Archive
Mar 19, 2015 | 11:00 am
The amount of time it takes to earn your nursing degree depends on which program you choose and whether you attend full time or part time. Let’s take a look at the different nursing degrees available, and discover their estimated time to completion considering full-time status. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) This two-year nursing degree is also called the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). Upon completion, students can sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Bachelor Degree in Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) often takes four years to complete when starting out as an undergraduate. This... Read more...
Mar 19, 2015 | 10:00 am
More nursing departments exist than can be covered in one article, but much buzz surrounds certain specialties more than others. While DiscoveringNurses.com says there are 104 departments of nursing in which to specialize, we’ll examine just four: Obstetrics/Gynecology (OBGYN), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Pediatrics and Neurosurgery. OBGYN Department Nurses who specialize in women’s health can be found in physician’s offices, hospitals and community clinics caring for females from youth to menopause and older. Some of the most common duties of an obstetric/gynecological nurse include: •Monitoring and caring for women during pregnancy •Assisting with labor, delivery and in some cases, lactation... Read more...
Mar 19, 2015 | 9:00 am
Most people consider nursing a hot career choice, and data seems to back it—nursing employment in the United States was up even during the worst recession in the nation’s history. Experts say this boom was a result of the decade-long nursing shortage that started in the late 90s, but has the bubble burst, or are employment numbers for nurses still on the up and up? Nursing Employment Now It’s debatable whether the nursing shortage has ended completely, but there is less of a shortage today than compared to five years ago. A need remains, but it may take some flexibility... Read more...
Mar 19, 2015 | 8:00 am
When you first consider becoming a nurse, the lure of flexible work schedules, ample benefits and positive career growth seem appealing. After doing research and starting a school program, many new nurses get a dose of reality. This “nursing for beginners” guide sums up five things you probably didn’t know about nursing—for better or worse. Nurses Need to Stay Flexible When Getting Started The dream scenario: You attend nursing school, discover a medical specialty you love and find a job in that field immediately. Nursing for beginners’ tip #1: This isn’t always reality. While the need for nurses continues across... Read more...
Mar 18, 2015 | 12:00 pm
You either earned or are in the process of earning your nursing degree and it’s time to start gaining experience at work, but your nursing hours may feel less than desirable. Between the nursing shortage ending (temporarily) and experienced nurses competing for the best shifts, finding your ideal nursing hours may not happen for a few years. How will you manage? Typical Shift Hours for Nurses Let’s take a look at the reality of a nurse’s work schedule. While some nurses who work in office settings or schools hold down standard 9 to 5 or 8 to 4 business hours,... Read more...
Mar 18, 2015 | 11:00 am
Some say the decade-long nursing shortage has ended, but others predict a newer, larger nursing job market is on the rise. What factors contribute to this need for more nurses, how accurate are the predictions and does it affect every region the same? Let’s find out. Why the Growing Need The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says there are several contributing factors to the growing nursing job market. One of the most important is the large number of nurses scheduled to retire in the next 10 years. Couple that with the aging population, which includes baby boomers reaching... Read more...
Mar 18, 2015 | 10:00 am
You think a job in healthcare might be for you, but before choosing a nursing career consider some of the realities many don’t discover until much later. The pay, benefits and flexible work schedule of a nurse may sound great now, but consider these important aspects of the job that affect the lives of patients and your overall career happiness first. Do you genuinely care about people and helping them heal? One of the main reasons given for choosing a nursing career is the desire to help others. That could mean listening to their ailments, changing their clothes, bathing them,... Read more...
Mar 18, 2015 | 9:00 am
With so many different nursing degrees and ways to enter the field, it’s easy to get confused about where to begin. Some common questions include: What’s the difference between RN, BSN and LPN? And, how can so many different nursing degrees all lead to a career as a registered nurse? Let’s learn about the different degrees and where each one leads in the nursing field. Practical Nursing or Vocational Nursing Programs Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) does not require a nursing degree; it’s a one-year training program often held at a vocational school or... Read more...
Mar 18, 2015 | 8:00 am
If you’re interested in operating machines like X-ray, mammography and CT scans while helping patients get prepared for their imaging exams, then becoming a radiology technician (also called radiologic technologist or “rad tech”) might be a great career choice for you. Radiology technicians help explain to patients what’s happening as well as their next steps, so their upbeat, caring personality goes a long way when a patient feels nervous. It’s a great job for the right personality… but what’s the basic career path of a radiology technician? Let’s find out. Starting Points After earning the education needed to get started—the... Read more...
Mar 17, 2015 | 12:00 pm
Perhaps you’re interested in a career as a healthcare technician, but you’re not sure if you should choose the role of surgical technician, working in the operating room environment, or MRI technician, working with imaging and scan equipment. What’s the difference between the two? Let’s take a closer look at the nature of the work, level of education and employment outlook for each. Then… make your decision. What’s a Surgical Technician? A surgical technician, also called an “operating room tech” or “scrub tech,” works together with the surgical team in some of the following ways: • Prepping and restocking the... Read more...
