Get An Online Nursing Degree

These are the days of the internet and that is so true. There are tons of things that you can find and do online. There's online shopping, social networking websites and there are even schools that offer online degrees! It's just amazing what you can do on the internet.

Back in the days, you had to travel to get to school, wake up early, avoid traffic and you had to get dressed, eat and of course, shower. Now, you can simply turn on your computer, log on and go to school. It's becoming so easy to earn a degree and it won't matter if you are a single mom, working full time and or taking care of your entire family. You can still go to school and get that nursing degree that you've been dreaming of.

There are only a couple of things that you would need to start:
1. Computer
2. Internet Access
3. Electricity (of course!)
4. Credit Card

Now for the last part, it really depends on the school that you are attending. There are schools that allows you to pay the fees online while there are others that actually have a school and an accounting department where you have to go to. You have to check with the school for that.

Regarding the internet access, you should get one that's stable, reliable and fast. You wouldn't want your classes to be cut short because your internet service provider is having troubles with the connection.

Getting a Nursing Degree is easier now and you can take advantage of that by enrolling into one now. Who knows, maybe in a couple of months you'd be working as a nurse at a hospital!

Nurse Employment And Staffing Agencies

How hard can it be to find a nursing job these days? Not hard at all! Sure, there's all this talk about the recession and people getting laid off from work. That's not happening in the field of healthcare especially in nursing.

Even in these times, people still seek healthcare. There are still people who get sick and ask for help from the experts on health - the doctors, nurses and other members of the healthcare team. So don't hesitate when you're thinking of taking up Nursing since you'll never find yourself unemployed.

There are plenty of job openings for nurses. Check online and you'll see hundreds of them. There are even websites for staffing agencies that will help you find the ideal work setting that you want. Some even offer signing in bonuses, help with relocation and other benefits.

In nursing, there are a variety of career paths that you can take. You won't only be confined to the hospital as a staff nurse. Though, that's probably where you'll start. From there, you can choose a specialty and become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, psychiatric nurse and a number of other specialties. You also have to remember that having a specialty also pays more.

Try these websites for size:
http://www.nursejobshop.com/
http://nursejobs.com/
http://www.staffingmedical.com
http://www.travelingnurseplacement.com/
http://www.professionalnurse.com/

Top Nursing Schools And Programs

Education is an investment. As it is so, you should pick schools not only because it is within your budget but it is also a top performing school that will teach you all you need in the field you are pursuing.

If you think that proper education is only for the rich then you're wrong. There are plenty of schools that offer scholarships to those students who are well deserving for it. Just check in your local colleges and universities and see if you qualify for one.

Look for nursing programs that prepare students to provide health care services for the population, utilize the latest technology, and build excellent communication skills with patients. Top nursing programs train students to become professionals in high demand.

Here are some of the top Nursing Schools:

• West Coast University

Available Nursing Programs:
Associate Nursing - LVN to RN (must have LVN to apply)
Bachelor Nursing - RN to BSN ( must have RN to apply.)
Campus Locations:
Green Acres, FL
Miami Lakes, FL

• University of Phoenix

Available Top Nursing Schools:
Master in Nursing - Nursing/Health Care Education
Bachelor in Health Administration/Health Info. Systems
Bachelor in Health Administration/Long Term Care

Campus Locations:
Nationwide Campuses
Univ. of Phoenix Online

• National American University

Programs:
Nursing RN-to-BSN, B.S.

Campus Locations:
Co Sprngs, CO
Bloomington, MN
Albuquerq, NM
Denver, CO
Bklyn Ctr, MN
Rio Ranch, NM
Overland Park, KS
Roseville, MN
Sioux Falls, SD
Witchita, KS
Independence, MO
Online

• ECPI College of Technology

Available Nursing Schools:
Practical Nursing - Northern Virginia Campus
Practical Nursing - Roanoke, VA

Other Related Programs:
Medical Administration - Northern Virginia Campus
Medical Assisting - Northern Virginia Campus
Biomedical Equipment Tech. - Northern Virginia Campus
Practical Nursing - Northern Virginia Campus
Medical Administration - Roanoke, VA
Medical Assisting - Roanoke, VA

• South College, Knoxville TN

Available Nurse Certification:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Other Related Programs:
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
Certificate - Medical Transcriptions
Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate of Science in Radiography
BS in Health Science (concentration Radiography)

• Walden University - Online

Available Nursing Masters:
M.S. in Nursing

Other Related Programs:
Ph.D. in Psychology
M.S. in Psychology
Ph.D. in Public Health
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
Ph.D in Human Services with Specialization in Counseling

• International Institute of the Americas

Available Legal Office School:
Nursing
Medical Assistant
Patient Care Techniciant

Campus Locations:
Mesa, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Albuquerque, NM
Phoenix, AZ

• Apollo College - Multiple Arizona Campuses

Available Programs:
Nursing
Practical Nursing
Medical Billing and Coding

Campus Locations:
Phoenix West, AZ
Boise, ID
Albuquerque, NM

• Everest College

Available Nursing Education:
Vocational Nursing
Medical Assisting
Pharmacy Technician

Nursing Schools:
Alhambra, CA
Anaheim, CA
Merrillville, IN

• International Training Centers

Available Nursing Education / Certificaciones:
Certified Nursing Assistant / Asistente De Enfermería
Patient Care Technician / Técnico en Cuidados del Paciente

Campuses / Campos:
Miami, Florida

• Concorde Career College

Available Schools:
Practical Nursing
Vocational Nursing

Campus Locations:
San Diego, CA
Aurora, CO
Kansas City, MO
Garden Grove, CA
Jacksonville, FL
Portland, OR
Arlington, TX

Enroll in a nursing program now and be in one of the highest paid careers of country!

A Nurse's Salary: Getting Down On The Numbers

If you should read articles about high paying jobs, nurses are usually on that list. However, the pay isn't the same everywhere. There are some factors that affect the salaries of nurses. Here are some points to take note to determine the salary of a nurse.

• level of education - this is the type of degree that the nurse has finished
• experience - the more years of practice in the field the higher the pay
• state and city working in - the cost of living in that area
• type of work - a staff nurse is paid differently from a traveling nurse
• type of specialty - there are different specialties in nursing and each pays differently

Here's the median hourly rate of Registered Nurses by state (2006):

• California: $31.88
• Florida: $23.26
• Georgia: $23.83
• Illinois: $25.00
• Pennsylvania: $25.00
• Tennessee: $22.25
• Texas: $25.00

Additionally, according to 2004 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned an average of $52,330 per year. The middle 50 percent averaged between $43,370 and $63,360. The bottom 10 percent earned under $37,300, while the top 10 percent made more than $74,760.

The nursing shortage offers extremely advantageous opportunities for current nurses earning a higher degree and for nursing students preparing to enter the workforce. Many hospitals are now offering incentive programs such as:

• Recruitment bonuses (ranging anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000)
• Relocation assistance
• Housing assistance
• Day care
• Tuition repayment

These recruitment incentives go to nurses who accept a position at their facility and agree to a set work commitment. Be sure to discuss these types of incentives when you are applying for your next job to make sure you are earning as much as you can.

In these difficult times, we all need to have strategies to be able to make it through especially when it comes to the profession we choose. However, we shouldn't forget where our passions lie as well. If we don't like the job then no matter what we do, we'll never find fulfillment and success in that area.

The U.S. Nurse Licensure Compact

What is the Nurse Licensure Compact? It is an agreement between certain states that allows licensed nurses to practice legally in the participating states.

Sounds great, huh? But it's not that simple.

The NLC
The mutual recognition model of nurse licensure allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physical and electronic), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Under mutual recognition, a nurse may practice across state lines unless otherwise restricted. This is referred to as a multi-state nurse licensure model, specifically referred to as the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). All states who currently belong to the NLC, also operate the single state licensure model for those nurses who do reside legally in a NLC state or do not qualify for multi-state licensure.

To be able to have a multi-state license, a nurse must legally reside in a NLC state. For questions related to the multistate license or privilege to practice, you should contact the Board of Nursing in your state of residence.

Participating States
These are the states that are participating the NLC:

Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin

Familiarizing IELTS

Before heading on to battle, you need to have the right weapons to increase your chances in winning. It would also be wiser to have a strategy in mind. Having the right weapons and the right plans on how to tackle the enemy, then you are sure to win every battle. The same goes when you take an exam, specifically, the IELTS.

When you speak of IELTS, what comes first in your mind? Hmm..an English proficiency exam, perhaps? Yes, that’s correct but do you know what happens in an IELTS exam? The answer is probably “no”. Read on to know how an actual IELTS exam would be.

In the exam, all candidates must complete four Modules - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking to obtain an IELTS Test Report Form. The candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking English. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules.

Listening
This contains four sections with 40 items and it is to be done within 30 minutes.
Reading
For both Academic and General Training Version, this part consists of three sections with 40 items to be finished in 60 minutes
Writing
For both Academic and General Training Version, this part consists of two tasks, 150 and another 250 words, to be accomplished in 60 minutes.

Speaking
This is the last module and is usually done on 11 to 14 minutes.

The Total Test Time is 2 hours 45 minutes. The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing - must be completed in one day. The Speaking Module may be taken, at the discretion of the test centre, in the period seven days before or after the other Modules.
For the Reading and Writing Modules, the difficulty level is different from the Academic Version and The General Training Version. The tests are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user.

Now that you know what happens in the exam, you will not be lost and confused when you are finally there.

Taking On IELTS

We all know that foreign educated nurses or any job seeker hoping to work in another country needs to take a series of exams. Passing these exams are proof that an individual is worthy and capable of working in the country where he’s applying.

One of the exams that should be passed is the IELTs. It is short for International English Language Testing System. The IELTS is a standardized exam that tests English proficiency. For a short history, it was established in 1989 by the joint management of the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Australia.

There are two versions of the IELTS, the Academic and the General Training Version.

The Academic Version is for students who want to enroll in a university and also for professionals in the health care industry. The General Training Version, on the other hand, is for those who want to undertake non-academic training or work experience. This is also used for immigration purposes.

The difference between the two Versions is that the reading and writing skills of the Academic Version is considerably more difficult than in the General Training Version. This is because of the differences in the intellectual and academic level of the applicants of the exams.

Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions all recognize IELTS. There are also about 2,000 institutions in the United States that also recognizes IELTS.

The IELTS report has a two year validity.

Studying For The NCLEX

For nurses who want to practice the profession in the United States of America, it is vital that they pass the NCLEX. Passing this exam will award a nurse a license so that she can legally practice in whichever state she applied in.

U.S. educated nurses can easily apply and take the exam right after graduation. For foreign educated nurses, the story is different. They still need to undergo credentials evaluation, which could take months, in order to be qualified to take the NCLEX. Additional payment is also required if the exam is to be taken outside U.S. territory.

RN and LPN
There are two types of the NCLEX exam. There’s the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. The former is to be taken by registered nurses and the latter is for licensed practical nurses.
When applying for the NCLEX, you have to be sure that it’s the right type of exam you’re going to be taking. There have been numerous cases wherein a candidate indicated the wrong type of exam. Although this can be remedied, additional fees have to be paid.

Review
When studying for an important exam such as the NCLEX, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Enroll in a review class so that you will be guided as to which topic to focus more. There will also be other students who will be reviewing with you and this can pressure you in a good way.
Tips and test taking strategies will also be taught in review classes which can help you when you a lot. When you’re faced with a question that you have absolutely no idea what the answer is, test taking strategies can help you eliminate the distracters and lead you to the correct answer.

For those who aspire to be a U.S. registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, one of the most important exams is the NCLEX. Study for it well and invest on a good review class.

What's Next After Nursing School?

So here you are fresh off from Nursing School and you thought all the stresses from school are over. Wrong. The real world has just begun.

Imagine what you’ve been doing in Nursing School and duty days with your clinical instructor and classmates at the hospital -- minus all the note writing, clinical instructors and classmates, of course. There won’t be clinical instructors following you around, guiding you and telling you what should be done. Here, you’ll have your nursing judgment to rely on.

Before you can practice Nursing, you still need a license for the profession. Usually, you’re going to take a local licensure exam, which you have to pass, after graduation. Now this would vary depending on the country where you’re from and the field of nursing that you studied in school.

There are different kinds of Nursing programs, as you may already know. There are Baccalaureate programs, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, and others. To be able to practice, you would need a license.

It is best that you take a review class before taking the licensures. Sure you will have to spend a considerable amount of money for that but it will also increase your chances in passing. Instead of studying on your own, there will be others studying with you and this can inspire you to study harder.

Graduating from Nursing School and passing the licensures is just the beginning of your journey. Good luck!