Nursing Shortage | RNBuilder Nursing Blog

Top-Ranked Nursing Schools in the United States

Published

on March 8, 2011

Nursing School Competition

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i_nurse_female_2 If you want a top-notch nursing education from a highly ranked school, you can expect a pretty stringent admissions process. Although the nursing shortage continues to increase, the best schools have no shortage of applicants—and for good reason. Nationally recognized as the best of the best, these are the nursing schools that will provide an excellent education and place you at the top of the field for practicing, research, and administrative nurses.

Note: These schools are ranked for their nursing programs at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate level.

University of Pennsylvania: This Ivy League school is considered one of the best colleges in the United States, period. Their nursing school is no different, with undergraduate programs, fast-track programs, a Ph.D program, and over 20 specialty certificates.

University of California, Los Angeles: Considered one of the best colleges on the West Coast, UCLA is known for its great science programs—including nursing. Students can work on pre-graduate work and post-graduate work here.

University of Texas: Located in Austin, this school offers nursing programs at all levels. Many students return to advance their education to the Master’s or Doctorate level.

University of Washington: This Seattle-based university has a long waiting list for nurses and a very competitive program. Many nurses who graduate here go on to work at research hospitals around the country.

Johns Hopkins University: Known the world over as one of the best medical training centers and care facilities, John Hopkins sees a large number of doctors and nurses pass through its doors. Many graduates of the Johns Hopkins nursing program go on to do research in the field or become nursing instructors.

Other contenders for the top nursing school title include:

Boston College
Columbia University
Yale University
University of Maryland
University of Colorado
Purdue University
University of Michigan

If you aren’t fortunate enough to get in to one of these nursing programs, or if your location makes it difficult to attend, there is no need to worry. University, community college, and private nursing programs continue to provide excellent training opportunities for the next wave of professional nurses. As long as you do your research and ensure that the school you’re attending is right for you, you should be able to succeed as a nurse for decades to come.

Related Topics:

Choosing the Right Nursing School

Writing the Nursing School Admissions Essay

Published

on February 7, 2011

How to Apply To Nursing School

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i_student_1 When you apply to nursing school, one of the requirements in your admissions packet will be a personal essay. Known as an admissions essay, statement of purpose, or even letter of intent, this is your chance to make a written plea stating why you want to be a nurse and why they’re the ones who can make that dream happen.

What are Schools Looking for in an Admissions Essay?

This isn’t the place to list your credentials or sneak in a few quotes from past teachers—those all fit somewhere else, and you don’t want to waste your essay on stiff formalities. That’s because the admissions essay is the only chance you have to put a personal touch on your nursing school application, the only place you have to demonstrate your personal drive and dreams.

Tell a story related to providing care. Talk about what motivated you to become a nurse: helping an aged parent through an illness, another nurse who inspired you, volunteering to hand out food in a high-need neighborhood. All of these types of situations demonstrate that you are a passionate and caring individual—the type of person who goes on to make an excellent nurse.

Keep things neutral. If you have strong opinions about the nursing field—maybe hospital A needs to change its shift rotation or you had a negative experience at hospital B—it’s best to leave them out and focus on the positive instead. Nursing schools don’t expect you to climb on a soapbox and make a difference in the healthcare field—at least not right away. Get the education first, and make judgments later.

Explain extenuating circumstances. You might be applying for nursing school with a low GPA or after you dropped out of the first nursing school just a few months in. If you have a good reason for these situations (say you had to care for that same aging parent, or if a life circumstance got in the way), you may want to touch on the subject here. Don’t go on for pages—a sob story won’t help your case—but do make an indication that you are aware of how your admissions paperwork might look, and that you aren’t going to make the same mistakes again.

Adhere to the recommended length. If the nursing school wants no more than 500 words, shoot for between 450 and 500 total. If the nursing school wants a maximum of three pages, write the maximum of three pages. Try to hit the length exactly on the mark, and under no circumstances go over.

Give yourself time. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your nursing school essay. Write it a few weeks (or even months) early, and let it sit for a few days. Then go back and read it with fresh eyes. If possible, have a family member or friend read it, as well, so you can make the necessary changes. Remember, grammar and spelling count, too.

Because there is such a large nursing shortage going on right now, many people think it’s easy to get into nursing school. Considering just how desperate some hospitals are for nursing staff, nursing school administrators must be standing at the door with arms wide open, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. A lack of nurses means a lack of nursing instructors, as well, and the waiting list to attend nursing school can be a long one. That’s why having a great nursing school admissions essay can go a long way in getting you into school and on your way to a great new career.

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Get a Letter of Recommendation

What is an Accelerated Nursing Program?

Published

LPN-to-RN and RN-to-BSN Programs

on January 24, 2011

in Nursing Education and Nursing Schools

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i_student_2 Accelerated nursing programs are designed to produce graduates at a faster-than-average rate in an effort to combat the growing nursing shortage. Although there are over 135,000 nursing openings currently in the United States, there simply aren’t enough nursing schools and instructors to meet the demand. By allowing students with the time and dedication needed to graduate faster (but with the same level of education), the nation hopes to avoid giant lapses in the quality of care.

Accelerated Nursing Program Requirements

Most accelerated nursing programs are designed to accommodate students who have some background in the medical field. Whether you have a CNA designation or have been working as an LPN for years, you probably have the basic nursing experience necessary to qualify for the accelerated program. In fact, if you have most of the core nursing courses already completed and out of the way, you can have a BSN in as little as 11 months or a Master’s degree in 3 years. And if you are an RN with an Associate degree, there are some nursing programs out there that will get you your BSN is as little as 3 months.

The top nursing schools also want to ensure that you’ll be able to handle the heavy course load without getting overwhelmed or falling behind in your grades (accelerated programs can have dropout rates of up to 75 percent). That’s why most of them require that you have a 3.0 GPA or higher in order to qualify for the accelerated program…and you may be expected to maintain that in order to remain in the program.

Why Choose an Accelerated Nursing Program?

It might seem daunting to undertake a program that has such stringent requirements and such a high dropout rate, but it is a great choice for many individuals. One of the perks of accelerated programs is that there are nursing scholarships and federal grant money dedicated solely to the faster-paced courses.

Accelerated programs are also great for professionals who don’t want to take on basic nursing classes that are below their current skill level. For example, traditional BSN programs start at the beginning and work you up to the Bachelor’s level. But if you’ve already been working as an LPN or RN for years, it’s a waste of both your time and your money to start all over again.

Getting Started

Nursing programs in the accelerated format aren’t available everywhere, and many of them take advantage of the online learning platform in order to reach a wider audience and to allow students to learn at their own pace. If you’re interested in learning more, look at online nursing schools and schools in your area with non-traditional class times and options to see if they have a program you qualify for.

Related Topics:

Online BSN Degree

Choosing Nursing School in the Face of Unemployment

Published

on January 20, 2011

Choosing the Right Nursing School

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i_nurse_female_2 During times of economic hardship, almost all health care training centers and schools get an influx of potential students hoping to go back to school. The reasons are simple: the loss of a job can be motivation to examine your life and determine what it is that you really want. Maybe you’re ready for a new career in a field you love. Perhaps you’d rather have the kind of job security and stability that come from working in the health care field. Whatever the reason, you’ve suddenly got the time and the motivation to pursue what you’ve always dreamed of.

While there are drawbacks to going back to school during unemployment (especially if you don’t qualify for any financial aid), it’s a decision many people make as a way to improve their lives for the better. With over 5.5 million nurses and nurses aides currently working in the field and a shortage of nurses in most of the top urban centers, the health care field is one with plenty of room for more.

How Much Money Can I Make as a Nurse?

Nursing salaries vary depending on your level of education, your location, and the type of organization you work for.

Education:

CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) are the lowest rung of nursing professionals, with a training program of just a few weeks or months. The average hourly wage is around $12.
LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) can complete their training in as little as a year. The average hourly wage is $20.
RNs (Registered Nurses) can either have a two-year Associate degree or a four-year Bachelor’s degree, and pay goes up with more education. Pay averages at $30 per hour.
Nurse Practitioners typically have a Master’s degree or higher, and can often open independent practices.

Location*:

Larger, urban centers are likely to provide higher rates of pay for nurses, especially if you look in places like California, Florida, and New York. For example, you can earn upwards of $50 an hour in San Jose, CA. Rural centers might also pay well, particularly if you have to relocate to work there. Smaller, more affluent communities near cities (like many suburbs in Pennsylvania) provide the lowest rate of pay overall.

Type of Organization*:

Travel nursing organizations and job placement services (which place nurses in temporary jobs in high-need areas) offer the highest salary at $68,000 per year.
Hospitals are the largest employer, offering around $64,000 per year.
From there, the rate of pay scales down to:
- Physician offices - $60,000/year
- Home health care centers - $59,000/year
- Nursing homes and long-term care facilities - $57,000

*estimates based on a full-time RN salary

The nursing shortage is currently estimated to be at 135,000 nurses. Nursing was one of the only fields to open more jobs in 2009 than it was eliminating, and the number of nurses needed is expected to increase to up to 1 million by 2020.

Although only you can decide if the costs and time associated with going to nursing school are worth it when unemployment is staring you in the face, the statistics look promising for anyone who is willing to take the leap.

Related Topics:

Nursing- The “Recession Proof” Profession

Becoming a Nursing Instructor

Published

on August 27, 2010

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Almost 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.

Opportunities for New Grads in Texas

Published

on August 22, 2010

in Nursing Career

. 1 Comment

i_nurse_female_2 Nursing new grads are learning fast that, due to a temporary let up in the impending nursing shortage, hospitals across the country are not exactly rolling out the red carpet and offering them their dream jobs. There is one state, however, that seems to be bucking the trend and is as close to a “red carpet” situation for welcoming new grads as any.

The unemployment rate in Texas is 7.1%, notably lower than the 9.4% national average. This may explain why hospitals in Texas are hiring, while most of the rest of the nation is in a hiring freeze. The nursing vacancy rate in Texas is also in the rise – from 10.2 percent in 2006 to 11.2 in 2008*. As the state’s population continues to rise, the need for nurses is expected to go even higher.

Before you go rushing down to Texas with resume and nursing reference letters in hand, make sure you consider these caveats. As is true for applicants across the country right now, job searching requires preparation, a competitive spirit and above all, perseverance. And, although nursing jobs in Texas are available, hospitals there are admitting that preferential treatment is given in certain situations.

New nursing grads with prior work experience at a facility (in any capacity but consider working as a CNA for an extra edge) appear to have an advantage when applying for RN positions. Also, some Texas medical centers have revealed that they are more inclined to hire a new grad from a local college or university who knows their way around from doing their clinical work at the facility. For those still in the process of applying to nursing schools, consider Texas as a place to earn your degree and later work.

Consider researching the following five nursing programs in particular, which have all reported a high rate of new grad placement in hospitals following graduation: UT Arlington, Texas Christian University, Tarrant County College, Weatherford College and Southwestern Adventist University. There are also scores of other accredited nursing programs throughout the Lone Star state to investigate. The time to start doing your homework, has arrived.

*Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies

A Taste of Nursing in High School

Published

on July 31, 2010

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i_student_3 As soon as I made the decision to enter nursing school as a high school junior, I started brainstorming ways to prepare for nursing school. In addition to researching nursing schools, and preparing applications, transcripts and letters of reference, I wanted a little taste of a career in health care.

I wanted some sort of preview of what it might be like being a nurse. So, I signed up to be a hospital volunteer (“candy striper” in the days of old) during the two summers before my high school graduation.

Working as a hospital volunteer exposed me to the field of nursing and allowed me a valuable glimpse into a “day in the life” of a nurse. It also gave me the chance to help in many other hospital departments, see their role in patient care, find out how they interact with nursing and get the “big picture” view of my future profession.

More and more high schools are seeing the value of spotlighting a career in nursing for their students, in hopes of drawing them into the field, especially in light of the mounting shortage of nurses. Lamar University in Texas, for instance, has created a program for high school students called the “Nightingale Experience” where students are introduced to the field of nursing, are engaged in conversations with nursing faculty, shown the different job opportunities available and encouraged to consider nursing as a career goal.

The university program takes it a step further, allowing students a hands-on learning experience in a simulated hospital setting. Whether your groundwork for nursing school includes a program such as the one at Lamar University, or if you choose to work as a hospital volunteer, it is helpful to include some kind of “real life” component to your preparations. Nurses will be in higher and higher demand in coming years, so the earlier you start developing an interest in this career, the better.

Outsourcing Nursing

Published

on July 24, 2010

in nursing jobs

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a_nurse_phone Filling the nursing pipeline with enough RN’s to care for our rapidly growing patient population, has quickly become an exercise in problem solving involving lawmakers from all states and working at all levels of government. Some are quick to point out how the decades long nursing shortage has temporarily stalled.

But this is largely due to previously retired nurses filling the nursing pipeline for the time being. That can only last for so long, and a more lasting solution to supply more nurses for the workforce will soon be needed. Specifically, a few hundred thousand (and rising, especially if universal health care passes) nurses will be needed by 2025.

Many industry experts and lawmakers have looked toward foreign nurse “imports” (while trying not to make foreign trained RN’s sound like cars) to fill the pipeline. Florida representative Robert Wexler has proposed that the U.S. allow 20,000 additional foreign trained nurses to enter and work here, while we continue working on a more permanent solution.

In the “pro” column, welcoming foreign trained nurses into the American workforce helps to bridge staffing gaps and at a price that most hospitals can afford. In the “con” column, foreign trained nurses frequently encounter language and culture barriers, training and skill crossover challenges and require extra training to pass the NCLEX exam.

President Obama has stated that he would prefer legislators focus more on a solution to increase the capacity of U.S. nursing schools to graduate more students, and provide incentives to attract more nurses into the field domestically. He points to the rising unemployment rate as the best argument to make sure that all domestic nursing resources have been tapped before turning our attention to other countries.

The number of foreign born and trained nurses has risen over the years, from 9% of the total RN’s working in the U.S. in 1994 to 16.3% in 2008, as the shortage has worsened. With the nursing shortage worsening and the economy taking its regular hits, there is something to be said about the “home field” advantage right now, for those with a passion for the very recession proof field of nursing.

Source: Business Week Magazine

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Nursing schools

The Un-Retiring of Nurses

Published