Category Archives: Nursing Programs

Nursing Prerequisites for High School Students

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Since you may be thinking about how to become a nurse, there are a number of nursing prerequisites that may help you get accepted into a nursing school program. Taking the proper nursing prerequisites will help lay the groundwork for your training as a nurse and get you on a path to a career in nursing. It is a well know fact that there is a nursing shortage in the United States and is projected to get worse in the years to come with the aging population living longer. With this strong demand for qualified nurses, the healthcare field as a whole is demanding higher qualification from nurses.

Essential Nursing Prerequisites – Get Going Now

One of the most important nursing prerequisites for nurse training is to start preparation early. Since you have already found this article that is a good sign :) . If you are a high school and want to become a nurse, then now is the right time to start with you nursing prerequisites. Since nursing is science based, you should be taking as many high school courses as possible related to health studies. Biology, Anatomy, Chemistry, Math and any Social Science classes will be helpful. The higher level and the more classes you take will give you an edge when competing with other students for admission.

An essential skill which any nurse will need is EXCELLENT communication. You have to be good at interacting  with and communicating with patients, doctors, surgeons and any other hospital staff. Having a grasp on both properly written and spoken English is necessary for you to accurately draft up reports, read scripts, give out the proper meds, communicate with patients and families, doctors, physicians and surgeons. Basically anyone that you come across, you will need to understand and be understood!

Nursing Skills Assessment – Think Like A Nurse

Its no secret that the competition to get into a nursing programs is tough. A good GPA will be the first step towards getting into a good nursing school. Above average grades show that you work hard or at he very least you are smart. There are many nursing schools out there that will ask you to take a skills and knowledge type of assessment  test. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam will cover basic reading, math, English and science questions. These types of exams are used to filter out unqualified students. Some of the more common entrance tests are: The Nurse Entrance Test (NET) which tests interested applicants in the following skills: reading comprehension, reading rates, test taking, essential math, social interaction and learning styles inventory.

It is important to remember that graduate and undergraduate nursing school requirements run parallel to many common college requirements. Nursing prerequisites for nursing programs to graduate level nursing programs will always include completing your application on time and submitting it before they are due. In addition to being a good communicator, an important feature of a well rounded nurse is a positive attitude, a helpful and  friendly personality, the ability to deal with stressful situations and the desire to succeed. Add these all together and you have the basic nursing prerequisites for a career as a nurse.

Associate Degree in Nursing

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If you want to become a Registered Nurse(RN) then you should first start with an Associate Degree in Nursing. The two year associate program is well suited for students who want to get into the nursing field as soon as possible and are budget conscious. Their is a myth out there, which is not true of course, that you need to have your bachelors degree in nursing to become a Registered Nurse, and get your first job. With the advent of online nursing classes, the number of ADN students has been on the rise.

Associate Degree in Nursing Programs

An Associate Degree in Nursing program is typically offered a few different ways. The most common programs are your traditional campus based which are taken at a community college, trade school, tech institutes and finally private and public universities. Also like I mentioned a minute ago, the online Associate Degree in Nursing programs are very popular with student who do not have the time to attend a regular campus program. It is very important to check that the Associate Degree in Nursing program you are considering is accredited! Again make sure the program is accredited! A good place to start may be the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. There are lots of places on the web to find out more information about the schools you are considering. Message boards offer loads of useful information(be careful what you read sometimes) about programs, classes and even instructors

I earned my ADN…now what?

You have put in the time and effort and now you proudly hold your associate degree in nursing. So whats next? Well, your next move will be to sit for the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse). The four main topics covered under this exam are Safe Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity and Physiological Integrity Once you pass the exam you will then be qualified to practice as nurse. The test used to be multiple choice, but that has since changed to more modern format.

Employment after getting my Associate Degree in Nursing Program?

The funny thing about having you Associated Degree in Nursing is that you can work alongside someone who went to school for four years and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. The reason being, they have taken the same licensure exam! So you can take you ADN and work at a hospital, health center, school or anywhere a BSN graduate works. The important thing to keep in mind is that a licensed ADN graduate is also Registered Nurses(RN) once you pass the NCLEX-RN .

Expected salary with an Associate Degree in Nursing Program?

Entry level jobs for ADN and BSN graduates are very similar when first starting out in the healthcare field. A typical starting salary averages anywhere from $40-$80K. Since the sky is the limit, a Registered Nurse can follow a career path to a higher paying job by some type of specialization.

So there you have it…..You now know the basics of what it takes to become a RN!

RN to BSN Online

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A registered nurse is a person who has earned a diploma in nursing and has a license to practice nursing. A nurse has a much less education than a BSN qualified nurse does because when the BSN nurses go for four years, a registered nurse goes for two years. The education levels in these two categories matter a lot, because a BSN receives a higher salary than a registered nurse, can take more nursing specialties and their career advancement is higher than that of a registered nurse. That is why as a registered nurse, you need to register for this transition program online. RN to BSN Online program allows you as a nurse to earn that degree in four years time. This RN to BSN Online program is good because you can learn during the weekend or the evening hours.

This RN to BSN Online program is the most convenient way to get you that BSN qualification. You do not necessarily have to quit your job to attend classes and you only attend classes when you have the time. This program allows you to learn at your own pace where you are most comfortable. You complete the course as you work. Choose the one that really suits you and your lifestyle.

As a diploma holder, you have to have your paperwork ready. Get all your academic papers, professional preferences, CPR certification and your license of practice, which should be active, valid and very current. Your GPA should be 2.0 for you to be considered for the transition program.

For you to qualify for this RN to BSN online transition program, you have to have had experience in your RN certification and it depends on the minimum hours laid down by the school that you are enrolling in. It all depends with the medical institution that you are going to enroll to.

Enroll for a RN to BSN Online program at the institution of your choice and make sure that the program that they are offering is allowed in your state of practice. Make sure that all the courses you need for your enrollment are fully completed so that you can be admitted. When you are a registered nurse, you can earn credit transfers as long as you have maintained your RN license by passing the NCLEX_RN license exams.

Make sure that you complete all the core curriculum vitae so that you can move from the lower division to the upper division of the nursing course making sure that you are maintaining the required GPA or the minimum grade in all the subjects that you are taking. In this program, you get to advance your knowledge in psychology, human growth and development, sociology and many other units that are useful in a nurse’s career.

This knowledge allows the nurse to venture in other areas in the medical field. With this, the nurse can also register to become a doctor. The nurse is very qualified and ready for greater heights. When you have completed all the course requirements and all the laboratory requirements, you are ready to graduate with a BSN certificate.

LPN to BSN Fast Track Programs

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LPN to BSN Fast Track Programs are one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. You are able to move from the lowest rank to highest rank of the nursing career and get all the benefits that come with one. Your salary is increased, your allowances are increased and your medical cover among other things is increased. Your life becomes better with LPN to BSN Fast Track Programs and you will always bless the day you signed up for the transition.

Another benefit that comes with this LPN to BSN Fast Track Programs are that you can specialize in an area or in more than one area when it comes to the nursing career. You can become a nursing teacher in the end of your nursing course. There are many programs; more than one that can see you on a LPN to BSN Fast Track Programs.

As different as they are, the same way there are different requirements for one to enroll for one. Most of these programs go for three years or less when you are doing them full time. In some instances, you can be able to do them part time but the time that you take to finish might be longer. Some programs allow the LPNs to use their coursework in their previous work. They have to meet some specific grade requirements and the course work is to be completed in a period. Credit transfers are offered by the examining council but the coursework has to be finished and in a specified period.

This LPN to BSN  transition program requires 120 hours approximately. It includes humanities and social sciences, science and English, and general course work. After the general courses, one then starts on the nursing courses. These are pharmacology, general patient assessment, how to calculate doses, medical ethics, research and theory, and patient nutrition. The final semester of this transition program emphasizes more on experience and less on course work. This program also includes classes for patient care in the ICU, maternity ward, surgery ward and the general mental health of the patient. Students are supposed to complete the specified number of hours in clinics and laboratory.

This program prepares the LPNs for a smooth transition to a field with more responsibilities and more demands when becoming registered nurses. It also prepares them for becoming licensed. All the nurses have to have passed the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse so that they can qualify to become registered nurses in any state. Accredited nursing programs provide practical hours and sufficient education for the students to take the national exam. The students taking the course online are sometimes required to take the conventional classes so that they can be fully prepared to take the exam.

The cost of these LPN to BSN Fast Track Programs courses varies widely and it depends on the length of the program. Tuition fee is not inclusive of the uniforms, books and other fees like the registration fees and the library fees. The good thing is that the students are eligible for state and federal grant programs that offer student educational loans. Their employers also offer some students educational loans. Once the program is finished, the students can work in some specified medical institutions where the loan can be repaid by the number of hours they work in the institution.

Patient Care Technician Duties

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The patient care technician (PCT) cares for the injured, physically and mentally ill, disabled or infirm patients in many different health care settings including rehabilitation facilities.  They work under the supervision of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to monitor the patient’s condition.  The role of the patient care technician is a vital contribution to the medical team as they have the most direct contact with the patient of any of the members of the team.

Specific Duties of the Patient Care Technician

  • Respond to patient’s calls for assistance
  • Assist patient with bathing, dressing and personal hygiene
  • Serve meals and feed patient if they are unable to feed themselves
  • Monitor and record vital signs
  • Observe and record the patient’s physical, mental and emotional condition
  • EKG’s, phlebotomy and other clinical tasks
  • Move and transport patient from bed to wheelchair and back or assist the patient in walking
  • Make beds and keep patient’s room clean and neat
  • Set up and operate therapeutic equipment and supplies
  • Assist doctors and nurses during examinations and treatment procedures

Education and Certification

Classes are usually in a program that generally run about six to 12 weeks and can be found in a local trade school, community college or local hospital.  Upon completion of coursework and hands-on skill training, the PCT must pass a certification examination in order to work in the field.  Don’t be discouraged and think that you can’t take advantage of an online PCT training program because of the hands-on nature of the training.  The online patient care technician programs also include this type of skill training in their curriculum and will direct you to where you can complete this portion of your training in a facility near you.  By the way, a typical PCT program may also equip the student to become a CNA – Certified Nurse Assistant

Who Should Consider a Career as a Patient Care Technician?

You should contemplate this career if the thought of working in the health care field is attractive to you and especially if the thought of spending far more time in direct contact with your patients than with paperwork sounds good to you.

Your main duty as a patient care technician is to support the daily care of the physical, mental and emotional condition of your patients.  If you are looking for glamour, this career is not for you.  You will spend many hours bathing, feeding and recording life signs of your patients.  If you are looking, though, for a position that often makes the most impact on a patient, then this career is for you.

The Future of the Patient Care Technician

The demand is great and growing for the PCT.  Due to technical advances in the medical industry, doctors can see more patients per day than ever before, resulting in the need for more and more patient care technicians.  On the average, the entry level PCT can expect a decent annual salary

Nursing Classes – What a Student Can Expect From

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Having recently finished my first year in an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) program, I reflect on what I was up to the same time last year. I was totally devoted to forums, constantly reading everything available and trying very hard to be prepared for the rest of the two-year program. I am happy to report that forums are awesome. I would advise anyone beginning nursing classes to peruse as many posts as possible to shed a little light on what your first year has in store for you. My first semester began with the discovery that I was in nursing classes with a gaggle of drama queens. Fortunately, a very brave student made a stand and shut the queens up. After that, the environment reverted to one where learning could ensue. So, my first bit of advice is to steer clear of the dramatics or stop it dead should it arise.

You will study more than you ever thought possible, even if school so far has been a breeze for you. Nursing classes are not for one where you can get away with a fine memory and learn by rote. You cannot pass any exam in nursing school by memorizing information, you must know how to apply that knowledge. You must correlate one bit of data with another. Your thinking will be altered a bit, and you may not even know it.

Another thing I learned – study groups don’t study. You may know you are a person, like me, who doesn’t study well in groups, but prefer to get the information on your own. Nonetheless, I thought I’d give the group a try. The first two sessions were about gossip, entertaining yes, but not subject enlightening. The group splintered into several with those having similar study habits forming a union with successful results..

Organizational skills have never been more important when taking nursing classes. Save your acceptance letter, every certification, lab slip and record given to you in school. You will need these for your resume portfolio. Make a special place for study in your home and stock it with all the things you need to do your studying and nothing more. You will eventually figure out what mode of study works best for you.

Communication doesn’t just happen randomly. You must network during your nursing classes as well as out in the real world. Collect every little bit of information you can from whoever you can get it from. The person off to the side knows something you don’t. The lady near the back aisle does too. Talk to them and learn. Your class will probably have a Facebook group to share information. Join it.

Time management includes keeping a detailed calendar. A Blackberry or smart phone will work if it is always with you and you never lose it. If that is not the case with you, keep the old low tech planner book with you. You can write a lot more notes and the calendar will remain at your side, unless of course, you forget it, then you can write on a napkin and transpose the notes into your planner later.

You will spend thousands of bucks on books for nursing classes, just your first semester and that won’t be enough material to learn it all. Throughout the year, after networking with several of my fellows, I purchased five books that were not on the required list. These have been invaluable for everything from test taking skills to understanding fluids and electrolytes to overcoming those hideous HESI exams that must be taken during nursing school. While we are on the subject of test taking skills – you will need them big time. There are many questions on tests that demand a knowledge base, not particularly a factual one. The test-taking books you have will surely have a test-taking tutorial or two. Go over these tutorials again and again until they become part of your very fiber.

Nursing classes are challenging. Don’t burn out. Go have some fun occasionally and relax. It will keep you going.

I hope this lengthy treatise has given you some insight. I went on this journey knowing nothing. It would have been helpful if the second year students had filled me in on a few basics. Go on. Learn, discover and know. Enjoy the journey.

Online Nursing Programs – Get Connected

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Welcome to the age of technology and instant information. Online nursing schools who offer an online nursing programs have been carefully developed and evolved over the last few years with a means to provide nursing classes for students who don’t have the time or money to attend traditional hospital programs or university campuses. For those who have invested in an online education, online nursing programs may be the answer. Now that nursing licenses have become more standardized quality online nursing programs have popped up all over the internet. Today it is safe to say that online nursing programs and students are matched with excellent instructors, teaching methods, and opportunities for financial assistance.

Advantages of Online Nursing Programs

We all have heard of, or know the advantages of pursuing online nursing programs. I will summarize for those who may be on the fence about taking a nursing course online. The biggest and most obvious advantage is learning from the comfort of your home. You will have deadlines, but can still complete the course work at your own pace. If finances for education are a problem, then online classes will stretch your tuition dollars. Since online nursing programs are offered on the net, it goes without saying that your choice of schools greatly increases and opens up opportunities to those who can not attend a campus type school. Look for nursing schools that offer accelerated programs. Some programs will credit you for having work experience or prior nursing degree education. Most online classes consist of discussion groups, chats, emails, streaming video, and video conferencing, which may help some students learn more quickly. These types of interactions may help shy students who are less likely to participate in a traditional class room setting. Please make sure you have a quiet place to study and attend your online classes. Distractions at home can detract from the online experience.

Like any other profession, the ability to advance in your chosen profession will be much easier for people who earn at least have a bachelor’s BSN or higher degree in nursing. A RN has the option of completing their BSN nursing degree after they get settled in their nursing career. Hospitals and managed care providers are always looking for people who can lead as a in a supervisory or managerial role. Since BSN and MSN nursing degrees offer advancement opportunities a BSN nursing degree is often a prerequisite for graduate nursing programs.

Federal financial aid is generally available for both campus and online nursing degree programs. Please ask your advisor for the latest details on obtaining financial aid for your desired nursing degree program.

If you are already working as Nursing Aid, Licensed Practical Nurse LPN, or Registered Nurse RN, please request information from the online nursing degree programs featured. If you need help or more information to decide which program will suite for your needs, you will always have the chance to meet with a professional advisor and determine which nursing degree program fits your career needs.

Lastly, Please check and make sure that the Online Nursing Class or program you are considering is accredited. Since accreditation differs throughout the country, all nursing programs, diploma, associate degree, and bachelor’s degrees must be accepted or accredited in the state for which they operate.

Accelerated Nursing Programs – Get On The Fast Track

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By 2018 the Dept of labor is forecasting the need in excess of one million new and replacement RNs. Due to the demand nursing colleges and through out the United States are coming up additional means to build the capacity and find new nursing student populations. The accelerated nursing programs for non-nursing graduates is one of the newest methods to achieve this goal. These accelerated nursing programs are designed for the baccalaureate and master’s degree levels and are designed to take advantage of a student’s previous college experience. This tool will provide the ability for students who all ready have an undergraduate degree to move into a nursing program via accelerated nursing programs.

Accelerated Nursing Programs – Fast-Track

A fast-track baccalaureate program usually takes about a year to a year and a half to complete, including prerequisites. The fast-track master’s degree programs generally take about 3 years to finish. Students interested in applying for accelerated nursing programs must first have completed their bachelor’s degree in any subject with having or not having a degree in registered nursing. Already having their bachelor’s degree will prevent the redundancy of repeating the basic requirements that typical bachelor degree programs require. The majority of RN’s wanting to move forward in their profession without committing to college full time have taken advantage of the accelerated BSN degree program. In most cases an accelerated BSN degree program prevents the student from having to retake many of the liberal arts requirements that were completed for their prior bachelor’s degrees. In a not so typical situation a student may have take some science prerequisites before they take the usual anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and microbiology.

Accelerated Nursing Programs are tailored to individuals who can prove their ability to succeed at a earning a nursing degree. The appeal of accelerated nursing programs is that most students have already completed the usual liberal arts requirements. The levels to be accepted for accelerated programs are tough with most programs typically requiring in the neighborhood of a 3.0 GPA and a rigid pre-screening process which usually includes a personal sit down interview. Schools want the best and will seek out the students who will excel in his pressure environment. Being that the work load is high and the requirements are intense, students taking accelerated programs should seek out as many nursing scholarships as possible to avoid having to take a job. Full attention to and an accelerated nursing program should be your highest priority

The most important thing to remember is the accelerated BSN program is an extremely demanding and difficult endeavor. You must understand that you may have to sacrifice parts of your life to achieve this goal. It takes a certain type of devotion and passion for a student who is serious, goal oriented; self motivated and focused to succeed in bringing their career to a higher level.

Medical Assistant Certification – Patient Care Technician Certification – Medical Laboratory Assistant Certification

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The benefits of a career in the health care industry are many.  Health care is not going away and neither is the ongoing need for qualified, dedicated people that keep clinics, hospitals and doctor’s offices operating smoothly while giving patients optimum care.  A career in clinical service is a good choice for those who care about helping people in need, are skilled in their subject and interested in doing something worthwhile with their lives.  Following are three dynamic career choices (Clinical Medical Assistant Certification,  Medical Laboratory Assistant Certification, Certified Patient Care Technician/Associate/Nurse Technician) that will fulfill many of your desires in working in the health care industry.

The Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CCMA)

The clinical medical assistant is not a licensed practitioner, but is nonetheless a multi-skilled health care practitioner who has the ability to be highly competent in both clinical and laboratory procedures.  They also take on many administrative duties.

Some of your duties as a CCMA will be to interview patients and obtain their vital signs, prepare the treatment rooms by cleaning and sterilizing the necessary medical equipment, administer injections and conduct venipuncture and laboratory tests.  This is a great career for anyone seeking a rewarding and non-routine working life.

Certified Patient Care Technician/Associate/Nurse Technician

The certified patient care technician/associate/nurse technician assists doctors, nurses and other members of the health care profession in providing direct patient care in any number of health care environments.  This could include among others, clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices both general and specialty and nursing homes.

Duties of this position include such basic patient care necessities as feeding, bathing or moving the patient and changing their linens.  The CPCT/CPCA/CNT will also set up required medical equipment, escort patients to their procedure areas, administer injections and provide venipuncture laboratory tests.  They may also be responsible for obtaining EKGs.  This cumbersomely titled person is indispensable to any health care setting.

Medical Laboratory Assistant Certification (CMLA)

The medial lab assistant is responsible for assisting in performing analytical tests that are critical tools to detect, diagnose and treat diseases.  The CMLA works in the laboratory helping other laboratory personnel in examining and analyzing body fluids and cells.

This position ca be an excellent start to an ever-advancing career in many health care disciplines.  It opens doors to advanced skills, paychecks and knowledge to put you steadfastly in many other areas of the health care industry.

The importance of certification in all three of these career options cannot be stressed enough.  The certification on your resume or CV in the health care industry is like an MBA on the resume of a budding business executive.  Both open so many doors for the person who has attained them that it is utterly to your advantage to present yourself apart from the madding crowd by obtaining the necessary credential of the certification..  The certification proves to the employer that you are dedicated enough to your career choice to have gone through the rigorous certification process and have learned the personal and technical skills to put you way out in front of the non-certified candidate who chose not to do so.

Clinical Certifications at National Healthcareer Association

Become a Certified Medical Administration Assistant

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 National Healthcareer Association careers offer personal rewards not found in the corporate cubicle.  If you are after an interesting, well paying career that allows you to sleep well every night, you should look into becoming a Certified Medical Administration Assistant (CMAA), Health Record Specialist (CEHRS), or Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).  For further enlightenment of this burgeoning professional arena. a brief review of each certification follows.

Certified Medical Administration Assistant (CMAA)

A  Certified Medical Administration Assistant may also be titled Medical Office Secretary or Medical Office Assistant.  Whatever it is called, this career path gives the Certified Medical Administration Assistant the opportunity to review and answer correspondence, prepare operating reports such as payroll and budgetary items and work with other functioning units, e.g. record keeping systems.  Additionally, the Certified Medical Administration Assistant interviews new job applicants, greets patients, schedules appointments and updates and maintains patient charts.

Obviously, the Certified Medical Administration Assistant is an integral part of the smooth operating medical team with important responsibilities and the opportunity to learn many aspects of medical office operations while interfacing with patients and health practitioners.

Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS)

This is a great career for the detail oriented, those who thrive on accurate documentation and coding of information.  There are specialties within this category including entry level coders in a hospital setting, and moving up the ladder to HIPAA Compliance Officer and HIM or Health Information Manager.  The duties other than coding electronic records will vary depending on the size of the facility and its specialty.  CEHRS is a good start to a progressively responsible career path in the allied medical field.

Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)

This aspect of a medical certification is slightly different than the others in that it may be carried out in an insurance office, the Employee Benefits Department of a major corporation and many other settings other than those that are specifically health care.  It requires analytical skills to understand the policies of the company, know which codes to assign to each diagnosis and procedure performed on the patient, keeping current on disease information processes and may involve coding patient medical records to ensure accurate reimbursement for medical services rendered a patient.

The demand for these positions is sure to grow as the medical field becomes increasingly digital.

You can learn about how to earn any of these certifications by surfing the internet and searching for Medical Administration Certifications.  It may be true that not everyone working in these occupations has gained certification.  However, it is substantially to their benefit and to those who wish to enter the field to obtain the proper certification.  Especially when you understand the expected explosive growth of the health care industry and the intense competition for jobs that this will bring.  Most employers will hire the person with a college degree over the one without, all other circumstances being equal.  The degree holder has proven he has perseverance and dedication to his field of study.  The same is true of the certificate holder versus the non-certified employee and/or job seeker.