Becoming a Neonatal Nurse

Becoming a neonatal nurse is a comparatively new option for registered nurses, as compared to other traditional nursing specialties with abundant openings available for nurses wanting to provide care for newborn babies. This nursing specialty includes assisting chronically ill or premature newborns or working with mothers and providing care for their healthy newborns.
Exactly what is a neonatal nurse? A neonatal nurse provides specialty and intensive care for newborn babies twenty-eight days old or less. Neonatal nurses work in one of three types of nurseries:

• Level I nursery is normally for healthy babies. With the advent of shorter hospital stays and the fact most mothers and their babies now share a hospital room, Level I nurseries have essentially disappeared.
• Level II nursery provides specialty care for premature newborns or those dealing with an ailment. These newborns may require additional oxygen, intravenous or specialty feedings, or more maturation time before they are ready to go home.
• Level III nursery is a neonatal intensive care unit that provides care beyond the abilities of a Level I or II nursery. These newborns may not be of sufficient size, premature, or suffering ailments that require advanced technological care. These units can include ventilators, specialized equipment including incubators or surgical intervention. The level III nursery is generally found in larger conventional hospitals or within a children's hospital.

The educational requirements in becoming a neonatal nurse require simply becoming a registered nurse, which can take between two and four years, depending upon whether a bachelor's degree or associate degree program is chosen. Following graduation, you must take a state licensing exam in order to become a registered nurse.
The qualifications for working as a neonatal nurse are varied depending on the institution. Some hospitals require a year of medical surgical or adult health nursing experience. Other medical centers will hire registered nurses without any previous experience.
Following graduation from nursing school, there are continuing educational requirements established by either the state a nurse is practicing in or the nursing certifying body. The state board of nursing establishes how many hours of continuing education are required in order to renew a registered nurse's license, which is normally every two or three years.

Nurse Practitioner Education

If you're looking into a nursing occupation, you already know that you want to care for people, but how do you decide if nurse practitioner education is right for you? The first thing to do is look at all the possibilities for training, economics, and occupational outlook.
Becoming a nurse practitioner is a step up in education and responsibility from an LPN or an RN. While the wide variety of occupational areas is still there, you are now boosting your profession to the level of diagnostician. These professionals work in hospitals, health clinics, and doctor's offices, but diagnose their own patients, write prescriptions, and order patient care.
Depending on whether you are in a hospital, clinic, or specialty area of medical practice, as a nurse practitioner you might be called upon to regularly perform many of the following duties:

• Ordering routine tests and taking case history information for diagnosis
• Performing routine incisions and sutures, drainage and wound care, and tissue biopsies
• Executing nasal intubations into the stomach, and gastric analysis
• Testing for insulin and glucose tolerance
• Ordering lab studies and prescribing routine medications

There is a rigorous standard for training to accompany this higher level of responsibility, but if caring for people is your gift, it's worth it to get the extra one- or two-year master's degree training required to be able to serve your chosen community more comprehensively.
So, what's involved in nurse practitioner education that differs from LPN or RN training? Most programs require prospective students to have registered nurse licensure and to have practiced as an RN for about two years.
Master's level programs add several hours of advanced pharmacology to the RN base of knowledge, along with intensive practice each semester in different areas. There is practicum in pediatric care, adult care, child health, and care of at-risk populations. All courses are progressively more complex than those offered in registered nurse training.
Some good news for prospective students is that some or all of a master nurse practitioner education may be attained online while continuing to work as an RN. There are an abundance of approved quality online MSN programs, which can be worked at part time or full time.
Upon completion of the master's degree in nursing, national certification by exam is required. There are several national nursing organizations approved to certify nurse practitioners. Two such organizations are the American Nurses' Association and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Some associations are specialty certifying organizations for neonatal, pediatric, obstetric, and gynecological practice certification. Certification exams are administered throughout the country and cost around $300.
According to the Department of Labor, the median hourly wage of an RN is about $31, and when you become a nurse practitioner it can jump to $45. Of course, the bump up to master's level in any profession offers a higher earning potential.

Tips on Applying to Nursing School

When you're applying for a nursing school program, it may be helpful to check out both local campus programs and online nursing schools. Accredited nursing schools provide one of four degrees like online RN-to-BSN, Bachelor's, Associate's, and Master of Science (MSN). Registered nurses are one of the fastest increasing occupations in the United States, and you'll need to apply for a nursing school program before you can ever hope to get certification as a nurse and earn a lot of money in this profession.
Online nursing classes are offered by Chamberlain College of Nursing, Kaplan University, Saint Xavier University, and Loyola University. These four colleges comprise the top four online colleges in the nation for providing nursing school education in the United States. There is a current shortage of registered nurses so you may want to start out by getting an entry-level nursing degree. There are three different types of entry-level nursing degrees, and each one is offered by a different nursing school. There is the 4-year BSN, 2-year Associate Degree, and diploma. They are listed in order from highest demand to lowest in priority, and having the one at the top of the list can ensure you the highest job placement.You can also consider one of the various accelerated nursing degree programs.
A BSN is required for many jobs, and you can certify this by looking in your local newspaper. This is the primary entry point for professional nursing practice in the United States. The 2-year Associate Degree, on the other hand, concentrates more technical skills than theory, and this will allow students to earn money more quickly than they could otherwise. This is the entry-level nursing program for technical nursing practice. The diploma was the more common entry-level nursing program prior to the 1970s, and there were hundreds of diploma schools in existence at that time. There are now less than 100 such schools because demand has gone down sharply. A nursing diploma can prepare students for work in a hospital or other inpatient facility. Depending on whether you have certain career aspirations or not, this can seem limiting to you.
Different types of nursing school programs take place in different settings. The diploma is usually a 3-year program, the associates degree is usually a 2-year program, and the Bachelor of Science is usually a 4-5 year program. The diploma is oftentimes located in a hospital that often works with a community college. An associate's degree is usually located in a community college, and a Bachelor of Science (BSN) is usually located in a college or university.
Choosing an entry-level nursing program is a very personal choice, and it can take some time to make up your mind. It is often best to simply look through the job listings before applying for a nursing school program so that you can take part in a nursing program that is more amenable to your needs as a job seeker.

Traits Of A Good Nursing School

These days, a growing number of people are pursuing a nursing education, and for very good reason. Nursing jobs are plentiful, and with the aging population in most Western countries, this situation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Not only are there plenty of jobs out there in the nursing field, these are also some of the best paying jobs. Consider that with only about 2 years of training at a nursing school or community college, you can have a starting salary in the mid five figures.
So with all the attraction of getting into the nursing field, the question then becomes what is the best route to take to get in? Many people choose the LPN (licensed practical nursing) route. As stated above, the requirements to become an LPN are just 2 years of nursing education and passing the state licensing exams. If you want to go on to become a registered nurse (RN), it's only about 2 additional years of schooling, although it could take longer if you are attending part time while working full time as an LPN.
So if an LPN program is your strategy, then finding the best nursing school to accomplish this goal is task #1. Here are four things to look for in a school that will help you gain the nursing education you are looking for:
1. Professional Instructors
The top attribute of a good nursing school is one that has top-notch instructors whom are actual professionals in the field. It only makes sense that you would want to be trained by people who have actually done what you are training to do. Sadly, not all nursing schools employ professionals as instructors, so make sure to ask and make sure the school you are considering is doing so.
2. Hands-On Training
A well-rounded nursing education is critical, and your training is not really complete without some practical experience working (supervised of course) in an actual medical setting. This is an area where online nursing schools tend to come up short. Look for a school that will give you the practical training to jump right into your new career.
3. Up To Date Equipment
Any field that relies heavily on technology is in a constant state of upgrading. Nursing is no different. Advances are happening almost weekly in virtually all areas of medical technology, and nurses need to be trained with the very best and most up to date technology and equipment. This will insure that you will be familiar with all the machinery you will be working with when you finally start working.
4. Caters to Your Needs
One thing many people leave out in their search for a nursing school is whether or not it is compatible with their needs. Be careful about choosing a nursing education option simply because everybody else recommends it. Make sure they also offer flexible schedules and are situated in a location that is convenient for you.

Healthcare Nursing Education Foundation

The priorities about healthcare nursing education foundation are to meet medical requirements around the area of operation targeting amenities that have been overlooked by the government and other practitioners. This is achieved by offering financial aid to students studying the course through scholarships. It also extends grants to help in the establishment, operation and equipping of medical centers for the better good of society around. The general aim of this organization is to create health consciousness in these areas as well as lead in the development of a competitive healthcare system.
Grants are given to establishments in need of aid to help in the provision and improvement of health facilities in a given area. Such an area can be experiencing a low number of nurses and doctors who may not meet the needs of a growing population without monetary assistance. Grants are also injected to marginalized areas that lack medical services at large. This aid is also provided to finance innovative models improvised around the demographics of a certain population.
Another important thing about healthcare nursing education foundation is that it provides scholarships to perpetuate advanced training for future nurses. Qualifications for these applications are reviewed by the board and judged by merit. They are offered on an annual basis, with exception to temporal closure. A student who has received such an award can gain guarantee of continued support year by year depending on favorable results at school. The program indiscriminately rewards students pursuing different levels of the same course in a state college or university within the reach and scope of the beneficial program.

Why Nursing Education Is Important

When we talk about the health care profession we simply cannot deny the importance of the nurses. In old days we use to have one doctor and then one nurse to deal with all the treatment procedures. Since medical sciences have made significant progress and there are valuable enhancements in nursing education, so now things have been changed due to the necessities. Now we have doctors, medical assistants who help doctors, then there are registered nurses who scrutinize every characteristic related to the patient care. Then we have licensed practical nurses that perform tasks instructed by the registered nurse and also supervise the certified nursing assistants who help patients with cleaning, feeding and checking the vital signs.
Since there are different aspects of nursing, that makes it obvious that there will be different trainings, different responsibilities with different skill level. The only reason to divide nursing or to enhance the profession is to get more focus on the patient care. There will be three different nurses coming to the patient for wound dressing; injections, medicine and then one with will come to check the vital signs, feeding, and to provide the mental support. One will come to check the improvement rate by observing the medical history checking the symptoms, checking the dosages and report to the doctors in details.
Talking about the nursing education since the responsibilities are different so is the education. The certified nursing assistants are trained to work in the hospital and they can also visit the patients to their homes. They will be taking care of the people with long term sickness, any physical disability, children with mental Infirmity, the elderly citizens and convalescent persons. A certified nursing assistant job is to provide them the mental support and help them with cleaning, bathing, changing clothes, and also cooking (while following a prescribed diet). A certified nursing assistant is responsible for picking up the prescriptions for the patients with stoke, with physical disability and where necessary.
The licensed Practical Nurse cares for the people who are injured, recuperative and person with any physical disability as instructed by the registered nurse of the physicians. They will be checking patient's blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, dress the wounds, and give injections and helping patients standing and walking by following all the necessary procedures. Then collecting blood samples and likewise, taking them to laboratory to perform some simple tests, cleaning and monitoring the medical equipment. While working in physician's office they will also be taking care of the administrative work, they will be making appointments, performing the clerical duties and maintaining the patient's record.

Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

For new nurses, the prospect of paying off several years worth of education loans can be intimidating. Some people even choose to avoid furthering their education for fear of becoming trapped by student loans.
For those who choose to enter the nursing profession, the US Government has great news, in the form of the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. The goal of the program is to help reduce the drastic shortage of registered nurses that many agencies are facing by helping nurses in certain positions repay their student loans.
The program is fairly simple. When a nurse signs up for the program, he or she must make a two year commitment to work in an underserved facility, usually a non-profit group. In exchange for successfully completing those two years of work, nurses receive sixty percent of their total student loans. If a nurse chooses to stay for an additional year, he or she will receive another twenty five percent of their original loan balance.
While nurses are working in these positions, they are earning a regular salary and receiving benefits that are the same as they would be for those not participating in the program. In essence, the program offers nurses the ability to nearly eliminate their loans in three years without doing anything extra.
Sound too good to be true? There are a few rules that nurses considering the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program should know about. First, the program is for registered nurses who have completed an educational program that resulted in the awarding of a diploma, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or a graduate level program in nursing from a school that is located within the United States. Nurses must be licensed and eligible to work at full-time status in one of the eligible non-profit facilities listed by the government. Students must be either US Citizens or must be legal, Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.
The next part is where nurses will need to do a little homework. You will need to be working at an eligible non-profit facility or be working as a teacher in a non-profit school that teaches nursing. There are a number of different non-profit facilities that are eligible for the program, including hospitals, nursing homes, state or local health and human services departments, certain hospice programs, skilled nursing facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, and federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.

The History of Nursing Education

If you have ever seen a documentary about a war or seen a past war in a movie then you may have noticed what the role of nurses was like in the past. Often times we are able to see the role of nurses as trial and error. Usually women who were around war or battlefields were asked to assist in taking care of the soldiers. Now individuals who wish to enter the field of nursing have to have a certain amount of training and schooling before they can be near patients. This article will look at the history of nursing education. It will look into the past and chart the journey that it has made till now.
Most early nursing records and achievements can be linked to Clara Barton. During the Civil War she quickly learned that she had to get things organized and get herself to the battlefield to help the wounded. Due to her efforts, there was a recognition that the medical world needed to be a little more organized in order to effectively help patients.
Soon word spread of the advancements and Congress authorized the founding of the Army Nurse Cops in 1901. This was the first time in history that we were able to have accounts of nurses being in a group that would train them and teach them the tools they would need to better assist soldiers with their battle wounds. This was also the first time that we see training in the prevention of diseases. This whole movement started the ball rolling on the advancements that we have in place today.
Another major breakthrough came just a few years later with Annie Walburton Goodrich. She became the first women named president of the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses. She was instrumental on making sure that schools followed certain guidelines and that there was proper education for the students.
Some schools that have been instrumental in the continued education of nursing are Columbia University, Yale University, and The University of Michigan. Columbia University has the oldest program in nursing midwifery, it was the first to offer a masters degree in nursing, and was the first school to be recognized by the World Health Organization. Yale Nursing School allowed women to get an education even when they weren't allowed in Yale University. They also established a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. At the University of Michigan, we saw the first five-year program that offered 2 years in literature, arts, and sciences followed by three years in nursing.

Practical Nursing School

When you graduate from a practical nursing program, you receive a license. Appropriately, from that point on, you are known as a Licensed Practical Nurse. (Some states call you a Licensed Vocational Nurse; they are one in the same thing.) The LPN emerges from either an educational institution's practical nursing school or a medical establishment's nursing program ready to step into an active and vital role in a hospital or other major medical center.
A licensed practical nurse works under the direction of an RN (registered nurse) who generally directs several or even dozens of LPNs in her area of the hospital. Each RN has their own 'managerial style' within the strictures put in place by the institution, but by and large you can assume that the RN is the go-to person for any LPN's questions or problems. RNs have graduated from a higher level or nursing school than a licensed practical nurse, and their greater understanding and ability gives them an authority ranking in the hospital's power structure. Very rarely will an LPN go to a floor supervisor or director unless there's a problem with the RN him- or her-self.
An LPN's job is to take care of the patients. That seems fairly straightforward, but stop to consider for a moment just how many different kinds of patients you might have, even within a single ward. The injury unit might have someone who cannot walk and needs assistance to use the bathroom right next door to someone with a shattered jaw that can't talk or eat -- and on the other side, someone who is struggling to learn how to use their new prosthetic arm. An LPN has to be able to deal with a wide variety of patients comfortably and with authority.
Furthermore, an LPN must be able to teach all of these individuals how to manage their own lives. With hospitals as overcrowded as they are, it's becoming policy to move people out as quickly as possible in order to make room -- which means letting the patient take care of themselves for the last, mostly-stable part of their recovery. This means LPNs able to teach disease prevention, injury treatment, safety practices, and even occasionally anatomy or social coping skills to their patients. (It's amazing how many people don't know the value -- or techniques! -- of basic hygiene.)
Practical nursing school is built around the idea of learning these nursing basics line upon line. They generally start with an Anatomy and Physiology class alongside a Nursing Fundamentals class, and the two interact to begin building a functional skillset into each LPN who takes them. From there, they will take classes in a huge variety of subjects including Surgical nursing, Pharmacology, Obstetrics/Maternity, Pediatrics, and even Psychiatry.

Things To Know About A Nursing Education

The health care field is one of the fastest growing in the world, and it's not hard to see why. Most Western countries, particularly the U.S., have an aging population. This trend will continue for at least the next three or four decades. With so many jobs in the health care field, the biggest question is what is the best way to enter it? For many people, the answer is a nursing education.
There are several ways to go about obtaining a nursing education. The three most common are to become either a CNA (certified nursing assistant), LPN (licensed practical nurse), or RN (registered nurse). All three have their advantages and disadvantages, so let's take a closer look at each.
CNA
The CNA position is by far the easiest one in the nursing field to obtain. In fact, in most cases you are not even required to attend a nursing school. All that is usually required is about 3 weeks of training and a certification. Once training is complete and you are certified, you begin with a starting pay of about $10 to $15 an hour.
For many people, the CNA position is a stepping stone to becoming an actual nurse. This can be accomplished in one of two ways; you can either go straight to LPN school right after becoming a CNA, or you can work as a CNA for a while (around a year or so) and apply that experience toward a 'fast track' LPN program.
LPN
The LPN position is a very stable and well-paying position that requires only about two years of nursing education after completion of high school. For a lot of people, the LPN career is very appealing because it strikes a good balance between an important and lucrative career with only a couple years at a nursing school. Those completing an LPN program can expect to start out earning somewhere in the low to mid five figures plus benefits. And, if you're ambitious and want to continue on toward becoming an RN, you can do so by going to school part-time while earning a nice living working as an LPN.
RN
The RN is the pinnacle of the nursing world. The next step up from here would be medical school. The RN is the supervisor over the LPNs and CNAs, so this is a position with greater responsibility and can sometimes become more stressful. But with that added responsibility is a nice pay increase over an LPN. There are a couple ways to become an RN; obtain a two year associate degree from a nursing school, or a four year bachelor's degree in nursing. As mentioned above, many who are already LPNs choose to further their nursing education by going on to become RNs. The advantage to having LPN experience is it allows you to more easily supervise the LPNs that will work under you, because you will have a better idea of what should be expected of them.

Continue Your Nursing Education

The demand for nurses globally is increasing everyday. A degree in nursing can be a great advantage for future advancement and career opportunities. An Associates degree (AD) in nursing can be achieved after 2-3 years of schooling compared to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree which you need 4 years of schooling. A BSN also needs to take the required test to practice nursing (depending on the area of choice where you will work in).
As a fresh graduate a registered nurse (RN) may not differ much from a BSN. You will still enter the work area will similar salaries and responsibilities. But the BSN degree is greatly preferred by most hospitals when it comes to hiring. The BSN will also have more opportunities for salary raise and promotions.
Here are the some advantages that may help you in deciding from being an RN to having a BSN:

• Personal satisfaction of completing a degree in nursing. Most RNs get a nursing bachelors degree to fulfill career contentment.
• Most hospitals prefer to hire bachelor of nursing degree holders instead of regular RNs. You have a higher knowledge and understanding in caring for patients.
• With a bachelors degree, you can further enroll in career advancement studies like taking up your masters and doctorate degrees.
• You will have greater chances in job promotions; higher salaries come hand in hand. Almost all supervising jobs require a BSN degree.
• The training you receive in a BSN program prepares you to a hospital setting compared to those of an RN.
• As a BSN degree holder you'll learn a lot of current and up to date health care knowledge and updates.
• You will be more equipped with advance skills and knowledge to care for patients and be capable leaders in many health care practices.
• BSN graduates may work in various settings like hospitals, nursing homes, physicians' offices, and other healthcare settings. They may work as staff nurses, head nurses, department chiefs, and administrative managers.
• Decision-making and critical care will be your responsibility.

BSN programs usually cover these subjects:
-Medical ethics
-Health promotion
-Nurture techniques
-Disease prevention
-Case supervision
-Health restoration
-Liberal arts coursework
-Health Maintenance
RN to BSN degree schooling is very flexible and they are many online schools to choose from. Since most RNs work full time or part time, there are numerous options and adaptable courses offered to RNs.
Going from RN to BSN degree may take some time to achieve because RNs usually work while following their BSN studies. A journey of a RN to BSN degree work needs dedication and effort to accomplish. There must be a personal commitment in order to graduate as a BSN.

The Importance of Nursing Education

Nursing education is the formal training that is provided to nurses to prepare them for handling their duties in patient care. Courses in nursing offer training in various arenas, such as general,mental health, pediatric and post operator nursing.
In the United States, nurse training courses can be in the form of graduate or undergraduate programs that are designed to be challenging and also innovative at the same time. They have been designed in such a way that they not only provide ways for students to know everything vital information in their area of nurse training, but also learn comprehensive assessment skills, home care and also technological skills.
The role of a nurse is to assess, plan, implement and evaluate health care and in the course of their work, they offer support from basic patient care to looking into all requirements needed in an emergency surgery. Nurses are responsible for providing care to patients to ensure that they attain the right state of health. They can work independently and also in coordination with members of the health care team such as medical practitioners, dietitians and therapists for the purpose of administering patient care. Nurses practice in not just hospitals and clinics, but also in private homes, schools, long-term health care facilities, legal industries and pharmaceutical companies. They can work on a full-time or a part-time basis.
In order to become a nurse, a person would have to complete nurse training programs. It is necessary to have a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, a Diploma in this field, or undertake a course to become a Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, or Licensed Practical Nurse for the purpose of becoming a nurse.
The main points to be checked when opting for a particular nursing course is program flexibility, available resources, faculty qualifications, and the program's accreditation status. Attending the National League for Nursing's Education Summit is a good opportunity for those interested in becoming a nurse as this will give them a chance to explore new approaches to nurse training and also understand about how various programs are designed.

Important Facts About Nursing Education

The healthcare industry is growing more quickly than ever and so is the demand for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. Aside from offering a lucrative and stable career, a nursing school education can also equip students with the necessary training and skills they need in providing care and assistance to other people, as well as making a positive difference in their lives.
When choosing among nursing programs, a student must carefully consider what kind of nurse they wants to be or how long they wants to go to school. For those who want to complete their education within a shorter period of time, taking an LPN degree may be the best way to start their nursing career. A basic requirement for admission in an LPN program is a high school diploma or GED. There are many community colleges, technical schools, private schools, and local hospitals that offer LPN programs.
LPNs care for sick and injured people and those who are recovering from their sickness. Their duties include checking and recording patients' vital signs and blood pressure, dress and clean wounds, give injections, assist patients in performing their personal hygiene or in doing their daily exercise, collect blood samples, clean and monitor medical equipment, set appointments, perform clerical duties, and maintain patients' records.
LPNs are expected to make less money than registered nurses, because RNs are usually the ones assigned to supervise their work. In some hospitals, only registered nurses are hired and not LPNs. For this reason, LPNs who want to advance their career should look into getting a degree in nursing and becoming a registered nurse sometime down the road.
Registered nurses supervise not only the licensed practical nurse, but also the nursing assistants. There are two possible options to becoming a registered nurse. The first option is by getting an associate degree in nursing, which only takes two years to finish. The second option is the bachelor's degree in nursing, which takes four years to complete. Supervising and conducting research activities related to nursing are two of the main responsibilities of registered nurses.
Whichever nursing education one chooses, there should be a willingness to give time, dedication, and concentration once enrolled in a nursing school. Those who have a full-time job might find the program difficult, especially as they advance through it. In general, courses covered are microbiology, anatomy, nutrition, pharmacology, pathology, physiology, psychology, surgical nursing, patient assessments, and math. Other subjects that may be included in the program are grieving or disaster preparedness.
In addition to the academic training, a large portion of the nursing curriculum includes a hands-on training wherein students are assigned to work in a hospital, doctor's office, public health department, ambulatory clinic, or nursing care facility. This outside the classroom training is designed to enhance students' skills in working with doctors, nurses, and patients. Through their practical experiences in their externship, nursing students eventually acquire specializations in various fields such as surgery, maternity, mental health, pediatrics, or geriatric units.

How A Nursing Education Can Benefit You In Life

We all know that at the present time, we all have hardships in making both ends meet. The instability of the economy makes it hard for everyone to budget what he or she have earned for the family.
Money is not only the problem with unstable economy. Each individual also finds it hard to fit all their jobs in a day just to earn sufficient amount of money for the family. Some even stopped schooling just to help the household generate more income and supply each family member's needs.
In today's world, one should have a good educational background to be able to earn a decent amount of money and support a family. One of the most in demand profession nowadays is nurses.
Nurses are never out of place in any era, as medical professionals are always needed for better health. This is the reason why there are so many people taking up nursing courses and other medical related studies.
However, due to lack of money and lack of time because of work, there are a lot of people who have not finished their degree. This is because they either do not have the money to pay for their school fees or do not have the time to go to school even if they have the means.
With this, online nursing courses have emerged. Nursing degree programs online is a great opportunity for those people who wish to complete a nursing course.
You probably wonder why a nursing degree is among the in demand courses nowadays. Well, here are some of the benefits of taking up this course.
1. Nurses are always in demand. As what is mentioned above, nurses are needed to help people better their health. They also serve as assistants to doctors and physicians in treating patients and those sickly individuals.
2. Hospitals are everywhere. Hospitals need nurses hence, if you are a nurse, you will never get out of jobs.
3. You help save lives. Being a nurse, you get to learn a lot of things that is related to health and sanity. With this you become aware on what you have to do to help others better themselves and treat illnesses and sicknesses.
4. You become conscious about health risks and help others become aware of these. Since you are already educated about these things, you are already one-step ahead of conquering situations that are more dangerous.
5. Nurses are best friends of patients. If you are someone who is inclined to helping others, then this profession might be the right fit for you. Being a nurse, you do not only earn money but help sickly people as well.

A Brief History of Nursing Education

When people think of the history of nursing education many immediately think of Florence Nightingale. However, nursing goes back even further than that. In fact, during the 18th century a slave named James Derham was able to buy his own freedom from the money he earned as a nurse. Nobody knew back then that a nursing education could be obtained in any other way than simply hands on through an apprenticeship. But, today there are many ways to study and learn more about nursing. Great examples of these are online nursing education and nursing continuing education.
But, it took a long time for these nursing programs to develop. And, they are descendents of the first nursing program that was established in the 1850s in London. Japan's first nursing institute was established in 1885 and the first nursing institute for blacks in the United States followed the next year. The field of nursing was growing rapidly with the influences of individuals like Florence Nightingale and Claray Barton who established the Red Cross.
In the late 1800s the idea of visiting nursing was established by Lillian Wald and she began teaching a home nursing class. The American Nurses Association held its first meeting and the topics discussed helped further nursing education. Nurses began to be regulated on a national basis by New Zealand in 1901 and then other countries around the world began to follow suit.
The first nursing education that was established in the United States on the basis of education rather than the needs of hospitals was at Yale University in 1923. The Yale School of Nursing had its own curriculum and students were required to meet the educational standards of the university in order to graduate. This really set the stage for the future of education and since then universities across the nation have developed nursing programs of their own. Then, in the 1950s Colombia University offered a master's in nursing and was the first university to do so. This really changed the nursing environment and allowed for nursing continuing education and nurses to grow in their chosen profession.
Now, more than 80 years later, a nursing education is available at college campuses, via online courses, and even through nursing continuing education. Men and women who want to become nurses can do so around their schedule and take advantage of all the study options for this amazing profession. There are many choices when it comes to an online nursing education and prospective nurses should really compare all of the programs to ensure they are studying from the best online university and are learning as much about nursing as possible.