Dedication To The Profession
DaLinda Love, Corporate Director of Clinical Services at United Methodist Homes of NJ, says that a dedication to the profession is a top quality that nurses should possess.
Not everyone can be a good nurse or a nurse, says Love. You have to have the inner yearning to want to make a difference in the quality of life for another human being, and to advocate on their behalf when they are unable to.
Love calls it serving without seeking accolades.
There are also many different motivating forces behind a nurses commitment to her job, such as:
- Gaining inspiration from a family member, and would like to follow in his or her footsteps.
- Receiving compassionate nursing care themselves, and would like to give back.
- A thirst for knowledge and intense desire to help others in need.
- Surviving a near-death experience or life-threatening medical condition, and would like to help others survive as well.
- Being intrinsically drawn to the profession.
Upmost, my faith has always been the center in my career as a nurse because I do strongly believe I was called to be a nurse and that God has always directed my path in nursing from day one, says Love. My faith gives me the hope that I can make a difference.
Financial Aid And Scholarships
There are many avenues nursing students can search for financial aid and scholarships. Many students get assistance to pay for college through federal or state aid. To see if you qualify for financial aid, you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid .
There are also a variety of organizations you can check for aid opportunities. Many colleges and universities award top students scholarships and grants. Your specific nursing program might also offer financial awards.
In addition, you can check with businesses, nonprofits, professional associations, and community foundations, especially organizations that support the medical community. Many of these organizations award scholarships to students pursuing nursing.
If you currently work or volunteer, you can check with your place of employment as well. They might offer financial assistance to employees who are furthering their education.
Tips For Passing The Nclex
The NCLEX is the licensure examination from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Its a pass or fail exam that every state uses to test your skill level before granting you a nursing license.
Testers are usually allowed 6 hours to complete the NCLEX. The test consists of anywhere from 75 to 265 questions, depending on how quickly you pass or fail. Preparing ahead of time can increase your chances of passing and can make the entire experience a more positive one.
Here are some ways to improve your chances of passing the NCLEX:
The NCLEX is designed to focus on what you were taught in school, and it is purely based on science and deductive reasoning.
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How Much Do Nursing Degree Majors Make
Nursing careers are in-demand and pay above-average salaries, making a nursing degree a good investment. With an ASN or BSN, graduates work as registered nurses. RNs earn a median annual salary of over $75,000. The BLS projects 9% job growth from 2020-2030.
Salaries vary by specialty, location, and experience. Some nursing specialties offer above-average nursing salaries. High cost of living states tend to pay more. Like other careers, nurses typically earn higher salaries as they gain experience. Advanced degrees increase nurses’ earning potential. Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists earn a median salary of $117,670 annually.
Is Nursing School For Me
What do nurses do?
Nurses are one of the largest and fastest growing health professions in the United States. They are the first line providers of primary patient care, including preventative and restorative health care. 62.2% of Registered Nurses work in hospitals but many are employed in a wide range of other settings. Nurses work in collaboration with a team of health care providers but they can also practice independently within their defined scope of practice. Some nurses may also advise and work as consultants in the healthcare, insurance, or legal industries. Nursing science is multifaceted, including biological, psychosocial, and cultural components.
One of the most common paths to professional nursing is through obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing , although students can also train to become RNs while earning an Associate of Science at a community college, typically in a three-year program. In order to practice, all RNs must be licensed which requires meeting a minimum number of hours of clinical experience and passing state board examinations before earning the title of RN.
As UC Berkeley does not have a nursing major, many students who are interested in a nursing career have two options to explore:
Here are some ways you can find out what nurses do:
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Can You Deal With The Uncertainties Of Being A Nurse
After you become a nurse, you’ll work in many different environments that might not be the glamorous, action-packed emergency room you envisioned.
Although there are certainly many nurses that work in emergency rooms, there are a wide variety of places you can work as a nurse, including:
- Local schools
- On ambulances
The list goes on and on.
Wherever you work as a nurse, chances are the environment will be completely different depending on where you work, even if it’s within the same hospital.
Some hospitals might also require you to float from unit to unit, so it’s important you’re able to adapt to sudden change and remain well-rounded in every area of nursing.
For instance, you might be great at providing life-support skills but lack proper de-escalation and patient communication skills.
This puts you at risk of getting hurt when working as a psychiatric nurse, so it’s best to work on refining all your nursing skills early on.
Nursing Requires Continuing Education
Just as medicine advances, nursing care is ever-evolving, and continuing education has become a cornerstone of the profession. Requirements vary, but most states require nurses to complete a certain level of continuing education every 2 to 5 years to keep their license valid. Topics might include clinical management, controlled substances, HIV/AIDS training, pain management, bioterrorism, recognizing child or domestic abuse, ethics, and veterans health conditions.
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Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into
Becoming a nurse is a noble endeavor. You help patients with their daily activities, administer medicines, and communicate with doctors. You handle the wellbeing of people who need your help because they cant function by themselves.
Nurses are trusted by everyone, and Americans have been considering them as the most trustworthy professionals for 19 years in a row, more honest than doctors and pharmacists.
The first step to becoming a nurse is to enter nursing school and get your certification. But you might not have an outstanding GPA, or maybe your references are weak.
Whatever the case, you shouldnt worry too much. What matters in nursing is caring about others and working hard. Anything else is extra. The United States have a strong need for nurses.
In this article, Ill tell you everything you need to know about joining nursing school.
How do you become a nurse without jumping through infinite hoops ? Do you want to become a nurse, but you arent a model student?
Keep reading the article to find out the easiest nursing schools to get into.
Become A Certified Nursing Assistant
Becoming a CNA can add valuable work experience to a prospective nursing students resume. CNA education requirements take only several months to complete but can provide a great insight into the healthcare field. Additionally, it also can help pay for nursing school. A lot of people start their nursing practice as CNAs.
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Is Nursing Right For Me 5 Key Questions To Ask Yourself
By Carrie Mesrobian on 06/28/2021
Choosing a career path is no small feat. Youve got a lot of life ahead of you, and like it or not, what you do for a living is going to be a big piece of it. Like with any consequential decision, you want to feel as confident as possible about your choice. Now that youve started seriously considering a nursing career, you cant help but wonder if nursing is actually the right fit for you?
While theres no way to really know if a nursing career is right for you until youve walked in the shoes of a nurse, it doesnt hurt to ask nurses who are already in the field! To help you get a better handle on whether nursing is the right career path for you, weve asked experienced nurses to share what drew them to fieldand the questions theyd encourage would-be nurses to think through.
Bachelor Of Science In Nursing
Whether you’re new to nursing or are already a registered nurse , a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree is increasingly becoming the new standard. Hospitals seeking Magnet Status are looking to hire and encourage their current nursing staff to earn their BSN degree. This degree usually takes students around three to four years to complete, depending on your prior learning experience.
Herzing University offers many different paths to earning your BSN :
- I am new to nursing. Consider our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to earn your degree in 3 years or less. Choose an on-campus program or elect our online BSN program, available for enrollment in select U.S. states.
- I am new to nursing and have a bachelors degree in another field. You may be eligible for our accelerated BSN nursing program to earn your bachelors degree in as few as 20 months.
- I am an LPN or Paramedic. You can bridge to a bachelors degree in nursing by enrolling in Herzings LPN to BSN program option.
- I am an RN with an associates degree. Go from RN to BSN by completing our online RN to BSN option to earn your degree in 1 year or less and open doors to a greater variety of career options in nursing.
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How Hard Is Nursing School 5 Things You Should Know
Is nursing school hard? Yes. Will it be worth the effort? Definitely. If youre thinking about becoming a nurseor if youre a working nurse whos contemplating earning your graduate degreeits normal to feel nervous about the idea of school. Nursing requires more dedication than many other careers. However, its one of the most rewarding jobs you can have.
Nursing school is notoriously difficultand its not for everyone. Graduate school is challenging as well. But how tough are we talking about?
Working While In Nursing School
Most nursing students find it difficult to work at outside jobs once they complete their prerequisites. Hunt describes what to expect at this stage of the degree. “Students take at least 12 credits of didactic, labs, and clinical courses. A student can expect to attend classes and labs at least days per week and an additional day of 6-8 hours of clinical. In general, for every credit/clock hour of theory/didactic the student should expect to complete at a minimum an additional hours of reading, writing, and studying.”
“Employment during these years is almost impossible,” Dobratz says. “My class was told to discontinue any employment during our final year. I was glad I did.” Older students, especially those with families to support, may have to take out loans. A growing number of schools offer prior learning assessments that award credit for previous work experience.
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Nurses Work Varying Shifts
The length of nursing shifts varies depending on the work environment. A nurse in a doctors private practice or in a residential care facility might work five shifts of 8 hours each for a 40-hour workweek. A hospital nurse, on the other hand, might work three shifts of 12 hours each for a 36-hour workweek.
Why the difference? Hospitals are staffed 24/7, and 12-hour shifts provide better continuity because patients are under the care of a different nurse only twice a day. Hospitals generally consider 36 hours a full-time week. Part-time nurses work anywhere from 10 to 30 hours a week.
In the nurses survey, the highest number of respondents, 62%, said they work between 30 and 40 hours a week. The next highest number, 29%, said they work more than 40 hours a week. And only 9% said they work fewer than 30 hours a week.
Financial Return On Investment For A Nursing Degree
For many aspiring nurses, their dedication to helping others comes before compensation for the job. But financial return is important and is another reason you may want to apply for a nursing degree.
In general, a four-year BSN can cost thousands of dollars. An MSN tooone that focuses on family nursing, for example, may cost you more than $40,000. That might sound like a lotbut the above-average wages of FNPs can make for a sound nursing school return on investment. According to 2019 pay data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , nurse practitioners earn a median salary of $109,820 per yearmeaning you may be able to pay off expensive tuition and loans quickly.
Though nursing salary varies by job title and location, demand across the board is growing. The BLS predicts that the need for nurse practitioners will grow by 26% from 2018 to 2028. And employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 12% during the same time period. Back up your schooling with continuous education to keep your skills in demand long into the future.
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How Long Does It Take To Become A Registered Nurse
On average, an incoming nursing student can expect to become a licensed Registered Nurse in roughly three years. This is after a student fully completes the academic program at an accredited college or university.
If you are interested in becoming an RN but already possess a bachelors degree in another field, you may be eligible for an accelerated program. These programs may accept general education credits earned from other degrees, thus eliminating several semesters worth of coursework. When you pursue an accelerated nursing degree, the estimated time until completion is reduced to only 18 months.
No matter which program you choose, becoming an RN requires successful completion and a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination . In order to sit for the exam, students must apply with a state-level nursing board. Preparation is key, and the ability to pass this crucial test may play a factor in how long it takes to achieve RN certification.
University Of New Brunswick
The four-year Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of New Brunswick provides students with the requirements to meet the worlds future and present healthcare needs.
As a top choice when in search of the best universities to study nursing in Canada, the University of New Brunswick offer hands-on clinical experience to students in their first year. Therefore, students graduate from this nursing school with the merit of more clinical practice, experience as well as one on one attention from their professors.
Other merits of studying in the universitys nursing school include
- Small class sizes
- Support for Indigenous nursing students
- Our 12-week practicum in the final year of study
- Most clinical courses offer a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Peer support from the Nursing Society
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Ask About Nclex Exam Pass R Ates
The National Council Licensure Examination is required of all nurses in every state. Taking the NCLEX will cost at least $200 and there might be additional fees depending on where you live, so passing it on your first try can be financially important. Ask your top-choice schools about their pass rate for the exam. Schools with pass rates on the NCLEX have proven to be successful in preparing their students for nursing practice.
- Step 7:
Taking Time Between Degrees
Additionally, many find it worthwhile to take their time between each level of education that they attain so that they can spend enough time to gain experience, explore different specialty areas, and solidify your interest.
Whatever nursing school program you choose, your education will prepare you for a rewarding career that offers the ability to work as part of a team, to improve patients lives and to support yourself in a way that you can be proud of and grow in.
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Is The Nursing Program I’m Interested In Good
Just because a school offers a nursing degree doesn’t mean it’s a quality nursing degree.
First, make sure every school and nursing program you apply to is accredited. Any nursing program you apply to should be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing and Education . If you don’t choose an accredited nursing program, you CANNOT sit for the NCLEX and earn an RN license. You’ll likely have difficulty finding a nursing job after graduation.
Second, check out student outcomes. A nursing school may have a low tuition rate and be accredited, but the NCLEX pass rates could leave something to be desired. In 2021, the US saw a total NCLEX first time pass rate of 85.3%. A pass rate below this would be below the national average. BSN-prepared nurses had a higher NCLEX pass rate of 88.97% as compared to ADN-prepared nurses at 82.47% or diploma nurses at 81%.
How Do I Know If I Want To Become A Nurse 5 Tell
If you have a passion for helping others and desire a career that makes a difference, you may be considering the nursing field. However, as rewarding as a nursing career can be, there are also some challenging aspects that come with the role. Nurses are compassionate caregivers who help patients that are sick, injured, and disabled. This means nurses must be fast thinkers, good communicators, and level-headed in difficult situations. If you are wondering, How do I know if I want to become a nurse? you are not alone. Many nurses beg the same question before starting out.
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