Registered Nurse Continuing Education

In honor of National Nurses Week (celebrated every year from May 6 through May 12), I'd like to highlight some of the top reasons why The College Network (TCN) is dedicated to helping nurses continually improve their healthcare knowledge and gain advanced credentials throughout their careers. At TCN, we understand and appreciate nurses because they maintain selfless attitudes and they embrace their admirable roles in the following areas:

 NURTURANCE

When most people think of nurses, words like nurture, heal, and compassion likely come to mind. Nurses are dedicated to providing optimal care and putting patients at ease. They wear many hats, including those of caregiver, friend, teacher and therapist.

 TRUST

According to Gallop's annual "Honesty and Ethics" survey, nursing is considered the most trustworthy profession in the United States. The 2012 survey marks the 11th straight year that nurses have topped the list, ranking 10 percentage points above pharmacists and 15 percentage points above medical doctors. According to the survey, 85 percent of those polled ranked the trustworthiness of nurses as high or very high.

 LEADERSHIP

Although people may think of doctors as the leaders in a hospital, nurses are the true leaders of patient care. Nurses make sure patients understand instructions and procedures as well as ensure the safe implementation of interventions. Nurses also delegate various patient care activities to other members of the healthcare team. Additionally, nurses are the chief advocates for patient care needs, and they play a major role in improving patient outcomes.

 INFLUENCE

According to the American Nurses Association, "both the Affordable Care Act and the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Future of Nursing report place nurses at the center of healthcare transformation in the United States." The knowledge and skills that nurses possess make them influential characters when it comes to changing healthcare policies, and they are increasingly being put in positions to make significant contributions to the improvement of the healthcare system.

 SERVICE

When asked why they wanted to become nurses in the first place, many (if not all) nurses will say they wanted to help people and make a difference in others' lives. Serving others and positively impacting the lives of patients and their family members is a large part of being a nurse. And it's also what makes nursing such a rewarding profession.

 EDUCATION

Nurses deserve a tremendous amount of respect for their dedication to staying relevant in the healthcare industry by continually seeking more knowledge and pursuing advanced degrees. According to the American Nurses Association's "Nursing by the numbers" fact sheet, 50 percent of registered nurses (RNs) have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.2 percent of RNs have a master's degree or a doctoral degree. 

If you are interested in seeking an advanced position within the great field of nursing (or in entering the profession for the first time), The College Network wants to help! Visit our nursing degrees page for more information.

Thank you, nurses, for all that you do!

Since the 2011 release of The Future of Nursing report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), healthcare researchers have continued to justify the push for more baccalaureate-level registered nurses. One of the most powerful testaments to the power of baccalaureate education lies in the fact that facilities with more BSN-RNs have better patient outcomes.

The most recent evidence of improved patient results comes from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, who reviewed outcomes from 134 Pennsylvania hospitals. The resulting study showed that a 10-point increase in the percentage of bachelor’s-level RNs was directly linked with an average reduction of 2.12 deaths for every 1,000 patients.

The report is the University of Pennsylvania’s most recent piece of evidence in an ongoing effort to emphasize the link between baccalaureate-level education and improved care. In 2008, the University partnered with the Journal of the American Medical Association to release a similar study, which revealed that a 10 percent increase in the number of BSN-RNs on staff led to a 5 percent decrease in the risk of patient deaths.

In order for healthcare facilities to improve their bachelor’s degree-level nurse ratios, more nursing students will need to start choosing baccalaureate degrees over associate degree programs.  In 2011, 60 percent of candidates who passed the NCLEX-RN^® exam held an associate’s degree, while only 40 percent held a baccalaureate degree. In today’s workforce, only 45 percent of U.S. nurses hold a bachelor’s degree. The number of nursing students entering BSN programs will need to increase significantly if the industry hopes to meet the IOM’s recommendation, which states that 80 percent of RNs should hold a bachelor’s degree by 2020. 

If you are interested in earning your bachelor's degree in nursing, now is the time. The College Network offers a variety of options for LPNs and RNs who are interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree. To learn more, you can view a full list of our degree programs for nurses or request more information. Or, call us at 800-395-1014 to speak with a program advisor. 

Many states require nurses to obtain continuing education contact hours to help meet their licensure requirements.  A nurse might also decide to earn CNE contact hours because they are interested in keeping their skills up-to-date to provide better patient care.  Regardless of why you make the decision to pursue more education; you will gain more knowledge, higher competency and the ability to make more informed decisions. 

 The College Network® offers several online continuing education courses for busy nurses, and we are accredited as a continuing nursing education provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.  You can gain valuable skills and earn 2.5 contact hours for each course listed below:

•         Ethics in Nursing
•         Medication Safety
•         Patient Rights

This year, The College Network is awarding contact hours for those attending the American Academy for Preceptor Advancement (AAPA) 2013 conference in Miami starting on February 22^nd.  “Crossing Bridges in Preceptoring: Specialization and Certification” at the Baptist Hospital of Miami will bring healthcare professionals from across the country to present informative lectures on preceptoring and the value it holds in today’s healthcare settings.

The AAPA would like to encourage all nurse preceptors to attend. The conference is open to the public, and you don't have to be an AAPA member to attend. If you are interested in registering for this unique event, you can visit the AAPA website for more information.

As a nurse preceptor, you serve an integral role in educating the next generation of nurses. If you’re a preceptor, keeping up with nursing best practices by attending events and participating in continued education courses is essential.

If you are a nurse preceptor and would like to earn continuing education contact hours, the American Academy for Preceptor Advancement (AAPA) is hosting its 2013 conference, “Crossing Bridges in Preceptoring: Specialization and Certification” at the Baptist Hospital of Miami on February 22, 2013.

At the conference, healthcare professionals from across the country will present informative lectures on precepting and the value it holds for healthcare today. Preceptors who attend the event will be awarded continuing education contact hours from The College Network.

The AAPA would like to encourage all nurse preceptors to attend. If you are interested in registering for this unique event, you can fill out a registration form on the AAPA website.

The College Network has exciting news for Texas LVNs! We are now making it possible to complete an LVN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program entirely through distance learning. This program, available through Indiana State University, will enable you to sit for your NCLEX-RN exam in Texas.

As you know, registered nurses can make significantly higher salaries and have increased job opportunities. It is more important than ever before to advance your education by becoming an RN and earning a BS in Nursing considering a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine that calls for 80 percent of RNs to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing by 2020.

Indiana State University partners with The College Network to provide you with a way to continue your education while you continue working full-time as an LVN. We will work with you to ensure you have the education and training you need to advance your career right away without the need for long waiting list.

Please contact The College Network at 1-800-395-1014 to learn more about this program!

Very best regards,

Joel Kimzey

Thursday June 14, the American Nurse's Association (ANA) hosted the 2012 Healthy Nurse Conference in Washington, DC. The theme of this year's one day event was "Nurses as Models of Wellness in Action."

The purpose of the event was to strengthen nurses' knowledge of healthy lifestyles so they may be inspired to integrate those habits into both their RN careers and personal lives. Registered nurses are continuously educating others on healthy habits, but often times they forget about the importance of implementing these behaviors into their own lives. The 2012 Healthy Nurse Conference and others like it help nurses remember to take care of themselves while they care for others. 

If you are thinking about becoming an RN and would like more information on how to get started, call The College Network today and speak to a Program Advisor at 1-800-395-1014.

There is quite a bit of data out there that shows that the healthcare field is one that is not only stable, but one that is growing.  And while you might be interested in working in this field, you don't feel that becoming a registered nurse would be a good fit for you.

Have you considered a Medical or Health Services Manager?  As a manager, you plan direct and coordinate medical and health services.  You might manage an entire facility or a specific clinical area or department.  Some also manage practices for groups of physicians.  

And while the majority of these jobs are located in a hospital setting, you can also work in long term healthcare facilities or even insurance companies.   You will be working with physicians and surgeons, registered nurses and possibly medical and clinical laboratory technicians.  

So, what is entailed in becoming a Health Services Manager?  You can work through The College Network to obtain your Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Regis University.  Because of the convenience of an online education, you can continue to work and gain professional experience at the same time.

This program also requires an internship at an approved health care facility of your choice.  When you graduate with your Bachelor's degree, you will have practical experience and the comparative knowledge that you need to be successful.  There are many exciting options available to you with your degree.

Please reach out to us today at (800) 39-LEARN to find out more about your future in Healthcare Administration.   

There is a great debate between those who see the value of a college degree and those that feel you will never get your money's worth by having your degree.  It is an ongoing discussion, but here are some facts and opinions about having a college degree.

If you look simply at your earning potential by having a degree, the median weekly salary for someone with a college degree is $1053 versus someone with some college but no degree as $719.  If you add that up, there is a difference of almost $17,000 a year.  You also have to keep in mind that you will probably have better benefits offered to you in a salaried position.  

Unemployment has been high in the last couple of years as we all know.  If you look at the difference between someone with a degree, the more educated you are the lower the employment rate, and someone with a diploma you will also see that having an education does help.  If you look at the chart below from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you will see both points illustrated.  

At The College Network, we can help you with your online education so you can gain your degree.  Whether you are pursuing your Bachelor's, Associate's or continuing your education by obtaining a professional certificate.  We offer you so many options.  You can graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business from Bellevue University, or become a registered nurse with your Associate of Science in Nursing.  You can even become a certified Project Management Professional. 

The truth is that with a college education, you are going to have more options.  To me, it really doesn't seem like there is much a debate.  So, call us today at (800) 39-LEARN to find out more about how to earn your degree.  

A recent article from marketwatch.com stated, "With more than three million nurse professionals in the United States alone, nursing is the largest segment of the healthcare industry and touches every facet of care from the doctor's office to home care to hospitals." With all of the praise that doctors and physicians receive for all of their hard work, it's easy to forget the significant influence nurses have in the healthcare field.

With the advent of improved healthcare technology, the expanding role of the registered nurse has become essential to the functionality of any hospital. "Nurses have been championing quality-of-care improvements, spearheading research innovation, advocating for patient rights and generally challenging the status quo. Simply put, their impact has been enormous and will continue to be so over the coming decades." 

If you're considering the field of nursing, there has never been a better time to obtain the education and training necessary. There are myriad nursing schools and online degree programs to accommodate just about anyone's schedule, but there is only one that combines online, self-paced learning with online degrees from top universities.

Since 1992, The College Network has helped hundreds of thousands of people earn certificates and degrees, including thousands of people who wanted to earn or further their nursing degrees. Visit The College Network's web site to learn more and begin the journey to becoming a registered nurse.

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

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.

Nurses are an essential part of the health care industry. There is generally a misconception that nurses work only in hospitals. But nothing can be further from the truth as there is a great demand for qualified and registered nurses across various sectors.  A vast majority of nurses are working in sectors other than the hospital and there are various career options available.

The Internet has enabled LPNs who wish to continue with their education, an easy option of doing the BSN programs online. Getting a nursing degree has become much easier due to the online programs available. These online programs are an inexpensive way to get nursing degrees compared to the traditional method.

What are nursing prerequisites online? The basic requirement for applying for an advanced nursing degree online is completion of a high school diploma and a LPN or a LVN program. You can then choose to do ADN nursing degree (Associate Degree Program in nursing) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The online nursing coursework, which is similar to a conventional degree, includes physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, nutrition, emergency treatment and patient care techniques. The curriculum is the same for online and the traditional degrees.  Online nursing courses are ideal for people who are already working as nurses and would like to continue their education to improve their career prospects.

I have encountered so many people who think that post-secondary education is all about completing a series of assignments or jumping through hoops of some sort. More accurately, university-level education in the 21st century is about learning how to learn and think; and then effectively and efficiently applying that understanding to different situations in the classroom, the workplace, and life in general.

The problem--this is not how higher education is marketed to the masses.
 
For years there have been ongoing debates regarding the merits of formal education vs. common sense and on-the-job training. These debates will likely continue for generations to come. However, few people can effectively argue the following points.

• We live in an era in which information is abundant (to say the least).

• Being able to process significant amounts of information quickly and accurately is a requirement for many of today's leading professions.

• Being able to decide which information is of the greatest value then utilize that information in decision making is an ability sought by many employers.

Let's take the field of nursing for example. There’s a national focus to push education requirements for RNs to the baccalaureate level. While many think this push is about education in the generic sense it is actually more about the level of cognitive processing and decision making required to improve patient outcomes.

Unfortunately, many approach post-secondary education like it's a destination rather than a journey. Development of keen analytical skills and the ability to effectively synthesize large amounts of information is achieved through completion of exercises that take place under the supervision of educators who know how to guide learners as they begin such a journey.

In short, a quality education doesn't teach you the answers; it teaches you how to recognize them along the way.

The programs offered by The College Network and their partner institutions allow people to embark on this journey and complete their nursing degree by taking accelerated nursing courses and nursing prerequisites online. If you want to be proactive about developing skills that will advance your career and you are considering completing a Registered Nurse program, call The College Network and let the journey begin.