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Online Education Guide - What is a College Major? View College Majors - Alternative Medicine - Clinical Laboratory Science - Communication Disorders - Counseling - Dental Hygiene - EMT & Paramedic - Forensic Medicine - Gerontology - Health IT - Healthcare Administration - Healthcare Management - Health Promotion - Health Services - Life Care Planning - Long Term Care - Medical Informatics - Nursing - Nutrition & Food Science - Occupational Safety - Occupational Therapy - Pharmacy - Physical Therapy - Physician Assistant - Psychology - Public Health - Radiologic Science - Respiratory Therapy - RN to BSN - Sports Science |
Home | Career Pathways | Online Education Guide | Health & Medical Majors | Nursing Online Education GuideGuide to College Majors in NursingWhat is Nursing?A college degree in Nursing provides the opportunity for diverse personal growth and professional development in this vital and exciting field. The tools of the nursing profession consist of a special combination of human compassion and advanced medical technology. Nursing degree programs are designed to offer enrolled students a solid educational background of traditional science and liberal arts. As the degree program progresses, this basic knowledge becomes integrated with the more in-depth knowledge, skills, and expertise that are necessary for success in the nursing profession. The more advanced the degree in Nursing, the more specific and in-depth the coursework becomes. In the past several years, the availability of online and distance learning programs in the field of nursing has seen a significant growth. The expansion of the industry of online and distance learning degree programs in the field has made it possible for students in all situations to obtain a college degree in Nursing while continuing to maintain their lives at work and at home. Students who choose to obtain a college degree in Nursing will be prepared for a wide variety of professional opportunities in the field. Nurses are highly in demand in many different segments of the health services industry. As students enroll in programs offering more advanced degrees in nursing, they will receive increasingly specialized nursing training and will be eligible for jobs within more focused segments of the health services field. In addition to providing students with general scientific and health knowledge, most of the courses offered in a Nursing degree program emphasize the demonstration of competency in both classroom work and work in the field. Many students enrolled in a Nursing degree program will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience and knowledge of working with the subject matter by engaging in extensive field study in health services facilities such as hospitals or private physician's offices. Many levels of degrees in Nursing are available through online and distance learning programs. Students may obtain their Nursing degree at the associate, diploma, baccalaureate, or graduate level. All nurses need to take the National Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) in order to become Registered Nurses (RNs). Some nurses complete one year of training to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Licensed practical nurses do hold a nursing license but cannot perform many of the tasks and procedures that a registered nurse can perform. Career Education in NursingUndergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programsA student who wishes to earn an associate's degree in nursing may complete an associate's degree program in two years. A diploma in nursing can be earned through the completion of a three-year diploma degree program. A bachelor's degree in nursing can be earned through a four-year baccalaureate program. Some students who wish to enter nursing careers at a high-paying managerial level may wish to pursue a Master's degree in nursing, which can be earned only after a bachelor's degree is achieved. Bachelor Degree ProgramsThe Bachelor's degree in Nursing is the basic degree at the professional level of the nursing profession. Most students who major in nursing at the baccalaureate level will be required to complete coursework in basic science and liberal arts. This foundational study will usually be followed by intensive internships or other such arrangements, in which the student enters the workplace and experiences working as a nurse on a first-hand basis. Students in a baccalaureate nursing degree program who are required to gain field experience will most often handle all the elements of nursing that nurses handle. They will treat patients, administer medicine, administer medical procedures and tests, and analyze patient reports, among other tasks. Baccalaureate coursework in Nursing
Students who complete a baccalaureate level degree program in Nursing may go on to have successful careers in specialized fields such a:
Master Degree ProgramsStudents who choose to pursue a Master's degree in Nursing can expect to concentrate their studies on a specific health-related topic such as geriatrics, pediatrics, or healthcare policy. Nurses who complete a Master's degree program in Nursing are known in the nursing field as advanced practice nurses. Graduate level degree programs in nursing are designed to prepare students for advanced practice in many different segments of the health services industry. Most often, students who choose to pursue a graduate degree in nursing have already gained experience working in the nursing field. It is common that nurses seek a Master's degree in order to enter higher-paying positions, most often at the managerial level. Many nurses seek a Master's degree in order to focus the direction of their professional careers. Most graduate level degree programs in nursing require new students to choose a specialization upon which they will focus their studies. After these students complete the graduate degree program, they will be specially trained to be successful in the field of their focus of study. Students may choose to focus their graduate studies in areas such as:
Graduate Coursework in Nursing The core curriculum in a Master's degree program in Nursing may consist of courses such as:
Prerequisite Requirements Some common requirements for entrance into a graduate level degree program in Nursing include:
If you are interested in enrolling in an online or distance learning degree program in Nursing, you should be familiar with the various admissions, coursework, and fieldwork requirements of the degree programs offered by these colleges and universities. You should also be familiar with the levels of Nursing degrees offered by these colleges and universities. By obtaining this information, you will be better equipped to choose the online or distance learning degree program in Nursing that is right for you. Universities offering online nursing degree programs: Walden University - Graduate Degrees in Nursing What can you do with a College Degree in Nursing?Career specializations for aspiring nursesRegistered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are vital to our society because they work to help prevent disease and illness and to provide necessary care for those who are suffering from illness and pain. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses have jobs that require that they be able to perform a variety of important tasks such as observing, analyzing, and recording a patient's symptoms. Nurses help patients develop rehabilitation plans and to develop plans to maintain their health after a recovery. Registered Nurses are also called upon to assist physicians during surgeries. Career OptionsThough there are state laws to determine the specific tasks that registered nurses and licensed practical nurses may perform in the workplace, the nature of the jobs and the job duties of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse are largely determined by the segment of the health care industry in which the nurse is working.
Career OutlookThe career outlook for nurses with nursing degrees of all levels is very positive. Registered nurses are expected to enjoy a rapid increase in employment levels through 2012, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. More new jobs are expected to be generated in the nursing field than in any other occupational field. Registered nurses leaving the field will also cause thousands of job openings, as will rapid growth in medical technology. These technological advancements will emphasize preventative medicine and health services and will also make it possible for those in the health services profession to treat illnesses and injuries once thought to be untreatable. Technology will also extend the life expectancy for elderly people, thereby increasing the need for medical care in the older population. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employers throughout the country report difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of registered nurses. This may be due to the fact that many RNs are aging and retiring and that many new RNs are not receiving an adequate education. The gap between the supply and demand for RNs in the workforce will create a greater number of opportunities for newly trained registered nurses. Working ConditionsMost health services facilities in the United States are clean, well lighted, and well- maintained. Home Health Nurses, Public Health Nurses, Occupational Health Nurses, and some other specific types of nurses often do not work within a regular health services facility. Nurses of all kinds should be in good physical shape because the duties of the job require much walking, standing, and lifting. Nurses should also expect to keep some irregular hours, particularly if they are working in a health services facility that provides 24-hour care for the patients. Nurses may have to work nights, weekends, and holidays. Many nurses must spend some time each week or each month being on-call. Nurses must be extremely careful when in the workplace to follow strict rules and guidelines that will protect them from infectious diseases that they may be around. There are other hazards involved with nursing, such as chemical usage, needle usage, radiation usage, usage of compressed gases, usage of electrical equipment, and others. Because of the many hazards of the workplace, nurses must be consistently conscientious and cautious while on the job. The Disposition of NursesNurses must be compassionate, responsible, and detail-oriented. They must be willing to take control of stressful situations and to ask for assistance when assistance is needed. They must possess an emotional stability that will enable them to handle emergency situations and to be engaged with emotional and physical suffering, illness, and injury. Nurses must also be able to use faculties of sound judgment, enabling them to assess and evaluate the conditions of patients. Nurses who advance in the nursing profession must be able to be good leaders and to negotiate with and manage teams of other nurses. Salary Expectations for Careers in NursingThe United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that in 2002, the average annual income of Registered Nurses was $48,090. The 10 % of Registered Nurses earning the least made less than $33,970. The 10 % earning the most made more than $69,670. The Princeton Review indicates that the average workweek for a registered nurse is 45 hours. The average starting salary for a registered nurse is $32, 930. The average salary after 10 to 15 years of working in the field is $65,000. The average stating salary for registered nurses who graduate with a Master's degree in Nursing is between $50,000 and $60,000. Many employers of registered nurses offer incentives such as flexible work hours, educational benefits, provided childcare, and other benefits and bonuses. Certification and LicensureIn the United States, students who wish to become nurses must graduate from an approved nursing educational program. In order to gain a nursing license, nursing students must also pass a national licensing examination. Nurses have the option of being licensed in more than one state. Nurses can obtain licensure in more than one state through examination, endorsement, or a licensing agreement between states. All states require that licensed nurses renew their licenses periodically. License renewal procedures vary from state to state but may require that the nurse receive additional education. Related Associations
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