Accelerated Nursing Degree Programs

Business intelligence is, by its very nature, dynamic; ever changing; and fast paced. A hybrid between teaching and forensics - my job provides the truth in a world of chaos and urgency. The data drives falsehood and lies from business decisions and provides the team the guidance needed to accomplish purpose.  Business Intelligence allows managers to see things more clearly.  In fact, the goal of Business Intelligence is to illustrate the picture so clearly that the picture is more than what it was originally. 

The College Network is more than just a resource to online degrees from leading universities.  Just as the picture to the left is more than a couple enjoy a view of a lake.  We are a team of adults like you who want more.  We believe there is more to education than just books.  We believe eduction should be inspired by life and integrated into our lives, whatever the circumstances!  We strive and push one another to:

• Make a difference
• Challenge the routine
• Have an impact

I encourage you to view the College Network Reviews.  You will find there are lots of educational opportunities.  Some like Associate Degree in Nursing ADN, Online Paramedic to RN Program, accelerated RN to BSN, MS in Nursing Management, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and PMP Preparation course, but if you look through the surface, I hope you will see more than educational opportunities.

Some would say the purpose of Business Intelligence is to provide information as to what has been accomplished and how we are doing; key performance indicators.  Business Intelligence is so much more.  The goal is to use the data and information to go beyond the numbers.  Business Intelligence is clearly painting the picture so the future can be predicted.  The College Network is more than an educational services company.  The College Network is your team and support to finding a new life through education.

I had an opportunity to read an article in the August 2010 issue of Chief Learning Officer Magazine that discussed the current trend in talent management to create a work experience for employees that allows them to feel more empowered to act in the best interest of the organization.  The article, titled "One Size Fits One" by Owen Sullivan, provides us with a great model for how to best prepare ourselves and our organizations to not only develop but more importantly retain our best talent. 

The author provides five specific steps that we should be following, each of which is an integral piece of The College Network experience at the corporate relationship level.  Today, I will look briefly at the first two of five.

Step one: Inventory current talent and identify future needs:  This is what The College Network refers to as a Group Needs or a Gap Analysis.  Our Program Advisors and Education Executives spend time getting to know the specific needs of your organization in nursing, management, and other areas.  Not just where you are today, but where you want to be tomorrow.  In some cases it's a matter of increasing credentials via advanced degrees to meet specific standards set by the facility or by an organizational goal.  Other times, we work with learners to work through certificate programs (such as Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, and others) to give employees a more rapid and specific learning experience in their chosen area.  In either case, we tailor our efforts to make certain the learner has the information and the options available to them to make the decision that best suits their specific goals, whether those goals are best served by independent study or by an accelerated program is specific to that individual.

• Be sure that you have access to a computer that also has Internet access.  Many online courses are interactive with instructors and other students in the course.
• You'll want to set aside time to study or to complete lessons.  Taking courses online requires discipline.
• You'll want an area of your house that is free from distractions, so that you can get your studying done and have a full comprehension of the material when you are studying.

Recently, I was speaking to a nice ADN RN who worked at one of our local hospitals about pursuing her BSN. She said she was always receiving emails & offers through the mail about doing a RN to BSN program. She told me she would like to have her BSN but it wouldn't be because of management since she didn't desire a management position since she enjoyed bed side nursing. She was also clear she didn't want to teach.

She told me that may change in the future but now her love was bed side nursing. God bless her! Sounds like she got into nursing for the right reasons! She knew that a growing number of hospitals strongly encouraged their RNs to pursue their BSN or in the case of most magnet hospitals-require it.

The bottom line this good RN wanted to know from me was it worth it for an ADN RN to pursue the BSN? Here is what I told her. I explained that life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at us. What works for us today may not in the future. The main value of a BSN I told her, in my opinion, is that it gives the RN more options than an ADN. What would happen to her if one day she was interested in a particular position and the decision came down to two candidates with similar work experience but the other nurse had the BSN? We know who would get that position most of the time! Why scramble at the last minute?

The other tangible benefit is the extra knowledge will enhance the RN's skills. I believe an ADN RN tends tends to benefit more from the degree than the BSN who never worked as an RN before receiving the degree. Those RNs who have experience as an ADN will undoubtedly have a huge heads-up on the new BSN with no experience.

The College Network offers a variety of accelerated RN to BSN programs including a RN to MSN, and a MS in Nursing Management from some leading universities without every having to attend a college classroom. For more information, please contact The College Network at 800.395.3276 or www.collegenetwork.com
 

Many years ago, I took an introductory philosophy course and was exposed to the teaching of René Descartes. While Descartes is probably best known for the statement Cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) he was also the inventor of the Cartesian coordinate system (which served as the basis for many mathematical advances) and far too many other major contributions to address in this format. In short, he’s known as the Father of Modern Philosophy, due to the fact that his contributions and philosophical views were so widely accepted.

In his work titled Discourse on the Method, he stated the following regarding thinking correctly:

". . .differences of opinion are not due to difference in intelligence, but merely to the fact that we use different approaches and consider different things. For it is not enough to have a good mind: one must use it well."

Because in today’s workforce this truth is more evident than ever before, I thought I'd provide some examples. For young people trying to enter the workforce, people of any age trying to re-enter the workforce, or someone who wants to transition to a new career, there are some things you will want to know sooner rather than later if you plan to succeed. Who knows, maybe this little list will help someone get that next promotion or make the decision to return to school to complete his or her degree.

1. How you think will determine how quickly (or not) you will advance in your chosen field. Stated another way, how you think today will determine your tomorrow.

Do you solve problems effectively? Do you think beyond what is required to complete assigned tasks or just enough to get by?

2. Those who reflect often are often considered wise. (Or is it, those who are considered wise reflect often?)

If you want to learn more about the power of reflection tune in next week when reflection will be the main topic.

3. Learning is not defined by the collection of random pieces of information. Rather, learning is defined by how one connects pieces of information.

Do you understand both the details as well as the big picture when it comes to your workplace responsibilities? Do you know how your work affects the work of others? How does what you do fit into bigger processes? 

If you're an LPN looking for good nursing schools, accelerated nursing courses, or a way to earn your ADN, The College Network can help you find an online nursing program to meet your needs.

Stop and take a minute to reflect on this.

So, what do you think?

Until next week.

cd

If your goal has always been to be a registered nurse, then now is a great time to get into a registered nurse program. 

Employment of Registered Nurses is expected to grow much faster than average because an estimated 581,500 new jobs will result from nurses who are leaving the occupation and for the need of new nurses.  In fact, it is expected to grow by 22 percent in the next decade.

The reasons for growth include:

• technological advances in patient care
• increased emphasis on preventative care
• increased number of older people needing nursing care

Of course, the boom in employment of RNs will differ depending on the geographical location and work sector.  For example, offices of physicians is supposed to increase 48% whereas the employment of RNs in public and private hospitals is supposed to increase only by 17%.

The reason that the need for RNs in physician offices is supposed to increase more than in hospitals is because more and more patients are being discharged earlier and earlier from hospitals and therefore more procedures are being done on an outpatient basis. 

In order to be an RN, you can already be an LPN or an LVN and then you'll want to take accelerated nursing courses to get your ADN nursing degree or equivalent, so that you can complete a registered nurse program. 

Most RNs follow three different educational paths - a bachelor's degree (BSN), an associate degree (ADN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program.

Most BSN programs take about 4 years to complete and are typically offered by colleges and universities.

Many times, ADN programs are offered by community and junior colleges and take about 2 to 3 years to complete.

The Diploma programs are administered by hospitals and take about 3 years to complete.

While there are a lot of BSN and ADN programs, there are fewer diploma programs.  When a student graduates from a BSN, ADN or a diploma program, then they can usually obtain one of the entry-level positions in a hospital, for example, as a staff nurse.
 
Once you have your degree, then you will need to get your licensure and certification.  Licensure is required in all states, DC and in all U.S. territories and the licensing exam is known as the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN. Once you pass it, you can get a nursing license. Depending on your state, you might have additional licensure requirements.  Be sure to check with your state as to the particulars.