Nursing School Online - What You Should Know Before Starting Online Nursing Courses

1Nursing School Online - What You Should Know Before Starting Online Nursing Courses All around the Internet there are websites that advertise online nursing schools, but for the student who has sat down to find a nursing school online the options may not seem as wide as the ads will have you to believe. This leaves many people to question whether online nursing courses are effective in providing an education.The answer is yes there are nursing courses online and schools that are effective in training you to be both an LPN or an RN but you have to know where to look and focus on schools you recognize.For example, Kaplan and Phoenix online schools both offer online nursing courses to those who are interested in upgrading their nursing status from LPN to RN and for those who are just starting out as a LPN.The trick is to start early building your resume because the one disadvantage that online nursing schools have is that you spend less time in clinical situations then you would if you actually attended a physical university. Thus, if you can get a position as a STNA or even as a volunteer and get early exposure you can start with a leg up on other students who are studying to be nurses.Every bit of experience helps and everything you can do from within your current job will aid you. For example, as a volunteer or STNA you may be offered disease control training, or infectious protocol, or other small classes you may consider worthless.However, any certification you can add to the degree earned from online nursing schools will benefit you even if you fail to see the connection so if offered the opportunity to participate in training always take it. It is possible to get an education through online nursing schools but the key is experience on top of experience to make yourself stand out!

Nursing Job Descriptions for Job Seekers

1Nursing Job Descriptions for Job Seekers The explosion in opportunities for Nurses is expected to continue into 2014 and beyond. The growing need for Registered Nurses and providers will only expand as the Baby Boomer generation starts retiring and requiring more care. There are many types of nursing jobs. In this article, we will talk through the different Nursing job descriptions for those looking to enter the opportunities presented in the field of Nursing.Here are some facts about the opportunities in the field of nursing:- There are roughly 2,694,540 licensed registered nurses in the United States- Approximately 146,902 RNs are men only 5.4% of the total nursing population- The average annual earnings for all full-time employed RNs are $46,800- Average annual earnings for staff nurses are $42,100- The average annual salary for a master's-prepared nurse is $61,000; doctorate-prepared nurses average slightly higher at $63,550- Nurse practitioners have average annual earnings of $60,126The job outlook for RNs in all specialties is expected to only expand further. The need to replace nurses who are retiring will only create further opportunity for those entering the nursing filed. As technologies advance in patient care more medical problems will be able to be handled by preventative medicine. This is a good thing for those considering the field of Nursing.The nursing field is definitely a sellers market. Many Hospitals and clinics are competing fiercely for registered nurses, especially those with very specific specialties. The fastest growth is expected in outpatient facilities, same day surgery facilities, and rehabilitation centers.The bottom line is, the nursing field will only grow over the next 10-20 years. For those considering a career in nursing, here are some of the Nursing job descriptions to consider.Registered Nursing Job Description (RN)Registered nurses make up the largest percentage of health workers in the US. Nurses are typically the point of contact with the patients and families. In addition, they are the primary point of contact between the patient and the world of health care, both at the bedside and in out-patient settings. Registered Nurses perform patient evaluations, track patient vitals, and perform medical procedures such as IVs, and often administer medications. RNs are very important to the Physician as they often are in touch with the patients status and well being.Nurse PractitionerNurse practitioners are usually the primary care givers of their patients. Like physicians, Nurse Practitioners are the first ones to diagnose and treat illness and other medical issues. Nurse practitioners can also prescribe medication which is not allowed by Registered Nurses.Some would argue that in the US we need more Nurse Practitioners than Physicians in the health care system. Some say this would help in reducing the cost of providing healthcare across the board.The education requirements to become a nurse practitioner require a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and often a Master in Nursing as well. Many times nurse practitioners will handle secondary roles as well in obstetrics, anesthesiology, and midwifery.Head Nurse or Nurse SupervisorHead Nurses are typically the Nursing managers in the healthcare scene. Their typical responsibilities range from work schedules to performance reviews for nursing staff. Other tasks include quality control, standards review, medication review, care reviews, and training.Nursing Managers and supervisors are critical in managing nurses in larger Hospital and clinical environments. For those interested in not all becoming a Nurse but also enjoy managing people, this is great job for you.Licensed Practical Nurses Job Descriptions (LPN)Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), provide very custom and personalized care to patients. LPNs typically report directly to either the Physician or RN. Most LPNs assist very closely in the daily care of the patient hands on. Some LPNs administer medicine and IVs for patients. They often handle bed sores, enemas, bandages, and other hands on care for patients.Home Health Nurses Job DescriptionHome Health Nurses provide their care in the patients home. It has been found that many patients recover much quicker when they are able to recover in the comfort of their own home.Some common uses for home health nurses are those recovering accidents, cancer, and childbirth. Home health nurses must be able to work independently and often supervise others such as home health aides in providing care to the patients in their homes.Nursing Aides Job DescriptionNursing aides, or nursing assistants perform most of their tasks under supervision of medical staff and other nurses. Some of the tasks include answering patient requests, delivering messages, serving meals, and help patients eat, bathe, and dress themselves. Nursing Aides provide skin care to patients, take patients temperatures, and vitals such as blood pressure and respiration. Many times they assist patients in and out of their beds.Nursing Aides are also key in keeping patients rooms neat and in order. It is important for patients to have someone to rely on in assisting them to appointments and back and forth to their room. Aides are also key in reporting physical and emotional status to the other nursing staff and physicians when they notice changes in behavior that may indicate failing health.

Nursing Employment - Fundamental Steps on Your Path to Success As a Nurse

1Nursing Employment - Fundamental Steps on Your Path to Success As a Nurse So you have decided to become a nurse--or maybe you have had exposure, but you want to expand your horizons in the field. It is an undeniable fact that the 21st-century is the best time in history to become a nurse. Nurses have been in very high demand for years, and the trend will continue indefinitely. Think of it this way: the law of supply and demand dictates that the more demand there is, and the lower supply that exists-the higher that the price will be. Simply said, nurses receive top pay in the healthcare field as well as the overall U.S. job market. Not a believer? Check out the Bureau of Labor's web site and compare numbers.If you are a newcomer to the field, getting your college/vocational education is paramount. Usually, students apply for and receive jobs such as nursing assistants-which generally only require about a year of college and a certification. The certification is on that comes from a school specializing in nursing and/or general healthcare and that has been certified by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).Once you are graduated and acclimated to the medical assistant's job, continue your career with the LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse. Before you are awarded with a LPN, or LVN in some states, you must complete from one to two years of a community, junior or vocational college that is state-approved. From there, complete the NCLEX-PN exam and you have a LPN license under your belt and as gold on your resume.To the Top, Good SirFor those individuals who would like to become fully-fledged Registered-Nurses (RN), even more lucrative opportunities await you. Obtain Bachelor's degree from an accredited college (usually, for nurses, is a Bachelor of Science) and continue studying for your next license. The NCLEX-RN is a nationally required license for all U.S. nurses. This test will examine your core competencies and knowledge of all aspects of patients' healthcare.As you browse online for nursing jobs, you will immediately notice that there are no shortages of nursing jobs available-not by the farthest stretch of the imagination! Many of them require all the licensing, in addition to a set number of years of experience; however, if you are a bright, motivated individual who knows his or her field, much of the experienced is required is sometimes waived. It all comes back to the supply and demand scenario.Incomparable BenefitsBenefits for registered nurses (usually LPN's as well) generally include 401K accounts with full-employer matching, full health coverage as well as dental and tuition reimbursement. Salaries are very competitive with LPN's starting around 30K a year and topping out at an average of almost 50-thousand dollars-it varies widely from state to state. RN's can expect to earn a minimum of 45-thousand. As for the maximum, consider this: the national average for registered nurses (2010) is $74,000. That alone should be a very good indicator of the possibilities with nursing.