The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) Board of Directors today announced funding allocations for its Nursing Education Grants for the 2008-09 academic year. PHEF will distribute the grants to Pennsylvania nursing education schools statewide to assist in the creation and retention of new nursing students and nurse educators.
LPN and RN programs at 127 Pennsylvania Schools of Nursing will receive a total of $10.4 million while 35 Graduate Schools of Nursing will share $3 million in grant funding. The Nursing Education Grant awards for individual nursing schools will be announced in July.
“The Foundation has contributed more than $66 million through its various programs in support of Pennsylvania nursing students since 2003,” said Representative William Adolph, Foundation Board member. “It is vitally important that we continue assisting students and nursing schools because the health of our citizens is ultimately at stake.”
“The beauty of the Foundation's student aid programs is that they are privately-funded by generous donors from the healthcare community as well as private individuals,” noted Senator Sean Logan. “In today's difficult economic environment it would be extremely difficult for the State to fund these important programs that are so vital to the health of our citizens.”
The PHEF Nursing Education Grant Program was created to help reverse Pennsylvania's nursing shortage by generating non-taxpayer supported funding which otherwise is not available to schools of nursing. This funding, in turn, helps Pennsylvania schools increase the recruitment and retention rates of their nursing programs, providing more qualified nurses for the citizens of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania nursing schools must submit an award proposal to PHEF to receive Nursing Education Grants. Once approved, the nursing schools administer and distribute the awards to their qualifying students based on their unique awarding criteria. Nursing students should contact their school's financial aid office or nursing department for eligibility information.
In addition to the funding for the Nursing Education Grants, the PHEF Board approved more than $1 million to provide awards through the Dr. Edna McKenzie Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students program. Ninety-seven Pennsylvania schools of nursing will each receive $10,310 in scholarship money. The scholarship is named for the late Dr. Edna McKenzie, a distinguished educator, long-time member of the PHEF Board, and noted African American historian.
PHEF was created five years ago and began offering financial support shortly thereafter to help students afford their nursing education. The Foundation currently offers numerous aid programs for students, including:
- Nursing Education Grants
- Nurse Scholars Program for graduate nursing students
- Low-income Nursing Students Tax Credit Program
- Graduate Nurse Education Grant
- Nursing Faculty Development Grants
- Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
- The Foundation also supports the Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Health Occupation Students of America (Penn Hosa) Scholarship Program
“Nursing students frequently tell me how important these awards are to them,” said Elinor Z. Taylor, PHEF Board Chairman. “Sometimes the Foundation's awards make the difference between continuing their program of study or dropping out. With the shortage of nurses we are experiencing, every nursing student that graduates is important.”
For more information on PHEF's student aid programs for nursing students, visit FuturesInNursing.org.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Misericordia University: An 84-year Tradition of Hospitality, Justice, Mercy and Service
By Cynthia Mailloux, PhD, R.N.
Associate Professor
Chair Nursing Dept - Misericordia University
Misericordia University - Description of Program
Misericordia’s nursing program is committed to providing an educational experience which produces competent nurses who are critical thinkers and educated consumers of research. This program prepares its graduates for productive careers in nursing and advocates for life-long learning. As an entry-level professional program, the nursing curriculum reflects a commitment to the relationship between liberal arts and professional studies that enables graduates to adapt to constantly evolving societal and professional needs. The Department of Nursing is committed to the provision of affordable, quality professional education that expresses the founding Sisters' values and attitudes of hospitality, justice, mercy, and service. The overall goal is to develop a competent professional who will provide the highest quality of care to individuals, aggregates, and populations.
The goals/outcomes support the mission of the University and the principles of academic excellence, service leadership, and professional preparation which are components of the Trinity of Learning. Evidence based practice is a strong component of this curriculum which requires students to critically think and problem solve. This curriculum will build on the reputation of the nursing program and continue to provide high quality graduates. The proposed changes are consistent with the program’s mission, goals and educational goals of the university.
Philosophy for Misericordia’s Department of Nursing
The nursing department at Misericordia University supports the mission statement and philosophy of the University. The undergraduate nursing program is based on a complementary relationship between liberal arts and professional studies. The approach to education focuses on critical thinking, as well as on the values and attitudes of justice, mercy, service, and hospitality. Humans are viewed as intellectual, spiritual and creative beings that are in constant interaction with their environments. Human beings have the potential for self-direction based on their developmental level and are characterized by the capacity for emotion, reasoning, and perceiving. The holistic view of humans takes into account the physical structure, mind and spirit of the individual, as well as the environment in which each functions. Humans interact on the basis of respect for each other’s worth and dignity.
The environment as experienced by human beings is multidimensional and dynamic. It can be viewed as encompassing biological, physical, psychological, socio-cultural, political and economic forces. Human beings experience the environment as individuals, families, groups and communities who can be described in terms of micro-systems and macro-systems.
Health is a dynamic sense of wellness, which results from a process of making choices over time. A particular sense of wellness is perceived by individuals and is influenced by their self-esteem, inner sense of meaning, and desire to achieve their highest potential.
Nursing is an art, involved in caring, and a science based on its own theory and research. The nursing process guides nursing practice and involves critical thinking as related to the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of knowing. Ethical and legal issues have a strong impact on the practice of nursing. Professional nursing is a vital, effective health service to the community. The faculty believes that professional nursing is committed to making quality health care available and accessible to all, thus reflecting the commitment to mercy, justice, and service. Professional nursing exerts an influence on, and is influenced by several factors that contribute to the complexity of the health care system. These include: the newly developing patterns of providing services, the roles of other members of the health team, scientific and technological advances, research, and social and economic pressures. Leadership in nursing involves directing and managing client care, as well as collaborating with other health care professionals.
Learning is directed toward the development of values and professional role identification. It is lifelong and involves developmental changes. Learning involves critical thinking, which encompasses analysis and synthesis of knowledge. The faculty believes that learning occurs when the student actively participates in the learning process. Students have the responsibility to achieve their highest potential with the assistance of the faculty who act as facilitators. Teaching, therefore, is a collaborative process in which a student assumes progressive responsibility for personal learning.
Undergraduate education in nursing is built on a strong core of general education requirements and is generic in nature. Included within the undergraduate nursing curriculum are liberal arts and the sciences such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology, and developmental psychology, as well as other pure and behavioral sciences. The undergraduate program prepares nurse generalists who are capable of using nursing research, nursing process, and theories in a variety of settings. Students are prepared for graduate study in nursing.
Graduate education enables professional nurses to realize their creative leadership potential and provides opportunities for collaborative functioning with health professionals and others in effecting change in nursing practice and health care. Specialization occurs on the graduate level which provides for in-depth knowledge and experience in specific clinical and functional areas. Advanced knowledge provides the foundation for effective leadership in nursing. Scientific inquiry is an integral part of graduate education in nursing. Such inquiry provides the basis for acquisition of increased competencies in utilization of research and increased knowledge base in the analysis and synthesis of theories related to the practice of nursing. Graduate education provides the foundation for doctoral study in nursing.
Associate Professor
Chair Nursing Dept - Misericordia University
Misericordia University - Description of Program
Misericordia’s nursing program is committed to providing an educational experience which produces competent nurses who are critical thinkers and educated consumers of research. This program prepares its graduates for productive careers in nursing and advocates for life-long learning. As an entry-level professional program, the nursing curriculum reflects a commitment to the relationship between liberal arts and professional studies that enables graduates to adapt to constantly evolving societal and professional needs. The Department of Nursing is committed to the provision of affordable, quality professional education that expresses the founding Sisters' values and attitudes of hospitality, justice, mercy, and service. The overall goal is to develop a competent professional who will provide the highest quality of care to individuals, aggregates, and populations.
The goals/outcomes support the mission of the University and the principles of academic excellence, service leadership, and professional preparation which are components of the Trinity of Learning. Evidence based practice is a strong component of this curriculum which requires students to critically think and problem solve. This curriculum will build on the reputation of the nursing program and continue to provide high quality graduates. The proposed changes are consistent with the program’s mission, goals and educational goals of the university.
Philosophy for Misericordia’s Department of Nursing
The nursing department at Misericordia University supports the mission statement and philosophy of the University. The undergraduate nursing program is based on a complementary relationship between liberal arts and professional studies. The approach to education focuses on critical thinking, as well as on the values and attitudes of justice, mercy, service, and hospitality. Humans are viewed as intellectual, spiritual and creative beings that are in constant interaction with their environments. Human beings have the potential for self-direction based on their developmental level and are characterized by the capacity for emotion, reasoning, and perceiving. The holistic view of humans takes into account the physical structure, mind and spirit of the individual, as well as the environment in which each functions. Humans interact on the basis of respect for each other’s worth and dignity.
The environment as experienced by human beings is multidimensional and dynamic. It can be viewed as encompassing biological, physical, psychological, socio-cultural, political and economic forces. Human beings experience the environment as individuals, families, groups and communities who can be described in terms of micro-systems and macro-systems.
Health is a dynamic sense of wellness, which results from a process of making choices over time. A particular sense of wellness is perceived by individuals and is influenced by their self-esteem, inner sense of meaning, and desire to achieve their highest potential.
Nursing is an art, involved in caring, and a science based on its own theory and research. The nursing process guides nursing practice and involves critical thinking as related to the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of knowing. Ethical and legal issues have a strong impact on the practice of nursing. Professional nursing is a vital, effective health service to the community. The faculty believes that professional nursing is committed to making quality health care available and accessible to all, thus reflecting the commitment to mercy, justice, and service. Professional nursing exerts an influence on, and is influenced by several factors that contribute to the complexity of the health care system. These include: the newly developing patterns of providing services, the roles of other members of the health team, scientific and technological advances, research, and social and economic pressures. Leadership in nursing involves directing and managing client care, as well as collaborating with other health care professionals.
Learning is directed toward the development of values and professional role identification. It is lifelong and involves developmental changes. Learning involves critical thinking, which encompasses analysis and synthesis of knowledge. The faculty believes that learning occurs when the student actively participates in the learning process. Students have the responsibility to achieve their highest potential with the assistance of the faculty who act as facilitators. Teaching, therefore, is a collaborative process in which a student assumes progressive responsibility for personal learning.
Undergraduate education in nursing is built on a strong core of general education requirements and is generic in nature. Included within the undergraduate nursing curriculum are liberal arts and the sciences such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology, and developmental psychology, as well as other pure and behavioral sciences. The undergraduate program prepares nurse generalists who are capable of using nursing research, nursing process, and theories in a variety of settings. Students are prepared for graduate study in nursing.
Graduate education enables professional nurses to realize their creative leadership potential and provides opportunities for collaborative functioning with health professionals and others in effecting change in nursing practice and health care. Specialization occurs on the graduate level which provides for in-depth knowledge and experience in specific clinical and functional areas. Advanced knowledge provides the foundation for effective leadership in nursing. Scientific inquiry is an integral part of graduate education in nursing. Such inquiry provides the basis for acquisition of increased competencies in utilization of research and increased knowledge base in the analysis and synthesis of theories related to the practice of nursing. Graduate education provides the foundation for doctoral study in nursing.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Is Psychiatric Nursing Your Calling
Are you looking for information on psychiatric nursing? Well, you have come to the right place. Anyone, who is interested in psychiatric nursing, is very much welcome to be part of this challenging yet rewarding profession. With the shortage of nurses in any specialization of nursing, any person who wants to become a nurse is greatly encouraged, especially in psychiatry nursing.
We live in a society where people find it easier to talk about physical illness than psychiatric or mental condition. It is not every day that you meet someone who has interest in psychiatric nursing. So, if you really want to become a psychiatric nurse, then you should know what steps to take in order for you to get started.
The first thing you should is what educational preparation to accomplish in order to gain entry in psychiatric nursing. Just like in any other profession, to become a registered nurse, you must take a nursing program offered in many nursing schools. You can choose either a two-year program leading to an associate degree in nursing, a three-year program for a diploma in nursing, or a four-year college or university leading to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. All of these options are eligible to take registered nursing licensing examination upon graduation.
To help you finally decide if psychiatric nursing is really your calling, it helps if you do some volunteering works in any institutions where you will have a chance to encounter patients with psychiatric condition. If you still feel that this what you really wanted to do, then you should possess skills, such as good communication and relationships skills, and an extensive foundation in the basic and behavioral science to become a psychiatric nurse. Also, if you want to have a strong foundation in psychiatric nursing, might as well obtain a Master’s Degree in this specialization, just like what most people interested in psychiatric nursing do.
Now, let’s go to the scope of responsibility of a psychiatric nurse. There are actually two levels in clinical practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing or simply psychiatric nursing: basic and advanced. As a basic level nurse, you will work with individuals, groups, and communities, evaluating mental health needs, developing a nursing diagnosis as well as a nursing care plan, and then assessing the nursing care.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or APRN, on the other hand, have a Master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing, therefore assume a position of either Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner. So, the job of APRNs in psychiatric-mental health nursing includes the duties of basic level nurse, diagnose and treat individuals or families with psychiatric conditions. Also, they act as psychotherapists, educators, consultants, advanced case managers, and administrators.
We live in a society where people find it easier to talk about physical illness than psychiatric or mental condition. It is not every day that you meet someone who has interest in psychiatric nursing. So, if you really want to become a psychiatric nurse, then you should know what steps to take in order for you to get started.
The first thing you should is what educational preparation to accomplish in order to gain entry in psychiatric nursing. Just like in any other profession, to become a registered nurse, you must take a nursing program offered in many nursing schools. You can choose either a two-year program leading to an associate degree in nursing, a three-year program for a diploma in nursing, or a four-year college or university leading to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. All of these options are eligible to take registered nursing licensing examination upon graduation.
To help you finally decide if psychiatric nursing is really your calling, it helps if you do some volunteering works in any institutions where you will have a chance to encounter patients with psychiatric condition. If you still feel that this what you really wanted to do, then you should possess skills, such as good communication and relationships skills, and an extensive foundation in the basic and behavioral science to become a psychiatric nurse. Also, if you want to have a strong foundation in psychiatric nursing, might as well obtain a Master’s Degree in this specialization, just like what most people interested in psychiatric nursing do.
Now, let’s go to the scope of responsibility of a psychiatric nurse. There are actually two levels in clinical practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing or simply psychiatric nursing: basic and advanced. As a basic level nurse, you will work with individuals, groups, and communities, evaluating mental health needs, developing a nursing diagnosis as well as a nursing care plan, and then assessing the nursing care.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or APRN, on the other hand, have a Master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing, therefore assume a position of either Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner. So, the job of APRNs in psychiatric-mental health nursing includes the duties of basic level nurse, diagnose and treat individuals or families with psychiatric conditions. Also, they act as psychotherapists, educators, consultants, advanced case managers, and administrators.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Nursing Degree through Internet Access
Earning a nursing degree through internet access in one the convenient ways you can realize your dreams of becoming a nurse. As you must have known, the shortage of nurses in the country resulted to a rise in interest of many people in the field of nursing. And the fact that there is a shortage, your chances of landing on a job are great!
Nursing Degree through internet access is for those who wanted to become a nurse, but cannot attend regular classes in real school environment. If you already have a work at the present, and attending to regular classes is out of the question, you can’t just say bye-bye to your dream just like that. If there’s a wheel, there’s a way! Making your dream come true is just a piece of piece if you have a strong determination. All you need is to have access to the internet. It’s as easy as that! Once you have internet connection, you easily take up some nursing programs online offered by several nursing schools. Now, isn’t that convenient?
Also, it would greatly help you decide whether or not to pursue obtaining nursing degree through internet access or attend a regular class in real schools. Besides the fact that, online nursing degree program can be taken at your own home, the big difference that you have to get used to is access to support tools. You see, getting your nursing degree through internet access takes a lot of commitment from you. You may find studying online boring, but depending on how important getting a degree in nursing to you is, I’m sure you can get the hang of it.
The system of online nursing degree programs lets you finish the course at your own pace, which means that you can study you lesson submit assignments or project when you want it. If you are not comfortable with this arrangement, taking online degree programs may not work for you.
In order for you get started, you should first choose in what specialization to focus. Yes, there are a lot of areas in nursing for you to choose from and all those areas are also need additional nurses. There are associates, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs that are available whatever areas or specialization in nursing you are interested in.
Your inability to attend regular classes at school should not be considered a hindrance in realizing your dream to become a nurse, but a challenge to face in taking a big leap to take advantage of the alternative, which is to take a nursing degree through internet access. There’s always a solution to every problem. Now, you have the solution to yours; just make sure you do your part of the bargain.
Nursing Degree through internet access is for those who wanted to become a nurse, but cannot attend regular classes in real school environment. If you already have a work at the present, and attending to regular classes is out of the question, you can’t just say bye-bye to your dream just like that. If there’s a wheel, there’s a way! Making your dream come true is just a piece of piece if you have a strong determination. All you need is to have access to the internet. It’s as easy as that! Once you have internet connection, you easily take up some nursing programs online offered by several nursing schools. Now, isn’t that convenient?
Also, it would greatly help you decide whether or not to pursue obtaining nursing degree through internet access or attend a regular class in real schools. Besides the fact that, online nursing degree program can be taken at your own home, the big difference that you have to get used to is access to support tools. You see, getting your nursing degree through internet access takes a lot of commitment from you. You may find studying online boring, but depending on how important getting a degree in nursing to you is, I’m sure you can get the hang of it.
The system of online nursing degree programs lets you finish the course at your own pace, which means that you can study you lesson submit assignments or project when you want it. If you are not comfortable with this arrangement, taking online degree programs may not work for you.
In order for you get started, you should first choose in what specialization to focus. Yes, there are a lot of areas in nursing for you to choose from and all those areas are also need additional nurses. There are associates, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs that are available whatever areas or specialization in nursing you are interested in.
Your inability to attend regular classes at school should not be considered a hindrance in realizing your dream to become a nurse, but a challenge to face in taking a big leap to take advantage of the alternative, which is to take a nursing degree through internet access. There’s always a solution to every problem. Now, you have the solution to yours; just make sure you do your part of the bargain.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Nursing Scrubs – Special Clothing
Scrubs came into existence in the 20th century. Scrubs are medical uniforms. Scrubs got its name from the practice of physicians of thoroughly washing or “scrubbing” their hands before performing surgery. Doctors and Surgeons should also wear scrubs during surgery. Nowadays, every people working at hospitals are bound to wear scrubs to avoid any spreading of germs and bacteria.
The traditional starched white uniforms with white cap, white stockings, white socks and fitted dress of nurses has been replaced by nursing scrubs. White clothing was found to reflect light, thus changing their special clothing to green.
Nursing scrubs are usually worn during surgery. Nursing scrubs should be loose-fitting and very comfortable for complete mobility, as nurses move a lot from one place to another, and nurses are required to be alert.
Nursing scrubs are a pair of cotton or cotton/polyester pants with a drawstring, short sleeved, and v-neck top, all of which are the same material. They are made so because cotton is absorbent and reduces bad smell. Cotton nursing scrubs are used for both aesthetic and health reasons. These scrubs are very comfortable to wear and easy to clean. They are also very good in stopping bad smells and body odors. Nursing scrubs should be washed at high temperatures to kill any germs or bacteria.
Traditionally, nursing scrubs are light green, but now they come in different colors and patterns. The light green scrubs first became popular in the 1970s. Many hospitals use a variety of colors to determine different departments. Nursing scrubs have decorated designs and patterns like bears, racecars, clowns or other cartoon characters to help make patients especially children feel at ease.
Nursing scrubs may come in pink or lavender for the delivery department, light blue scrubs for surgical staff, dark blue for the emergency department, light blue green in color worn during surgery. Hospitals can also imprint their logos or hospital names on the scrubs to add a professional touch. Others also require to wear pins or badge together with their scrubs for identification purposes.
Nurses and doctors alike work exceptionally long hours. That’s why their special clothing are expected to keep up with them.
The front-button nursing scrubs are worn by nurses helping inside the operating rooms. These types give them comfort and ease of movement. Sometimes, they are equipped with a waist-length long-sleeved jacket with no lapels.
Nowadays scrubs are not only found in the hospitals but also worn by housewives at home while cooking and washing to avoid stains and what not.
The traditional starched white uniforms with white cap, white stockings, white socks and fitted dress of nurses has been replaced by nursing scrubs. White clothing was found to reflect light, thus changing their special clothing to green.
Nursing scrubs are usually worn during surgery. Nursing scrubs should be loose-fitting and very comfortable for complete mobility, as nurses move a lot from one place to another, and nurses are required to be alert.
Nursing scrubs are a pair of cotton or cotton/polyester pants with a drawstring, short sleeved, and v-neck top, all of which are the same material. They are made so because cotton is absorbent and reduces bad smell. Cotton nursing scrubs are used for both aesthetic and health reasons. These scrubs are very comfortable to wear and easy to clean. They are also very good in stopping bad smells and body odors. Nursing scrubs should be washed at high temperatures to kill any germs or bacteria.
Traditionally, nursing scrubs are light green, but now they come in different colors and patterns. The light green scrubs first became popular in the 1970s. Many hospitals use a variety of colors to determine different departments. Nursing scrubs have decorated designs and patterns like bears, racecars, clowns or other cartoon characters to help make patients especially children feel at ease.
Nursing scrubs may come in pink or lavender for the delivery department, light blue scrubs for surgical staff, dark blue for the emergency department, light blue green in color worn during surgery. Hospitals can also imprint their logos or hospital names on the scrubs to add a professional touch. Others also require to wear pins or badge together with their scrubs for identification purposes.
Nurses and doctors alike work exceptionally long hours. That’s why their special clothing are expected to keep up with them.
The front-button nursing scrubs are worn by nurses helping inside the operating rooms. These types give them comfort and ease of movement. Sometimes, they are equipped with a waist-length long-sleeved jacket with no lapels.
Nowadays scrubs are not only found in the hospitals but also worn by housewives at home while cooking and washing to avoid stains and what not.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Salary Ranges for Nurse Educators
If you currently a nurse and are considering changing your profession, making the change to nurse educator is your next logical step. You will make good use of your experience, there is financial aid available through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (www.higheredfoundation.org), but the pay is also very competitive.
Nationwide, the average salary for a nurse educator with 1-4 years experience is $53,894. And the pay increases as your experience grows. The average salary of a nurse educator with 5-9 years experience is $61,273.
Many nurses express that there lack of interest in becoming a nurse educator is the decrease in pay, but when you compare the median hourly rate X 40 hour work week of an RN, a nurse actually makes $49,000 which is $4K less than a nurse educator. Granted, RN's will receive increased hourly compensation for working overtime, but in an apples to apples comparison there is little difference.
So if you are a nurse in Pennsylvania and looking for a change, consider a career in nurse education and teach the next generation of nurses. Don't forget to visit higheredfoundation.org to see if you can qualify for a grant or scholarship.
*Pay numbers in this article were obtained through Payscale.com and are current as of 12/2008.
Nationwide, the average salary for a nurse educator with 1-4 years experience is $53,894. And the pay increases as your experience grows. The average salary of a nurse educator with 5-9 years experience is $61,273.
Many nurses express that there lack of interest in becoming a nurse educator is the decrease in pay, but when you compare the median hourly rate X 40 hour work week of an RN, a nurse actually makes $49,000 which is $4K less than a nurse educator. Granted, RN's will receive increased hourly compensation for working overtime, but in an apples to apples comparison there is little difference.
So if you are a nurse in Pennsylvania and looking for a change, consider a career in nurse education and teach the next generation of nurses. Don't forget to visit higheredfoundation.org to see if you can qualify for a grant or scholarship.
*Pay numbers in this article were obtained through Payscale.com and are current as of 12/2008.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Nursing: The Recession Proof Career
Weak job growth. A slowing economy. A declining housing market. Troubles in the financial sector. The news is full of worrisome developments that may indicate instability for workers in many professions and industries. Yet one area appears to be unaffected by threats of a recession: nursing and allied health professions.
There have been news reports recently of professionals in other industries, discouraged by their job outlook, switching into nursing as a stable, recession-proof career. While second careers in nursing are not necessarily new, this trend’s impact is being heightened by concerns over job prospects in other professions. Yet even with career shifters, healthcare employers are still facing a critical shortage of qualified nursing talent.
Some industries may be instituting layoffs, but hospitals, clinics and other healthcare groups are scrambling to fill vacant nursing positions. And this shortage may become more acute in the coming years as an aging Baby Boomer population increases the need for nursing services:
- According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the number of vacancies for registered nurses (RNs) was 125,000 in 2005; that shortfall will grow to 800,000 by 2020.
- Online job availability for skilled healthcare occupations such as nursing is up 15% from a year ago, compared to a 5% decline overall across professions, according to the Monster Employment Index, which tracks online job availability.
- RNs are the most difficult positions to fill, sometimes taking more than 40 days to find a qualified candidate and costing recruiters an average of $3,175. Recruiters will have a slightly easier time finding candidates with skill sets in the areas of LVNs (Licensed Vocational Nurses) and CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants).
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment growth in the healthcare sector averaging 23.8% between 2006 and 2014, with ambulatory healthcare services and nursing and residential care facilities showing the highest percentages of demand (33.1% and 24%, respectively.)
These statistics reflect only some of the obstacles recruiters and healthcare organizations face while trying to fill open positions. At a time when job seekers are looking for stable careers, recruiters can do a lot to demonstrate the appeal of nursing by following some long-term recruitment and retention strategies:
Reach out to the community
Look to the community to spread the word about the virtues of a nursing career. Encourage nurse managers within the organization to join community groups to educate people on available nursing positions. Host open houses, tours and seminars to introduce would-be career seekers to what life is like working in a medical environment. Leverage hospital publications and healthcare newsletters to highlight nursing careers and profile key employees.
Look to the schools – and beyond
Besides developing relationships with nursing schools, reach out to high schools – even elementary schools – to introduce the next generation to the benefits of a career in nursing. Sponsor career fairs and encourage nurse managers to speak at local schools. Look beyond traditional female candidates and establish programs to entice males to the career.
Provide a rich professional development program
Mentoring initiatives for nursing graduates, one-on-one buddy systems and assertiveness training are perks that may appeal to existing staffers and job seekers alike. Offering professional development training in areas such as acute care and operating room nursing can go a long way in giving current staffers a career path that keeps them engaged. Finally, make sure your organization has a complete orientation program so incoming nurses have enough time to get up to speed.
Heed salary and scheduling concerns
Flexible scheduling and job-sharing can attract a new audience as well as accommodate older nurses who have different scheduling needs and preferences. It goes without saying that competitive salaries and full benefits packages are a must to ensure your position is on par with – or stands out from – all of the other available postings.
Work on possible image problems
While nursing always ranks high in surveys as a trusted profession, many in the current workforce complain of being devalued by others in the medical community, particularly physicians. Healthcare organizations need to address this shortcoming by working with the human resources department and medical management to ensure others in the community treat the role with respect and value. Instituting a zero tolerance policy for disruptive behavior, encouraging close nurse and physician collaboration and implementing reward and recognition programs can help mitigate any image concerns.
There have been news reports recently of professionals in other industries, discouraged by their job outlook, switching into nursing as a stable, recession-proof career. While second careers in nursing are not necessarily new, this trend’s impact is being heightened by concerns over job prospects in other professions. Yet even with career shifters, healthcare employers are still facing a critical shortage of qualified nursing talent.
Some industries may be instituting layoffs, but hospitals, clinics and other healthcare groups are scrambling to fill vacant nursing positions. And this shortage may become more acute in the coming years as an aging Baby Boomer population increases the need for nursing services:
- According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the number of vacancies for registered nurses (RNs) was 125,000 in 2005; that shortfall will grow to 800,000 by 2020.
- Online job availability for skilled healthcare occupations such as nursing is up 15% from a year ago, compared to a 5% decline overall across professions, according to the Monster Employment Index, which tracks online job availability.
- RNs are the most difficult positions to fill, sometimes taking more than 40 days to find a qualified candidate and costing recruiters an average of $3,175. Recruiters will have a slightly easier time finding candidates with skill sets in the areas of LVNs (Licensed Vocational Nurses) and CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants).
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment growth in the healthcare sector averaging 23.8% between 2006 and 2014, with ambulatory healthcare services and nursing and residential care facilities showing the highest percentages of demand (33.1% and 24%, respectively.)
These statistics reflect only some of the obstacles recruiters and healthcare organizations face while trying to fill open positions. At a time when job seekers are looking for stable careers, recruiters can do a lot to demonstrate the appeal of nursing by following some long-term recruitment and retention strategies:
Reach out to the community
Look to the community to spread the word about the virtues of a nursing career. Encourage nurse managers within the organization to join community groups to educate people on available nursing positions. Host open houses, tours and seminars to introduce would-be career seekers to what life is like working in a medical environment. Leverage hospital publications and healthcare newsletters to highlight nursing careers and profile key employees.
Look to the schools – and beyond
Besides developing relationships with nursing schools, reach out to high schools – even elementary schools – to introduce the next generation to the benefits of a career in nursing. Sponsor career fairs and encourage nurse managers to speak at local schools. Look beyond traditional female candidates and establish programs to entice males to the career.
Provide a rich professional development program
Mentoring initiatives for nursing graduates, one-on-one buddy systems and assertiveness training are perks that may appeal to existing staffers and job seekers alike. Offering professional development training in areas such as acute care and operating room nursing can go a long way in giving current staffers a career path that keeps them engaged. Finally, make sure your organization has a complete orientation program so incoming nurses have enough time to get up to speed.
Heed salary and scheduling concerns
Flexible scheduling and job-sharing can attract a new audience as well as accommodate older nurses who have different scheduling needs and preferences. It goes without saying that competitive salaries and full benefits packages are a must to ensure your position is on par with – or stands out from – all of the other available postings.
Work on possible image problems
While nursing always ranks high in surveys as a trusted profession, many in the current workforce complain of being devalued by others in the medical community, particularly physicians. Healthcare organizations need to address this shortcoming by working with the human resources department and medical management to ensure others in the community treat the role with respect and value. Instituting a zero tolerance policy for disruptive behavior, encouraging close nurse and physician collaboration and implementing reward and recognition programs can help mitigate any image concerns.
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