Tag Archive for 'Nursing Career'

Educational Requirements of a Nurse Practitioner

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on September 2, 2010
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nurse practitioner Nurse practitioners are one of the most valuable members of a healthcare team. With more responsibility and autonomy than a traditional RN or BSN, but still considered a nurse first and foremost, nurse practitioners strike a great balance between traditional medical doctors and more hands-on, focused care.

Because nurse practitioners are one step higher than registered nurses on the professional food chain, there are additional educational requirements. However, with these increased educational milestones come greater options in professional advancement as well as a higher rate of pay.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

Registered nurses (RNs) typically take on two levels of education: those with an Associate degree in Nursing (ADN) or those with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In both cases, nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN in order to be licensed to work in the United States.

To advance beyond this level to become a nurse practitioner, it is necessary to get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or even a doctorate. Almost all master’s-level programs require a BSN or a similar level of education to even get in. This means that nurses who only have an Associate degree may have to first get a higher degree before even considering a nurse practitioner program, which can mean up to six additional years of training. Nurses with a BSN or higher may only need two to four years in order to complete their degrees.

Nurse Practitioner Courses

The daily tasks of a nurse practitioner differ from a traditional RN in that these professionals are able to diagnose and treat a number of different conditions, as well as order tests, prescribe some types of medications, or even make referrals. In many cases, the nurse practitioner has a leadership role in the medical setting or the community as a whole, which involves taking on tasks related to health screening, disease education and prevention, and health counseling.

Because there is such a wide field of specialties open to a nurse practitioner, the education requirements are equally broad and taxing. Assuming the nurse has already reached the Bachelor’s level, and a particular area of specialty has been chosen, additional classes may include:

  • Pathophysiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medical Assessment and Diagnostics
  • Integrative Practicums/Clinicals
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Nursing Administration
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
  • Women’s Health
  • Nurse-Anesthetist
  • Health Care Management
  • Health Informatics

Nurse practitioners are required to be licensed to perform just about anywhere in the United States. An exam and license through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is typically required upon completion of an accredited nurse practitioner program.

Related Topics:

Getting a Master’s Degree in Nursing Online

Find a Nursing Program in Your City

High-Tech NCLEX Studying

Becoming a Nursing Instructor

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on August 27, 2010
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Nursing InstructorAlmost everyone in the United States has heard about the nursing shortage, and how it impacts the level of care being offered in hospitals and clinics around the country. There are more nursing job openings than there are nurses to fill them, and the result is that many RNs, LPNs, and NPs are overworked.

The easy solution for this problem is to increase student attendance at nursing schools, and to provide more opportunities for earning degrees. However, one of the biggest challenges isn’t the number of students hoping to become nurses; it’s the number of nursing instructors qualified to teach in the field.

Nursing Instructor Requirements

Nursing instructors are the professionals who teach the college-level nursing courses, which range from basic science and anatomy classes to more hands-on clinical work. Because nursing instructors are both teachers and nurses, there is a very high educational requirement, often at the Master’s degree level or higher. State requirements vary, and can go as low as a BSN, particularly in schools where nursing instructors are in high demand. In some cases, years of experience may be used to determine your ability to function in an instructor capacity.

Different types of nursing schools also have their own requirements. Public universities and colleges may prefer part-time instructors with a Master’s degree, while private nursing schools might opt for full-time professors who carry a Ph.D. It all depends on the local laws and what the nursing school is hoping for in terms of its faculty.

Other Nursing Instructor Considerations

Nursing instructors almost always have to carry the same licensure they would need to function as a nurse within their respective states. This includes keeping all licenses up-to-date and taking the necessary continuing education courses.

However, all this work can pay off. Nursing instructors tend to pull in a higher salary than their nurse counterparts, and the hours and workload are often easier on both the mind and the body. Nurse educator salaries range from $44,000 to $63,000 per year, with higher rates of pay for those with doctorate degrees or considerable experience. Long-term job security is also fairly high, given the current ratio of nurse instructors to prospective students and the need for more qualified professionals in this field.

Of course, becoming a nursing instructor requires a love of teaching, as well as desire to enter the medical field. As a profession, teaching and nursing share many of the same characteristics, including an ability to communicate and a real desire to help others succeed. As long as you’re willing to make a commitment to your education, and you see yourself in a mentoring capacity, becoming a nursing instructor might be a great long-term career choice.

The Un-Retiring of Nurses

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on June 28, 2010
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One of the most cited reasons for the temporary lull in the nursing shortage – a pause really – is the influx of previously retired nurses back into the workforce. When the economy started to stumble last year, nurses who had previously experienced “good bye” parties in hospital lounges everywhere came back and punched their time cards once again. However, the individual reasons for their return, varied from nurse to nurse.

Earlier this year, during my orientation to an RN refresher course, the instructor facilitator went around the room and asked all the previously retired nurses present in the class, why they were returning to the workforce. Rather than simply stating “the economy,” like one of the many industry reports floating around the media, the nurses in the classroom were specific, and personal.

Some were grandmothers, whose dried up 401K and pension accounts meant that they would not be able to fund their grand-children’s education as they had planned.  Or, they needed a stable paycheck to replace their own retirement income.

Others were forced to return to work after the recent unemployment of their spouse. Some of the younger students in the room, who comparatively had not been out of the health care industry for very long, were looking for stability (the same reason many new nurses are entering this recession proof field).

One thing that was clear, however, was that these nurses were well aware that the progress of nursing and health care in general had been marching steadily on since their departure. I listened as they discussed fears related to advancing technology, electronic medical records, new infection control protocols – and then technology again (computers).

What they were excited about returning to, other than the stability of a paycheck, was the connection with the patients. The “human” reasons for these nurses’ return to the workforce were the same reasons that new nursing students talk about. The economy may change, nursing job vacancies may fluctuate, and technology may march on, but the special relationships between nurses and their patients, is eternal.