Archive for the ‘ Nursing ’ Category

There has been a shortage of registered nurses (RN) across the US. This has become a cause of concern as there is an insufficient supply of nurses in most of the health care centers. This shortage is due to an increase in the number of retiring nurses. Owing to this reduction in the number of qualified nurses, nursing school leaders, federal and state legislators, health care administrators, and consumer advocacy groups are looking at ways to reduce this shortage. This in turn has led to an increase in new job opportunities for prospective nurses.

Shortage of Nurses Due To Retirement

Based on the reports provided by the Washington Post, about a third of the nursing workforce is aged 50 or older with more than 55 percent of them retiring over the next 10 years. This is likely to cause a shortage of at least 300,000 nurses in the coming years.

• Based on a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2000), the U.S. will have a 20% shortage in the number of nurses needed in the healthcare industry by the year 2020.
• The American Hospital Association reports that 75% of all current hospital vacancies are for registered nurses.
• Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that there is a need of over one million new nurses by the year 2010.

Various Benefits Offered to Nurses

Owing to the shortage of nurses, many benefits are being offered to attract students to pursue a career in nursing.These benefits include reviewed salaries and better working conditions. Other benefits include greater independence and flexibility on the job to enable nurses to study even while they are working. There is a conscious effort to appeal to new students as well as to retain working RNs in the profession.

New Job Opportunities for Nurses

Nurses enjoy job security as there is a regular demand for them in hospitals, clinics, home health organizations as well as in places like schools and college athletic departments. They can also specialize in various areas of medicine. Nurses are needed as researchers, health care administrators, policy analysts, and nurse executives. Those who are baccalaureate-prepared have better opportunities for career advancement.Nurses can also work as educators to train new nurses.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median yearly income of up to $63,750 for registered nurses in 2009. This median salary has increased considerably over the years. This is likely to be different for different nurses based on the place where they work and on their area of specialization. If nurses pursue online degree programs, they can become advanced practice nurses.

Therefore, in spite of an increase in the number of nurses retiring, the nursing shortage is not going to affect the country. On the contrary it has opened up various job opportunities and has led to an improvement in resources for those seeking a nursing education as well as a nursing career. These resources include financial aid like grants, loans and scholarships.Thus it can be said that the nursing is a career that offers great career prospects.

Thinking of becoming a medical assistant? Online medical assisting degree programs are flexible and easily accessible via distance education. Although most assistants receive their training on the job, online degrees and certification programs will provide you with the best job opportunities and builds a foundation for future academic and career advancements.

Advantages of Online Medical Assistant Degrees

Most medical assistants begin their careers with minimal studies, some start off with only a high school diploma or its equivalent, and receive on the job training; however advancement opportunities and job duties are limited. You on the other hand have the advantage to enter this field with the proper training and qualifications that will place you above those without a degree.

Online Associate of Science Degree Major in Medical Assisting

If you are ready to begin you career in the healthcare industry, starting out with an associate of science degree in medical assisting may allow you to take advantage of the best job opportunities and workplace environments. It will also help you to advance your education in a shorter time frame, because all or most of your general education requirements would have been completed. To qualify for an online Associate of Science Degree in Medical Assisting, you will have to earn at least 60 credit hours to receive a diploma.

Online Training and Job Functions

Online medical assisting program main objective is to train and provide you with the skills and knowledge required to be successful in the healthcare industry. These accredited online degree programs will prepare you to perform various administrative and clinical job duties under the instruction of an attending practitioner or physician. Some of these job functions include, preparing examination area, taking blood samples and vital signs, giving injections and medications, managing and updating patients’ medical records, scheduling appointments, explaining medications and treatments to patients and family members, and billing, among other tasks.

Job Outlook for Graduates with Online Medical Assistant Degrees

The healthcare sector is one of the largest employers in the US. Medical assistants will have excellent job opportunities, as this field is expected to grow at a fast pace over the next decade. Pursuing an online medical assistant degree program is a great career move and at the perfect time. Begin your journey today!

Forensic Nursing is a fairly new but evolving profession for nurses who would like to explore beyond the core nursing abilities. As a forensic nurse, you will receive specialized training in forensic evidence collection, criminal procedures, legal testimony expertise, and more. You will become somewhat of a liaison between the medical profession and the criminal justice system.

Responsibilities of a Forensic Nurse

As a forensic nurse, you will be called to a crime scene or accident to work with detectives, collect evidence, take tissue and blood samples, treat survivors of assaults, violent crimes or accidents, or identify the cause of injuries and/or death in addition to referring victims for appropriate follow-up care.

Forensic Nurse Career Overview

Forensic nurses are trained to recognize, collect and preserve evidence during a crime scene investigation. Forensic nurse also works beside hospital staff collecting and documenting evidence, provide treatment and work as a legal advocacy for victims in a fast-paced crime scene environment.

Listed below are some of the career specialties you can choose to pursue in forensic nursing:

• Community education
• Correctional nursing
• Gerontology specialization
• Legal nurse consulting
• Nurse coroner/death investigation
• Sexual assault nursing

Path to a Forensic Nursing Career

The best path towards a career in the forensic nursing profession begins with a registered nurse (RN) education, then a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), followed by an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a diploma. Most nursing schools that offers a forensic nursing degree program online offer 2-year graduate-level courses awarding a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree upon completion.

There are three paths to get there:

• Earn an associate’s degree in nursing.
• Earn a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing.
• Earn a diploma from an approved, accredited nursing program.

Salary as a Forensic Nurse

Salaries will vary depending on your forensic nurse’s educational level, the job’s location, your specialty and the duties performed. Even though forensic nurse salary will vary depending on where you decide to seek employment, forensic nurse in general earn more than RNs because of the higher education.

Online Forensic Training and Programs

UC Riverside – Online

American Forensic Nurses (AMRN) in partnership with the University of California-Riverside, the American Institute of Forensic Education (AIFE), and other educational institutions presents online professional development courses for forensic professionals. These programs developed by internationally recognized experts in the field are delivered in a virtual setting, in addition to on-demand, self-paced instruction. Upon completion, attendees will receive a certificate of completion and, where appropriate, seek accreditation.

Kaplan University – Online Forensic Nursing certificate

The challenging field of investigative science relies on registered nurses with forensic education to play an important role on the forensic team. The Forensic Nursing Certificate is designed to help you leverage your nursing experience and specialize your skills to address both the needs of victims and law enforcement agencies.

Forensic nursing is an emerging field that offers an exceptionally rewarding journey with lots of financial benefits not found in traditional nursing careers. This could be a great career path for you.

Nursing remains one of the hottest career fields. So, if you want to start a career in nursing quickly then becoming an LPN is the stepping stone to get you there. There are a variety of online colleges offering online LPN programs to suit your needs.

Nature of Work

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) care for the sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direct supervision of physicians and registered nurses. However, experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

Patient Care

LPNs care for patients in many ways in a variety of settings. However, some LPNS may work in a specialized setting, such as a nursing home, a doctor’s office, or in home healthcare.

LPNs may care for patients by providing:

• LPNs provide basic bedside and personal hygiene care.
• LPNs measure and record patients’ vital signs such as weight, temperature, and so on.
• Prepare and give injections and enemas
• Monitor catheters
• Dress wounds
• LPNs might also feed patients who need help eating.
• and give alcohol rubs and massages, and much more.

Online LPN Training and Qualifications

LPNs must be licensed to practice. Most State-approved practical training programs last about 1 year, and must be completed to be eligible for licensure. These practical training programs are usually offered by vocational and technical schools, community or junior colleges and various online colleges and Universities. Other programs are available through high schools, hospitals, and colleges and universities. A high school diploma or its equivalent usually is required for entry, although some programs accept candidates without a diploma, and some programs are part of a high school curriculum.

Employment Setting

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 25 percent of LPNs worked in hospitals, 28 percent in nursing care facilities, and another 12 percent in offices of physicians. Others worked for home healthcare services; employment services; residential care facilities; community care facilities for the elderly; outpatient care centers; and Federal, State, and local government agencies.

Job Prospects for LPNs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, in addition to projected job growth, job openings will result from replacement needs, as many workers leave the occupation permanently. Very good job opportunities are expected. Rapid employment growth is projected in most healthcare industries, with the best job opportunities occurring in nursing care facilities and in home healthcare services. There is a perceived inadequacy of available healthcare in many rural areas, so LPNs willing to locate in rural areas should have good job prospects.

Actually, earning an associate degree in nursing is not a bad choice. Nursing shortage is expected to grow annually through 2016, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The demand for nurses may create over a million new jobs; this is why now is the best time to acquire nursing degree online. It’s time to explore your chances for a nursing career.

Online Nursing Education

A one-year or associates degree in nursing is very popular at community colleges. These online or distance learning options for the associate degree are available online and offer practical curriculums. If you decide at a later time you want to pursue your nursing education further, you can earn your BSN then you can jump right into an Associates-to-BSN degree program available through many online nursing programs. LPN/LVN degree programs can usually be completed within a year. RNs require a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree for nurse practitioners. BSN degrees offer the widest array of career options and nurses at the PhD level are mostly found in research positions or as educators.

Salary for Nurses

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses in May 2006 was $57,280, with the lowest ten percent earning less than $40,250 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $83,440. RNs earn approximately $15,000 more per year then their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) counterparts. It’s obviously worth it to pursue to nursing degree online!

Online associate nursing degree programs offered through distance learning by accredited online scolleges and universities are listed below:

• Western Career College - At Western Career College, you can obtain valuable career training in a highly supportive learning environment, attending classes at the times and places that are convenient to you.
• Rasmussen College - One-hundred-ten years after the founding of Rasmussen, the college continues to stay true to its mission to be a leader in education by expanding its offerings to include Bachelor’s degrees, and by earning regional accreditation. Rasmussen College is also known as a leader in online learning, with more than 14,000 students and 1,000 faculty members.
• South University College of Nursing - Thinking about a career in nursing? Well, discover how South University’s nursing programs can help you learn the skills needed for this rewarding career.
• Kaplan University School of Nursing - When you enroll in Kaplan University School of Nursing online, you will enjoy the flexibility of pursuing your educational goals from the convenience of your own home or anywhere you have Internet access.

Save the headache and expense of commuting and have more time for family, work, and other social activities. Online associate degrees in nursing make available to the nursing students flexibility, a variety of career choices and specialties. So, take the first step towards your associate’s degree in nursing online.

If becoming a nurse is really what you want, go for it! Pursuing a career as a registered nurse (RN) is the best career move you can make. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, RN jobs are one of the top growth industries in the next decade. So, nurses are in high demand and will continue to be for some time due to the current nurse shortage. This is a great career move on your part and a sound financial investment in your future.

Earn Your Registered Nursing Degree Online

Distance learning options for the RN degree is available online and offer practical curriculums for adults with busy lives. There are a few online programs that will require on-campus clinical experiences and laboratory credits along with the online courses, so you may want to keep that in mind. However, to be fully recognized as a registered nurse you need to be licensed by your state. You will need to complete a state-approved program and then take a test, called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) examination. Most accredited online RN degree programs focus on preparing you for this exam.

Job Fulfillment

If you like to work with a variety of people and want to make a difference in their lives, then a nursing career is a perfect fit. That is what being a nurse means. You will step into people’s lives and make a difference. You will see people at their worst and at their best. You see life begin and end. You see people’s full capacity for love, courage and endurance. Being a nurse is fulfilling and one of the most important jobs you can choose.

Earnings Outlook for Nurses

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses in May 2006 was $57,280, with the lowest ten percent earning less than $40,250 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $83,440. RNs earn approximately $15,000 more per year then their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) counterparts. It’s obviously worth it to pursue your nursing degree online.

Top Online Nursing Schools

Some of the top accredited online nursing schools include:

Chamberlain College of Nursing – Online

Make the choice to make a difference in people’s lives. Advance your nursing career by earning your RN to BSN online, while you work. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a highly respected online program in your local area. Online RN-BSN students will participate in experiential learning projects within their course work. The curriculum does not include clinical work. Financial aid is available for students who qualify.

Loyola University School of Nursing

Classes offered at Loyola University School of Nursing are fully online, so you can-continue working full time and maintain your lifestyle while completing your degree. Loyola University New Orleans is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kaplan University School of Nursing – Online

When you enroll in Kaplan University School of Nursing online, you will enjoy the flexibility of pursuing your educational goals from the convenience of your own home or anywhere you have Internet access. Kaplan University can help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to become a leader in this fast-growing industry

If you are interested in any of these online nursing schools and would like to find out more about their online RN programs, please visit their website for specific details.