As I get older, I realize just how precious life is. One of the hardest things to witness is our parents getting older and more dependent on medicines, doctors and the latest mobility equipment on the market. For me, probably just like a lot of other son's whose parents are "up there" in age; it can be difficult to watch.
My father recently fell very ill and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance to the emergency room. Being his son, I could tell he was scared as was my mother; his wife of 54 years. No one wants to be in any kind of medical emergency if they can help it.
I have to tell you I was amazed just how fluidly the nurses worked together. How they went about the business of seeing to my father's medical condition and making him feel better but doing so in a manner that showcased what amazing people Registered Nurses are. My father can be difficult at times; stubborn, resistant to suggestions, but in this case; with a team of doctors and nurses working as one unit to help my Dad, he was calm and attentive to the suggestions of the doctors and nurses.
Often during this time of helping my Dad, they would interact with my mother, my siblings and I to help us understand what they were doing and to keep us all calm as possible. These Registered Nurses, were not only helping my Dad, but they were helping me and my family. They made my dad feel like part of this process, not just in the process.
I talked to several of them, asking about their training, how they liked their jobs; general small talk and I must admit; my level of respect for them was only elevated to a new high. Katie, is 28 years old. She has been a Registered Nurse for 3 years; loves her job, loves helping people and gets a sense of great pride when she talks about her chosen profession. Tamara, is a single mom of 2 boys who wants to travel to all 50 states but wants to continue her education and obtain her Master's in Nursing some day.
When it was all said and done, my father was admitted and is doing better. But a part of me was changed in that emergency room. I work for The College Network, and I am a Program Advisor. One of my duties is to advise people how to obtain their career goals through top online nursing programs. From Associate's to Bachelor's degrees, I talk to nurses of all ages, years of experience and backgrounds about obtaining their degree and making their life better through continuing education programs.
What was changed you ask? Simple, I see them caregivers, healers, psychologists, counselors and friends in a time of fear and uncertainty. I have a whole new level of respect for them. I don't think you choose to become a Registered Nurse or Paramedic as a profession; I think it chooses you.
Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? Call me and I'll show you how.
1-800-307-1006 ext 2649
lbowlin@collegenetwork.com
My new year’s resolution: To go back to school
Going back to school was the second most popular resolution in 2010. Now, it’s 2011 and what have you done? Before you answer, consider this: Will this be on your resolution list for 2012?
Let’s look at things realistically to pinpoint what has kept you from doing it already?
"I have a dog": I’m sure the dog can sleep while you’re doing homework, and think of the treats and toys you can purchase your pet when you make more money.
"Too many TV shows to watch": The biggest time waster we have. Scale back the amount of hours you watch TV daily and invest in a DVR to record your shows. Catch up when you have real down time. Prioritize what’s important.
"It will cut into the time I spend with my family": Your family will be so proud of you pursuing your goal; they will encourage you to succeed. The time you do have to spend with them may be less, but the quality of time will be better.
"I’m too old/it’s too late for me": In this economy and culture, the thought of retiring at 65 is passé. As we age, we are younger than our counterparts 20+ years ago. You’re never too old.
"What will my cool friends think of me?": They’ll think you’re very cool. Be the leader, not the follower. The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang. You can even encourage them to join you in your pursuit of education.
Universities have made it easier for working adults to go back to school and continue their education. Getting an online education is not discriminated against because technology has allowed working adults to get a quality education. However, you do want to make sure that the school you choose is a regionally accredited school.
Step out of your comfort zone in 2011 and reach for the moon. The worst that can happen is you will land among the stars!
For more information on continuing education programs, including project management, lean six sigma, human resources, nursing degree programs (you must be an LPN or paramedic) please contact:
Vicki Summers
Senior Program Advisor
The College Network
800 307 1006 x 4728
317-569-4728
Whether you are looking to earn a better salary by upgrading your EMT to RN (with the Online Paramedic to RN Program), RN to MSN, or even LVN to BSN programs with inexpensive nursing degrees from our partner universities. We also partner with leading universities to offer certificate programs such as: Project Management, Paralegal, or Lean Six Sigma Online.
With our programs you can earn online degrees and certificates from leading universities such as Regis University, Indiana State University, Purdue University, Boston University, and even eCornell.
But, The College Network support is what I am focusing on in this blog entry. Online classes can be daunting. You might start thinking: "How can I get help?" "How can I contact my peers?" "What if I am confused about a certain area of study?" The College Network has taken into account these aspects of online education, and we strive to make sure you know that online doesn't have to mean alone.
We have many systems in place to help ensure success. Online live chat with one of our specialists is just one way to get help. You may also contact us via telephone or email. We have specialists just waiting to help students having trouble. Being that we offer online courses, it is especially great that we have staff to make sure you are not alone in your studies. Online discussion boards are also in place to contact other students.
Remember, You Are Not Alone.
So don't be afraid to enroll in online education with the help of The College Network. We will be with you along every step of the way.
Finding The College Network was a quick and easy process for Katharine, and she hopes that others find the program as easily as she did. “I heard through the grapevine that there was an all-online program through which I could pursue an associate’s degree, so I typed “online paramedic to RN” into Google and was taken right to The College Network. Now that I’m enrolled in the program, I make sure to tell anyone who will listen about it because when I found out about it, my only disappointment was that I hadn’t found out about it sooner,” she said.
Katharine definitely doesn’t regret her decision to join The College Network and expand her career opportunities. “Enrolling in this program has been the best decision I’ve made for myself and my family. In this economy everyone is feeling the financial squeeze, and when things are looking bad, I can remember that I’ve done the best thing I can to secure my family’s financial future. This definitely helps motivate me to keep working toward my goal and to do my best in every class so I’m prepared to pass the NCLEX and get started in my new career,” she said.
Read more of Katharine's story.
Part of the argument for this change in nurse's current responsbilities is to help with the additional multi-million Americans who are going to receive coverage thanks to the new health care law. "Experts predict that more physicians, nurses and other medical professionals will be needed to care for the 32 million additional Americans who will get coverage beginning in 2014 under the sweeping new health law. Nurses' groups say they can help ease a physician shortage. Last week, a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges said that in 2015, there will be a shortage of nearly 63,000 doctors across all specialties in America."
However, doctors argue that nurses don't have the same medical training and are therefore unqualified to perform the same tasks as doctors. "Doctors maintain that even with an advanced degree, these nurses do not have the same education that physicians get in medical school and residency programs and that patient safety could be compromised. They are also wary that their practices could see significant patient losses if the nurses were allowed to practice more independently."
But like it or not, changes are already happening across the country. "Colorado, for instance, recently became the 16th state to allow nurse anesthetists to work without a doctor's oversight. In Michigan, nurses are pushing for legislators there to allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe drugs. Other fights over scope of practice for registered nurses loom in Kentucky, North Caroline, Iowa and Minnesota."
The battle continues to wage and it will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out.
So tell me, how do you feel about about the topic? Would you be okay with an advanced practice nurse having the same role, or nearly the same role as a doctor?
The College Network offers several online nursing programs through leading universities to help nurses reach their goal of advanced education while they work. If you are interested in learning more about earning an inexpensive nursing degree such as LVN to BSN programs, accelerated RN to BSN, RN to MSN bridge program and online paramedic to RN program, contact The College Network at 1-800-395-1014 today.
Anne married right before beginning the program and was an instant parent to her husband's young daughter. One of the things she mentioned to me is that being able to do her studies around her new life, instead of her new life around school, has made a huge difference for her. A few months after her marriage, Anne also learned that she would be expecting a child of her own and was able to continue her studies throughout her pregnancy.
Anne enjoyed studying the program and testing at her own convenience. For her that meant a test about every five weeks, and she completed the program within about 18 months. It has been a wonderful experience for me as her Program Advisor to hear about her new RN position where she works about half as many hours for the same pay she received as a paramedic, enabling her to enjoy and care for her children and her husband.
I met with Anne last evening and was fortunate to be able to see the associate degree in nursing she earned in her program from a regionally and NLNAC accredited college and nursing program.
Congratulations, Anne, on your hard work and achievement! It is so great to see working adults with families work toward and achieve their dreams!
"Education Inspired by Life"
www.collegenetwork.com/pennington
Shawn Camp knows a thing or two about becoming certified in his field. He already has his Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and his Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certificates. “I have a bachelor’s in computer information,” Shawn said. “I wanted to earn my Certificate in Project Management because that certification places you in the middle of everything that a corporation wants in an employee.”
Because he’s originally from Boston, Mass., Shawn found the opportunity to earn his Project Management Certificate from Boston University Corporate Education Center very enticing. The fact that he could earn the certificate completely online also caught his interest. “The nearest school to me that offers this program is four hours away. Online education was just a much better option for me in this case,” Shawn said.
With all the education that Shawn continues to accumulate, he hopes to one day be a network administrator or to be able to run his own computer firm. “I’m really excited to just get this experience and move on from there. I want to see where it takes me,” he said. “This certificate shows your willingness to learn, your ability to take on more responsibilities, adds more weight to your resume and, in some cases, even gets your foot in the door.”
Coming from a technology background, Shawn knows the importance of keeping up with trends in today’s highly technical world. “Technology changes every six months,” Shawn said. “If you can keep up with everything that’s changing in today’s world, you’ll be all the more valuable to employers.”
Have you been considering going back to school, whether it be for a certificate or a degree? Let The College Network help you meet your goals! The College Network works to offer online degrees from leading universities. Our distance nursing degrees include MS in Nursing Management, LVN to BSN programs, Associate Degree in Nursing online, Online Paramedic to RN program, Bachelor of Nursing programs, RN to MSN Bridge Programs and more. Our certificate programs include: project management and PMP preparation courses, paralegal, lean six sigma green belt, hospitality, human resources and more.
Gwen Reed didn’t expect to go back to school once she became a paramedic. But, when she saw how perfectly the transition from a paramedic to a nurse would fit in her life with The College Network, she decided to go for it. “All my previous credits transferred and I can get my degree while still working. I’m getting older and eventually I’ll need a job with a better schedule,” said Reed.
Despite how simple it was to get started, Reed’s road to her degree hasn’t been an easy one. “I’m working two jobs and going to school. Scheduling is intense, but I just keep plugging away. Flexibility in scheduling and the time frame given to complete the degree program helps,” she said.
Studying for an hour when she gets off work every day is her way of keeping on track. Reed has successfully completed four courses and loves moving her education along. “I love learning new things and better understanding why I do the things I do. Eventually, I’ll become a surgery RN, but in the meantime, this program is making me a better paramedic,” she said.
In order to be a EMT or a Paramedic, you need formal training and certification or licensure. The requirements vary by state and some require ongoing Paramedic Continuing Education.
Many people are drawn to the work of an EMT or a Paramedic because they have to have a quick reaction and be able to provide competent care to a patient.
If you are already an EMT or a Paramedic then you might be interested in a Paramedic to RN
program or even an Online Paramedic to RN Program, as an RN you will also have the opportunity to make quick reactions to help people who are in danger and need competent care as a patient.
As a registered nurse, you will be able to work more closely with the patients, and you may have a more regular schedule.
Are you an EMT or a Paramedic? Were you one and decided to pursue your degree as a RN? Tell us about it and share your story so other readers can hear about it. Leave a comment below!
If you’re ready to jump start your career and begin your nursing education, online courses provide a convenient way to accelerate your coursework and complete your degree as quickly as possible. No matter where you want to work, what you want to specialize in or how busy your schedule is, there’s an online program that works for you.Online programs combine academic course work with hands-on training for a continuing series of diplomas, including associate’s and bachelor’s degrees for LPNs/LVNs, RNs and paramedics, Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, and master’s programs for advanced nursing professions. Whatever your interests, online degrees for nursing provide courses for all kinds of specializations and degrees.
The current nursing shortage allows nurses to go as far as they desire when they have the right combination of education and experience. Online nursing education programs provide you with the necessary credentials to move into positions of greater responsibility and to earn a larger salary.
Fortunately, online programs lessen the time it takes to get a degree and reduce the cost. In addition, college equivalency exams allow you to “test out” of some prerequisite and general education courses for even greater savings. The College Network provides you with study materials to pass end-of-course exams and then transfer your credits to participating colleges.
For more information about online degrees for nursing visit here.
The College Network offers online programs for Paramedics:
Paramedic - RN
EMT to EMS Management
Fire Science -associate and bachelor
All programs offered by THE COLLEGE NETWORK include colleges and universities with regional accreditation and all nursing programs are fully accredited by the National League for Nursing.
In addition, THE COLLEGE NETWORK works in partnership with the NAEMT and the NLN, as well as the American Nurses Association.
"Training for an RN tends to focus more on patient education and the long-term treatment of illnesses and diseases. RNs also study the pathophysiology of diseases. One paramedic who completed his RN training while working full-time says, “The biggest difference is the paramedic saves the patient for the moment. A nurse continues that care, and then tries to teach the patient about how to deal with their medical issues for the rest of their life.”
"For a paramedic, the financial benefits of becoming an RN are tangible. A paramedic’s average base salary is around $38,000 per year, depending on the state and the number of years of experience. Most paramedics work between 45 and 60 hours a week with no consistent schedule. In contrast, an RN’s starting salary averages $55,000 per year and the hours are more predictable."
The Bachelor of Science in Health Science EMS Management prepares emergency medical service providers for management, educational and leadership roles as initial supervisors, mid-level managers and administrators.
"This program allows the student to develop a depth of knowledge in a growing discipline that is at the intersection of public health, public safety and healthcare. EMS encompasses emergency preparedness, incident management, deployment, disaster planning and response, special operations, illness and injury prevention, homeland security and leadership." (http://www.gwumc.edu/healthsci/programs/ems_bs/)
FIRE SCIENCE DEGREES provide the background and general education necessary to advance your career into a higher rank or supervisory level.
jeannie.pennington@collegenetwork.com
Did you know that online education for nursing professionals is in such high demand that schools are turning away thousands of qualified applicants every year? Well, it’s true and that is why The College Network partners with prominent universities to offer NLNAC accredited nursing education with no waiting lists. They make it easier for busy adults to find distance nursing programs that will fit their busy lifestyle.
The LPN to RN, LVN to RN, Paramedic to RN, and LPN to BSN online programs have the highest demand for accelerated nursing courses. I know this is not just a nursing blog so I won’t go into too much detail but the reason for the demand is two-fold.
Hospitals and other prominent healthcare facilities are seeking out more nurses that have their Bachelor of Science in Nursing and/or have completed a registered nurse program. Hospitals focus on their ratios of registered nurses to other nurses on staff because studies have shown links between improved patient outcomes to the increased ratio of nurses on staff that have completed state boards registered nursing requirements.
The second biggest reason is the jump in salary that nurses can immediately receive once they earn their RN license. Basically, LPNs, LVNs, and Paramedics who earn their Associate Degree in Nursing ADN or even a Bachelors of Science in Nursing BSN can start earning an RN salary immediately after they pass their boards. Earning an RN salary is a life changing increase in earning potential that generally amounts up to $15,000 a year or more in earnings. Becoming an RN generally provides the biggest jump in earnings; however, a BSN salary still represents a jump in pay that can be tied directly to education.
In summary, there is great demand for nurses to continue their education but excessive waiting lists keep them from pursing their dreams, earning more money, and advancing their careers. However, The College Network courses can help nurses earn an affordable RN license from the comfort of home. With a combination of unique partnerships and affiliations with some of the most highly respected universities and associations across the country, The College Network online programs have become some of the most highly recognizable forms of self-paced education and training in the nursing industry.
Audra Farnsworth has been working as a paramedic for six years. While she loves helping people, paramedic positions at the hospital she’s working at are being eliminated, and there is little room to grow.
Knowing she wanted more stability and opportunity, she decided to take the plunge and change her career to nursing. For her, The College Network’s ADN program proved to be an excellent choice for her career transition. “I have a four-year-old and a sixteen-month-old. It would be impossible to go to traditional school. With this program, I can schedule my school schedule around my kids’ sleep schedule. I love the ease of not having to go to class. Plus, I don’t have to be the oldest one in the room. I feel like that would be uncomfortable for me,” she said.
Farnsworth’s background as a paramedic helps her tremendously with her studies and gives her insight into her role once she becomes a nurse. “I already understand medical terminology so interpreting the reading is easier. I’ve also been able to observe a lot of nurses so I know what I’ll be doing,” she said.
The Comprehensive Learning Modules, as well as the Online Resource Center, have been very easy to use for Farnsworth. “A lot of times, I use the book. But, when I’m out of town or forget my binder, it’s good to be able to log on to study.”
With a newfound motivation and love of nursing, Farnsworth doesn’t plan to stop her education with her associates degree in nursing ADN. “After I complete my ADN, I’d like to continue to get my BSN through The College Network partners. I think having a BSN will become more of a requirement in the future, and will open even more doors,” she said.
Teaming with The College Network enables you to achieve your education and career goals while keeping your current job. The flexibility allows for a balance between professional, educational, and personal responsibilities and goals. Your time is valuable; therefore, teaming with the right nursing program is essential. The demand for online courses for nursing has grown and this has created the programs available to you today. There are numerous programs available, such as LPN to RN, LVN to RN, bachelor degree in nursing, paramedic continuing education, paramedic to RN, and more. Taking advantage of these programs is the best thing you can do for yourself, your career, and your family.
Contact The College Network today for more information on the online nursing programs that are available.
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