Advanced Practice Nurse Programs: High Level Nurse Training

Registered nurses hoping to boost their careers by taking advanced practice nurse programs have got 4 options to select from. The four types of advanced practice nurses typically recognized throughout the Nation are nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Advanced practice nurses perform a number of preliminary health services, particularly in the areas of testing as well as preventive health care. Here are a few of the career fields these professionals can be found doing work in.

OB/GYN, Psychiatry, Emergency and Trauma Care, Rehab Services/Long Term Care, Pulmonary Care, Surgical Specialties, General Pediatrics and Specialties, Adult Medicine

This list does not come close to covering all the career opportunities available. Various advanced practice nurse programs have a variety of specialty areas in which people can train.

All advanced practice nurses will have to fulfill tough training, certification, as well as continuing education requirements. All these professionals are closely examined through professional organizations like the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Nurse practitioners, the first type of advanced practice nurses, are certified to carry out tasks for which registered nurses aren't qualified, like examining and diagnosing patients as well as prescribing medications.

The majority of folks become a nurse practitioner by first being an RN and after that earning a master's degree, or a doctorate in nursing. These programs frequently target one specific area like acute care, family, pediatrics, adult. In addition to being licensed by the nursing board in their state, nurse practitioners have a certificate within their specialty areas.

Individuals wishing to become a clinical nurse specialist also have to take advanced practice nurse programs. The various fields clinical nurse specialist are found in are research, clinical practice, management, consulting and teaching. This advanced practice nurse niche demands a Master's of Science in nursing, exactly like the other areas in this classification.

These training programs will need to be accredited by one of two accrediting organizations. The agencies are Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission Programs which are accredited by either of these organizations are appropriate for advanced practice training. Clinical experience will be part of the pre training for the certificate program.

Yet another kind of advanced practice nurse is certified nurse midwives. These nurses provide primary care to women and infants. Other sorts of services available from certified nurse midwives are referral, evaluation, assessment and treatment

Those wishing to become certified nurse midwives have to be registered nurses before they can enroll in an approved program and get either a certificate or a Master's degree. When all of the requirements have been completed, all that's left is to pass a written test.

The very last kind of nurse we will be looking at will be the certified registered nurse anesthetist. Applicants will have to already be RNs before registering for one of the approved programs. Once they complete their training, certified registered nurse anesthetists will be nationally certified, which will permit them to work in all fifty states.

Oncology Nursing Certification: Learning to Treat Cancer Patients

Possibly the most effective way for an RN to upgrade their career is to specialize and great approach for doing this is by getting their oncology nursing certification. The United States alone has more than 31,000 oncology certified nurses. Becoming certified means that you can work in one of the leading nursing specialties in the medical field.

As the name implies, an RN with a certification in oncology nursing has chosen to specialize in the field of cancer. Because this is a somewhat large domain, with numerous sub specialties, the ONCC awards a variety of certifications, which allow the RN specialist to focus on a specific part of oncology. Some of these are breast health, pediatric hematology, or pediatrics. Additionally, there are some sub specialties which are somewhat more specific like clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse practitioners An oncology certified nurse has a plethora of options in the specialty.

These nurses assume much greater responsibility than does a registered nurse. Because of advanced schooling in oncological care, one may be asked to perform cancer screening and prevention programs. Because of their advanced training, they usually are experienced in the latest treatment options as well as end of life care. The training needed to become certified gives registered nurses the knowledge needed to take care of the more advanced tasks that come with this specialty.

One must have a valid registered nurse license to be an oncology certified nurse. As the certification is advanced, there are very strict requirements for the experience and education an individual must have before sitting for the exam. For instance, a basic OCN needs to have 1,000 hours of adult oncology practice and ten hours of continuing education, through a recognized program. A nurse specializing in breast care is going to have identical requirements, only the 1,000 hours will need to be in breast care nursing. Once again, this is a highly specialized form of nursing, and so it takes extremely specific schooling and training.

The final step in becoming an OCN is taking and passing the test. The test is 165 multiple choice questions, that cover 11 areas of oncology nursing. The test can take about three hours to complete. The test is fluid over time, and constantly changes in order to meet the ever-changing knowledge areas in this specialty.

Your oncology nursing certification makes a difference. The fact that you were trained in this field, means you'll be able to give your patients the special care they require. The healthcare industry itself needs oncology certified nurses, mainly because the population is getting older and there are simply more instances of cancer today. Many employers will often help to pay for the training necessary for the certification. Without a doubt, obtaining your oncology nursing certification will be difficult, but it is a major career leap, and it's highly valued by both patients as well as healthcare providers.

Registered Nurse Income: Maximizing Your Earning Potential

The Registered Nurse income is very competitive in the current job market. The income, together with the fact that because of an increase in the aging society, RNs are going to be in demand even more than they are now. As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs get paid around $62,000 and a few top earning nurses can earn up to $70,000. Many different factors will determine the Registered Nurse income. Factors like the amount of experience the individual has, if they decide to specialize as well as their amount of education.

It will come as no real surprise that the Registered Nurse that's right out of college isn't going to be making the same amount as someone who has been in the industry for years. With that said, the exact amount and kind of training the individual receives can play a big part on the starting Registered Nurse income. RNs that just have an Associate degree should expect to gain about 5 dollars per hour less than one that has earned a Bachelor’s degree. A nurse with a BSN can not only earn more from the start, but these nurses usually have many more opportunities to progress to careers with higher pay. Individuals that first only get an ADN, normally wind up back in school to obtain their BSN. The advantage for these Associate degree nurses is they can often receive tuition reimbursement through employers while continuing to work, which cuts down on costs.

Whether or not you have received certification for a specialty may also determine a Registered Nurse income. Registered Nurse specialists range from oncology to neonatology. Nurse anesthetists, whom give anesthesia along with anesthesiologists and surgeons, can earn over $130,000 a year. Nurse researchers, who look at health data and submit research papers, earn around $95,000. Pediatric endocrinology nurses, caring for kids with endocrine system conditions, make just over $80,000. Specializing requires many hours of continuing education and exams to get certified, but the effort can greatly maximize your earning potential.

The salary of an RN could also depend on the industry you choose to work in. Not all nurses work directly in the healthcare industry. Quite a few work in government, manufacturing or publishing. The federal executive division of the government pays Registered Nurses about $77,000 a year. A lot of nurses work in areas like medical equipment and supplies manufacturing and will often make a lot more.

You might be amazed to learn that your geographical area might actually benefit or hurt your earnings potential. The median salary for Registered Nurses in California and Massachusetts is over $80,000 a year, while in Iowa, and North Dakota, it’s less than $53,000. Working in a metropolitan area could mean you will be making more. Many Registered Nurses who live in California’s Bay area make more than $100,000. However, remember that nurses living in these high paying regions are often also dealing with a very high cost of living.

Even though your salary might not be the highest Registered Nurse income level, an occupation in nursing will provide you with a competitive income as well as plenty of job opportunity for the future.

Think You've Got What it Takes for Accelerated RN Programs?

If you are a working professional making plans for a career change to nursing, you may want to check out accelerated RN programs, rather than an entry level Registered Nurse program. Many people move to nursing from other careers or training programs. An accelerated RN program is one means for anyone that have working experience and education in other fields to make the move to nursing and start working quickly.

Accelerated RN programs aren’t a means to cut corners, either - simply because they require the exact same number of clinical hours to be accomplished as any other Registered Nurse program, though usually in longer shifts and more extreme schedules.

Given the growing shortage or nursing professionals, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing strongly supports these speedier training programs, and for numerous reasons. Although an accelerated RN program will get you out of your current career path and working as an RN in record time, usually between 11 and 18 months, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who considers accelerated RN programs easier than entry level training programs. Accelerated RN programs are challenging, geared toward people having a demonstrated ability to learn quickly, process new information and keep drive through all the challenges.

An accelerated nursing program normally goes full time. While most individuals participating in these kinds of programs tend to be older than non-traditional students, accelerated RN programs are different from other non-traditional nursing programs in that they're actually more rigorous, not less. Where lots of nontraditional nursing students go to night classes, or complete their training online at their own speed, permitting them to still work full time or raise their children while in school, accelerated RN program students usually are full time nursing students,.

A final concern that many people have when thinking about accelerated RN programs is if these types of programs are seen as somewhat less valuable than conventional programs by potential employers. It seems that it's actually the opposite, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. As a result of experience, many supervisors have come to value nurses that have gone through these programs a lot. Since these nurses came from careers and educations in different career fields, they often have skill-sets and outlooks rare within entry level nurses. Whether they make the jump to nursing from business, a hard science, or even a completely unrelated field, nurses from accelerated RN programs typically have much to offer to a functioning team.

So, if your career field has been damaged by economic decline, or you just believe you might have missed your calling, an accelerated RN program could be just the stepping stone you'll need to start a fulfilling and successful new occupation.

Registered Nurse Training: Which Degree is Right for You

Deciding to attend Registered Nurse training, will mean you are taking the initial step in entering into a profession that's very rewarding. To focus this excitement and interest into your future success you want to prepare for the training that is coming up next. Understanding the education and training you are walking into will allow you to be more successful and to pass your final NCLEX-RN exam.

Registered nurse training covers the range of science lessons, as you must understand every intricacy of the human body. Your education starts as soon as that you get into school and even more once you enter into a nursing program. This basic training will require you to take classes such as chemistry, anatomy and biology.

When you start the nursing program, you are going to take these science classes to a higher level. To go on and be successful in your training, you need to master topics like microbiology, physiology and nutrition. You will also be expected to take classes in psychology and behavioral sciences, since these courses will help you to better understand your patient and also the worries they are up against.

Finally, you'll be required to tackle the various nursing courses that will get you prepared for the actual field work you'll perform as a registered nurse. These registered nurse training classes will get you prepared for duties like starting an IV, analyzing medications, administering physical therapy, and informing and questioning a patient, among other things.

These are the typical classes that are faced by those who are wanting an ADN or BSN. Students will then prepare for the national licensure examination, which will need to be passed following registered nurse training to become a registered nurse in the United States. The test is known as the NCLEX-RN . It is important to note that those who are attempting to be a registered nurse will need to complete clinical experience, in addition to completing and passing the NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain your certification and license.

Most people stop after getting their license after a bachelor's degree or associates degree. Those who are looking to advance even further in the field will need to go after a Master's Degree or for specialized certifications. These types of advanced practice positions include nurse anesthetists, clinical nursing and nurse practitioners.

With Registered Nurse training, you are preparing for a career that is anticipate to grow by as much as 22 percent by 2018. For those who have what it takes to successfully complete their training and pass the NCLEX-RN, this job is filled with limitless career opportunities. If you have been looking to be a nurse, be sure to concentrate all of your excitement and energy into your work. You will be better prepared for the training that lies ahead and you will be on the list of top candidates when attempting to get one of the many nursing jobs available.

Online RN Degree: Changing the Face of Health Care Training

If you are making plans for becoming an RN, you might be curious about the online RN degree. Nowadays many men and women are going to college online.

Most individuals who work or have households are choosing to do their schooling online so they can get it done on their own schedule. Closeness of schools with RN degrees may be a dilemma that online schools can solve. If you have to share transportation with someone, learning online gets rid of that issue as well. A simple search will offer so many online RN degree programs that you might become overwhelmed, but there is no need. Take a little time to look at them and find the best one for you.

A crucial aspect of an online degree program is job placement after you graduate. In addition, you need some counseling on finding a good place to work. You certainly do not want to do a lot of work for this degree only to turn around and not be able to get a job after getting it. No one wants to do all that work and then feel it was wasted. Though it is highly likely you'll get an RN position after you graduate, everybody could use assistance in their job search. Having a professional there to help you with your research could make a big difference.

One other thing to find is a program which has connections to locations where you conduct your clinicals while pursuing your degree. Clinicals are the nurse’s equivalent of students teaching: you go to a workplace and help and learn. Clinicals will be a way to learn about nursing first hand. Not only can you make sure that being a Registered Nurse is what you want, you get to investigate several settings and options for places you may want to work. This puts you a step ahead when it's time to begin choosing your first position.

When you are picking your online RN degree , don't simply choose the one that boasts you will finish in the least amount of time. You'll want the program which will best prepare you for your job ahead. You want to graduate prepared and able to be the best RN possible. Locate past students of the online degree program to talk with and ask if they liked it. Any good school is happy to give you some students that are willing to talk to you about the program. There may also be reviews online as well.

Online classes remove the in-person part of schooling out of the picture. You don't go to a real classroom for your courses. You might not meet your classmates or the teacher face to face. If you have never taken classes online, you should take that under consideration. Most people are not bothered by the loss of social interaction with internet schooling, but some others find it difficult to handle. But you can't beat online degree programs regarding convenience and simplicity.

Very often you can complete an online degree more quickly than the traditional program. If you are interested in online RN degrees, you're making a good first step in becoming an RN.

Make certain you find a program that offers the following:

Students you can talk to about the program, Programs that place you in a job, Clinicals set up by the school, not by you.

Be sure you pick the online degree program that's right for your situation out of all the programs.

Is Becoming an RN and Seeing the World Right for You?

Is there anything that's more exciting than becoming an RN? So now you miss a lot of the things you used to do such as spending weekends at home relaxing or even traveling. Do you know that it is possible to combine your work with your passion for traveling?

Travel RNs really have an incredible occupation. Not only do they practice what they enjoy, but they also travel and have a large number of benefits. Let’s take a peek at the prerequisites to be a travel RN:

Personal Requirements

Becoming an RN that practices by traveling is not so easy. There are a set of items that the Nurse will need to complete and prepare before accepting a new job. Organizing the personal life should be a top priority previous to making a decision.

Educational Requirements

The education requirements for travel Registered Nurses are identical to those of the standard RN. So long as they pass the NCLEX-RN examination, they can practice in all the states equally.

Required Experience

Generally, an RN should have a minimum of one year of experience before they are qualified for travel RN jobs.

Should you be single and considering being a traveling RN, below are a few questions that you have to consider:

* Who can get my mail?

* How am I going to pay my home bills?

* Can I find someone to water the plants?

These problems ordinarily are not as big of an issue when the RN is married, simply because they should have their spouse and maybe their children to help with these chores.

Family

Despite the fact that becoming an RN that travels is an individual choice, and it's about what the person wants for his or her occupation, there are certain issues that should be looked at. Be ready for weeks or months away from family. If they're married, they need to be sure that their marriage isn't affected. Being away for weeks is very stressful on a relationship. Extra attention should be given when children are involved.

There are some important questions which travel RNs with families need to ask themselves:

* Do I have fun with the profession itself,in addition to the traveling or am I solely doing it for the money?

* My family does not really agree with my extended absences. Should I re-think my job decision?

Training to be a Registered Nurse is actually a wonderful step in a career in nursing however when it comes to a travel nurse often times there are items that need to be considered. When the family is involved in the whole process, more considerations need to be taken to prevent issues. Naturally family has to think about the economic side of the occupation, and that point will often overcome all the others.