Tag Archive for 'nursing'

Health Risks in Nursing School

i_respiratory_therapyEvery career has its inherent risks and responsibilities, and nursing is no different. Because you are working directly with patients who are ill, and because you spend so much time doing physically challenging work, your risks of disease and injury increase, especially after years of work. For nursing students, it’s best to be aware of these risks and develop good habits early, beginning with your clinicals and internship experiences.

  • Fatigue: Like doctors, many nurses work overtime hours or may be on-call during the weekends or evenings. Nursing students have it even worse, since they are often juggling school, work, and family all at once. Getting good rest and eating right are essential in staying in top form—otherwise, you run the risk of greater workplace injuries (to you and your patients).
  • Disease/Illnesses: Many of the patients you will treat have infectious complaints transmitted by the air, blood, or bodily fluids. Regular immunizations, handwashing, and following workplace guidelines will all help to keep your exposure low. Usually, the first two years of nursing are the worst for getting sick; after awhile, you tend to have more natural immunities and should enjoy better overall health.
  • Exposure to Drug-Resistant Organisms: One of the biggest risks to nurses is exposure to the worst kin of “bugs” there are. In a hospital setting, many of the viruses develop the ability to resist common medications, and outbreaks can be serious.
  • Physical Injuries: About half of all nurses will have a back injury at some point in their career. The most important thing to do is get the help you need right away so that a mild complaint doesn’t turn into something more serious. Other types of injuries to the body are often caused by repetition, heavy lifting, or standing for too many hours at a time.
  • Chemical Toxins: Many different types of chemicals are used for cleaning, disinfecting, or taking care of patients. If used improperly, these have the potential to injure a nurse on the job.

Although this list of nursing hazards might seem a little scary at first, it’s important to remember that many different safeguards are in place to prevent minor mishaps from developing into a larger health problem. Take the time in your nursing classes to pay attention to policies, procedures, and protocol related to nursing health issues, and incorporate these into your workplace habits from day one.

Nursing can be a long and viable career, as long as you treat yourself right. Don’t be afraid to seek help for your ailments or to ask for time off to keep yourself in optimal health.

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How to Succeed in Nursing School

i_student_2With a heavy science basis and clinicals that require a long and grueling commitment, nursing school is not an easy task.

Yet in recent years, nursing school has gotten a bit of a reputation as being nothing more than an assembly line for creating professionals to replace the large number of retiring nurses and to fill the nursing shortages all over the country. While it’s true that recruitment methods urge students to consider nursing school, and that you can earn an RN license in as little as two years, don’t expect an easy time of it. Nursing school is a challenge—both to get in and to get through.

If you’re one of the students who got all the prerequisite classes completed, gained entrance to an accredited nursing program, and are working hard to keep up, here are a few tips for finding success.

Establish a Good Relationship with Your Instructors: You don’t necessarily have to stay late every day to chat up the teachers or sit in the front row and have all the answers. But you should do your best to respect the instructors and the curriculum they have set out. Unlike many types of educators, nursing instructors are all nurses first, and instructors second. They have the hands-on skills you’ll need to develop over the next few years, and their experience should become your own. Do the work that is required of you, and take any feedback you get and put it to good use. Making allies of your professors can really boost both your professional success and your entire college experience.

Ask For Help: Nursing is one of those professions where just one mistake could cost you your job—and someone their life. Get in the habit now of asking questions and asking for help when you need it. Working as part of team is always going to be present in the nursing profession, and it’s okay to lean on your coworkers (and co-students) from time to time. It’s better to take the time to learn things now, even if it is difficult, rather than to learn the hard way later that you aren’t prepared to do your job well.

Pitch In and Help Others: At the same time, you want to be the type of nurse others are comfortable approaching for help, as well. A student who demonstrates responsibility and accountability, and who goes above and beyond to contribute to the whole team, is going to be better equipped to succeed in a real world setting.

Be a Caring Professional: Nursing is one of those careers that has a big scientific foundation—but just as important is a solid base of caring. Nurses are often the people families and patients see and talk to the most in a formal care setting, and they rely on nurses to be their advocates within the health care system. Use your nursing school time to develop compassion, empathy, and respect for your patients and the profession as a whole.

Of course, if you want to succeed at nursing school, you’ll also need to set up a good study schedule, spend a lot of time pouring over textbooks, and show up to class every day. As is the case with any medical profession, nursing school prepares you for the real world of nursing, and your commitment to your education will reflect in your job skills.

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What To Do If You Don’t Pass the NCLEX

i_nursing_student_2As a nursing school graduate, one of the most important tests you’ll ever take is the NCLEX exam. This test, which is the national standard for getting a nursing license, takes all the knowledge (both clinical and textbook) you have acquired and ensures that you are ready to handle nursing in a real-world, professional capacity.

Ideally, you’ll pass the NCLEX with flying colors and move on to the next step in your nursing career without a hitch. However, a passing score isn’t guaranteed, even if you attend the best nursing school in the country and spend weeks studying for it. If you do fail the NCLEX, you can take it again. And again. And again—as many times as it takes to get your license and start working.

If you don’t pass the NCLEX, you will be required to wait three months before you can take it again. Use this time to brush up on your studying and take test preparation classes so that you are even more ready next time around.

According to estimates, roughly 15 percent of nursing students in the United States and 48 percent of RN candidates who were educated internationally fail the NCLEX the first time. Although no one likes to talk about these numbers, they can and do happen. The best thing you can do is chalk it up to experience and try again.

Like any test, the NCLEX gauges not only how well you know the material, but how good you are at taking tests. Some people get flustered when faced with a series of multiple choice questions, and it has nothing to do with their intelligence or knowledge base. Fortunately, the more you take the test, the more comfortable with it you’ll be. Oftentimes, simply knowing what to expect can help you direct your studying and to feel less flustered the next time around.

Consider your circumstances, as well your educational shortcomings. Life often gets in the way of our professional goals, and that’s okay. Whether you waited too long after graduation to take the test, or if a family emergency made it difficult for you to concentrate, your circumstances will be different the second time you take the test. Try to schedule ut for a time when you know you’ll be able to study and rest up before the big day.

Realize that failing the NCLEX isn’t the end of your career. Chances are, your future employer isn’t going to care how many times you took the NCLEX—in fact, they probably won’t even think to ask. As long as you earned your degree from an accredited program and you’re dedicated to always learning and growing as a nursing professional, you can succeed in this field. Play up your strengths (maybe you have a great bedside manner or you think fast on your feet) and remember that the test is only a small portion of your skills and dedication as a nurse.

You will have to pay for your NCLEX test each additional time you take it, and adhere to the same rules regarding location and test time. For more information, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing at https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm.

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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.

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Nursing Opportunities in Public Health

i_adminstratorIf you enjoy nursing as well as the more business-oriented side of health care, you might be suited for a nursing job in public health. Public health nursing jobs tend to offer more stable hours, greater professional autonomy, and the chance to make a real impact in your community. By working for the government to enhance education, safety, and health services for everyone, you can keep one foot in nursing and the other in health administration and advocacy.

What Types of Jobs are There in Public Health?

Many of the jobs available in public health organizations are similar to those you find in any hospital or health care setting. Nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and nurse managers all have a place here, and much of the work will include traditional nursing activities. For example, a nursing assistant will answer health questions, prepare patients to be seen, perform routine tests, and take a patient’s vital signs. Once you have been on the job for a few years, you might be promoted to provide at-home services to patients with communicable diseases or provide outreach education to schools or community centers.

You’ll also find even more opportunities for mid- to high-level management. For example, you might be a public health supervisor, a public health consultant, or even a public health outreach works. These professionals do everything from developing care plans (for individuals or families) and developing policies and procedures for public education to helping foster partnerships between area health care companies.

Where to Find Public Health Nursing Jobs

Many rural areas and larger metropolitan areas have a high need for public health nurses. These areas tend to have a large population without insurance or access to regular health care, which puts them at risk not only for disease, but for lower quality of life overall. Many of these individuals are uneducated about basic nutrition and wellness, or may not know how to connect with other resources that can make their lives better. Even vaccines for kids can be difficult, and it’s the job of the public health nurse to make sure that everyone has a chance to be healthy and happy.

In most cases, you need at least an RN license to begin working in public health at the administrative level. A few years of experience working in a busy hospital setting can also be helpful, since it will demonstrate your ability to work long hours and connect with different types of patients.

The pay for public health nurses is fairly average for nurses as a whole, with greater opportunities for advancement and promotion with higher levels of education. You can expect between $40,000 and $60,000 per year to start at the RN level.

Public health nurses will continue to be in demand as the Baby Boomer population ages. And because it is a government job, there tends to be great stability and benefits, as well.

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Getting a Nursing Degree through a Faith-Based Program

i_student_3There are thousands of different nursing schools and nursing programs around the United States. From public universities to small, independent vocational training centers, you can get all the training you need in just two to four years.

When it comes to choosing the right college for you, however, there are more than just considerations of degree type and the length of the program. Many private schools offer faith-based learning (typically in a Christian or Catholic setting) in which nursing and religious studies are mixed. In some schools this takes the form of one or two prerequisite classes in religion; in others, there might be a more in-depth approach to nursing with an overarching faith-based design. Depending on your personal beliefs and what you want out of your career, these schools might be right for you.

Benefits of a Faith-Based Nursing Program

The truth is that many of today’s hospitals and nursing homes are run by religious organizations. Although it is becoming increasingly more common for big businesses to own and operate hospitals, many health care centers have their roots in religious organizations or a mission that takes faith into account. These hospitals aren’t likely to turn you away from employment if you didn’t attend a religious college, but being taught in the same tradition (in which spirituality and caregiving are intertwined) can help you be more comfortable in that particular corporate culture.

The classes you take are likely to be very similar to those of a non-religious nursing school, and you will be held to the same academic and professional requirements (including passing the nursing licensure exam and graduating from an accredited school), so the level of education is the same no matter where you go. Coursework that might be a little different includes:

  • World religions
  • Healing words
  • Public advocacy
  • Ethics
  • Health ministry
  • Home visits
  • Hospice and end-of-life care

In fact, you are more likely to find that a nursing program in a faith-based school has less to do with one particular religion and more to do with human spirituality as a whole. Tolerance for other religions, honoring individual beliefs, and connecting individuals and families with religious services in their area are all part of the faith-based nursing approach.

Where to Find a Faith-Based Nursing Program

These programs are more prevalent than you might think. Many of the top schools associated with great nursing are actually built on religious traditions, and even though faith might not be at the forefront of all that you learn, you could incorporate school resources with your own approach to nursing school. For example, Emory University and Loyola University, whose nursing programs consistently rank in the top 30 for the nation, are both faith-based organizations.

Religion and nursing tend to go hand-in-hand, since you must deal with life and death every day. No matter what your personal beliefs, you should be able to find great personal and professional opportunities at a faith-based nursing school. As long as the school is accredited and has a good reputation, you should have no fears about adding it to your list of possibilities.

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What is Radiology Nursing?

i_xray_nurseRadiology nursing, also known as radiologic nursing, is a field in which nurses work with medical imaging equipment to help diagnose illnesses. As is the case with most types of nursing, the radiologic professional works with a team of health care workers to provide the best care. In most cases, this means a radiology technologist, radiology technician, a radiologist, or a cardiologist—all of whom are also trained to work with imaging technology.

How is Radiologic Nursing Different from Traditional Nursing?

Most nurses in a hospital or long-term care setting provide care to the same patients for an entire shift, as designated by their assignment for the day, week, or even longer. In this way, they are responsible for monitoring patient levels and making assessments based on their knowledge.

Radiologic nurses are a little bit different. Because a radiology department works like a physician’s office, in that many different appointments and clients are scheduled, there is more of a focus on diagnosing and treating specific diseases, rather than the patient as a whole. Job duties include:

  • Starting IVs
  • Educating families and patients on procedures
  • Coordinating scheduling
  • Assisting with diagnostic imagining procedures (ultrasound, nuclear medicine, computed tomography, MRI, and x-rays, among others)
  • Keeping patients calm and comfortable during procedures
  • Caring for patients during the recovery period
  • Helping the doctor/radiologist make diagnoses

Because it is such a specialized nursing field, most professionals must get certified as an RN first and a radiologic nurse second. The Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing offers more information on the field and what you can do to specialize and become certified as a radiologic nurse.

How is Radiologic Nursing Different from a Radiology Technician?

If you are interested in radiologic nursing, you may also want to consider a straight career as a radiology technician or technologist. In many cases, the education is about the same (four years—the same as a BSN), and the work is similar in that you work with imaging technology. However, unlike nursing, you are qualified to make many of the diagnoses on your own, and you run most of the machinery without needing a direct supervisor.

Nursing tends to be a better choice if you would like to keep a broader range of options. If you earn a degree as a radiology tech, you are qualified for just that: radiology. A radiologic nurse, however, has double training, both as a traditional nurse and as a radiologic specialist. If you one day decide to change fields, you will have an easier time, since you’ll have the RN degree to fall back on.

If you’re interested in either field, it’s best to talk with the nursing school advisor or even job shadow both professionals for a few days to get a better understanding of your own professional goals.

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What Does an Operating Room Nurse Do?

i_nurse_femaleIf you look at the lists of top-paid nursing positions and best nursing opportunities in the United States, you’ll probably find operating room nurses somewhere near the top. This RN specialty is one that is popular among professionals who enjoy a little bit more autonomy and a little more direct patient interaction than more traditional nursing. Although you will always be working under the supervision of the operating team and surgeon in charge, this position is one that requires you to be able to make assessments and think on your feet in a high-stress situation.

Operating nurses are responsible for patient care in all phases of a procedure: the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages. Although the tasks will vary depending on the exact procedure, you can expect some combination of the following:

Preoperative Assessment: An operating room nurse is the individual who will have the most contact with the patient as he or she is preparing to enter surgery. The nurse may be responsible for communicating with the patient and family about what to expect, and ensuring that the patient acts in accordance with the pre-surgery guidelines. Additional tasks include monitoring the patient’s vitals, taking a medical history, verifying paperwork, and discussing the various stages of recovery and what they entail.

Operation Preparation: The best operating room nurses know the individual quirks of the surgeons they work with every day. They know exactly how the surgeon prefers the room to be set up and equipment to be positioned. The nurse is also there to continue to allay patient fears and anxieties. Because the operating room nurse has already built a rapport with the patient, he or she can be the determining factor between a happy patient and an unhappy one.

Working as Part of the Surgical Team: There are many different health care professionals in the room when a surgery occurs. A circulating nurse, scrub nurse, surgeon, and anesthetist are among them—and the operating room nurse must work as part of the team.

Advocating for Patients: In a surgical setting, there are often many different viewpoints and opinions sharing the same space. Because the operating room nurse is the most familiar with the patient and family, he or she may be called upon to clarify the patient’s plan of care.

Postoperative Care: One of the most “nurse-like” jobs of the operating room nurse is to care for the patient during the postoperative period. This includes monitoring vitals, administering medications, and checking for any signs that the patient’s condition is worsening.

Becoming an Operation Room Nurse

If you’re interested in becoming an operating room nurse, you will first need to become a registered nurse (most often with Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing). An additional six months to one year of training will be required. In order to become certified as an operating nurse, you’ll need an additional two years and 2,400 hours of experience. You can then sit for the certification exam.

Operating room nursing is a great field if you want to step away from routine care and work more in patient advocacy and communication. Competition for positions can be a little fierce, though, so you’ll want to be sure and become certified to boost your chances of employment.

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What Factors Influence Nursing Salary?

i_nurse_pediatricsOne of the common themes of any discussion of the nursing career is that the field is one of the most stable and fastest-growing in the entire country. Job outlooks over the next ten years will only continue to increase, and nursing salaries are expected to increase right alongside them.

However, that doesn’t mean that what one nurse earns working as an RN in New York is going to be the same as a BSN in Ohio. There are many different factors that influence nursing salaries, and your annual pay will be dependent on all of them.

Level of Education: LPNs make less than RNs, and NPs make even more than them both. An RN with a Bachelor’s degree can typically command higher rates than an RN with an Associate degree. Depending on your degree and your license, the amount of money offered to you will vary.

Experience: Most health care settings work on a seniority-type scale. The longer you work for the organization, and the more experience you have, the higher rate of pay you can command. This is especially true if you move into a managerial or supervisory role.

Unionization: In many states and hospitals, nurses cannot work unless they join the local nurses union. In most cases, being part of a union means higher rates of pay (though you will have to pay annual or monthly union dues in return). In a union setting, you can also command much higher rates of pay for work done overtime.

Your Shift: In a hospital setting, nurses who work graveyard shifts (11pm to 7am) tend to make more than those who work swing shifts (3pm to 11pm), who, in turn, make more than those who work day shifts (7am to 3pm).  Although this isn’t written in stone, most employers change the rate of pay depending on the desirability of the hours worked.

Employer: Nurses in a hospital setting tend to earn the most money, followed by those who work in doctors’ offices. Nursing home and home health care tend to provide the lowest salaries of all. Other opportunities, like working for a government entity or as a travel nurse, can also provide different pay rates.

Types of Nursing: Specialized work typically commands a higher rate of pay. For example, if you work in an emergency room or operating room, the high stress and increased skills mean you can earn more each year. Advanced specialties in fields like orthopedics or pediatrics can also help you move up the ranks.

Location: Perhaps nothing influences nursing salary so much as where you live—and for good reason. Cost-of-living expenses in larger metropolitan centers are much higher than what you would expect in smaller cities. For example, an RN in New York can expect between $54,000 and $76,000 per year, while the same professional will get between $45,000 and $65,000 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Getting a nursing degree is a great career move—regardless of where you live or what your specialty. However, if increasing your pay is a priority, there are plenty of advancements and opportunities you can take advantage of.

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Nurses Without Borders

i_vaccineOne of the most famous health care employers in the world is Doctors without Borders. This organization, which was founded in 1971, provides medical aid to nearly 60 countries worldwide. The populations served live in areas where conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, and natural disasters jeopardize the health and wellness of the majority of the residents.

Despite its name, Doctors without Borders isn’t all about doctors. In fact, many different types of health care professionals, including nurses, can participate. If you are just graduating from nursing school, or if you’re deciding on an area of study, you may want to consider joining this worthwhile organization. Like travel nurses, a post here will help you fill a need in the medical community and enjoy incredible life experiences while you do it.

Remember, though, that this job isn’t one to take lightly, or to take on as part of an exploration of what type of nursing you’d like to get into. Most nurses who work for the organization attend nursing school with the goal of becoming part of an international team of health care workers, and tailor their education accordingly. Whether this means pursuing a nurse practitioner degree in tropical medicine or spending several years working in a high-intensity metropolitan ER room, it can take years to prepare for the admissions process.

Nursing Requirements

The process of becoming part of Nurses without Borders is a competitive one, requiring lots of preparation as well as a long-term commitment of at least a year. The basic recommended requirements include:

  • Nursing degree (BSN or NP)
  • Current nursing license
  • Two years experience with direct patient care
  • Supervisory/management experience
  • Tropical medicine training, infectious disease training, or public health training
  • Foreign language skills

Training as a nurse midwife or nurse anesthetist can also increase your chances of entering the program, since these NP-level professionals are needed in many of the locations served.

Is the Nursing Program Right for You?

Nurses without Borders comes with inherent risks, and it isn’t for everyone. The work being done worldwide takes place in areas where there is heavy military conflict, where infectious disease and a lack of resources magnifies the death rate, and in places severe weather and other natural disasters can make life uncomfortable.

Although the employment potential of a nursing school graduate might seem fairly small, the truth is that there are many different types of places where you can start and advance your career. If if get a Bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher and would like to include adventure as part of your resume, Nurses without Borders might be the perfect place to find your way.

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