RN

ONLINE EDUCATION (RN to BSN Associate-Degree)

Education blogger

None are more cherished and revered throughout history than people who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Considered to be one of the most respected professions, nursing has evolved into a multibillion dollar industry in recent years. Although still staying true to its original values of the past, it has adapted itself to the changing world in a remarkable fashion.

Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing laid a foundation that was devoted to helping people in pain and distress. Technological advancements have helped the nursing profession establish itself as a lucrative career choice. The popularity of this profession can be gauged by the interest students from all over the United States have shown in RN to BSN associate programs.

The main difference between earning an ADN or a BSN will be the length of time and the amount of credits required to complete the course of study. Typically, students enrolled in an ADN course of study spent two years in order to complete the program and be qualified to take the licensing examination for becoming a registered nurse. The BSN program takes four years to complete and may require additional prerequisites in order to gain entrance. Also, many career schools offer highly accelerated programs that lead to obtaining a BSN and 18 to 21 months here toward students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in another subject.

Core Curriculum Studied

Despite the nursing program followed, students typically study a core set of subject matter that includes adult health, psychiatry, maternal and newborn nursing including pediatrics, gerontology: nursing to name but a few. BSN programs always offer more courses in nursing that would include theory, research, instrumentation as well as specialized training in such areas as surgery and rehabilitation.

Starting Salaries Are Similar Graduates obtaining an ADN or BSN are generally speaking offered similar salaries to start their medical careers. However, since many against positions in the nursing field require a BSN, pinging is degree does prepare the individual for the potential to earn a greater amount of money. A survey conducted in 2006 in the state of California revealed that RN’s with an ADN earned approximately $70,804 while RNs with the BSN on a little bit more at $75,017. There are several advantages for an individual to obtain an ADN that include:

Less expensive education costs Less time-consuming Possibly pursue a course of study while fully employed Programs are typically available at local community colleges making access easy

The survey also revealed that as of 2006 in the state of California 46.6 percent of RNs have attained their schooling through an ADN program, while 37.7 percent had attended a BSN program. Other RN licenses were completed to a hospital sponsored diploma program. This type of program is administered through a local hospital and in many situations is offered with either reduced or no tuition in exchange for a commitment of a specified duration of time employed at that particular medical institution.However, individuals completing a hospital diploma program are at an eligible to sit for the national licensing examination, the NCLEX-RN, but did not receive a degree.

As stated earlier, the acronym ADN stands for Associate Degree in Nursing. This can be an interested individual’s ticket to the fast track for working as a nurse as quickly as possible. An ADN course of study takes only two years to complete, covering all the basic skills needed to work as an independent registered nurse.

This course of study prepares all students to apply for and pass the national certification exam known as the NCLEX-RN. Students successfully passing the exam are now registered to work as a nurse in the state where the exam was taken. Yet, taking and passing the national exam may also qualify individuals to work in certain other states that offer reciprocity when it comes to recognizing the validity of individual’s RN license.

Once licensed individuals will find employment in a variety of different settings from a physician’s office to a research facility where education and licensure allow the individual to conduct daily chores such as collecting samples, participating in patient treatment, dispensing medication, offering education and explanation for comforting concerned patients and loved ones, conducting basic lab tests as well as supervising licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants in their daily chores.

Individuals seeking a quick and easy path toward obtaining the position of an RN will find the path first obtaining an ADN to be an excellent choice. More often than not, individuals obtaining one or more years of experience as a registered nurse decide to continue on with education to obtain a BSN degree. Sending such a degree offers other exciting opportunities for a registered nurse that lead to specialized practice as well as entering management positions.

Always Make Sure to Check out Degree Requirements

Many colleges have different entrance requirements when it comes to selecting students for an ADN course of study. Many of these basic requirements include that students have maintained a C grade or better throughout their high school years. Furthermore, it is important for potential students for an ADN degree to realize the importance placed upon taking science classes in high school such as biology, chemistry and others. Often, high schools offer a pre-nursing course of study that emphasizes the necessary knowledge needed in order to be a successful candidate for an ADN degree. In many cases individuals will need to score better than 940 on their SATs in order to gain entrance.

Since there is such a great demand for qualified registered nurses in today’s medical field, other opportunities for obtaining an ADN degree such as studying at your pace with an online course make it easier than ever before for individuals to grab it that during. Regardless whether studying at your local community college or online, the secret to success is to apply yourself passionately learning everything that you can. Skills taught and learned form the foundation for successful, personally rewarding and financially opportunistic careers as a registered nurse.

ONLINE EDUCATION (Post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate)

Education blogger

The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program provides a formal program of study for Master’s-prepared nurses interested in taking the national certification exam to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. To be eligible for the certification exam, students must “successfully complete graduate didactic and clinical requirements of a Master’s nurse practitioner program through a formal Master’s level Nurse Practitioner program in the desired area of practice.” The Certificate program offers a formal program of study to meet this need for students who already have the Master of Science in Nursing degree without requiring them to complete a second Master’s degree.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Program prepares nurse practitioners with extensive clinical practice and role preparation for advanced practice in caring for patients across the lifespan. Students work with physicians and nurse practitioner preceptors, and are given access to a wide variety of clinical agencies and practice settings. The most versatile NP role allowing graduates to care for patients, families and communities in a wide array of practice sites from community-based clinics to primary care offices and from retail clinics to urgent care centers.

Our core courses prepare you with the foundational knowledge required of all graduate students. Our clinical courses enable you to build on your existing clinical skills, broaden your knowledge base related to care of the family and individual across the lifespan, and gain the knowledge and skills essential to independent for collaborative practice in primary care settings. We place our students with preceptors who serve as mentors and role models throughout the clinical practice experience. Our graduates are highly respected for their knowledge and expertise and are employed in primary care settings across the country.

At completion of this track, graduates will be able to:

Integrate advanced knowledge and experience in delivering safe, effective quality care of patients across the lifespan in primary care. Demonstrate competence in managing the health/ illness status of patients in primary care. Monitor and ensure quality health care for clients in primary care. Incorporate an understanding of family systems and dynamics in planning and providing primary health care for a wide range of patient populations. Demonstrate leadership and competence in implementing the role of the primary care nurse practitioner. Engage in counseling, communication, collaboration and teaching in a manner that reflects caring, advocacy, ethics and professional standards. Conceptualize one’s individual role as a primary care nurse practitioner and one’s personal philosophy of primary care practice.

The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner program of the Decker School of Nursing is designed for nurses with a Master’s Degree in nursing who seek advanced clinical preparation as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon completion of the program graduates are eligible for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner in New York State and are eligible to sit for the national certification examination. Graduates of the program are prepared to provide primary care to families. Supervised clinical practice is an integral part of the program. Whenever possible, clinical experience will be arranged near the student’s place of residence.

The Department of Nursing offers the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program for students who completed a master’s of science degree in nursing. The certificate of advanced practice is designed for those individuals with a master’s degree in nursing who wish to expand their practice into the role of a family nurse practitioner. The specialty area prepares nurses to provide comprehensive care that includes health promotion, maintenance and restoration for persons across the life span. Depending on educational background and previous coursework in master’s program, students accepted into the certificate program are required to take as few as 3 and as many as 12 courses. Successful completion of the required curriculum qualifies the RN to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination.

The School of Nursing offers a post-masters Nurse Practitioner (NP) certificate for nurses holding a master of science in nursing degree in a different nursing specialty. The three specialty concentrations offered are acute care, primary care family, and primary care pediatrics. The NP certificate curriculum reflects a comprehensive approach to the provision of primary (family and pediatric) and secondary care to individuals, aggregates, and communities. Students acquire advanced assessment skills, a specialized clinical knowledge base, and advanced clinical management and decision-making skills. Admission to the certificate is competitive and follows the same admission guidelines as the MSN Nurse Practitioner major. The post-masters curriculum consists of core advanced practice courses (if not taken previously) and specialized courses in the major. Completion of the NP post-masters certificate requires a minimum of three semesters of full-time study. Instruction is online and includes clinical experiences. Graduates of the post-masters certificate are eligible to sit for national certification exams given in their specialty.

You May Qualify For Financial Aid.