The Pre-Nursing Experience

November 20th, 2008

What are the requirements to gain admission into nursing school? Actually, they differ from one school to the next but all have certain main pre-requisite classes that are required for students to take. These include courses in Anatomy & Physiology, Social Sciences, Biology, English I & II, Psychology, Life Span Psychology, a Pharmaceutical course and a Chemistry course. Most nursing schools require a grade of C or better for each of the above named courses.

If this isn’t enough stress, the student must complete the Nursing Entrance Test prior to getting their name on the nursing school admission list. Consequently, for the associate degree nurse, the entire program can be expected to take up to three years to complete. The up side of this is that many four year degree granting institutions offer a one year curriculum to graduating Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) for completion of a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. It is quite likely, that when the ADN graduates and finds employment, that the hospital where he or she is employed will pay their tuition for their Bachelors Degree completion. All of this sounds very enticing to many who wish to pursue nursing careers.

The nurses pay is also an incentive to enroll in Nursing School, though it should not be the main reason. Hence, with the occurrence of the mass lay offs from many of the automotive industries, those without jobs are entertaining the thought of going into the field of nursing. There is a huge influx of people who are in the nursing program or who plan to enroll in the nursing program ranging in ages from 32 to 52. Many of these students bring with them a vast life experience base. Therefore it is not surprising to find nursing students that have one or two Bachelor Degrees, previous careers in engineering, science, secretarial fields, emergency medical technicians and teachers.

This type of cross section was not the norm twenty or thirty years ago, when most of the nursing students were in their early twenties. There are quite a few current nursing students that are holding full time jobs and juggling kids and spouses needs. The responsibilities that the new nursing students must bear become at most unbearable when actual nursing school begins. So, the nursing student is faced with a stressful road map right at the beginning.

Why are nursing classes so difficult? Time and time again nursing students have said the same thing, which is, “how do you study for these tests?” The frustration for the nursing student culminates when they get a poor score on their exam. Usually this low score is in the C range, which is a failing grade for most Nursing Schools. When a student gets a 79 on an exam, they know that they have to make up those points on the next test. Worst case scenario is that they go into the final with a grade of 79% or 80%. Final exams are always much harder than the exams throughout the semester. So, when a student goes into the final with a failing grade or on the cusp of failing they become unnerved. Most nursing instructors will tell their students not to take the final if they have below an 80% and just drop the class instead of chancing a failing grade.

With nursing courses ranging in the 5-10 credit hour brackets, one can imagine how much a grade point average could be affected by a failing grade. Yet, nursing students do it all the time. They sit for the final exam and throw caution to wind. The results are that some of them do indeed pass, while others fail. Those that pass the final start the next semester with renewed stress. The nursing tests are what put so much stress on the students.

Although clinical rotation can also be very grueling, most student nurses will agree that it is the nursing tests that they fear. Nursing students must be prepared to handle the stress ahead of time. Friends and family should be aware of how much stress that their loved ones have to endure while in nursing school. They can assist by helping with the children such as picking the kids up from school, or bringing over dinner a few times a week. Just being there to listen to their concerns and offering a shoulder to lean on can help a great deal.

This must be the first question that arises in your mind when you consider Forensic Nursing as a career - “how much money do forensic nurses make?” A forensic nurse can make money according to her abilities and capacity to work. Many forensic nurses are paid at hourly basis. If you work more you get paid more. Some others get paid per case. Experienced nurses are paid more then the inexperienced ones. So basically it depends on you how much you can earn. Salaries of forensic nurses also vary from place to place. In some cities or states you may get paid better than in others.

Except for Emergency Room Examiners, all other forensic nurses work from outside of hospitals. These nurses are available on call and are paid something between one to four dollars per hour of their service. In the case of sexual assault nurse examiner they are paid one and a half times more then their basic pay rate. Some organizations prefer to pay per case. A forensic nurse may earn anything between one hundred and fifty dollars to four hundred dollars for one case. Again this pay rate may vary from nurse to nurse and from place to place.

At some organizations Forensic Nurses are paid pretty high salary. The starting salary is twenty six dollars per hour. Experienced and efficient nurses can earn up to even hundred dollars per hour. Legal and medical nurse consultants are paid even better. They earn more than one hundred and fifty dollars an hour and there is no upper limit to what they can earn. Forensic nurses can become legal and medical consultants only after they have gained considerable experience in working with victims of physical violence, sexual abuse and trauma.

In forensic nursing, efficiency comes with experience. The more number of cases you have seen and handled, the better your knowledge becomes. Therefore you work much more efficiently. Young Forensic Nurses may not earn as much as their older counterparts but with time and experience one can achieve all desirable heights. Some Forensic nurses, after years of working with hospitals and crime departments, have started their own firms and consultancies where they provide legal and medical aid to victims.

A forensic nurse earns a much higher salary than a standard nurse. That is because a forensic nurse has more education and advanced training than a standard nurse. The job of forensic nursing also involves more responsibility and hard work. Forensic nurses are always on call. As a compensation for odd working hours they are paid more.

Forensic workers work in a variety of settings. Some may work in domestic violence intervention facilities, some in coroner’s office, some as sexual assault nurse examiners, some with crime investigation teams and some give psychiatric training to violent offenders. Forensic Nurses working in different departments may draw different salaries. You can find out which work and pay scale suits you the best and then go for it. Forensic nursing has bright prospects in our society and its very probable that in a few years time forensic nurses may earn much better than what they are getting today.

Why choose nursing abroad as a career? Many reasons come to mind; you can advance your career, gain a variety of clinical experiences, make a higher salary and, fulfill your travel desires, to name a few.

Many countries are experiencing an acute shortage of qualified experienced nurses. This has resulted in a golden opportunity for internationally educated nurses to move overseas either temporarily for a year or two, or to immigrate permanently.

Advancing your Nursing Career Abroad
Because these countries are crying out for nurses to fill immediate vacancies at all levels it is easy for overseas nurses to springboard their way into senior nursing positions which may include supervisory or management roles.

Even if you are not keen on moving your nursing career abroad permanently, taking your nursing job overseas for a year or two to gain experience in a management role can launch you into management once you return home with a newly enhanced resume.

Gain a Variety of Clinical Experience
Nursing overseas can open up opportunities to encounter different clinical experiences because although you will probably initially be hired to nurse in the specialty in which you currently have experience, you will come across country and region specific experiences.

Nursing overseas will also allow you to gain experience in alternative techniques and approaches to nursing and healthcare.

Earn a Higher Salary
Countries experiencing acute nursing shortages are desperate for nurses to fill the vacancies in their healthcare system. As a result they are often paying higher wages in an attempt to attract more nurses, both domestically and internationally. Many healthcare recruiters are also offering benefits and bonuses that can add to your bottom line.

I have had a number of colleagues who have worked abroad for a few years to save money then returned home with a healthy house deposit or paid off their student loans completely.

Travel and Explore the World
Nursing abroad means you will make your home in a new region of the world. The opportunity this lends to explore new countries and cultures is priceless. If your dream is to explore the UK, the USA, Australia… then moving your nursing career abroad to one of these countries currently experiencing acute nursing shortages will give you the opportunity to fulfill your dream and fund it at the same time.

This is a technique I have used personally to explore the UK, Eastern Europe and South East Asia over the last 12 years.

Nursing is a transferrable occupation
Moving your nursing career abroad is a realistic option for both experienced and newly registered nurses not only because there is a worldwide shortage of nurses, but also because there is a long history of nurses moving around the world to work.

The most you will be required to do in order to get a job in a new country is prove you are registered at home, have a suitable equivalent level of education and training and perhaps sit an exam. While different countries have vastly different rules which can be confusing to work around, it is easy to find a nursing job abroad with the right roadmap through the recruiting and registration process.

 ”I’m available, since I don’t have a life,” Cathy, my client told me when we were trying to schedule our next coaching session. When I probed further, it turned out that although she had a full time job, had occasional acting assignments, volunteered at a museum, was active with friends and her family-she still considered herself “life-less.” Translation: She had no man in her life.

As my fellow Baby Boomers will bear out, I learned at an early age that the right life for a woman was to finish school; become a teacher, nurse or secretary; get married; have kids; stay home and live happily ever after. That was certainly not the life I ended up with and yet some of those old cultural norms continued to haunt me. I’m now 62, it’s been twenty years since my last divorce and I acknowledge I may never find Mr. Right. For many years I hoped to find Prince Charming who would save me–and yes– complete me.  I have (finally) learned to dismiss three common myths.

1. Being single means I’m not enough. Have you ever thought, “If only I was prettier, thinner, younger etc., a man would love me.” Have you ever looked at someone and said, ”If she can get someone–I must be really awful?”  I realized I didn’t want just anyone–I had identified must haves for any future partner. I already have a good life and I’m not willing to risk my peaceful life just to have someone on my arm. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with you–perhaps too much is right with you–you want the right one and are willing to wait.

2. Being single means less fun. I dreaded going alone to company functions and weddings. I fantasized having this perfect partner who would have an in-depth conversation at dinner then dance up a storm when the music began.Through the years, I watched many couples spend most of their evening apart. Often the woman wanted to dance and the man didn’t. And after spending their days and nights together, each of them found others they hadn’t seen in awhile to converse with. In fact, I often talked longer to the husband than the wife did during the evening.

3. Being single limits your options. I can remember walking into a movie alone and was pleased when someone sat next to me so people wouldn’t think I was a loser. I’ve gone to dinner by myself pretending I’m on a business trip–so of course, it’s ok I’m alone.While I do prefer having someone along to share many experiences with me, if it’s something I really want to do–I’ll go alone. Besides movies and dinner, I have taken vacations by myself and attended concerts alone (I confess–my friends make fun of my taste in music).Who could have known that these previous solo adventures would give me the confidence to create my dream life-have my own business and move to a warmer climate. I remember that most people were amazed when I told them I was moving to North Carolina without knowing anyone. I’ve learned not to waste time waiting for someone or something before I can truly live.

The time to get a life is now.  Find your passion and create a life that brings you joy and purpose.  

If you like helping people you may be interested in what it takes to become a registered nurse. Perhaps you have already began looking into nursing schools in hopes of a career you truly enjoy. But did you know that becoming better educated can have a dramatic impact on your personal bottom line? Getting a college education, whether an Associate’s degree, bachelor’s or master’s degree can lead to significant gains in lifetime earnings. Someone with an Associate’s degree can usually earn almost twice what a high school graduate can. A bachelor’s degree will help you gain over twice as much, and if you add a master’s degree it often jumps up to two and a half to four and a half times as much as those with a high school diploma. Looking at nursing schools online can help you find the right fit in schools so that you can complete your education to become a registered nurse. Registered nurse jobs provide a perennially excellent career outlook for a professional nurse. Here is some of what you could expect if you enroll in a nursing school.

To become a registered nurse typically requires two years of higher education. Once you have attained an Associate’s degree in Nursing, you are prepared to take the exam to earn your license to practice as a registered nurse. This test is called the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, which is often shortened to NCLEX-RN. There is also an NCLEX-PN, which is a test administered to practical or vocational nurses. These tests cover the ability, skills and knowledge of nursing in order to ensure that you are prepared to enter the nursing field at an entry level. A nurse may hold a license to practice the profession of nursing in more than one state, and to keep his or her license current, they often must take a number of continuing education classes.

In terms of the course work you will take on the way to becoming a nurse, several areas are covered. Nursing theory, anatomy, human growth and development, physiology, biology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, medication administration, pharmacology, psychology, legal issues and ethics make up the majority of classes that you will enjoy. There are also clinical parts of the training as well, when you will assist working nurses to acquire skill working with patients.

As far as locations where you would work at registered nurse jobs are concerned, there are many. You might want to work in a hospital, and there are certainly many great opportunities to do so in that venue, including in the emergency room, intensive care, the operating and recovery room, labor and delivery rooms, as well as outpatient offices. Other sites where registered nurses are employed can include patient’s homes, nursing homes, workplaces, schools, community centers, and even camps for children and homeless shelters.

Nursing schools offer you the opportunity to learn the skills needed to participate in an interesting and much-needed profession.

Psychiatric Nursing Your Calling?

November 14th, 2008

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 medical 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 medicial , 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.