Nursing School Programs

By Mark Alison
There are so many fields and specialties in the nursing profession; a Nurse Practitioner job description will help you understand this specialty. The nursing prerequisites are similar to most nursing school program advanced degrees.

In order to become a nurse practitioner or NP, the student has completed a minimum of a Masters Degree in advanced Nursing education and is trained to diagnose and manage common illnesses such as those in the elderly or pediatrics. They are able to manage chronic illnesses and provide a very wide range of health care services. Some of the care they provide is the same at that which is provided by a doctor, they work closely with physicians and can provide regular care to a patient.

It is necessary to have a RN qualification to become a NP, and this can be done through online courses, hospital based programs, community and other colleges and universities.

Patients in the care of the nurse practitioner are from all age groups and the core philosophy of this nurse is based in individual care. They can care for patients illnesses as well as the effects this illness has on the family of the patient. Below are the “Key Performance Areas” or KPA’s:

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By Melanie Ullman
Some potential nursing students have been led to believe that online nursing degrees are all fake. This is a huge misconception perpetrated by less than honest people, which unfortunately we have to put up with online, but don’t have to use or tolerate. Always check that any nursing degree program you embark on is fully accredited with the necessary education authority, as you would if you were to embark on a nursing degree in a bricks and mortar educational facility.

Distance Learning

Distance or online learning is available for most degrees that are available in traditional educational facilities and nursing is no different. The college or university must be accredited with the US Department of Education or any of the 6 regional or 52 national bodies funded by this department – accreditation is the key word here!

The beauty of distance learning is that it allows many more students access to training and education that may not have been available to them normally. It also allows students to complete their courses in their time, so they may work and be educated at the same time, a very necessary evil in this day and age of economic strife. As long as an online teaching facility is accredited it is also allows for eligibility for the same scholarships and financial aid as students enrolled in traditional facilities.

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By, Brenne Meirowitz

Before spending the time and effort in applying to nursing school, make a quick self-assessment by asking yourself the following questions.  Do I have the temperament and desire to work long shifts and do the dirty work in hospitals, nursing homes, or doctors’ offices?  Do I have a desire to make a difference in people’s quality of life?  Does beginning a new career in health care sound like a good idea for me at this stage of my life?  If you can answer, “yes” to any of these questions, then applying to nursing school is a good idea.

Once you have made the decision to go into nursing, you will need to decide what kind of specialty you want to pursue, as well as the type of degree program that best suits your lifestyle.  Do you want to go the traditional bachelor’s degree route at an accredited school with an accredited nursing program?  Alternatively, would you rather attend a vocational nursing school?  The decision you make will have a factor in what you will need for the initial application.  Most schools will ask for at least three recommendations or references from either prior professors or employers.  However, your performance on the job, extracurricular activities, or even your grades will not assure that you will be accepted into the school of your choice.  A program selection committee will also review and probably contact your references, order a background check, consider your application essay, and schedule an interview.

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By Melanie Ullman
While nursing jobs in general are pretty much extremely secure and layoff proof no matter what the economy is doing. Government nursing jobs are even more secure in that the government does not layoff even in the toughest economic times. There are a number of government agencies that have government nursing jobs available including the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Indian Health Network, National Institute of Health, Center of Disease Control, and the National Library of Medicine and all of the branches of the military. There are government nursing jobs for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioners.

The three government entities with the highest demand for nurses are the Department of the Army, Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently the average nurse’s salary for a government position is just over $63,000 ranking 20th in the highest average government salaries. You either have to have a family member in government service or know someone in government service to understand just how good a job with the federal government can be.

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By Melanie Ullman
Online nursing classes may be the answer for you: Do you work a full time schedule and have a full family life but need to make more money to keep you head above water? Have you ever looked into online classes? Online nursing degrees offer you the flexibility of learning at your own pace and not having to worry about competing with the twenty something’s in the classroom settings. You can set your own study schedule around work, the kids, dinner and everything else in your busy life. You can take as many or as few classes you want depending on how much time you have to spare.

You need to do some homework and research which are the best nursing schools that offer online LPN nursing classes. You’ll want to make sure it’s an accredited online school or it may not qualify you for the degree that you want. Also, if it is not accredited you may not be eligible to take the state nursing board exam to get certified in the state you want to work in. There are a number of online institutions offering online nursing degrees but verify their accreditation before you enroll and make any payments for classes.

Another good thing to do is that if you already have an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) and want to up grade to a bachelor’s degree (BSN) and your place of employment offers tuition reimbursement then you can go to the human resources department and get a list of institutions that they will offer reimbursement for. That way your choice can be made much more simply. Just go through their list of online nursing degree schools and find the one that fits your needs the best.

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