Tag Archive for 'nclex'

What is the National Student Nurses Association?

i_nurses_4The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) is an organization created to improve nursing education and support nursing students as they begin their entrance into the nursing profession. This takes the shape of a nursing journal released five times annually, career workshops, employment resources, NCLEX study resources, and nursing scholarships.

There are currently over 56,000 members in the NSNA. It was founded in 1952 to foster the professional growth of students enrolled in all types of nursing programs (from Associate degree and diploma programs to post-graduate work). Since then, additional services have helped to launch the organization into the national spotlight, and even those who don’t qualify for or are granted the scholarships can benefit from membership and the opportunities in educational development.

National Student Nurses Association Scholarships

The NSNA scholarships are among the best opportunities in the country for nursing students to get access to financial support. Few foundations focus as much on nursing as the NSNA, and $125,000 in awards are offered in increments of $1,000 and $2,500 each year.

In order to apply for the scholarships, individuals must be U.S. citizens (or students with alien registration numbers) currently enrolled in a state-approved nursing program. Graduate-level scholarships are only offered if it is the student’s first degree in nursing (such as going from an undergraduate degree in biology to a graduate degree in nursing).

The scholarship board looks at factors like academics, financial need, and the student’s involvement in community activities, volunteering, and nursing-related issues.

National Student Nurses Association Annual Convention

Nursing students can also take advantage of the annual convention put out by the NSNA. Students can obtain career counseling advice, attend workshops on certification opportunities, attend job recruitment fairs, learn about and participate in nursing advocacy at the legislative level, and even learn more about becoming a part of the NSNA leadership board.

The location, times, and costs of attendance vary. The convention typically takes place in the spring and you can book hotels and even flights through their package options.

To Learn More about the National Student Nurses Association

If you’d like to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved, visit the NSNA on the web at http://www.nsna.org/. Many of the features are Internet-based only, so even if you can’t travel to the conventions or participate in live courses, you can still benefit from the services and resources offered here.

Related Topics:

How to Afford Nursing School

Military Nursing Scholarships

Find a Nursing School in Your City

Pros and Cons of Online Nursing Schools


i_nursing_studentThanks to the prevalence of online learning platforms and a growing demand for nurses, online nursing programs are growing in popularity. Like traditional nursing courses, many of these online courses are accredited and can provide the core classes you need in order to get your degree in nursing. However, because so much of nursing is hands-on clinical care, you will need to attend some of your courses in person. In fact, if you’re pursuing your RN (registered nurse) or LPN (licensed practical nurse) degree, even the best online nursing programs can’t offer the full package.

Pros of Online Nursing School

If you have a restricted schedule (due to work, family obligations, or travel considerations), online courses can be the ideal way to get your core curriculum out of the way. Many of these classes are textbook and lecture-based, so if you learn well on your own, you can save both time and money by skipping those trips to campus.

Many nursing programs are highly competitive, and there simply aren’t enough instructors to meet the current nursing demand. Online courses allow more students to access the program at one time, and because everyone works at their own pace, the instructor should be available whenever you need him or her.

Cons of Online Nursing School

Online nursing school only works as hard as you do. Because you are doing so much of the work at home and on your own time, you have to have a high level of self-discipline and drive. Even though the course is more flexible, there are still deadlines and tests.

Online school is also very textbook-based. If you learn best by listening to others speak, asking questions, and seeing demonstrations first-hand, you might not benefit from taking courses this way. Everyone learns differently, and online courses aren’t for everyone.

You also have to do extra homework before you even start classes. The nature of online learning means that it’s all too easy for scam artists and non-accredited schools to make promises they fail to keep. For example, you might spend two years getting your core classes done only to find that the clinical nursing school you want to attend doesn’t recognize that program at all. It’s also vital that you take courses from a school that will make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam, since you can’t be a nurse in the United States without a passing score.

Location Matters

In addition to accreditation and NCLEX considerations, there are some states that will not recognize an online nursing program. It’s always best to talk with nurses in your city as well as employers and the potential school to ensure that your education doesn’t go to waste.

Although you can’t get your whole nursing degree online, you can get a lot of the legwork done and out of the way. If done correctly, you can save time, money, and still get a quality education that places you on the front line of the health care industry.

Related Topics:

Getting a Master’s Degree in Nursing Online

Online BSN Degree for Nurses

Top Online Nursing Programs

High Tech NCLEX Studying

i_student_2Technically, all of nursing school is a crash course in NCLEX exam preparation.  From your very first “welcome to the magical world of nursing” quiz all the way to your advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and biochemistry exams.

After graduation, however, the real NCLEX studying fun begins.  It is almost as if on graduation day, towards the end of the ceremony, the dean of nursing is standing on the stage with a stopwatch, counting down…. 3, 2, 1… “Okay now you’re graduated, let the NCLEX studying begin!”

As I recall, I was the dork who had already purchased my twenty pounds of NCLEX study books, workbooks and CD’s before graduation day. NCLEX studying almost seemed like an extension of nursing school to me.

I had been studying like a madwoman for four and a half years (counting required summer sessions that made nursing students stand out from the rest).  A few more months of hitting the books couldn’t hurt.  Of course, I had to keep reminding myself of this as I was cramming more and more details from the study aids into my head as the exam date approached.

Fortunately, a nurse has created a website to help nursing students prepare for their NCLEX exam. AllNurses.net also serves as a comprehensive resource for nurses and student nurses to look up other vital pieces of data and clinical knowledge. This includes nursing guides, tutorials, disease references, lab values and medication information, all at the click of a button.

The site’s “PDA Reference Software” is a portable version of the website resources that nurses and student nurses can have with them in their uniform pockets as they see patients and handle often complex situations where running back to the nurse’s station for information is not an option.

There is a lot of information to be absorbed in nursing school and interactive tools like this can be a very helpful addition to the student and new grad’s resource kit.