Archive for August, 2009
One of the challenges for many potential nursing students is how to get their degree when there are so many other time demands in their lives. Fortunately, there are many new programs being offered by online colleges that enable students to get their nursing degrees and nursing certifications in record time. We have seen a huge increase in the demand for these types of accelerated programs and wanted to spend a little bit of time explaining why this should be considered a viable option for students. We feel it is important to dispell some of the myths surrounding concerns over these accelerated programs.
We have heard from some of our students that they are a little bit concerned that they may be missing some important training if they opt for an accelerated nursing program. This is simply not the case. An accelerated program just condenses the course work, it doesn’t eliminate or shorten the curriculum. An accelerated program just works better with your schedule while still providing you with all of the necessary skills you need to master your nursing certification tests.
It’s also important to consider that many of the traits of a good nurse aren’t tied to the education that they have received but really to the motivation behind becoming a nurse in the first place. Most of the best nurses really have a natural talent and or inclination to be in this field. They have that desire to help others and a natural knack for understanding basic treatments and remembering a wide variety of medical topics. These nursing instincts aren’t really taught, they are intrinsic to the person and therefore it doesn’t matter if you complete a program in four years or two years in the grand scheme of things.
An accelerated nursing program recognizes that the technical skills need to be targeted while the more subtle skills that the job requires are often inherent in the individual. Many patients have encountered the perfect nurse but few of us think about why that person was so good at his or her job.
There are some qualities that a good nurse has that can not be taught. Consider your best encounter with a nurse. She probably had the ability to put you at ease in just a few words. Or she could simply make you feel relaxed through her demeanor and approach.
Describing the types of qualities you look for in your caregiver is often difficult. There is just something about the person that helps you through a difficult situation but you are not sure what it is. Of course, an accelerated nursing program does not develop or extend those qualities any more than a traditional nursing program would.
Now consider your worst encounter with a nurse. She was probably abrasive and indifferent. Maybe she was sarcastic. She may have made you feel as if you were a burden. She could have technically done everything “right” but you just feel awful after seeing her and hope that there is a shift change before the next time you have to get treatment.
Bedside manner is briefly covered in an accelerated nursing program but it is equally addressed in the traditional school. The nurse who made you feel uneasy was probably unaware of her effect on you. She was just doing her job.
The fundamental difference between a good nurse and a bad one is their attitude toward the profession. The first nurse is caring for a person and she recognizes this. The second nurse is just doing her job. Again, these softer qualities cannot be learned in either a traditional or accelerated nursing program. That really gets to the heart of why the person decided to enter the nursing profession in the first place.
We spend a lot of time focused on job trends for the nursing profession and what we have seen in these trends bodes very well for people considering a career in nursing. The trends show that by the year 2014 there will be over 3.6 million new jobs in the medical profession. The trends also show that about 60% of those jobs will be open to those who have obtained a nursing degree (associate’s in nursing, bachelor’s in nursing, or a master’s in nursing). We can see that the demand for registered nurses outpaces all other and that by the year 2014 the demand will have risen by 27%. There will also be more jobs available for certified nursing assistants (CNA’s), licensed practiacl nurses (LPN’s), nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and even people in other technical fields like forensic and geriatric nursing.
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 bureau of labor statistics, 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 Critical Care Transport nurse requires multiple nursing degrees, but it can be one of the most interesting and fascinating nursing jobs available. A CCT nurse accompanies patients being transported from home or a nursing facility to another nursing facility. The nurse is responsible for maintaining continuity of care for every patient – in the back of an ambulance. It’s a challenging and fun job that commands a salary commensurate with the experience required.
On Site Nursing is a wide open field for medical workers with nursing degrees. You can work at an amusement park or zoo, or in the medical office at a state or national park, or provide medical backup for the emergency workers at a beach or other recreational setting. If you choose to work on site at a camp or other facility, your benefits may include free tuition for your own family.
