or both. An occupational nursing career can give you a chance to work in sports activities medicine, industrial medicine or the particular rehabilitation field. As a home healthcare worker, you can make a major difference in the products life for new parents and their babies, adults who usually are facing major medical decisions, children and families coping along with diabetes and asthma and seniors who require a couple of hours of skilled nursing care a week so as to remain at home among their loved ones and memories.
There are also opportunities for a nursing career in more unusual areas, especially if you choose to go on to more specialized training and acquire an advanced degree. It’s difficult to imagine a more fulfilling career than one as a nurse-midwife, helping to usher new lives into the world, for instance, or as a nurse practitioner helping parents cope with their children’s illnesses. Many second career nurses combine their former experience with their new nursing careers to open new doors. A paralegal with many years experience might work in the field of medical law as a consultant, helping hospitals and medical facilities create policies that are fair to both patients and staff. A teacher may draw on years of classroom experience to work as a nurse in the community, educating children on medical awareness and teaching them how to take charge of chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes.

There’s almost no limit to the kinds of jobs and challenges open to someone who chooses to pursue a nursing career. If you’ve chosen to pursue nursing as a second career, take the time to study all your options and find the one that’s most satisfying for you. It may be a second career, but it’s one that can last you for the rest of your life.

Forensic Nursing Careers

Forensic nursing combines clinical nursing practice with the law enforcement arena. It involves the investigation and treatment of victims of sexual assault, elder, child and spousal abuse, unexplained or accidental death, trauma and assault. It also involves the investigation of perpetrators of these crimes.

There are an estimated 7,500 nurses who recurrently fill forensic-nursing roles, which includes those who work full-time investigating deaths or treating violent offenders at psychiatric facilities. With a continuous rise in crime rates, forensic nursing is quickly becoming a regular part of the American judicial system. Forensic nursing is one of the newest forms of forensic sciences recognized by the American Nurses Association . This relatively new field combines the health care profession with the judicial system.

Nurses trained in forensic nursing are required to quickly and correctly collect evidence that can be used in a court of law. Not only do they gather forensic information, they also testify in trials of their jurisdictions. Forensic nurses may also serve as legal nurse consultants or attorneys. The employers of forensic nursing specialists include acute healthcare facilities, correctional institutions, county prosecutors, coroners offices, medical examiners offices, insurance companies, and psychiatric facilities.

Degree programs are available in forensic nursing. There are online nursing degree programs as well as campus based nursing schools. A nursing degree, however, is not required for entry into profession. Online nursing degree programs and nursing schools regularly offer various courses in forensic nursing. Certification courses are generally required for forensic pediatric/geriatric nurses, and to be a forensic psychiatric nurse, you are required to have a MS with counseling certification.

Not only is forensic nursing an exciting and rewarding career, there is also a growing demand for nurses with these specialized skills. The industry of forensic nursing is only getting more and more attractive to nurses that really want to make a difference in the community around them. Today we are finding out that the more expertise a nurse has in knowing exactly what should be collected, the better the evidence turned over to the detectives will be. And that can help lead to a better outcome in catching the perpetrator. It’s an opportunity for them to help victims of violence and helping the perpetrators of violence to get help.

Nursing And Uniforms Can Compliment One Another

When it comes to nursing and uniforms, the truth is that the two are tied closely together. Early images of nursing and uniforms can be witnessed with early images dating back centuries. Nurses and their uniforms are historically connected, and today more than ever, the uniforms are a direct representation of the nurse in question.

The nursing profession has an interesting history. Today, nurses are a highly respected group of men and women often serving as a middle ground between physician and patient. When it comes to nursing and uniforms, times are changing.

The changes in nursing and uniforms are happening on many levels. Working in style is one of the nice side benefits, but the real benefits come with the added protection received by the nurse, the staff, and the patient. Nurses are a representative of the medical institute he or she works for.

What is your abilities nursing and uniforms saying about you, your lifestyle, and your medical institute?
The nursing profession is changing technically at the same time. Nurses have more responsibilities, and the education would have to be a successful nurse is altering by leaps and bounds. For example, the medical apparel industry is changing right along with the nursing profession.

Nursing and uniforms are important one to the other. The medical apparel industry requires cues from the nursing professionals with regards to styles, designs, and fashions. Should the nurses are not happy, the medical apparel designers may design new styles and fashions in order to meet those changing needs.

When it involves nursing and uniforms, uniforms should work as hard as the nurse. A uniform that's high quality will last extended than those of inferior style. There are basic designs for scrubs, once called surgical scrubs. However that nursing is a challenging job that deserves a clear new look.

Your uniforms undoubtedly are a direct reflection of your determination. Patients know this; the people accountable for your promotions know this. Nursing and uniforms just happens to be two concepts that if one looks broken down and tired the other look worn out and tired at the same time.

You have decided to purchase new uniforms to your career. You understand the network between nursing and uniforms. So how will you find those chic designs that include the protection, cleanliness, and professionalism you're looking for?
The connection between nursing and uniforms is more than just attitude. Appearance is important as well. With this in mind, remember to purchase what is required by the medical institute while maintaining your own self-identity. You do not have to give up who you are simply because you go to work. There is a difference between a job and a career. The condition of your uniforms will tell those seeing you if you have a job or if you have a career.

Look good, be professional. If you care about yourself, you will find that the connection between nursing and uniforms is not too far apart. Because when you care about yourself and your appearance, you are caring for those you care for.

Nursing Resumes

What to Include inside Nursing Resumes

Nursing resumes are slightly different from every other resume that you'd send out. Being that nursing is really a specialized profession, you need to consider a few things when setting up your first resume. Nursing resumes can be difficult to write because they're not going to include the same information as a standard resume trying to secure an office position. Read through the tips below prior to starting sending out your resume to potential employers.
First off, bear in mind nursing resumes will not consist of all past work experience. When looking for an office job, you usually show your past work experience, no matter how irrelevant it might sound. But remember that nursing is really a specialized profession. You want to be sure that you put down your experience relative to nursing and downplay the rest of one's work experience. This is not to say that you cannot include other work experience on nursing resumes, be sure that you not let those jobs overshadow your own nursing experience.

Remember to include all nursing related experience on your own resume. Anything that pertains to nursing, or caring for people must be highlighted on your resume so that it stands head and shoulders above the rest. This can include any volunteer work that you will find completed, or any nursing work that you just did while in college. Nursing resumes often include info on the rotations that you did while completing your degree. This shows that you have experience in the field and can handle working full time.

Nursing resumes must always include your educational achievements as well. Be proud of what an individual accomplished. If you were elected in to the National Honors Society for nursing majors be sure to include this information. If you had a high GPA, include that will also.

Nursing resumes may be difficult to write, but if you follow the tips above it is possible to put together an interesting package for hiring managers. Sample nursing resumes can even be found on numerous online internet sites.

More Men In Nursing Is Trend Enough To Solve Shortage

Higher wages and job security are prompting more men to enter the field of nursing.

According to a Vanderbilt University School of Nursing study, the number of male nurses in the United States has nearly doubled since the 1980s – growing from 5 percent to 9 percent of the nation’s 1.8 million nurses.

Just as the number of men in nursing has steadily climbed, so has the public’s perception of the profession. A recent Gallup Poll ranked nursing as the most trusted profession, above teachers, military officers and even doctors.

This is promising news for those working to end the nationwide nursing shortage and stave off an impending health-care crisis. According to the Vanderbilt study, the nursing shortage could approach 800,000 positions by 2020.

To recruit and retain more nurses, educators must address the shortage of nursing faculty in the nation’s colleges and universities.

According to an enrollment survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, more than 26,000 qualified applicants were turned away from undergraduate programs last year due in large part to faculty shortages.

Hostipal wards, universities and nursing organizations will work to end the nursing shortage with help from private-sector pursuits, such as The Johnson & Manley Campaign for Nursing’s Future.

The goals with this $30 million public-awareness campaign are to further improve the image of the nursing jobs profession, recruit new nurses and faculty and retain nurses currently out there.

“Building awareness of the shortage of nurses and nurse faculty, as well as the features about a career in nursing, has had a big impact, ” mentioned Andrea Higham, director of The actual Johnson & Johnson Campaign regarding Nursing’s Future. “But concerted efforts must continue if we’re to head off what is predicted to become huge problem well into another decade. ”The campaign sponsors fundraising events called Promise of Nursing galas, which have raised more than $7 million for nursing scholarships, faculty fellowships and specialized nursing program grants.

Higham said men are a key target of the awareness campaign, noting that if the number of men entering nursing each year grew to anywhere near the number of women entering the field, the nursing shortage would cease to exist.

Will the growing number of men entering the profession be enough to eliminate the shortage in time to accommodate the surge of baby boomers in need of increased medical care? Only time will tell. – NU

Travel Nursing The Best Of Both Worlds

Learn how travel nursing can help your job and your life today.

Because of severe shortages of nurses around the world, travel nursing has become “big business” In case you’re one the nurses not really acquainted with travel nursing you owe the item to yourself, and your banking accounts to investigate further.
Family Keeping You At home?

Many nurses with children develop the idea that travel nursing is off limits. Not necessarily accurate. There are advantages of vacation nursing that can benefit you as well as your children. For example, as a travel nurse many recruiting companies will provide you with free housing. This provides you a place on your family without all the hassles of finding it alone and moving your household things.

Another benefit to the children will be the fact they have the opportunity to see other regions and a variety of life styles. It’s almost like vacationing though you’re working. You and your household get to see the places you’ve always wanted visiting… yet you’re still earning a typical salary.

You can also choose travel nursing and work within areas close to home. You’ll be working in familiar areas, keeping the family in one location and earning more. That’s right most travel nursing pay scales are anywhere from ten to fifteen percent higher than the pay of a regular staff nurse.

Pick and Choose

Another advantage of travel nursing is you’ll get to choose the area you work as well as the type of nursing. If you’re feeling a bit stagnant in your career, travel nursing is a great way to pursue other specialty areas of nursing without being locked in as a staff nurse. You’ll get to try whatever you choose without being stuck if you find you don’t care for that particular nursing specialty.

Most travel nursing companies assign you a recruiter. Your recruiter will work to find out exactly what you’re looking for and find it for you. This includes salary, type of nursing, and geographical location.

You can write your own ticket to wherever and however you choose to work.

Increase Your Skills

Travel nursing offers you the opportunity to increase your knowledge base. By choosing to work in a variety of settings and nursing areas, you’ll build a long list of experiences that will make you in high demand. Travel nursing skills gives you unlimited opportunities and puts you in great demand. Investigate today for your future.

How To Write A Nursing Resume

Recent labor studies have predicted that nursing positions will continue to grow faster than the national average for at least the next five years. Though this trend is good news for nurses on the job market, it does not diminish the fact that competition will remain tough for the most desirable nursing positions. Nurses need to pay close attention to the presentation of their credentials, as detailed in their resume, in order to ensure that they can compete in the tough medical profession.

To write a solid resume tailored specifically to the nursing profession, consider the following guidelines:

Highlight your Educational and Licensure Qualifications

In addition to including the details of your nursing degree (school name, when you graduated, your degree), you should mention any academic honors, grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded during the course of your studies.

If you are an experienced nurse, you may wish to make reference to any completed clinical rotations in this section. This tactic is especially beneficial if one or more of these rotations is in line with your current career objective.

If you are a newer nursing graduate or have limited nursing experience, a list of related courses and clinical rotations will provide detail of your medical knowledge to prospective employers. Graduates who completed their degree with an impressive grade point average should highlight this fact by including their GPA in the Educational section of their resume.

All nurses who have completed the process to get licensed will need to provide details of their license(s) in this section. Include the state(s) in which you are licensed and the date that your license went in effect. Since your employer will ask for a copy of your license once you are made an offer, you do not include your licensing number on your resume.

Emphasize your Nursing Expertise and Key Skills

A quick 10-second scan of your resume should reveal important keywords that summarize your nursing experience and give managers an overview of your qualifications. The most effective way to do this is to incorporate a section of your resume dedicated to nursing expertise and key skills. Include a bulleted list of your nursing specializations (such as pediatrics, cardiology, oncology) and any pertinent nursing skills, such as JCAHO standards/compliance or medication administration, that will enhance your resume presentation.

If you have several years of nursing experience, it may beneficial to list your years of experience in each area.

Entry-level nurses and nurses with limited experience should also include this section in their resume, highlighting those areas and schools acquired from schooling, clinical rotations, and nursing mentorships.

Detail Your Nursing Experience

Since most manager hire nurses based on their previous experience in (or knowledge of if you are a new nurse) a particular area of nursing, employers need to know the details of your nursing experience.

If you are an experienced nurse, you should detail your specialization, the type of facility you work in (acute care, outpatient, rehabilitation), and your average caseload for each of your previous employers.

If you are an entry-level nurse just out of school or a nurse with limited work experience, you should detail any clinical rotations, mentorships, or other unpaid work you were involved in during your schooling.

Demonstrate You’re a Top Performer

Employers love to hire top performers. Your resume will be more memorable and better received if you can detail specific contributions you made to each of your previous employers. What have you done that was above and beyond your basic responsibilities? How have you helped make a positive impact on your patients and their families, your co-workers, your employer, or even your community?

Consider your possible involvement in:

oCommittees or review boards

oPatient or family health education

oMentorship programs

oTraining of coworkers on advanced topics of interest to nursing

oThe launch of a new facility or program

oCommunity health screens

The more details you can provide about your involvement in the medical community and your accomplishments, the better job you will do at impressing your value as a team member to potential employers.

source : http://plrplr.com/

5 Unusual Jobs You Can Get With A Nursing Degree

From the year 2014 – just eight years away – you will have 3. 6 million new jobs accessible in the medical profession, and the majority of those jobs – about 60% ones – will be open to individuals with nursing degrees of one type or another. The demand for registered medical professionals is highest – the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the quantity of jobs available for registered medical professionals will rise by 27% by means of 2014 – but there will also be increased opportunities for certified nursing jobs assistants, licensed practical nurses, health professional practitioners, physician’s assistants and those people in medical technical fields such as phlebotomy and pulmonology.

And if you thought that the only jobs available for nurses were in hospitals and medical facilities, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has more news for you. Less than 60% of registered nurses work in a hospital. A nursing degree opens doors of opportunity into so many fields that it’s easily one of the most versatile and useful degrees that you can acquire. Not only that – a nursing degree appeals to a wide range of people. According to the BLS, about 20% of those entering the nursing workforce are older workers starting on a second career. Many of them have been attracted by rising salaries triggered by the nursing shortage, but for many of them, a nursing degree is a chance to do something that makes them feel good.

Whether you’ve just started your nursing career, are returning to work after a hiatus, or are switching to a career in nursing as a second career, take a look at some of the opportunities that are open to you with a nursing degree.

Pediatric Home Health Care is one of the growing fields for those with nursing degrees. Every state in the Union now has some sort of Early Intervention program that identifies children under the age of three years with special needs. Pediatric home health care gives you the opportunity to work with children and parents and make a real difference in their lives.

Elder Home Health Care is the other end of the spectrum. The ‘aging of America’ means that more and more people require a little bit of help to remain in their homes. Nursing assistants, registered nurses and licensed nurses can provide that little bit extra that will allow a senior citizen to maintain a higher quality of life and remain at home when all they need is a few hours of medical care a day or week.

Working in a Blood Donor Center is an option that makes you part of the life-saving network. There’s more to blood donor centers than just starting IVs. Nurses who specialize in pharesis can command high salaries, and a nurse working in the blood collection field can be a valuable community organizer as well as a medical practitioner.

A vital Care Transport nurse requires several nursing degrees, but it can be the most interesting and fascinating nursing jobs available. A CCT nurse accompanies patients being transported at home or a nursing facility to an alternative nursing facility. The nurse is responsible for maintaining continuity of attend to every patient – in the back of an ambulance. It’s a challenging and fun job that commands a salary commensurate with the experience essential.

On Site Nursing is a large open field for medical individuals with nursing degrees. You could work at an amusement park as well as zoo, or in the medical office with a state or national park, or provide medical backup with the emergency workers at a seashore or other recreational setting. If you choose to work on site at a new camp or other facility, your benefits may include free tuition for your own family.

Nurse Training And Education

 There is a growing demand for workers in the health care industry. The demand is only expected to increase as baby boomers age, increasing their need for health care while at the same time retiring from these positions in record numbers. The outlook for those interested in a career in nursing is very good. Although the education required to become a nurse is intensive, the pay scale is lucrative and many hospitals provide tuition reimbursement.

The education requirements for nursing include both theoretical and practical experience. The theoretical work includes classroom education, and covers subjects such as chemistry, nutrition and anatomy. The practical work provides the student nurse with hands-on supervised training in the clinical setting. Once you have completed the nursing training from an approved nursing school you are required to take, and pass, the NCLEX-RN, a licensing exam. Upon passing the exam you are awarded your RN license.

There are a variety of roads to becoming a registered nurse. Many community colleges offer an associate program. Using this program, you can have a nursing license in two to three years. It is also an economical choice, as most community colleges are substantially less expensive than a traditional four year state or private school. If you choose the four year degree, you will graduate with a B.S.N. or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. You will still be a RN, and must still pass the licensing exam before earning the right to wear your scrubs. The benefit of obtaining a bachelor’s degree is that the four year degree is required for many supervisory positions within the nursing field, and you must have a B.S.N to receive your master’s degree. Many colleges now offer a fast track program to allow those with their RN to complete their B.S.N. in a short amount of time, attending classes part time or over the internet.

 Master’s stage programs in nursing allow a nurse to receive a higher level of compensation and also the capability to work with a lot more autonomy. A master’s program also allows the nurse to specialize in the type of nursing that she or he prefers. There are master’s programs easily obtainable in clinical specialties, such as a nurse anesthetist or perhaps a nurse practitioner. Many schools also allow a nurse to enter the teaching field using a master’s degree. A master’s software in nursing, regardless of the specialization, typically requires two decades of coursework. A nurse may also choose to earn their doctorate degree in nursing, which would open up many administration level jobs and also the ability to teach in almost any college.

Nursing programs are approved because of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Schooling. To ensure that you are properly prepared for the licensing exam that you have to pass before becoming an REGISTERED NURSE, choose a school that is actually fully accredited. This means, among other things, that their curriculum has been examined and determined to repay the material that is contained in the NCLEX-RN exam.
Given the fact that there is a shortage of nurses, and the demand is growing, it may seem that getting accepted to nursing school should be easier; this is unfortunately not the case. In fact, one of the reasons that there is a shortage of nurses is because there is also a shortage of nurse educators. Because nursing requires such detailed and extensive education, it is important to have a low student to teacher ratio. With a shortage of nurse educators, schools are limited in the number of nursing students that they can accept. The shortage of nursing educators is partially due to the fact that nurses can earn much better wages working in the clinical setting than in the college setting.

With the shortage of nursing educators, acceptance to nursing schools has become very competitive. There are several things that you can do to increase your odds of being accepted to nursing school. The first, of course, is to have the highest GPA and standardized test scores as possible. If you are seriously considering nursing school, it may be too late to improve your GPA, but if your standardized tests are not where you want them, consider investing in a test prep course and retake the exam.

Another way that you can make yourself more attractive to a nursing program is to take some classes at your local community college. Showing that you have the ability to complete college level work can go a long way in persuading the admissions board that you are a good candidate for their nursing program. Finally, consider spending time as a volunteer in the health care field. Many people want to enter nursing because of the ready supply of jobs and lucrative pay. When they realize the hard work that is required, they drop out of the nursing program. By volunteering in the field, the acceptance committee will feel more confident that you will remain in the program.

Many Benefits Of A Nursing Career

There’s not any shortage of nursing schools offering course-work if you aspire to become an element of the ever-growing healthcare business. These certified nursing schools is not going to train you to be a professional nurse but many offer post graduate courses likewise, to better help a person develop your nursing profession.

Those currently holding nursing degrees have the option to enroll in the different post nursing degree programs which are now available – from Registered Nursing Degrees to be able to Parish Nursing. There’s numerous choices for aspiring health care professionals. They can choose which kind of nursing degree they wish to specialize in and contrary to popular belief, an individual with a nursing degree is no longer limited to working in just a hospital. There are several other places wherein men and women need the care and attention only a qualified nursing professional provides.

There has always recently been a great demand for individuals that have nursing degrees and with a lot more baby boomers growing older with each passing season the demand for qualified nursing professionals will still only continue to grow. The simple truth is, if a significant scarcity of healthcare professionals were in order to develop, it would pose a new grave threat to culture because without qualified professionals, the country’s health proper care industry would greatly undergo.

The U. S. Department of Labor has predicted that the usa will have a shortage of nurses all around 400, 000 by all seasons 2020. Simply one of countless reasons why the nursing profession is clearly a fantastic career choice now and in to the foreseeable future. Of program, you must keep in your mind that the job requirements are things that you'll be inclined to perform. A couple of examples would be service-oriented tasks for example feeding the patient, changing their clothes, helping them take a bath, cleaning up after them and being confident that they properly take their own medications. If you don’t hold the desire, stomach or patience for doing may be you should steer clear of pursuing a nursing level because it’s not a profession you want.
A common nursing career is the RN – Registered Nurse, which requires that an individual has the ability to provide direct care to their patients by constantly observing, assessing and recording symptoms, both negative and positive.

There are also those types of nurses that assist doctors when they perform surgery, conduct patient examinations as well as assisting with treatments. In addition, they are also given the responsibility of having the ability to diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries without always having a doctor present to guide them through the process.

Another required skill in many nursing professions is a basic understanding of medications and how they need to be administered. More and more patients are relying on their nurse to help them get well. In many instances, many nursing specialties require the ability assist the doctor in educating patients on what to do when it comes to their health and properly advise them on the best course of action related to their current health situation.

In many hospitals, a registered resident nurse is also in charge of the other nurses and also has the seemingly daunting task of organizing work schedules – since shifting is a common practice for those in the nursing profession, assigning which duty should be taken on by whom, as well as supervising the less trained nurses aides.

Another very positive benefit of getting involved in the nursing profession is that it does pay very well. However, top compensation also brings with it other responsibilities like excellent organization skills, flexibility and perhaps the most important characteristic found in all good nurses is a caring and compassionate nature that translates into a natural chemistry between themselves and their patients.

Do you Need New Nursing Uniforms

Numerous hospitals and doctors practices are purchasing new and improved nursing uniforms. The old and plain nursing uniforms are not making an impression any longer, more and more sites are recognizing that nice and friendly nursing uniforms go a long way towards putting the public relaxed People like every single child relate to their hospital staff anf to achieve that the nurses need to be wearing attractive and welcoming nursing uniforms.    
Should you consider receiving new nursing uniforms for your work environment? If so then you should know where to look. You will find the greatest and finest nursing uniforms online. The web has changed the way that any of us do everything, including shop for nursing uniforms. You can find all sorts of wonderful designs on the world wide web and the best part is that you can find them for a smaller amount than you ever imagined possible.

The nursing uniforms that you are looking for should be in nice and friendly colors. Some of the common and popular breastfeeding uniforms are purple or perhaps pink, others are a soft int green and even yellow. There are still some which are blue but these breastfeeding uniforms are fading from sight while they remind people of your old nursing uniforms and doctor scrubs. If youw ant to really get close to all of your respective patients then it is advisable to go with the different colors of nursing uniforms.

There are even some nursing uniforms that contain patterns of them. Most of these patters are simple geometric shapes however others are animal habits. I have seen breastfeeding uniforms with kitty pet cats and puppy dogs and even monkeys on them, it is amazing what you can view and how great all of them are to look at.

Everyone needs some brand new nursing uniforms sometimes and they will change the way you run your office or perhaps hospital, everyone will be comfortable and happy while using newer and better breastfeeding uniforms so start shopping online on their behalf today.

Anyone can find beneficial nursing uniforms in just moments. You will be capable to get as most of the top nursing uniforms while you need for much, a smaller amount than you would ever should pay offline. You may even get a deal if you get a certain number involving nursing uniforms online. This your very best self bet

Nursing Facts That Everyone Should know

Most people say it is usually a career about caring. Others say it is a job about professional administration of medications and cure to individuals. Some say it is the duty to see predicaments by using critical considering skills.

In whatever way you need to call it, nursing is, without a doubt, a conglomeration of all these beliefs as well as the faculty of many other expertise. Nursing merges all the portions of professional treatment, compassion, and medical attention into one vigorous and achievable occupation. Nurses demonstrate all the remarkable characteristics of a person knowledgeable in patient health care.

For this reason, many people all over the world continues to pursue a occupation in nursing. So for those who would like to establish a successful career in this particular in-demand and exciting job, there are ten things you need to understand first.  
1. The nursing profession started out primarily during the early Christian era where members of the church provided nursing care towards sick. Though not professionally systematic to begin with, most of the activities of early nurses were centered on proper hygiene and comfort needs that are still being practiced up to the.

2. It was in the entire year 1860 when Nightingale School with St. Thomas Hospital in Birmingham, the first training school with regard to nurses, was built. Florence Nightingale was the main one responsible in this momentous occasion. No wonder she was next acclaimed “The Founder of Current Nursing. ”

3. Linda Richards was the first trained nurse in the United States. In 1873, she graduated from New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston. Being one of the proponents of nursing, she opened the first training school for nurses in Japan and started a nurse training school at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia.

4. Historically, more women have preferred nursing as a career. In fact, nursing was known to be a career for women until today where things changed. There have been statistical reports showing gradual increase of registered nurses composed of men. This just implies that men can also be passionate and caring contrary to what the society have labeled them as strong and formidable human beings.

5. In the United States, 88% of the employed registered nurses are white or Caucasians. The remaining 12% are from non-Caucasians backgrounds; most of them came from non-Hispanic or African-American/Black race.

6. In the age demographics of the United States alone, most of the registered nurses are under the age of 40. Statistical reports in the year 2000 showed a relative increase in the median age thereby indicating an older nursing population and fewer young nurses entering the registered nurse population. Consequently, most people believe that 15 years from now, almost half of the registered nurse population will be retiring sooner or later leaving a smaller staff of younger registered nurses.

7. While most students pursue a career in nursing, the statistics show that most hospitals, particularly in the United States, are having problems in nursing shortage. This alarming condition is manifested by a growing number of retired nurses while the health care arena is continuously multiplying due to an excessive population growth in most areas. Nursing shortage is, in fact, a worldwide phenomenon. Countries like Canada, Philippines, Australia, Western Europe, Africa, and South America have reported significant nursing shortages.

8. Nowadays, most hospitals are more and more becoming large intensive care units with cardiac monitoring, respiratory assistance and intensive treatments are notably part of the typical patient’s therapy. And so, escalated demands in skilled and specialized nurses are in the offing.
9. Nursing shortages can certainly be a frightening cause of higher morbidity pace. According to a 1998 analysis, hospitals with more registered nurses on staff is actually higher ratios of nurses to patients had smaller amount of deaths compared to those that will not have larger staff of registered the medical staff. With this, nursing shortages must be resolved as quickly as possible to curb a boost inside morbidity.

10. Despite the alarming condition of nursing shortages currently, it was found out, by using a nationwide opinion focus group poll conducted with the American Hospital Association in 1997, that the nurses were the greatest vital indicator that the people often called the assessment of excellent hospital care.

With these facts, there is no doubt nursing is not only one profession with greater demands in terms of workforce and responsibilities but more of an humanitarian skill dealing with more compassion than technicalities. Thus, the ten details of nursing mentioned are not plain issues about the said profession; it is more about life itself and how nurses are deeply valued.

Nursing As A Profession

Nursing is a highly regarded profession with high standards of honesty and ethics amongst various other professions. Nursing has emerged as the largest health care occupation with over 2.7 million jobs. With over 100,000 vacant positions and a ever-growing need for health care workers, the career outlook is excellent for the nursing field. National Center for Workforce Analysis, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts a shortage of 808,416 nurses by the year 2020. Such an analysis and prediction is backed by very strong reasoning and findings. Advancement in technology and medical field has resulted in an increased life span. Elderly population is now living longer and more of them will require care and nursing. With more elderly people in need of such care, demands rise for nursing force that can meet such needs. Also, the need for more skilled nurses is growing. With insurance companies stepping into the medical field to reduce the cost of health care expenditure, demand for nurses, outside the hospital setting has also risen. Not to forget that the current nursing workforce is aging and many are expected to retire over next 10-15 years only to create a void, adding to the shortage further. So, nurses with a BSN degree can expect a securer career and better job prospects.

Nurses blend knowledge of science and technology with the art of care and compassion. Nursing provides opportunity to save and improve lives, care for the sick and debilitated, educate patients and people towards achieving good health and above all, the feeling of helping someone in their hour of illness and need. There is no greater service than caring for the sick and needy. Nurses are required to deliver basic duties, which includes but is not limited to providing treatment, health education, emotional support, record maintenance, operating medical equipment in addition to counseling patient and their family about the management of their illness. Registered Nurses (RNs) also run general health screening and immunization clinics, organize public seminars, motivate blood donation drives, etc. Three out of five nurses in the United States work in hospitals. Most of the others work in clinics, home health, extended care settings, schools, colleges, universities, the public health services, and nonprofit agencies throughout the United States and many other countries. Nursing can be a challenging job with continuous exposure to grief and suffering, stress, work pressures, little or excessive patient contact and occupational hazards including but not limited to infectious diseases, radiation exposure, accidental needle sticks, chemicals, anesthesia, back injury and emotional stress. Role autonomy and independence, innovativeness, technical knowledge, and teamwork are characteristics of this job, in addition to personal satisfaction and professional rewards.

The nursing schools are a gateway to this profession and almost all of them require a high school diploma in addition to sound academic standing in English, Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology with a GPA score of atleast 3. Computer experience is an asset. Leadership and organization skills are vital to this profession. Most schools shall still require you to clear the National League for Nursing (NLN) Pre-admission exam besides the SAT exam. Over 1,500 nursing programs in the US provide three different educational paths towards becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year program offered at colleges and universities. An associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two-year program offered at many community and junior colleges. Some hospital schools of nursing and universities offer an ADN degrees. Hospital Diploma is a two to three year program based in hospital settings. Many diploma schools are affiliated with junior colleges where students take basic science and English requirements. Opportunities are maximum with a BSN degree. BSN is a requirement for obtaining a master’s degree or becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recognizes the BSN degree as the minimum educational requirement for a professional nursing practice. Even though graduates can begin practice as an RN with an ADN or diploma, the BSN degree is a must for nurses seeking to assume roles as case-managers or supervisors or move across employment settings. Tuition fee depends on your college and state of residence, but financial aids and scholarships are available to take care of such needs. There are technical and vocational schools as well, which provide one-year course towards becoming a Practical Nurse or a Vocational Nurse. Once graduated, the next important thing is to obtain licensure for practice in the State of your preference. Eighteen states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement (NCLA) which permits a licensed nurse to practice in any of the other seventeen states, if they have obtained license to practice in one of the states. License can be obtained by passing national licensing exam NCLEX-RN for becoming a Registered Nurse and NCLEX-PN for becoming Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) as in Texas, California. LPN and LCN provide care for sick, injured and disabled under direct supervision of physicians and RNs.

Nursing career is full of opportunities for those who want to specialize and pursue higher education. A few popular specialties are AIDS Care Nurse, Ambulatory Care Nurse, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse, Case Management, Correctional Nurse, Enterostomal Therapy Nurse, Gastroenterology/Endoscopy Nurse, Genetics Nurse, Infection Control Nurse, Intravenous Therapy Nurse, long-term Care Nurse, Managed Care Nurse, Nephrology Nurse and more, the list does not end here. Most of the specialties do welcome RNs with a BSN degree only. In addition, there is increasing demand for APNs. APNs are primary health care practitioners, working independently or in collaboration with physicians. In most states, they are permitted to prescribe medications. The four specializations for APNs include Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) providing expert consultation in any of the above mentioned specialties; Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) administer anesthesia and monitor patient’s vital signs during surgery in addition to providing post-anesthesia care; Nurse Midwives (CNM) provide primary care to females covering aspects like family planning, prenatal care, neonatal care and assist delivery; and Nurse Practitioners (NP) who provide basic preventive health care to patient. NPs are primary as well as specialty care providers in medically underserved areas. APNs are lower cost primary care providers in comparison to physicians.

Advanced degrees available to nurses are masters (MSN), doctoral degree (Ph.D., EdD, DNS) and post-doctoral programmes. Doctoral degrees can provide placements as a senior policy analyst, researcher, health system executive and as a nursing school dean.

RNs may work as a staff nurse or become APNs. Also exisins are a few positions involving little or no direct patient contact. Such positions include Case Managers, Forensic Managers (applying knowledge of nursing for legal enforcement, like treating and investigating a victim of assault or abuse and similar), Infection Control Nurses, Legal Nurse Consultants (assist lawyers in medical cases by interviewing patient, organizing records, and educating lawyers about medical conditions), Nurse Administrators, Nurse Informatics, Health Care Consultants, Public Policy Advisors, Medical editors and writers.

Career and job prospects are bright as mentioned above and with increasing demand and difficulty to hold up nurses in hospitals, many hospitals and corporate sectors have now started offering incentives like signing bonuses, subsidized training, open shift bidding. Open shift bidding is an emerging concept where nurses can find vacant shifts at premium wages and bid for same online. This also reduces mandatory overtime that many nurses have to do otherwise. Many employers now provide family friendly work schedules and flexibility, again an indication of demand in such places.

RNs are earning anywhere from $37,300 to greater than $74,760 depending upon qualifications and experience, besides job locations. Median salary can be appreciated as $52,330 annually. Entry level RN can earn from $30,000 to $45,000 annually. All this comes with benefit packages including health insurance, holiday pay, college tuition reimbursement, childcare, pension plans and much more. Expected shortage of nurses over coming years is going to tilt the situation more in the favor of nurses and they can look forward to a securer future with brighter prospects and rewards.

Becoming a nurse is not just about money but dedicating your life to service mankind, caring for the sick and to be able to support them and their family in difficult times. The potential is enormous and specialization options aplenty. Nursing as a profession is full of personal satisfaction and professional rewards.

A Complete Nursing Career Overview

With almost 2.6M registered nurses (RN) in the United States, nursing is now the largest health care profession in the country. If you think that hospitals are the only place a nurse could be found, you are certainly misled. Public health agencies, communities, ambulatory care centers and other places where health care services are rendered also commonly have nurses employed.

1. The Nursing Practice

Nursing covers a wide area of practice. It includes

- Childcare

- Elderly care

- Services for pregnant women

- Services for newborn infants

- Specialty area – injury nursing

- Specialty area – cancer nursing

- Specialty area – forensic nursing

2. Choose Your Nursing Program

The first step to be a nurse is to graduate from a nursing program. This would enable you to take a state licensure examination. In the US, more than 1500 nursing programs are offered. Three of these programs prepare you in assuming different tasks once you graduate.

A. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

This is a four-year curriculum offered in colleges and universities. A graduate of this course has the advantage of learning health care settings that includes leadership and management. A degree in BSN is preferred and often required in many fields of nursing.

B. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

This is a 2 to 3 year program offered in community college as well as in junior collages. This program prepares the student in handling direct patient care.

C. Hospital Diploma

This is a 2 to 3 year program that is based in hospitals.

3. Nursing Positions

Now that you’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look on some of the nursing positions you can occupy. These positions are based on your experience and education.

A. Entry-level nursing position

This is the Staff Nurse Position. The nurse takes on making judgments based on scientific knowledge. You have to rely on procedures and standardized care plans.

B. Certified Mid-wife

This is a specialty nurse position where the nurse aids childbearing women. It starts during the preconception stage and goes through the prenatal, labor and delivery. Postpartum period care is also included in her duties. The nurse also provides family planning counseling as well as gynecological care for women.

C. Case Manager

Over time, a nurse can become a nurse case manager. In this position, the nurse will be involved in the process of organizing as well as coordinating the resources and services of an entire group of nurses, such as an entire hospital.

D. Nurse Educator

This is also a position a nurse could get involved with. Educating people about proper health care needs and procedures would be the basic tasks for this position. A Nurse Practitioner on the other hand conducts physical exams on patients, conducts diagnoses and provides treatments. A nurse practitioner could also write prescriptions and could also manage patients with chronic conditions such as diabetics and those with hypertension.

E. Nurse Anesthetist

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist assists during operations. They give anesthesia to the patients before and after the operation.

There are also various specialty nursing programs that would help you specialize in a specific area. Radiology Nursing, Rehabilitation Nursing, AIDS Care Nursing, and Forensic Nursing are few of these specialty areas. Radiology Nurses are concerned with patients that undergo diagnosis in radiology imaging environments. It also includes Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance and radiation oncology. Rehabilitation Nurses or Psychiatric Nurses takes on providing physical and emotional support both to the patient and their families. They deal with patients having mental incapacities. An AIDS Care Nurse manages the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of a patient suffering with AIDS. A Forensic Nurse works in a different environment with other nurses. They work with the law enforcement officials to help in the investigation of crimes like sexual assault and accidental death. They also help in the treatment of the victims of these crimes.
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Are You Considering A Job In Nursing

Professional medical careers are booming and nursing is probably the fastest growing occupations projected in next 5 years. Qualified nurses are highly sought after, thus if you are considering a job in nursing, you definitely come in the right career path.

Another thing to take note is nursing jobs certainly are a time-honored profession and a nurse need to be dedicated and diligent. You must be a style of person who can give another ounce of energy in order to be successfully in your nursing career path.

There are many nursing career options for you to participate in and you can purchase a working environment that suits your tastes and preferences. Among more common nursing jobs are:

Hospital Nurse

Most of nurses are normally working at hospital but this may not be the only option in medical job field. We will explain other sort of nurse jobs in next paragraph. A hospital nurse takes attention of hospital patients. If you are a hospital nurse, your daily care and interaction while using patient has a major influence on how fast the patient recuperates and on the patient's attitude
Private Duty Nurse

Private Duty Nurse is assigned to care a dedicated patient at hospital or at home. You will need to coordinate care between physician and family according to individual situations.

You will need to follow physician's orders for medications, treatment and keeps accurate record of patient's condition and reports to physician periodically. Beside the patient, a private duty nurse will also have the responsibility to educate the patient and the patient's family on importance of maintaining proper diet and health habits.

Hospice Nurse

A Hospice Nurse assesses patient health problems and needs and works to develop and implement nursing care plans with the goal of patient comfort. A hospice nurse typically administers care to patients in a hospice, home or long term care facility.

Operating Room Nurse

An Operating Room Nurse must understand the use of modern operating room equipment, the type of procedure the doctor is doing and the kinds of tools the doctor will need. The nurse must be ready to assist the surgeon and the surgical team in their tasks. Other then that, an operating room nurse will also need to oversee the work organization within the operating theatre, and mediate between the various hospital departments, the surgeons, and the management.

Home Care Nurse

Other than the above nursing job, home care nursing is one of the major booming sectors in health care industry. Today, home health care nurses work in rural, suburban and urban areas, traveling from patient to patient to care for and monitor the patient's needs and communicate with doctors and other medical staff. With the enhance of medical technology, home care nurses can now use mobile monitoring equipment to monitor everything from heart rate and blood pressure to blood sugar for diabetics and more, so the nurse can treat one patient and check on another one in the car on the way to visiting a third patient.

Earn Your Nursing Degree

In order to start your nursing career, you must be qualified in this field. Although you can start you nursing career as LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse), a higher degree you are more employable, you will earn a higher salary, and you will have much more freedom to chart your own career path. Beside the traditional classroom-based nursing degree, now you can earn your nursing degree online. The major benefit of pursuing the nursing degree online is that you can attend the online class at any location and at your own schedule. And the best part is you can continue with you current job while getting your nursing degree online.

If you think nursing is for you, look into local nursing schools or online universities that offer the related nursing courses and get started on the career path to nursing.

Advance Your Nursing Career With Online Nursing Degree

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in our economy with over a 27% spike in employment projected over the next 5 years. Qualified nurses are in highly demand in the health care market, earning a nursing degree will definitely lead you to a brighter future.

If you already in the health care market as a RN, it time for you to advance your nursing career by earning a bachelor or master nursing degree. With a higher degree you are more employable, you will earn a higher salary, and you will have much more freedom to chart your own career path.

Today, there are many prestige online universities offering RN-to-BSN online degree programs, and now you can earn your nursing degree online. The major benefit of pursuing the nursing degree online is convenience. Like most of prospective online nursing students, you have jobs that you cannot afford to give up in order to return to traditional campus based schools to pursue a higher degree. Having the ability to “attend” class online from anywhere internet access is available at any time that works for your schedule; online nursing degree enable you to achieve your nursing career goal while allowing you to continue your current job.

The Bachelor’s degree in Nursing is the basic degree at the professional level of the nursing profession. By earning an online bachelor degree in nursing, you may go on to have successful careers in specialized fields such a:

Emergency Room Care

Home Health Care

Mental Health Care

Critical Care

Oncology

Geriatrics

Pediatrics

Pulmonary

Obstetrics

Master Science in Nursing is one of the hottest degrees and students with master degree in nursing are highly demand in health care job market. Most often, students who choose to pursue a graduate degree in nursing have already gained experience working in the nursing field. The graduate degree will enable you to advance your career to a higher pay position, most often at the managerial level. You can also earn a graduate degree in nursing through online nursing program. Most often, as a master degree student, you will need to choose a specialization to focus in your study. Among the common specialization for graduate degree in nursing are:

Community Health Systems

Elderly Nursing

Psychological Nursing

Health Care Systems Administration

Family Nursing

After you complete the graduate degree program, you will be specially trained to be successful in the field of your focus of study.

Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations as projected in next 5 years. Qualified nurse with bachelor and master degree are highly demand in the health care job market, getting start now to earn your nursing degree will lead you to a brighter career future. Online nursing degree enables you to earn your degree from anywhere and at your own schedule while preparing you to compete in this booming health care sector.

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