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Created Jun 02 2011
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By Amanda
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Re: Dumb newbie questions
As a regular staff nurse, she will make the same $ whether she has a BS or Associate's. But without her BSN, she will not be able to move into any type of management or leadership positions. Nurses with an Associate's can make up to $40/hour as a regular staff nurse, but not as a new grad. Specialties like ER, OR, ICU tend to make more than med/surg nurses, and the more experience you have, the more you will make.
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FORUM: General Nursing Discussion
TOPIC:
Dumb newbie questions
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By EliseR
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Dumb newbie questions
Replies: 1
Hi everyone. This is my first post here. My girlfriend has decided to go back to school to be an RN. Her background is, she has an AS degree in environmental technology. She was laid off from an engineering firm in January and has not been able to even find a waitressing job.
We have kinda figured out the school part. I was surprised to learn that the RN program was an associates program. I was curious. When I see ads about RN jobs paying $ 30-40 an hour, is that for any RN or are those more for RN's with bachelor's degrees? Also, I see a lot of home health ads. She is not really interested in that type of work. She wants to work in a hospital. Are jobs there?
I guess if I had to boil it down to one question. If she gets her RN associates, what are her realistic prospects for type of job and salary? Can you do well from there? Or is a BS degree the ticket to success and $$$?
I know, that wasn't one question. Sorry.
Thanks everyone. Have a nice day
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FORUM: General Nursing Discussion
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By CougarNurse
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Giving babies Tylenol may blunt vaccines' effect
Replies: 0
Just something to think about: From Yahoo News
Giving babies Tylenol to prevent fever when they get childhood
vaccinations may backfire and make the shots a little less effective,
surprising new research suggests.
It is the first major
study to tie reduced immunity to the use of fever-lowering medicines.
Although the effect was small and the vast majority of kids still got
enough protection from vaccines, the results make "a compelling case"
against routinely giving Tylenol right after vaccination, say doctors from
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They wrote an
editorial accompanying the study, published in Friday's issue of the
British medical journal, Lancet.
The study only looked at
preventive use of Tylenol — not whether it is OK to use after a fever
develops.
Tylenol or its generic twin, acetaminophen, is
widely recommended as a painkiller for babies. Many parents give it right
before or after a shot to prevent fever and fussiness, and some doctors
recommend this. The CDC's vaccine advisory panel says it is a reasonable
thing to do for children at high risk of seizures, which can be triggered
by fevers.
However, fever after a vaccine isn't
necessarily bad — it's a natural part of the body's response. Curbing
fever, especially the first time a baby gets a vaccine, also seems to curb
the immune response and the amount of protective antibodies that are made,
the new study found.
It was led by military and
government scientists in the Czech Republic and was done at 10 medical
centers in that Eastern European country. It involved 459 healthy infants,
9 to 16 weeks old, who were getting vaccines against polio, pneumonia,
meningitis, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis and other childhood
diseases.
Half were given three doses of Calpol, or
paracetamol — a Tylenol-like brand sold in Europe — during the first day
after vaccination. The others were given nothing besides the vaccines.
Babies given the painkiller were significantly less likely
to develop a fever — 42 percent versus 66 percent of the others — and very
few in either group developed a high one.
However, lower
rates of protective antibody levels from several vaccines were seen in the
group given the drug. Levels remained significantly lower in this group
after booster vaccines, given when the babies were 12 to 15 months old.
Next, the researchers looked at 10 other vaccine studies and
found some supporting evidence that using Tylenol to prevent fevers at the
time of vaccination may curb immune system response rates. The same may
not be true of using the drug to treat fevers after they develop.
The research was sponsored by Belgium-based GlaxoSmithKline
Biologicals, which makes all the vaccines used in the study. Some authors
have financial ties to the company, including owning stock in it, and
Glaxo had a role in reporting the results.
Even with the
fever-lowering drugs, more than 90 percent of children in the Czech study
achieved protection from the various vaccines after the booster dose, so
the effect of lower levels of antibodies on any individual might be small,
Dr. Robert Chen and two other CDC doctors wrote in an editorial.
Yet the consistency of findings from other studies makes "a
compelling case against" routine use of fever-lowering medicines during
immunization, they write.
It's not known if Tylenol or
other painkillers might reduce vaccine response in adults, but they are
less likely to develop a fever after vaccination or to be so bothered by
it, said Dr. John Treanor, a vaccine specialist at the University of
Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y., who had no role in the
study.
Tylenol is the only member of the family of
over-the-counter pain relievers that is not a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID.
"There's been
speculation for a long time that the use of NSAIDs might have an effect"
on antibody production after vaccination, but this is far from proved,
Treanor said.
Given that so few children develop high
fevers after vaccines, skipping the meds unless fever develops "may be the
way to go," he said.
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FORUM: Nursing News
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By CougarNurse
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By Brian
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RN - Occupational Outlook 2008-09
Replies: 0
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
U.S.
Department of Labor | Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos083.htm
Significant Points
- Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with 2.5
million jobs.
- About 59 percent of jobs are in
hospitals.
- The three major educational paths to
registered nursing are a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, and a
diploma from an approved nursing program.
- Registered nurses are
projected to generate about 587,000 new jobs over the 2006-16 period, one
of the largest numbers among all occupations; overall job opportunities are
expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment setting.
Training, Other Qualifications, and
Advancement
The three major
educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor's degree, an
associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program. Nurses
most commonly enter the occupation by completing an associate degree or
bachelor's degree program. Individuals then must complete a national
licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license. Further
training or education can qualify nurses to work in specialty areas, and
may help improve advancement opportunities.
Education and
training. There are three major educational paths to registered
nursing—a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate
degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges
and universities, take about 4 years to complete. In 2006, 709 nursing
programs offered degrees at the bachelor's level. ADN programs, offered by
community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. About
850 RN programs granted associate degrees. Diploma programs, administered
in hospitals, last about 3 years. Only about 70 programs offered diplomas.
Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational
programs qualify for entry-level positions.
Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor's programs to prepare
for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find an
entry-level position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement
benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2006,
there were 629 RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated
master's degree in nursing (MSN) programs also are available by combining
1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In
2006, there were 149 RN-to-MSN programs.
Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who have a
bachelor's or higher degree in another field and who are interested in
moving into nursing. In 2006, 197 of these programs were available.
Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest
route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree. MSN programs
also are available for individuals who hold a bachelor's or higher degree
in another field.
Individuals considering
nursing should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of
enrolling in a BSN or MSN program because, if they do, their advancement
opportunities usually are broader. In fact, some career paths are open
only to nurses with a bachelor's or master's degree. A bachelor's degree
often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for
admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and
teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical
nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse
practitioners. Individuals who complete a bachelor's receive more training
in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of
which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex.
Additionally, bachelor's degree programs offer more clinical experience in
nonhospital settings. Education beyond a bachelor's degree can also help
students looking to enter certain fields or increase advancement
opportunities. In 2006, 448 nursing schools offered master's degrees, 108
offered doctoral degrees, and 58 offered accelerated BSN-to-doctoral
programs.
All four advanced practice nursing
specialties require at least a master's degree. Most programs include
about 2 years of full-time study and require a BSN degree for entry; some
programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience as an RN for
admission. In 2006, there were 342 master's and post-master's programs
offered for nurse practitioners, 230 master's and post-master's programs
for clinical nurse specialists, 106 programs for nurse anesthetists, and
39 programs for nurse-midwives.
All nursing
education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical
experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take
courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition,
psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also
includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.
Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments
such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number
of programs include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public
health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics.
Licensure and certification. In all States, the District of
Columbia, and U.S. territories, students must graduate from an approved
nursing program and pass a national licensing examination, known as the
NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in
more than one State, either by examination or by the endorsement of a
license issued by another State. The Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement
allows a nurse who is licensed and permanently resides in one of the
member States to practice in the other member States without obtaining
additional licensure. In 2006, 20 states were members of the Compact,
while 2 more were pending membership. All States require periodic renewal
of licenses, which may require continuing education.
Certification is common, and sometimes required, for the four
advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse
anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners. Upon completion of
their educational programs, most advanced practice nurses become
nationally certified in their area of specialty. Certification also is
available in specialty areas for all nurses. In some States, certification
in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty.
Foreign-educated and foreign-born nurses wishing to work
in the United States must obtain a work visa. To obtain the visa, nurses
must undergo a federal screening program to ensure that their education
and licensure are comparable to that of a U.S. educated nurse, that they
have proficiency in written and spoken English, and that they have passed
either the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
Qualifying Examination or the NCLEX-RN. CGFNS administers the VisaScreen
Program. (The Commission is an immigration-neutral, nonprofit organization
that is recognized internationally as an authority on credentials
evaluation in the health care field.) Nurses educated in Australia, Canada
(except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, or
foreign-born nurses who were educated in the United States, are exempt
from the language proficiency testing. In addition to these national
requirements, foreign-born nurses must obtain state licensure in order to
practice in the United States. Each State has its own requirements for
licensure.
Other qualifications. Nurses should be
caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail oriented. They must be able
to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients' conditions, and
determine when consultation is required. They need emotional stability to
cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.
Advancement. Some RNs start their careers as licensed practical
nurses or nursing aides, and then go back to school to receive their RN
degree. Most RNs begin as staff nurses in hospitals, and with experience
and good performance often move to other settings or are promoted to more
responsible positions. In management, nurses can advance from assistant
unit manger or head nurse to more senior-level administrative roles of
assistant director, director, vice president, or chief nurse.
Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate or an
advanced degree in nursing or health services administration.
Administrative positions require leadership, communication and negotiation
skills, and good judgment.
Some nurses move
into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and
experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute,
home-based, and chronic care. Employers—including hospitals, insurance
companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations,
among others—need RNs for health planning and development, marketing,
consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work
as college and university faculty or conduct research.
Employment
As the largest health
care occupation, registered nurses held about 2.5 million jobs in 2006.
Hospitals employed the majority of RNs, with 59 percent of jobs. Other
industries also employed large shares of workers. About 8 percent of jobs
were in offices of physicians, 5 percent in home health care services, 5
percent in nursing care facilities, 4 percent in employment services, and
3 percent in outpatient care centers. The remainder worked mostly in
government agencies, social assistance agencies, and educational services.
About 21 percent of RNs worked part time.
Job Outlook
Overall job opportunities for
registered nurses are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment
and geographic setting. Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster
than the average for all occupations through 2016 and, because the
occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. In fact, registered
nurses are projected to generate 587,000 new jobs, among the largest
number of new jobs for any occupation. Additionally, hundreds of thousands
of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses
who leave the occupation.
Employment change. Employment of
registered nurses is expected to grow 23 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will
be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a
greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing
emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people, who
are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is
projected to grow rapidly.
However, employment of RNs will
not grow at the same rate in every industry. The projected growth rates
for RNs in the industries with the highest employment of these workers
are:
Offices of physicians39%Home health care
services39Outpatient care centers, except mental health and substance
abuse34Employment services27General medical and surgical hospitals, public
and private22Nursing care facilities20
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FORUM: Nursing News
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By Kdog
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By ICUgirl
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Random thought about nurses and marriage
Replies: 2
I was sitting around tonight talking with the other nurses working tonight, and it struck me again how often nurses seem to be divorced, or getting divorced. Is this similar to most places? I've worked in 4 different places and everywhere I go it seems that nurses seem to have alot of trouble in their marriages. I'm in a relationship that seems to be heading towards marriage but it makes me nervous when I see these women that I know are amazing, faltering when it comes to making mariage work.
It can be nurses married only a few years to those married 15 years? Is it the stress of the job? Too little nurturing left over for the husband/family, or is it unsupportive husband/family? Makes me curious. I know it prob differs from situation to situation, but there is a high incidence of divorce.
Any way, it's almost the end of my shift and i'm on an interventional unit with two walkie talkie patients so i have the luxury of posting this have a good day!
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FORUM: General Nursing Discussion
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By anpfnpGNP
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ANCC Launches a New Certification
Replies: 0
ANCC Launches a New Certification: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Core
$100 Early Bird Rebate if you test by
December 31, 2009!
The American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC) is looking for qualified nurses to sit for the
new ANCC Clinical Nurse Specialist Core (CNS Core) examination between the
dates of September 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Candidates who sit for
the CNS Core exam during this period will receive a $100 rebate off of
their application fee! Clinical nurse specialists in any field are welcome
to apply. This certification is especially attractive to CNSs who
specialize in a field that does not have its own national certification.
(e.g. emergency, burn, perinatal, women's health, urology, neurology,
cardio-pulmonary, etc.)
This rebate is
in addition to any other discounts you are eligible for as a result of your
membership in American Nurses Association or National Association of
Clinical Nurse Specialists. All rebates will be refunded based on the
original form of payment. Candidates must first apply and be determined
eligible by ANCC to sit for the CNS Core exam, then must test by December
31, 2009 to qualify for the $100 rebate. Please turn in your application by
November 1, 2009 to assure you can test by December 31, 2009.
Am I Eligible to Sit for This Exam?
Nurses who hold a master's, doctoral degree, or a
post-graduate certificate from a clinical nurse specialist program may be
eligible to sit for ANCC's CNS Core certification examination. Candidates
who pass this exam will earn the credential CNS-BC. For information on
specific eligibility requirements, study aids, or to downloading an
application, please visit ANCC's website at: www.nursecredentialing.org/NurseSpecialties/CNSCoreExam.aspx
When Will I Receive My Exam Results?
You can expect to receive your score results by February 28,
2010.
Questions?
For additional information, please visit our website at www.nursecredentialing.org or call us at
1.800.284.2378
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FORUM: Nursing News
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By anpfnpGNP
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Re: ANCC or AANP Certification
I'm certified with both the ANCC (GNP & ANP) and
the AANP (FNP). For whatever reason, the top NP programs emphasize the
ANCC...it's supposed to be more "prestigious" and I can't tell you why. I
can tell you that I thought the ANCC exams were tougher, but I thought the
AANP exam was more clinically focused and I preferred it (not because I
considered it easier).
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FORUM: Nursing News
TOPIC:
ANCC or AANP Certification
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Created Jun 02 2011
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By WhatGives
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ANCC or AANP Certification
Replies: 1
OK, I'm sure this has been discussed before but I'm
looking for some more recent updates. I am completing an ANP program in May
and its time to decide what certification exam to take. Of
course the school is pushing the ANCC because that's what their ciriculum
is based on. I've heard th exam content is similar. What are the
advantages/disadvantages of one or the other. I know there's some
difference of how you sign credentials (APRN-BC versus ANP-C) but what
else? Thank you for you input.
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FORUM: Nursing News
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