By: Grant Eckert
In any career, there are a number of decisions to make. Within the nursing path, there are a number of directions you can take when you are first starting out, often resulting in different career paths and positions. The first and most vital decision you will make is whether to enter the hospital setting or the private practice setting. Both have their rewards, as well as their limitations, so this is a choice you need to spend time on making.
When You Choose the Hospital Setting
Any graduate of nursing school is probably going to be flooded with offers from hospitals and hospital type settings. And with the hiring bonuses they offer, these offers can be quite tempting. Here are the main benefits of talking to these human resources departments:
· Often unionized workplaces - Once you're into these hospitals, you're nearly guaranteed steady work for the rest of your life. Your wages will be raised yearly and your benefits will be negotiated regularly.
· Possibility of promotion or transfers - In a larger hospital setting, you will be able to change your position as your experience increases. Most hospitals will post jobs in other departments with preference given to those already in similar positions or with more years on the job.
· Variety of work - You can start out in one position and then transfer to other positions as your knowledge increases or you simply want a change of scenery and patient care.
But as with any setting in which you would choose to be a nurse, there are downsides too.
· Problems dealing with seniority in the beginning - Since seniority tends to be rewarded, as a new nurse, you might find that positions are slim and the hours are poor until you have a few years of experience.
· Fast paced setting, high patient to nurse ratio - While this can also be a benefit, the fast paced setting and high patient ratio can be exhausting for some nurses, often leading to burnout.
When You Choose the Private Practice Setting
If you're looking at joining a private practice as a nurse, you will find that there are just as many benefits as there are problems with this arrangement.
The benefits include:
· Regular hours - Because you are only working when the doctors are there, you can establish a more regular schedule. This works well for nurses with families that need their care.
· More chance for patient interaction - When you're only dealing with one patient at a time, you can feel more connected to the patients you do meet.
· Smaller patient population - This allows you to learn and to remember patients that come in regularly. You also can have less stress than in a hospital setting.
But the disadvantages to this setting are:
§ Lack of unionization in many cases - This can cause your job to be at risk for termination at any time, regardless of seniority. Your benefits will also be decided by the practice management instead of being supported by a union representative.
§ The pay can be less - While some practices pay better than others, the pay is often much less in a private setting as the revenue can be smaller.
§ There are fewer jobs - You might not be able to get into a higher position as a private practice nurse, plus the number of jobs available is fewer.
Whether you choose the hospital setting or the private practice setting, you will still be able to do what you do best - care for patients. However, most nurses find that one setting is a better fit than another. And that decision is up to you.
Showing posts with label PA Nursing Assistance Fund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PA Nursing Assistance Fund. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Big Incentives to Attract New Nurses
Article written by Debra Wood, RN, contributor for Nurse Connect
Today’s nurses are in great demand and short supply, which has forced some hospitals to offer generous bonuses and other innovative incentives to recruit new nurses to their facilities and keep their professional caregivers at the bedside. From tuition reimbursements and longevity bonuses to flat screen TVs and mortgage down payments, nothing seems too far fetched to consider in the today’s health care marketplace.
“We are all pulling from the same pool of nurses,” said Vicki Wadman, RN, director of recruitment for Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida. “Overall, the pool of nurses is limited. We are doing things to encourage people to go into nursing.”
Memorial operates six hospitals in South Florida and offers scholarship programs for employees who want to continue their education. The program pays for two years of nursing education—up to $6,000—in exchange for a two-year commitment to work at Memorial.
“Every organization is going to have some issues with the nursing shortage and have a hard time filling certain openings,” said Margaret Gibson, the manager of employment and employee relations at Mercy Hospital in Miami. “You want to retain experienced nurses. You want a committed, dedicated workforce. Ultimately, that will allow you to provide excellence in patient-care services.”
Experts predict that the hiring situation will remain challenging for hospitals in the coming years, giving nurses the opportunity to be more selective about where they work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates employment of registered nurses will grow 23 percent between 2006 and 2016, from 2.5 million to more than 3 million.
Mercy, which currently employs more than 500 registered nurses and 60 licensed practical nurses, has initiated many inventive programs aimed at recruiting and retaining nurses and other health professionals. Gibson reports that the hospital’s aim is to not only improve patient care, but to also cut down on the high cost of turnover.
Consequently, Mercy now offers retention bonuses on a graduated scale. Nurses who have worked at Mercy for two years receive a $3,000 bonus, those employed for five years earn an extra $5,000, and those who stay on for 10 years receive an additional $10,000.
“It appears to be working and is well received by our nurses,” Gibson says.
For nurses with student loans, Mercy also offers a loan forgiveness program, paying up to $5,000 during a two-year period toward loan repayment.
In addition, all Mercy employees can participate in its commuter benefit as well as the hospital’s new “back-up care” program which helps employees find alternate care for a sick child or aging parent, 24 hours a day.
To offset Miami’s high housing costs, where median sale prices reached $365,000 in 2007, Mercy also offers a down-payment program for first-time homebuyers. Nurses can receive $10,000 toward the purchase of a home in exchange for a five-year commitment to remain at Mercy. If they leave early, they must repay a portion of the funds.
South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York, where the median housing price is $477,200, is helping employees in a different way. It built an apartment complex within walking distance of the hospital and offers the units to nurses at a reduced rent.
Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, has tried some unique approaches to recruiting. Last year, all new nursing graduates who joined the workforce received a 19-inch flat-screen television.
“It seemed to help,” said Angela Harris, clinical professional recruiter at Trinity Medical Center. “It’s amazing what a flat-screen TV will do.”
This year, the hospital offered a partial loan repayment program and 39 new nurses signed on. Harris also promotes the hospital’s Web-based “bid shift” program. Nurses earn points for each extra shift they work and can spend those points on everything from a car wash to a television or digital camera. Unpopular shifts offer more points and incentives.
“We don’t have a problem staffing those hard-to-fill shifts any more,” Harris said.
Memorial Healthcare also has instituted a free concierge service for employees, who can get their car washed, order flowers, have the dry cleaning taken care of, arrange for a house sitter or plan a trip while they are at work.
“We think of it as improving the quality of the work life. Clearly it helps with recruiting, and we hope it helps in retention,” said Ray Kendrick, chief human resources officer at Memorial.
Nurse residency programs are also being used to improve the work environment, keep nurses at the bedside and recruit new graduates who seek support as they transition into practice.
Ellen Whalen, RN, MSN, MS, chief nursing officer at USC University and Norris Cancer Hospitals in Los Angeles, reported that nursing professors are encouraging their students to look for well organized, theory-based, new-graduate programs, such as the Versant RN Residency program her hospital offers. It provides residents with preceptors, mentors and debriefing sessions.
“New grads are drawn to the program for these reasons,” Whalen said. “Our residents become well integrated into the culture and develop relationships quickly with their colleagues.”
Yvonne Brookes, RN, director of clinical learning and executive sponsor of the Versant RN Residency at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami, reports significant increases in the number of nurse applicants since the health system started offering the residency program.
“The reputation and description of the support is bringing in new grads,” said Brookes, adding that for the August cohort, the hospital received 225 applications for 126 positions.
The program also has helped Baptist Health keep its new hires. Turnover rates for new grads decreased from 22.3 percent to 11.8 percent in the first year. Altogether, Versant hospitals report turnover rates of approximately five percent during the first year and 11 percent at two years, compared to national averages between 35 and 60 percent at one year and 57 percent at two years.
The program also benefits preceptors, according to Brookes, who can see the results of their work and appreciate that the new nurses are more likely to stay.
“We have a supportive environment, and that will increase recruitment even more,” Brookes said. “It has increased the professionalism overall.”
As hospitals continue to roll out the welcome mat in new and inventive ways, job seekers can expect to reap the benefits of financial incentives, consumer-based perks and specialized on-the-job training.
Today’s nurses are in great demand and short supply, which has forced some hospitals to offer generous bonuses and other innovative incentives to recruit new nurses to their facilities and keep their professional caregivers at the bedside. From tuition reimbursements and longevity bonuses to flat screen TVs and mortgage down payments, nothing seems too far fetched to consider in the today’s health care marketplace.
“We are all pulling from the same pool of nurses,” said Vicki Wadman, RN, director of recruitment for Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida. “Overall, the pool of nurses is limited. We are doing things to encourage people to go into nursing.”
Memorial operates six hospitals in South Florida and offers scholarship programs for employees who want to continue their education. The program pays for two years of nursing education—up to $6,000—in exchange for a two-year commitment to work at Memorial.
“Every organization is going to have some issues with the nursing shortage and have a hard time filling certain openings,” said Margaret Gibson, the manager of employment and employee relations at Mercy Hospital in Miami. “You want to retain experienced nurses. You want a committed, dedicated workforce. Ultimately, that will allow you to provide excellence in patient-care services.”
Experts predict that the hiring situation will remain challenging for hospitals in the coming years, giving nurses the opportunity to be more selective about where they work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates employment of registered nurses will grow 23 percent between 2006 and 2016, from 2.5 million to more than 3 million.
Mercy, which currently employs more than 500 registered nurses and 60 licensed practical nurses, has initiated many inventive programs aimed at recruiting and retaining nurses and other health professionals. Gibson reports that the hospital’s aim is to not only improve patient care, but to also cut down on the high cost of turnover.
Consequently, Mercy now offers retention bonuses on a graduated scale. Nurses who have worked at Mercy for two years receive a $3,000 bonus, those employed for five years earn an extra $5,000, and those who stay on for 10 years receive an additional $10,000.
“It appears to be working and is well received by our nurses,” Gibson says.
For nurses with student loans, Mercy also offers a loan forgiveness program, paying up to $5,000 during a two-year period toward loan repayment.
In addition, all Mercy employees can participate in its commuter benefit as well as the hospital’s new “back-up care” program which helps employees find alternate care for a sick child or aging parent, 24 hours a day.
To offset Miami’s high housing costs, where median sale prices reached $365,000 in 2007, Mercy also offers a down-payment program for first-time homebuyers. Nurses can receive $10,000 toward the purchase of a home in exchange for a five-year commitment to remain at Mercy. If they leave early, they must repay a portion of the funds.
South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York, where the median housing price is $477,200, is helping employees in a different way. It built an apartment complex within walking distance of the hospital and offers the units to nurses at a reduced rent.
Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, has tried some unique approaches to recruiting. Last year, all new nursing graduates who joined the workforce received a 19-inch flat-screen television.
“It seemed to help,” said Angela Harris, clinical professional recruiter at Trinity Medical Center. “It’s amazing what a flat-screen TV will do.”
This year, the hospital offered a partial loan repayment program and 39 new nurses signed on. Harris also promotes the hospital’s Web-based “bid shift” program. Nurses earn points for each extra shift they work and can spend those points on everything from a car wash to a television or digital camera. Unpopular shifts offer more points and incentives.
“We don’t have a problem staffing those hard-to-fill shifts any more,” Harris said.
Memorial Healthcare also has instituted a free concierge service for employees, who can get their car washed, order flowers, have the dry cleaning taken care of, arrange for a house sitter or plan a trip while they are at work.
“We think of it as improving the quality of the work life. Clearly it helps with recruiting, and we hope it helps in retention,” said Ray Kendrick, chief human resources officer at Memorial.
Nurse residency programs are also being used to improve the work environment, keep nurses at the bedside and recruit new graduates who seek support as they transition into practice.
Ellen Whalen, RN, MSN, MS, chief nursing officer at USC University and Norris Cancer Hospitals in Los Angeles, reported that nursing professors are encouraging their students to look for well organized, theory-based, new-graduate programs, such as the Versant RN Residency program her hospital offers. It provides residents with preceptors, mentors and debriefing sessions.
“New grads are drawn to the program for these reasons,” Whalen said. “Our residents become well integrated into the culture and develop relationships quickly with their colleagues.”
Yvonne Brookes, RN, director of clinical learning and executive sponsor of the Versant RN Residency at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami, reports significant increases in the number of nurse applicants since the health system started offering the residency program.
“The reputation and description of the support is bringing in new grads,” said Brookes, adding that for the August cohort, the hospital received 225 applications for 126 positions.
The program also has helped Baptist Health keep its new hires. Turnover rates for new grads decreased from 22.3 percent to 11.8 percent in the first year. Altogether, Versant hospitals report turnover rates of approximately five percent during the first year and 11 percent at two years, compared to national averages between 35 and 60 percent at one year and 57 percent at two years.
The program also benefits preceptors, according to Brookes, who can see the results of their work and appreciate that the new nurses are more likely to stay.
“We have a supportive environment, and that will increase recruitment even more,” Brookes said. “It has increased the professionalism overall.”
As hospitals continue to roll out the welcome mat in new and inventive ways, job seekers can expect to reap the benefits of financial incentives, consumer-based perks and specialized on-the-job training.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Benefits Play a Big Role in Nurses’ Employment Decisions
By E’Louise Ondash, RN, contributor
There’s no doubt about it. Benefits are important to nurses when they consider where to work or whether to remain with an employer, but the benefits they want can vary with age, marital status, health, family situation and career path.
“You need to have flexible benefits (because) there is a much greater emphasis now on balancing work life, and because throughout the life cycle of your career, you’re going to have a need for different benefits,” explained Veronica Zaman, RN. She is executive director of workforce development and talent management at Scripps Health in San Diego, California, a nonprofit community health system that employs more than 3,000 nurses. “We have an aging workforce and we also have a multi-generational work force—new grads who are coming to nursing as a second career.”
Scripps Health has given a lot of attention to benefits, she added, and it watches what the competition is offering.
“The trend a few years ago was to have huge sign-on bonuses, and there are some pockets where that is still a strong attraction. We offer a strong flexible benefits plan so we can focus our efforts on retention rather than bringing people through the door for signing bonuses.”
Ask nurses and they’ll tell you that they expect other benefits beyond major medical, according to Ric Spurgeon, RN, a Seattle nurse and caseworker for Medicare recipients for a large insurance company.
“The benefits are a huge deal, especially since many nurses are single mothers,” he said. “They want items such as subsidized child care, long-term care insurance, legal insurance, retirement accounts, pension plans, employee stock plans and several choices of medical and dental insurance.”
Although not a single mother, Spurgeon likes having six medical plans from which to choose. He said he picked one that meets his needs.
“Your choice will depend upon your state of health, utilization and where most of your expenses lie—whether it’s medications, hospital or doctor visits because of chronic conditions. I prefer a health savings account (HSA).”
Spurgeon uses pre-tax deductions from his paycheck to fund an HSA.
One St. Louis nurse who works part time as evening nurse manager at a large teaching hospital, continues to “toy with thoughts of retirement.”
“I look at it seriously every six months,” said Patricia, a 40-year-veteran who asked that her last name not be used. “But as long as working is still something I enjoy and I have a schedule I can manipulate, I find it hard to justify giving up the great medical coverage we have at the price we pay. So I suppose you could say that insurance is certainly a factor in keeping me working at the moment.”
Even though she works only two days a week—the minimum to receive benefits—Patricia has health, vision and dental insurance, vacation and sick time, tuition reimbursement and an employer-matched 401K. And although she has remained at the same hospital since her 1967 graduation, “I continue to get lots of recruitment-type mail from other hospitals,” she said. “The information I get always highlights benefits, so I can only assume it’s pretty important. Interestingly, the tuition reimbursement and the 401K seem pretty important to young nurses also.”
A national telephone survey of 250 nurses, conducted in October by Aflac Insurance, confirms that benefits play a big role in the decision-making process for nurses when determining where they should work. Nearly nine out of 10 of the nurses said a hospital's benefits package is one of the most important factors when determining where they choose to work.
More than half of those surveyed reported that they would switch jobs solely based on benefits.
Some nurses even want so-called “voluntary” accident and disability insurance; that is, they are willing to pay the full premiums if their employers offer it.
There’s no doubt about it. Benefits are important to nurses when they consider where to work or whether to remain with an employer, but the benefits they want can vary with age, marital status, health, family situation and career path.
“You need to have flexible benefits (because) there is a much greater emphasis now on balancing work life, and because throughout the life cycle of your career, you’re going to have a need for different benefits,” explained Veronica Zaman, RN. She is executive director of workforce development and talent management at Scripps Health in San Diego, California, a nonprofit community health system that employs more than 3,000 nurses. “We have an aging workforce and we also have a multi-generational work force—new grads who are coming to nursing as a second career.”
Scripps Health has given a lot of attention to benefits, she added, and it watches what the competition is offering.
“The trend a few years ago was to have huge sign-on bonuses, and there are some pockets where that is still a strong attraction. We offer a strong flexible benefits plan so we can focus our efforts on retention rather than bringing people through the door for signing bonuses.”
Ask nurses and they’ll tell you that they expect other benefits beyond major medical, according to Ric Spurgeon, RN, a Seattle nurse and caseworker for Medicare recipients for a large insurance company.
“The benefits are a huge deal, especially since many nurses are single mothers,” he said. “They want items such as subsidized child care, long-term care insurance, legal insurance, retirement accounts, pension plans, employee stock plans and several choices of medical and dental insurance.”
Although not a single mother, Spurgeon likes having six medical plans from which to choose. He said he picked one that meets his needs.
“Your choice will depend upon your state of health, utilization and where most of your expenses lie—whether it’s medications, hospital or doctor visits because of chronic conditions. I prefer a health savings account (HSA).”
Spurgeon uses pre-tax deductions from his paycheck to fund an HSA.
One St. Louis nurse who works part time as evening nurse manager at a large teaching hospital, continues to “toy with thoughts of retirement.”
“I look at it seriously every six months,” said Patricia, a 40-year-veteran who asked that her last name not be used. “But as long as working is still something I enjoy and I have a schedule I can manipulate, I find it hard to justify giving up the great medical coverage we have at the price we pay. So I suppose you could say that insurance is certainly a factor in keeping me working at the moment.”
Even though she works only two days a week—the minimum to receive benefits—Patricia has health, vision and dental insurance, vacation and sick time, tuition reimbursement and an employer-matched 401K. And although she has remained at the same hospital since her 1967 graduation, “I continue to get lots of recruitment-type mail from other hospitals,” she said. “The information I get always highlights benefits, so I can only assume it’s pretty important. Interestingly, the tuition reimbursement and the 401K seem pretty important to young nurses also.”
A national telephone survey of 250 nurses, conducted in October by Aflac Insurance, confirms that benefits play a big role in the decision-making process for nurses when determining where they should work. Nearly nine out of 10 of the nurses said a hospital's benefits package is one of the most important factors when determining where they choose to work.
More than half of those surveyed reported that they would switch jobs solely based on benefits.
Some nurses even want so-called “voluntary” accident and disability insurance; that is, they are willing to pay the full premiums if their employers offer it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Stimulus bill gives nursing homes reason to smile
It’s OK to crack a grin now that Congress has reached a tentative agreement on the colossal economic stimulus package. Nursing homes have a lot to be happy about.
Here’s why:
—The biggest bang of the package, of course, is the $87 billion in increased Medicaid funding. The House and Senate agreed to an across-the-board increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage of 6.2%, according to Susan Feeney, spokeswoman for the American Health Care Association. (That represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions, she said.) A bonus also will be paid to states that have high unemployment rates.
—Another piece of good news is that the bill delays moratoria for six harmful Medicaid rules that would limit funding to nursing homes. The delay buys Congress and the administration until the end of June to figure out a more permanent solution.
—Finally, the legislation contains a provision requiring prompt Medicaid payments to nursing homes and hospitals. Clean claims now have to be paid in 90 days. That alone is reason for providers to cheer.
Unfortunately, one battle nursing homes didn’t win was an amendment to the bill, introduced by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), which would have prohibited states from reducing spending to providers even as they received Medicaid funds.
“Yes we would have preferred there was that Grassley amendment in there, but we understand Congress’ recognition not to tie the hands of the governors,” Feeney said.
All in all, there is more to praise than to criticize in the bill. So don’t be bashful about sharing your thoughts through letters to senators and representatives. And say “thank you.” It took a lot of work to reach this point.
Here’s why:
—The biggest bang of the package, of course, is the $87 billion in increased Medicaid funding. The House and Senate agreed to an across-the-board increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage of 6.2%, according to Susan Feeney, spokeswoman for the American Health Care Association. (That represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions, she said.) A bonus also will be paid to states that have high unemployment rates.
—Another piece of good news is that the bill delays moratoria for six harmful Medicaid rules that would limit funding to nursing homes. The delay buys Congress and the administration until the end of June to figure out a more permanent solution.
—Finally, the legislation contains a provision requiring prompt Medicaid payments to nursing homes and hospitals. Clean claims now have to be paid in 90 days. That alone is reason for providers to cheer.
Unfortunately, one battle nursing homes didn’t win was an amendment to the bill, introduced by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), which would have prohibited states from reducing spending to providers even as they received Medicaid funds.
“Yes we would have preferred there was that Grassley amendment in there, but we understand Congress’ recognition not to tie the hands of the governors,” Feeney said.
All in all, there is more to praise than to criticize in the bill. So don’t be bashful about sharing your thoughts through letters to senators and representatives. And say “thank you.” It took a lot of work to reach this point.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Work Of PA Center For Health Careers Eases Pennsylvania's Nursing Shortage
The shortage of registered nurses in Pennsylvania is shrinking, in part, because of the efforts of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers, Department of Labor & Industry acting Secretary Sandi Vito announced.
The information is included in updates to the 2005 reports "The Registered Nurse Workforce in Pennsylvania" and "The Licensed Practical Nurse Workforce in Pennsylvania," released today and available online at
http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us.
"I am pleased to see that our investments and efforts to address the need for nurses in Pennsylvania have reduced the shortage originally estimated in 2005," Vito said. "By helping academic institutions hire faculty and add classes, the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers is helping to increase the number of skilled, qualified nurses in Pennsylvania."
According to the latest forecasts, the shortage of registered nurses, or RNs, projected for 2010 is between 8,000 and 14,400 of an estimated statewide demand for 146,000 RNs -- between 400 and 1,700 fewer than the shortage reported in the original 2005 report.
"The report's estimates also show the need for Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, will nearly double -- due to Pennsylvania's aging population -- leading to an estimated shortage of between 7,100 and 8,400 in 2010.
"Our efforts have been positive and successful; however, the aging of residents makes it very clear that there is more work to be done," Vito said. "Having determined the commonwealth's nursing needs through 2010 and beyond, we must have the proper resources to continue our investments in programs that will close education and employment gaps, and ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to the high-quality care they need and deserve."
The forecasting model used to provide the updated information is a cooperative effort by the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis and the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers. Data was collected by the Department of Labor & Industry on employment and occupational trends; the Department of Health's State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Survey on registered nurses and licensed practical nurse characteristics; the Board of Nursing on graduation rates, licensure examination pass rates and the career plans of nurses; as well as data collected from six regional round table discussions with health care industry professionals from around the state.
Additional information about the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers, as well as reports and data about Pennsylvania's need for registered and licensed practical nurses, is available online at http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us.
The information is included in updates to the 2005 reports "The Registered Nurse Workforce in Pennsylvania" and "The Licensed Practical Nurse Workforce in Pennsylvania," released today and available online at
http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us.
"I am pleased to see that our investments and efforts to address the need for nurses in Pennsylvania have reduced the shortage originally estimated in 2005," Vito said. "By helping academic institutions hire faculty and add classes, the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers is helping to increase the number of skilled, qualified nurses in Pennsylvania."
According to the latest forecasts, the shortage of registered nurses, or RNs, projected for 2010 is between 8,000 and 14,400 of an estimated statewide demand for 146,000 RNs -- between 400 and 1,700 fewer than the shortage reported in the original 2005 report.
"The report's estimates also show the need for Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, will nearly double -- due to Pennsylvania's aging population -- leading to an estimated shortage of between 7,100 and 8,400 in 2010.
"Our efforts have been positive and successful; however, the aging of residents makes it very clear that there is more work to be done," Vito said. "Having determined the commonwealth's nursing needs through 2010 and beyond, we must have the proper resources to continue our investments in programs that will close education and employment gaps, and ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to the high-quality care they need and deserve."
The forecasting model used to provide the updated information is a cooperative effort by the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis and the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers. Data was collected by the Department of Labor & Industry on employment and occupational trends; the Department of Health's State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Survey on registered nurses and licensed practical nurse characteristics; the Board of Nursing on graduation rates, licensure examination pass rates and the career plans of nurses; as well as data collected from six regional round table discussions with health care industry professionals from around the state.
Additional information about the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers, as well as reports and data about Pennsylvania's need for registered and licensed practical nurses, is available online at http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Nursing: Choosing A Specialty
By: Cynthia Andrews
The nursing profession is a wide open field with many career paths. In today's increasingly specialized world, it is becoming more common for nurses to specialize within their field. The decision to specialize in the nursing field is not one to take lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages, but for an increasing number of nurses it is becoming necessary.
Because of the relatively new practice of choosing a specialty field, each field has different requirements for specialization. There are also some that have no requirements at all. Certainly, a nurse who has worked for thirty years in the obstetrics department should consider that their specialty, but that is not the case when compared to a nurse choosing their specialty field after graduating from nursing school.
Not all nursing fields have formal specialization programs. Some, such as pediatrics, have a national certification program. Even in fields that do not have a national certification process, many hospitals have guidelines for working in a specialized field. Many hospitals recommend that a recent nursing school graduate should work for at least one year on a general medicine floor before moving into any specialty. Nursing schools provide students with intensive training, and the year spent working in the hospital setting should provide invaluable experience in helping the young nurse refine skills and gain confidence.
Once you feel competent in general nursing, you may want to consider choosing a specialty field. Specializing often makes it easier to find a job in your chosen field, and it is possible to draw a higher salary by having skills that are in demand. Once you work in a specialized field, it may become difficult to gain employment outside this field, because employers may be concerned that your skills in some areas may not be up to date. For this reason, it is important to think carefully about what type of specialty you may want to work in before you commit.
Know what is required
Be sure to consider all sides of a specialty before deciding if it is the one for you. While many nurses think they want to work with babies, in reality, the NICU, while full of babies, is a stressful place to work, especially for a young nurse, who may have young children at home, or be thinking of starting a family.
Other nurses may want to work with the elderly, and while this can certainly be rewarding, it often requires a great deal of physical strength to help elderly patients with day-to-day tasks, so it is important to take that into consideration before making a decision.
Work in Different Areas
The best way to learn what is required in each nursing specialty is to work in different areas. Even if you do not work in the area that you are considering specializing in, you can still gain insight into the differences between the available nursing fields. Many hospitals hire “float” nurses that rotate through a variety of positions, filling in on different floors as needed. This is an excellent way to gain a variety of experience.
Network
Before choosing a specialty, take the time to talk with people who work in the specialty that you are considering. The more people you talk to, the better understanding you can gain for the type of work that is required and how rewarding the career path is. Talk with people who are happy in their job as well as those who are not. Remember that what makes one person happy is not the same for another person. While you may relish working independently, someone else may feel isolated. The more nurses you talk with, the better understanding you can gain for the different nursing specialties.
What does the future look like?
Before committing the time and money to specialized training, you should consider the job outlook for your particular career. If the specialty requires intensive classes that you must take on your off duty hours and pay for on your own, and the outlook is stagnate, it may not be the best choice for you. If you can specialize in a career by taking in-service classes while continuing education, which you would be required to take anyway, or the job growth is the specialty is growing, it is probably a good field to choose.
Don't sweat it
Regardless of the choice that you make, it is reversible. Once you have your nursing degree, you are highly employable, regardless of the field of nursing in which you have experience. If you choose one area of nursing, and find that it is not a good fit, it is easy enough to move into another branch of nursing. You can make the switch easier by keeping your skills up to date and working an occasional shift on a floor outside your specialty.
The nursing profession is a wide open field with many career paths. In today's increasingly specialized world, it is becoming more common for nurses to specialize within their field. The decision to specialize in the nursing field is not one to take lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages, but for an increasing number of nurses it is becoming necessary.
Because of the relatively new practice of choosing a specialty field, each field has different requirements for specialization. There are also some that have no requirements at all. Certainly, a nurse who has worked for thirty years in the obstetrics department should consider that their specialty, but that is not the case when compared to a nurse choosing their specialty field after graduating from nursing school.
Not all nursing fields have formal specialization programs. Some, such as pediatrics, have a national certification program. Even in fields that do not have a national certification process, many hospitals have guidelines for working in a specialized field. Many hospitals recommend that a recent nursing school graduate should work for at least one year on a general medicine floor before moving into any specialty. Nursing schools provide students with intensive training, and the year spent working in the hospital setting should provide invaluable experience in helping the young nurse refine skills and gain confidence.
Once you feel competent in general nursing, you may want to consider choosing a specialty field. Specializing often makes it easier to find a job in your chosen field, and it is possible to draw a higher salary by having skills that are in demand. Once you work in a specialized field, it may become difficult to gain employment outside this field, because employers may be concerned that your skills in some areas may not be up to date. For this reason, it is important to think carefully about what type of specialty you may want to work in before you commit.
Know what is required
Be sure to consider all sides of a specialty before deciding if it is the one for you. While many nurses think they want to work with babies, in reality, the NICU, while full of babies, is a stressful place to work, especially for a young nurse, who may have young children at home, or be thinking of starting a family.
Other nurses may want to work with the elderly, and while this can certainly be rewarding, it often requires a great deal of physical strength to help elderly patients with day-to-day tasks, so it is important to take that into consideration before making a decision.
Work in Different Areas
The best way to learn what is required in each nursing specialty is to work in different areas. Even if you do not work in the area that you are considering specializing in, you can still gain insight into the differences between the available nursing fields. Many hospitals hire “float” nurses that rotate through a variety of positions, filling in on different floors as needed. This is an excellent way to gain a variety of experience.
Network
Before choosing a specialty, take the time to talk with people who work in the specialty that you are considering. The more people you talk to, the better understanding you can gain for the type of work that is required and how rewarding the career path is. Talk with people who are happy in their job as well as those who are not. Remember that what makes one person happy is not the same for another person. While you may relish working independently, someone else may feel isolated. The more nurses you talk with, the better understanding you can gain for the different nursing specialties.
What does the future look like?
Before committing the time and money to specialized training, you should consider the job outlook for your particular career. If the specialty requires intensive classes that you must take on your off duty hours and pay for on your own, and the outlook is stagnate, it may not be the best choice for you. If you can specialize in a career by taking in-service classes while continuing education, which you would be required to take anyway, or the job growth is the specialty is growing, it is probably a good field to choose.
Don't sweat it
Regardless of the choice that you make, it is reversible. Once you have your nursing degree, you are highly employable, regardless of the field of nursing in which you have experience. If you choose one area of nursing, and find that it is not a good fit, it is easy enough to move into another branch of nursing. You can make the switch easier by keeping your skills up to date and working an occasional shift on a floor outside your specialty.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Becoming a Nurse Educator is a Wonderful Career Choice
Registered nurses are teachers already! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work. Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!
Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!
Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!
Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.
Teaching Nursing Offers Outstanding Career Flexibility
Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities.
A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!
Earn a Master's in Nursing Education While You Work
You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.
Don't have a BSN Degree?
There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing bridge program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.
Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!
Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!
Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!
Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.
Teaching Nursing Offers Outstanding Career Flexibility
Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities.
A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!
Earn a Master's in Nursing Education While You Work
You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.
Don't have a BSN Degree?
There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing bridge program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.
Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Paying Homage to our Mentor
Florence Nightingale was a revolutionary and well ahead of her time. We know of her numerous and purely astounding accomplishments with nursing through advocacy, reform, and the transformation of nursing into a legitimate profession. But do we truly grasp the depth of her accomplishments?
Born into an affluent family, Florence Nightingale ignored the societal norms of the time, which separated social class and disparaged nursing, and got down in the trenches to treat the poor and impoverished. In the process she addressed equality for the indigent and for women.
Claiming to have heard the voice of God on several occasions, Florence Nightingale’s calling must have been a powerful one. Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” wrote a daily meditation entitled, “Downward Mobility.” He wrote the following:
“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.”
This certainly describes the path in life Florence Nightingale chose and the conviction to her divine calling. Florence Nightingale rejected her life of privilege and had the courage to oppose her parents’ wishes, despite their attempts to steer her away from nursing, to do what she believed she was called to do. Florence Nightingale looked for her downward mobility to transform nursing and address the injustices of society. It was action that she took or as the saying goes, “She walked the walk.”
Her true accomplishments: Not as much transforming nursing into a legitimate profession, as much as making it a vocation; not as much treating the ill for their physical needs, but the healing of their whole being; not as much her advocacy and reform for the time, but setting a precedence for all time; and maybe most of all, treating people as equal and as children of God. All because she answered her calling and of her “Downward Mobility.”
There are only a few people in the history of mankind that truly denied their very selves to embark on a journey that was ominous, perilous and denigrated to accomplish so much for the destitute, never to be repaid by worldly riches… or paid at all. Thank God nursing got one of them.
Born into an affluent family, Florence Nightingale ignored the societal norms of the time, which separated social class and disparaged nursing, and got down in the trenches to treat the poor and impoverished. In the process she addressed equality for the indigent and for women.
Claiming to have heard the voice of God on several occasions, Florence Nightingale’s calling must have been a powerful one. Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” wrote a daily meditation entitled, “Downward Mobility.” He wrote the following:
“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.”
This certainly describes the path in life Florence Nightingale chose and the conviction to her divine calling. Florence Nightingale rejected her life of privilege and had the courage to oppose her parents’ wishes, despite their attempts to steer her away from nursing, to do what she believed she was called to do. Florence Nightingale looked for her downward mobility to transform nursing and address the injustices of society. It was action that she took or as the saying goes, “She walked the walk.”
Her true accomplishments: Not as much transforming nursing into a legitimate profession, as much as making it a vocation; not as much treating the ill for their physical needs, but the healing of their whole being; not as much her advocacy and reform for the time, but setting a precedence for all time; and maybe most of all, treating people as equal and as children of God. All because she answered her calling and of her “Downward Mobility.”
There are only a few people in the history of mankind that truly denied their very selves to embark on a journey that was ominous, perilous and denigrated to accomplish so much for the destitute, never to be repaid by worldly riches… or paid at all. Thank God nursing got one of them.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Skin Care Nursing Home Medical Products
Isn’t it good health the number one priority in our homes? It is, isn’t it? Promoting good health does not only mean, keeping your home as germ-free as possible, but it also takes keeping skin care nursing home medical products in your medicine cabinet. The many skin care nursing home medical products target both adults and little kids alike.
Dry skin that eventually leads to irritation and rashes are among the main concerns of every manufacturer of skin care nursing home medical products. But, how do they really work? Babies and elderly are the ones who are prone to dry skin, making them the perfect target for these products. But, in order for you to appreciate how effective skin care nursing home medical products, it is better if you understand first the reasons of manufacturing such products in the first place.
We know that dry skin is an irritation caused by a lack of moisture in our skin and it is very common, which means anybody can have dry skin at any period of time. And because babies need the best care possible at all times, we’ll first deal with them.
Skin irritation or rashes in infants and toddlers are not very surprising to know as they can develop every now and then. Due to the sensitivity of baby’s skin, if it made contact with irritating urine and feces for a little more than a few minutes, then expect extreme redness from your baby’s behind. What happen really is that when bacteria found in stool mix with chemicals found in urine, ammonia is formed, which is a known an irritant to your baby’s skin. Also, you should know that using moist towelettes in wiping your babies behind can worsen more than it can help.
Now, for dry skin in adults particularly the elderly people, they tend to develop dry skin most often in the winter months, when cold air in the outdoors and dry and heated air inside the house can cause a decrease a decrease in humidity. These instances can result to skin’s moisture loss, which in many cases may cause it to get dry, crack and peel, becomes irritated and worse, get infected.
In response to these problems, skin care nursing home medical products are introduced to the public. The good thing about most of these products is that they contain mineral oil and water, which are essential to keep the moisture level of your skin normal. One of the skin care nursing home medical products known in the market is Formula II. Its special combination of three waxes, such as beeswax, cerasin, and paraffin, are what makes this product line stand out from the others. What it does is lock in the moisture of your skin or your baby’s skin to prevent it from drying all the time.
There, you are know familiar the efficiency of skin care nursing home medical products, so make sure that you have one in your medicine cabinet just in case you are going to, I’m sure you will, need
Dry skin that eventually leads to irritation and rashes are among the main concerns of every manufacturer of skin care nursing home medical products. But, how do they really work? Babies and elderly are the ones who are prone to dry skin, making them the perfect target for these products. But, in order for you to appreciate how effective skin care nursing home medical products, it is better if you understand first the reasons of manufacturing such products in the first place.
We know that dry skin is an irritation caused by a lack of moisture in our skin and it is very common, which means anybody can have dry skin at any period of time. And because babies need the best care possible at all times, we’ll first deal with them.
Skin irritation or rashes in infants and toddlers are not very surprising to know as they can develop every now and then. Due to the sensitivity of baby’s skin, if it made contact with irritating urine and feces for a little more than a few minutes, then expect extreme redness from your baby’s behind. What happen really is that when bacteria found in stool mix with chemicals found in urine, ammonia is formed, which is a known an irritant to your baby’s skin. Also, you should know that using moist towelettes in wiping your babies behind can worsen more than it can help.
Now, for dry skin in adults particularly the elderly people, they tend to develop dry skin most often in the winter months, when cold air in the outdoors and dry and heated air inside the house can cause a decrease a decrease in humidity. These instances can result to skin’s moisture loss, which in many cases may cause it to get dry, crack and peel, becomes irritated and worse, get infected.
In response to these problems, skin care nursing home medical products are introduced to the public. The good thing about most of these products is that they contain mineral oil and water, which are essential to keep the moisture level of your skin normal. One of the skin care nursing home medical products known in the market is Formula II. Its special combination of three waxes, such as beeswax, cerasin, and paraffin, are what makes this product line stand out from the others. What it does is lock in the moisture of your skin or your baby’s skin to prevent it from drying all the time.
There, you are know familiar the efficiency of skin care nursing home medical products, so make sure that you have one in your medicine cabinet just in case you are going to, I’m sure you will, need
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Nurses: Take Time for Health and Fitness
As a nurse, you are continually concerned with the welfare of others. The demands on your time for work (your patients), family, education can stretch you in so many directions that it is very easy to neglect the one person that you need to take care of first in order to take care of others – you.
Health and fitness are central to the medical field. As a nurse who treats people on the mend, you emphasize the patient’s need to follow doctor’s orders: Take their medicine, eat right, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise. You explain the importance of a good diet and to avoid toxic food and beverages, getting ample sleep and work in a daily exercise regimen. But do we practice what we preach? It seems impossible. What can we do now that will at least get us headed in the right direction?
A proper diet is the first place to start and it does not take any time out of our day to be sure that we are eating healthy. The best motivator may be to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to measure your body fat relative to your height and weight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Once you have assessed where you are and where you need to be, the next step would be to create a suitable diet. Build the proper diet using the food pyramid. MyPyramid.gov will create the diet that is right for you. http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html
Next – sleep! This may be more challenging than coming up with the right diet, but sleep deprivation certainly hinders your mental health and is just as important to correct as your nutritional regime. What bad habits keep you from getting to bed when you should? Having something to eat or drink that you can forgo, knowing it will keep you up? Staying up to watch just a little more TV? Engaging in frivolous internet activity? You can start here by simply…going to bed.
Finally, the real challenge – exercise! How do we take time to work out? A much tougher question to answer by mere suggestion. Here is where we really need to find time in our day and then, what exactly do we do? There is truly only one way to implement exercise into your day and that is by dedicating the time needed. If it takes away family time, include family in your workout routine; everyone can go for a walk, go swimming, bike riding and lift weights. You may even find this to be quality family time and open up lines of communication to discuss family issues. The time in front of the TV can be the time we use for exercise. We can argue this time is used to “take our mind off things.” This will still be accomplished during your workout and will achieve the healthier objective of rejuvenating your brain. If you can not pull yourself away from the TV, then how about some calisthenics while watching?
Finalize your health and fitness regimen and keep to your established routine. You do not have to do everything at once but it is imperative to get started. As you get started, implement reminders that there is change in your life. Move your alarm clock to where you need to get “out of bed” to shut it off. This will get you out of bed in the morning (as opposed to giving your workout, to your snooze alarm) as well as being a “reminder.” Write a short shopping list of the nutritional foods you need to buy for your new diet – right now, right a couple of things down! Put that list in your car where you will see it as a reminder that you need to stop at the market on the way home.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
Health and fitness are central to the medical field. As a nurse who treats people on the mend, you emphasize the patient’s need to follow doctor’s orders: Take their medicine, eat right, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise. You explain the importance of a good diet and to avoid toxic food and beverages, getting ample sleep and work in a daily exercise regimen. But do we practice what we preach? It seems impossible. What can we do now that will at least get us headed in the right direction?
A proper diet is the first place to start and it does not take any time out of our day to be sure that we are eating healthy. The best motivator may be to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to measure your body fat relative to your height and weight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Once you have assessed where you are and where you need to be, the next step would be to create a suitable diet. Build the proper diet using the food pyramid. MyPyramid.gov will create the diet that is right for you. http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html
Next – sleep! This may be more challenging than coming up with the right diet, but sleep deprivation certainly hinders your mental health and is just as important to correct as your nutritional regime. What bad habits keep you from getting to bed when you should? Having something to eat or drink that you can forgo, knowing it will keep you up? Staying up to watch just a little more TV? Engaging in frivolous internet activity? You can start here by simply…going to bed.
Finally, the real challenge – exercise! How do we take time to work out? A much tougher question to answer by mere suggestion. Here is where we really need to find time in our day and then, what exactly do we do? There is truly only one way to implement exercise into your day and that is by dedicating the time needed. If it takes away family time, include family in your workout routine; everyone can go for a walk, go swimming, bike riding and lift weights. You may even find this to be quality family time and open up lines of communication to discuss family issues. The time in front of the TV can be the time we use for exercise. We can argue this time is used to “take our mind off things.” This will still be accomplished during your workout and will achieve the healthier objective of rejuvenating your brain. If you can not pull yourself away from the TV, then how about some calisthenics while watching?
Finalize your health and fitness regimen and keep to your established routine. You do not have to do everything at once but it is imperative to get started. As you get started, implement reminders that there is change in your life. Move your alarm clock to where you need to get “out of bed” to shut it off. This will get you out of bed in the morning (as opposed to giving your workout, to your snooze alarm) as well as being a “reminder.” Write a short shopping list of the nutritional foods you need to buy for your new diet – right now, right a couple of things down! Put that list in your car where you will see it as a reminder that you need to stop at the market on the way home.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What is Holding You Back?
Are you happy with your present job, employer, and income? Are you living the lifestyle you desire? Do you feel the self-satisfaction and gratification you are looking for, maybe not at the end of each and everyday, but at the end of the week or even the month? How about self-esteem? If you answered yes, congratulations. For those that can not answer yes to these questions, where are you headed? Have you thought about what you want to do and where you want to go? What are your goals? Do you have a plan? Most important, what is your next step?! Undoubtedly, there are some obstacles.
Procrastination and Complacency
There are two very formidable opponents that face us on a human level: Procrastination and complacency. While there are similarities between the two words, they are two different conditions. The common theme of these two conditions is a lack of results.
Complacency is usually the result of accomplishment or achieving a certain level of success. Complacency is defined with “an unawareness of actual dangers.” Complacency creeps up on us unexpectedly, and most times we do not realize that we suffer from this condition until we are faced with the actual danger. The danger we could very easily face is allowing a lapse in our education, such as the mandatory continuing education required for re-licensure as talked about in a previous article dated October 31st on this site by Margaret Lyons, program coordinator at Villanova University.
Perpetual goal setting is one of the best practices we can employ to prevent complacency from setting in. Using a benchmark set by others can further insure that we will never have a goal in which we are satisfied. Tell yourself there is always someone doing it better, and find that someone.
We also need to create our own mechanism that will prevent complacency. It can be something simplistic such as an office bulleting board (hand-written to do list with due dates), or something more sophisticated employing technology (timed reminders on your computer). Keep your goals in front of you - carefully measured in achievable steps - so that you face them everyday. Choose the mechanism that will best work for you; just be sure to implement something. While at this juncture (nurses in Pennsylvania, California, Kansas and Delaware), have you addressed the mandatory continuing education for re-licensure?
Procrastination can be a byproduct of complacency however it has many sources. Unlike complacency, procrastination does not necessarily (and most times probably does not) result from success. It is a factor that prevents accomplishment.
Procrastination is a more conscious opponent usually a result of fear or poor prioritization. Concerning fear, it is never personal; identify and face your fear in order to alleviate anxiety. Our prioritization sometimes needs to be scrutinized. Life in nursing gives us a work load with more than our fair share. We begin to juggle instead of prioritize, and I am not referring to patient care here. When prioritizing, be sure your personal and professional advancement weighs in.
Time and Money
Now for the proverbial obstacles: Time and money. As you address procrastination and analyze your prioritization, commit the time needed for continuing education. Visualize where you will be and of the advanced opportunities afforded you once you have gained the desired (and necessary) degree. Do not let the economy be your excuse. Our profession is experiencing a shortage with a projected increase for the next 12 years. Nonetheless, by the time the economy improves, you could have positioned yourself for the place you want to be, rather than it being too late.
If you still have unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, take the first step to get started.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is the first place to look. See if you qualify for the financial assistance they offer. Simply click on their link at right. And do not stop there. Schools of nursing often have assistance for those in need as well. As an example, visit Villanova’s College of Nursing, link at left, to see what they have to offer and peruse their site to learn more about their programs to see if their program may be right for you.
As this site continues to build its resources, please visit frequently for opportunities in education, advancement and employment.
As always, thank you for visiting and please share your comments.
Procrastination and Complacency
There are two very formidable opponents that face us on a human level: Procrastination and complacency. While there are similarities between the two words, they are two different conditions. The common theme of these two conditions is a lack of results.
Complacency is usually the result of accomplishment or achieving a certain level of success. Complacency is defined with “an unawareness of actual dangers.” Complacency creeps up on us unexpectedly, and most times we do not realize that we suffer from this condition until we are faced with the actual danger. The danger we could very easily face is allowing a lapse in our education, such as the mandatory continuing education required for re-licensure as talked about in a previous article dated October 31st on this site by Margaret Lyons, program coordinator at Villanova University.
Perpetual goal setting is one of the best practices we can employ to prevent complacency from setting in. Using a benchmark set by others can further insure that we will never have a goal in which we are satisfied. Tell yourself there is always someone doing it better, and find that someone.
We also need to create our own mechanism that will prevent complacency. It can be something simplistic such as an office bulleting board (hand-written to do list with due dates), or something more sophisticated employing technology (timed reminders on your computer). Keep your goals in front of you - carefully measured in achievable steps - so that you face them everyday. Choose the mechanism that will best work for you; just be sure to implement something. While at this juncture (nurses in Pennsylvania, California, Kansas and Delaware), have you addressed the mandatory continuing education for re-licensure?
Procrastination can be a byproduct of complacency however it has many sources. Unlike complacency, procrastination does not necessarily (and most times probably does not) result from success. It is a factor that prevents accomplishment.
Procrastination is a more conscious opponent usually a result of fear or poor prioritization. Concerning fear, it is never personal; identify and face your fear in order to alleviate anxiety. Our prioritization sometimes needs to be scrutinized. Life in nursing gives us a work load with more than our fair share. We begin to juggle instead of prioritize, and I am not referring to patient care here. When prioritizing, be sure your personal and professional advancement weighs in.
Time and Money
Now for the proverbial obstacles: Time and money. As you address procrastination and analyze your prioritization, commit the time needed for continuing education. Visualize where you will be and of the advanced opportunities afforded you once you have gained the desired (and necessary) degree. Do not let the economy be your excuse. Our profession is experiencing a shortage with a projected increase for the next 12 years. Nonetheless, by the time the economy improves, you could have positioned yourself for the place you want to be, rather than it being too late.
If you still have unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, take the first step to get started.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is the first place to look. See if you qualify for the financial assistance they offer. Simply click on their link at right. And do not stop there. Schools of nursing often have assistance for those in need as well. As an example, visit Villanova’s College of Nursing, link at left, to see what they have to offer and peruse their site to learn more about their programs to see if their program may be right for you.
As this site continues to build its resources, please visit frequently for opportunities in education, advancement and employment.
As always, thank you for visiting and please share your comments.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Nursing: The Next 10 Years
By Craig Elliot
General Outlook for Nurses
The outlook for individuals considering entering the nursing field is excellent. Registered nurses, or RN's, make up the largest number of health care workers in the country. In addition, registered nurses will make up one of the fasted growing population of workers in all occupations over the next ten years.
Many registered nurses begin their career in the hospital setting. This allows the nurse to become familiar with various branches of medicine. While there is a demand for hospital nurses, this area of nursing will remain relatively level over the next ten years.
Many healthcare experts predict a surge in demand for registered nurses in the home health care setting. As Americans live longer, have more disposable income, and desire to remain home, nurses that can oversee care and treatment in the home setting will become increasingly valuable.
Another area of nursing that will see a surge in growth is with nurses who continue their education with Master's level work. With the rising cost of healthcare many families are using nurse practitioners and nurse midwives as a replacement for their primary care physician.
Hospitals, also, are realizing the cost saving benefit of highly trained nurses, and many employ nurse anesthetists, clinical nursing specialists, and nurse practitioners to keep their costs under control.
Not a Registered Nurse?
Job prospects for licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, while positive, are not as strong as those of registered nurses. Licensed practical nurses will continue to be in demand, particular in hospital and long term care facilities.
Many licensed practical nurses continue their schooling to become RNs while employed. The responsibilities of an RN are greater, but they also include more opportunities. RNs typically supervise LPN in a clinical setting, and the greater skill level allows the RN more job options.
RN or BSN?
The schooling necessary to become a registered nurse can be completed in anywhere from two to four years. The coursework is very intensive and involves many clinical hours. A program completed in less that four years, however, will leave you with an RN, not a BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. An RN is fully qualified to do all the duties required of a registered nurse, depending on the state. Obviously, the addition of a bachelor degree has many benefits.
An RN with a bachelor's degree in nursing is at an advantage when administrative positions open up in a hospital or clinical setting. In fact, due to the degree of federal and state oversight on healthcare facilities, many require a BSN for administrative, case management, and supervisory positions.
If you are considering working on your Master's degree, either as a nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, or to teach, you are required to have a bachelor's degree. While not all programs will mandate that your bachelor's must be in nursing, it is certainly helpful.
Considering a Career Switch?
Nursing is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to move into a different career. With the high demand for nurses, many potential employees, particularly hospitals, will pay for most or all of your schooling. Even if you must foot the bills for your education initially, signing bonuses, combined with the near guarantee of a job upon graduation, takes much of the risk out of a career switch.
Another attractive fact concerning the nursing profession is the attractive tuition reimbursement plans offered by many employers. These offers, combined with the flexible shift scheduling available at many hospitals and care facilities make it possible to go from a LPN, to RN, to RN with BSN and on to acquiring a master's in your desired specialty without hefty student loans or a disruption of your income.
The Future of Nursing
Clearly all nursing professions will continue to grow over the next ten years. Nursing is an excellent career choice for those who wish to make a good income, have a flexible schedule, and continue their education. While the hours can be long, and the work physical, a quality nurse should never find themselves without their choice of jobs.
While long hours and the physical demands of the job may scare some people off, many others are attracted to the flexibility, the fast paced environment, and the ability to help others. For those concerned about the rigors of a nursing career, there are many positions available in private doctor's offices, public schools, and other lower stress environments. Nursing, whether in a clinical setting or administrative is a job in great demand.
General Outlook for Nurses
The outlook for individuals considering entering the nursing field is excellent. Registered nurses, or RN's, make up the largest number of health care workers in the country. In addition, registered nurses will make up one of the fasted growing population of workers in all occupations over the next ten years.
Many registered nurses begin their career in the hospital setting. This allows the nurse to become familiar with various branches of medicine. While there is a demand for hospital nurses, this area of nursing will remain relatively level over the next ten years.
Many healthcare experts predict a surge in demand for registered nurses in the home health care setting. As Americans live longer, have more disposable income, and desire to remain home, nurses that can oversee care and treatment in the home setting will become increasingly valuable.
Another area of nursing that will see a surge in growth is with nurses who continue their education with Master's level work. With the rising cost of healthcare many families are using nurse practitioners and nurse midwives as a replacement for their primary care physician.
Hospitals, also, are realizing the cost saving benefit of highly trained nurses, and many employ nurse anesthetists, clinical nursing specialists, and nurse practitioners to keep their costs under control.
Not a Registered Nurse?
Job prospects for licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, while positive, are not as strong as those of registered nurses. Licensed practical nurses will continue to be in demand, particular in hospital and long term care facilities.
Many licensed practical nurses continue their schooling to become RNs while employed. The responsibilities of an RN are greater, but they also include more opportunities. RNs typically supervise LPN in a clinical setting, and the greater skill level allows the RN more job options.
RN or BSN?
The schooling necessary to become a registered nurse can be completed in anywhere from two to four years. The coursework is very intensive and involves many clinical hours. A program completed in less that four years, however, will leave you with an RN, not a BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. An RN is fully qualified to do all the duties required of a registered nurse, depending on the state. Obviously, the addition of a bachelor degree has many benefits.
An RN with a bachelor's degree in nursing is at an advantage when administrative positions open up in a hospital or clinical setting. In fact, due to the degree of federal and state oversight on healthcare facilities, many require a BSN for administrative, case management, and supervisory positions.
If you are considering working on your Master's degree, either as a nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, or to teach, you are required to have a bachelor's degree. While not all programs will mandate that your bachelor's must be in nursing, it is certainly helpful.
Considering a Career Switch?
Nursing is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to move into a different career. With the high demand for nurses, many potential employees, particularly hospitals, will pay for most or all of your schooling. Even if you must foot the bills for your education initially, signing bonuses, combined with the near guarantee of a job upon graduation, takes much of the risk out of a career switch.
Another attractive fact concerning the nursing profession is the attractive tuition reimbursement plans offered by many employers. These offers, combined with the flexible shift scheduling available at many hospitals and care facilities make it possible to go from a LPN, to RN, to RN with BSN and on to acquiring a master's in your desired specialty without hefty student loans or a disruption of your income.
The Future of Nursing
Clearly all nursing professions will continue to grow over the next ten years. Nursing is an excellent career choice for those who wish to make a good income, have a flexible schedule, and continue their education. While the hours can be long, and the work physical, a quality nurse should never find themselves without their choice of jobs.
While long hours and the physical demands of the job may scare some people off, many others are attracted to the flexibility, the fast paced environment, and the ability to help others. For those concerned about the rigors of a nursing career, there are many positions available in private doctor's offices, public schools, and other lower stress environments. Nursing, whether in a clinical setting or administrative is a job in great demand.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Overview of Nursing School Programs
By Lisa Parker
If you are interested in obtaining a degree in nursing, you could not have picked a better time. Nurses are in great demand today, and with people living longer, that demand is likely to increase in the coming years. Nursing school programs can be characterized by the type of degree they offer, and although there are actually 5 degree types that one can obtain as a nurse, the more popular degrees are the Associate's and the bachelor's. However, if you are interested in newer professions such as forensic nursing, there are also certificate programs. Maybe you are considering legal consultation or teaching and you may even decide to get your master's degree. The other defining characteristic is whether you are in an online or distance learning program, or taking courses at a traditional college or university.The Associate's degree programs focus predominately on teaching students what is needed to prepare them to enter the workforce with the skills of a professional nurse. Their education typically has four major components, which consist of evaluation of care, health teaching, wellness and prevention, and the administration of treatments and medications. The evaluation component includes observation, nursing diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. The main focus of the Associate's degree is for their student to achieve employment either while in school or directly after graduation. Although it is not a requirement, most nursing programs for a bachelor's degree operate from the assumption that most of their students are registered nurses and/or they have already obtained their Associate's degree in nursing. The focus of these programs is to prepare students for a higher position, such as a supervisory role, or to enter into a master's degree program. These programs usually revolve around the cultural, political, economic and social issues that can affect patients and the health care industry in general. There is also a focus on understanding the allocation and management of resources, which includes but is not limited to, people, money, and time. The most common variations of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or a student's route to this degree include going from an RN to a bachelor's degree. Other variations include the accelerated bachelor's program, LPN to a bachelor's, the traditional 4-year bachelor's, the online RN – bachelor's degree, and the second-degree bachelor's program. The master's degree program revolves around the type of career you want, as you can get a master's degree that focuses on a more specific nursing path such as, Nursing, Nurse Education, Midwifery, Administration, and Health Care Systems Management. If your focus revolves around Nursing, Nursing Education, Midwifery, or any other similar specialty, your training should focus more on the actual health and expanding upon the knowledge received in your previous educational programs. If you have decided on receiving a masters degree with a focus on Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Nursing Administration, Health Care Systems Management, or any other similar specialty, your program should focus on management, leadership, finance, managed care strategies, workforce management, and other courses designed to prepare students for obtaining leadership positions in their chosen health care organization.
It is important to note that in the field of nursing many programs often offer certificates as well as degree programs. The certificate programs are more specialized than degree programs and there are certificates that can be obtained before you receive a bachelor's degree or after you gain your master's degree. Some of the certificate programs that are pre-master's degree include case management and geriatric care management. A few certificates for those with a master's degree include legal nurse consulting and life care planning. Most online schools and traditional colleges and universities also offer more specialized programs like the Nurse Practitioner program and Clinical Nursing Specialist programs. As other nursing careers and specialties gain popularity, you should begin seeing more degree and/or certificate programs available in the field of Nursing. Unlike online programs, colleges and universities can boast a combination of classroom training, lab work, and on the job experience as a part of their programs. Although this has been the greatest advantage of traditional schooling, some online programs are starting to catch up, especially the distance learning programs. One of the greatest selling points of distance learning offered by traditional colleges and/or universities is the ability to graduate or "walk" with their traditional program peers. Yet, the main draw of complete online programs is the ability to gain a degree on your own time that works with your schedule while allowing you to work a full time job. Take your time and financial situation into account before settling in on a program. Regardless of the certificate or degree program that you choose, be sure that you pick a program that is good for you. There are many options available in the field of nursing and this information can help you find the correct path to the degree that you are seeking.
Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to nurses and the nursing profession including nursing school and nursing accessories.
If you are interested in obtaining a degree in nursing, you could not have picked a better time. Nurses are in great demand today, and with people living longer, that demand is likely to increase in the coming years. Nursing school programs can be characterized by the type of degree they offer, and although there are actually 5 degree types that one can obtain as a nurse, the more popular degrees are the Associate's and the bachelor's. However, if you are interested in newer professions such as forensic nursing, there are also certificate programs. Maybe you are considering legal consultation or teaching and you may even decide to get your master's degree. The other defining characteristic is whether you are in an online or distance learning program, or taking courses at a traditional college or university.The Associate's degree programs focus predominately on teaching students what is needed to prepare them to enter the workforce with the skills of a professional nurse. Their education typically has four major components, which consist of evaluation of care, health teaching, wellness and prevention, and the administration of treatments and medications. The evaluation component includes observation, nursing diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. The main focus of the Associate's degree is for their student to achieve employment either while in school or directly after graduation. Although it is not a requirement, most nursing programs for a bachelor's degree operate from the assumption that most of their students are registered nurses and/or they have already obtained their Associate's degree in nursing. The focus of these programs is to prepare students for a higher position, such as a supervisory role, or to enter into a master's degree program. These programs usually revolve around the cultural, political, economic and social issues that can affect patients and the health care industry in general. There is also a focus on understanding the allocation and management of resources, which includes but is not limited to, people, money, and time. The most common variations of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or a student's route to this degree include going from an RN to a bachelor's degree. Other variations include the accelerated bachelor's program, LPN to a bachelor's, the traditional 4-year bachelor's, the online RN – bachelor's degree, and the second-degree bachelor's program. The master's degree program revolves around the type of career you want, as you can get a master's degree that focuses on a more specific nursing path such as, Nursing, Nurse Education, Midwifery, Administration, and Health Care Systems Management. If your focus revolves around Nursing, Nursing Education, Midwifery, or any other similar specialty, your training should focus more on the actual health and expanding upon the knowledge received in your previous educational programs. If you have decided on receiving a masters degree with a focus on Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Nursing Administration, Health Care Systems Management, or any other similar specialty, your program should focus on management, leadership, finance, managed care strategies, workforce management, and other courses designed to prepare students for obtaining leadership positions in their chosen health care organization.
It is important to note that in the field of nursing many programs often offer certificates as well as degree programs. The certificate programs are more specialized than degree programs and there are certificates that can be obtained before you receive a bachelor's degree or after you gain your master's degree. Some of the certificate programs that are pre-master's degree include case management and geriatric care management. A few certificates for those with a master's degree include legal nurse consulting and life care planning. Most online schools and traditional colleges and universities also offer more specialized programs like the Nurse Practitioner program and Clinical Nursing Specialist programs. As other nursing careers and specialties gain popularity, you should begin seeing more degree and/or certificate programs available in the field of Nursing. Unlike online programs, colleges and universities can boast a combination of classroom training, lab work, and on the job experience as a part of their programs. Although this has been the greatest advantage of traditional schooling, some online programs are starting to catch up, especially the distance learning programs. One of the greatest selling points of distance learning offered by traditional colleges and/or universities is the ability to graduate or "walk" with their traditional program peers. Yet, the main draw of complete online programs is the ability to gain a degree on your own time that works with your schedule while allowing you to work a full time job. Take your time and financial situation into account before settling in on a program. Regardless of the certificate or degree program that you choose, be sure that you pick a program that is good for you. There are many options available in the field of nursing and this information can help you find the correct path to the degree that you are seeking.
Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to nurses and the nursing profession including nursing school and nursing accessories.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Comprehensive Nursing Care Plans
Care planning is an essential part of healthcare, but is often misunderstood or regarded as a waste of time. Without a specific document delineating the plan of care, important issues are likely to be neglected. Care planning provides a “road map” of sorts, to guide all who are involved with a patient/resident's care.
The care plan has long been associated with nursing, and many people believe that it is the sole domain of nurses. To be effective and comprehensive, the care planning process must involve all disciplines that are involved in the care of the patient/resident.
Nursing care plans are an essential part of nursing practice that provide a written means of planning patient care and discharging plan based upon nursing diagnosis. Nursing care plans functions as a means of communicating patient care needs between members of the nursing team to ensure those needs are met. Written nursing care plans also serve as a means to document changes in patient’s condition, adjustments or additions to nursing diagnosis, as well as patient responses to nursing or medical treatment. Nursing care plans enable nurses to provide a holistic approach to patient needs both while hospitalized and after discharge.
Nursing care plans must always be individualized for each patient’s needs. It would be better if nurse staffing ratios would allow nurses adequate time to sit at a desk and utilize their expertise to create a complete admission to discharge and home care plan after careful review of patient history, medical records, physical assessment, and applicable nursing diagnosis. We live in an imperfect world however and nurses do not have adequate time to research each patient’s history and needs and write a comprehensive plan of care from scratch for each patient during their hectic shift. Understaffed nurses try to keep up, but when time is short mistakes happen more easily and some aspects of the nursing care plan may be omitted. Stock care plans, care plan software, and nursing care plan books are useful as reference tools to help ensure potential problems associated with their particular patient are not overlooked during the nursing care planning process.
The ultimate purpose of nursing care plans is to guide all who are involved in the care of this person to provide the appropriate treatment in order to ensure the optimal outcome during his/ her stay in our healthcare setting. A caregiver unfamiliar with the patient/resident should be able to find all the information needed to care for this person in the care plan.
It is important to design nursing care plans that provide adequate safety to the patient, make things less distressing to the family, and utilizes resources appropriately.
The care plan has long been associated with nursing, and many people believe that it is the sole domain of nurses. To be effective and comprehensive, the care planning process must involve all disciplines that are involved in the care of the patient/resident.
Nursing care plans are an essential part of nursing practice that provide a written means of planning patient care and discharging plan based upon nursing diagnosis. Nursing care plans functions as a means of communicating patient care needs between members of the nursing team to ensure those needs are met. Written nursing care plans also serve as a means to document changes in patient’s condition, adjustments or additions to nursing diagnosis, as well as patient responses to nursing or medical treatment. Nursing care plans enable nurses to provide a holistic approach to patient needs both while hospitalized and after discharge.
Nursing care plans must always be individualized for each patient’s needs. It would be better if nurse staffing ratios would allow nurses adequate time to sit at a desk and utilize their expertise to create a complete admission to discharge and home care plan after careful review of patient history, medical records, physical assessment, and applicable nursing diagnosis. We live in an imperfect world however and nurses do not have adequate time to research each patient’s history and needs and write a comprehensive plan of care from scratch for each patient during their hectic shift. Understaffed nurses try to keep up, but when time is short mistakes happen more easily and some aspects of the nursing care plan may be omitted. Stock care plans, care plan software, and nursing care plan books are useful as reference tools to help ensure potential problems associated with their particular patient are not overlooked during the nursing care planning process.
The ultimate purpose of nursing care plans is to guide all who are involved in the care of this person to provide the appropriate treatment in order to ensure the optimal outcome during his/ her stay in our healthcare setting. A caregiver unfamiliar with the patient/resident should be able to find all the information needed to care for this person in the care plan.
It is important to design nursing care plans that provide adequate safety to the patient, make things less distressing to the family, and utilizes resources appropriately.
Monday, January 19, 2009
PHEF & The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund
Purpose
The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was established to provide assistance to students and schools for nursing education in Pennsylvania. The fund will provide grant and scholarship monies to nursing students through the use of donations from individuals and organizations directed to Pennsylvania schools of nursing.
Overview
Until recently, the equilibrium of new nurses entering the profession versus tenured nurses retiring remained stable. However, the cycle of quality health care will quickly decline because although demands on the nursing profession are increasing, new entries in the profession are not keeping pace with planned retirements.
Through the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation hopes to reverse this trend by giving students access to nursing education by offering grants or scholarships that otherwise would not be available.
The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund will directly impact the number of educational opportunities students and schools will have to help the Commonwealth continue its cycle of quality health care.
There are numerous flexible giving opportunities for donors to participate in this fund with specific schools, student populations and programs in mind, based on individual interests and relationships. Scholarship and grant naming opportunities as well as generous matching funds from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation are available to foundation, corporate and individual donors.
Guidelines
For information on guidelines, or to find out if your institution is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, contact your school’s nursing department. Contact the Foundation office for more information on giving opportunities.
The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was established to provide assistance to students and schools for nursing education in Pennsylvania. The fund will provide grant and scholarship monies to nursing students through the use of donations from individuals and organizations directed to Pennsylvania schools of nursing.
Overview
Until recently, the equilibrium of new nurses entering the profession versus tenured nurses retiring remained stable. However, the cycle of quality health care will quickly decline because although demands on the nursing profession are increasing, new entries in the profession are not keeping pace with planned retirements.
Through the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation hopes to reverse this trend by giving students access to nursing education by offering grants or scholarships that otherwise would not be available.
The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund will directly impact the number of educational opportunities students and schools will have to help the Commonwealth continue its cycle of quality health care.
There are numerous flexible giving opportunities for donors to participate in this fund with specific schools, student populations and programs in mind, based on individual interests and relationships. Scholarship and grant naming opportunities as well as generous matching funds from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation are available to foundation, corporate and individual donors.
Guidelines
For information on guidelines, or to find out if your institution is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, contact your school’s nursing department. Contact the Foundation office for more information on giving opportunities.
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