• National Student Nurses Association - With a membership of approximately 50,000 nationwide, the National Student Nurses' Association mentors the professional development of future nurses and facilitates their entrance into the profession by providing educational resources, leadership opportunities, and career guidance.

Featured Article - The Resourcefulness of Studying Nursing Online

Through the years, nurses have been called a lot of different things which includes wet nurses, as well as health caretakers. The Nurses Registration Act of 1901 was the catalyst for North Carolina to issue the first nursing license in 1903. At that time the nursing profession was defined by doctors who gave nurses certain responsibilities and restricted them from other procedures. Today’s definition includes the caring for all individuals who have emotional, psychological, intellectual, social, physical or spiritual needs. Nurses are schooled in medical theory, as well as clinical skills and perform in all fields of medicine. Nursing is no longer in the shadows in terms of procedures, practice and education; it is a combination of social science, nursing theory, physical science and modern day technology. The profession of nursing offers individuals a number of diverse opportunities, which can be achieved by classroom study or online nursing programs.

Is a nursing career for me?

New statistics released by the Department of Labor show that 213,500 new nurses will be needed in 2010. By 2015 that number increases to 381,250 and by the year 2020 the number of new nurses needed to fill vacancies left by retiring nurses and newly created positions will be around 800,000. The staggering growth in healthcare, as well as the fact that people are living longer is creating tremendous opportunities in nursing. New nurses are treated like medical celebrities by hospitals and other facilities. Hospitals around the country are now offering nurses flexible hours and three day work weeks along with fantastic insurance, vacation and retirement plans. Signing bonuses and advances are not uncommon for experienced nurses.

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) can earn around $35,000 to 40,000 after the first year and that does not include overtime. A registered nurse (RN) earns at least $47,000 and if a nurse has a BSN degree that figure jumps to over $52,000. Nurses who have a MSN degree earn around $63,000 in some cities and a nurse who holds a doctorate degree can earn $73,000 plus, the first year of nursing. The demand for nurses is so strong that hospitals and other facilities develop special employment packages for nurses with experience.

Can I get a better education in the classroom or online?

Classroom study has always been the traditional way to earn nursing certification. Some students believe that the classroom is better suited for personal interaction with the instructor and that the courses are more detailed and include more material. The down side of the classroom has always been the lack of flexibility and the cost. Tuition gets a student into the classroom, but there are usually fees that increase the total cost. Students who have jobs or families and are on a tight budget find classroom study a hindrance rather than helpful.

Online study is all about flexibility. Students can choose the time to study whether it’s theory or clinical work. Online study includes telecommunication, emails and course work, so the student is able to receive personal help from the instructor. Thanks to online forums and chat rooms students can interact and share information with other students, which helps develop a classroom feeling in cyberspace. The cost of online study is also a plus. The tuition usually covers any fees associated with the program so, there is a cost savings over classroom study.  Visit nursing education online for additional information on career programs, degrees, earnings and schools.

Are my clinical courses hard to complete online?

The classroom has always offered students on site clinical training at a specific time and place. Online study offers the student some options. Local hospitals usually participate with visiting instructors and some hospitals use staff nurses as instructors so students have some flexibility in terms of completing the clinical procedures as their schedule permits. Hospitals also assign mentors when the clinical work is in advanced stages so difficult techniques can be discussed and analyzed, which helps the student complete the work. Video demonstrations are also available, so some of the procedures can be done at home and the instructor is always available through teleconference calls or emails. Online study is an effective way for anyone to earn nursing certification, especially if personal issues take priority.

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