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Questions
about Nursing |
Question:
Are there any nursing programs without any prerequisites
that will help pay for my education? Are there any programs
able to help those who are considered poor?
Answer:
I am delighted that you are considering nursing as a
career. There are scholarship programs available to
pursue a career in nursing. Go to the American Nurses
Association, click on CMAs (Constituent member associations)
and when that opens, click on the Illinois State Nurses
Association and they will have some scholarship information
available for you. In addition, go to the Web site for
Health Resources and Services, HRSA.gov. When you are
in that Web site, click the Search icon and you will
see opportunities for funding.
The Nurse Reinvestment Act provides additional funding
for nurses. Contact your local Federal legislator's
office and they should assist in exploring your options.
It is important not to limit yourself to funds only
designated for nurses. There is a Web site called Scholarship.org
which identifies certain available funds.
Although make an appointment with your college of choice
to see what scholarships they offer. Please contact
me again if you are having problems or require more
information.
Susan Fraley
Executive Director
Foundation of New York State Nurses Association, Inc.
518-456-7858 x29
sfraley@foundationnysnurses.org
Question: I want to know how nursing school is, I've heard
its hard and want to know what makes it so hard. Also,
what is it like to apply what you know in the actual field.
Also how is residency like?
Answer: I am glad you may be considering
a career in nursing! Nursing school is difficult because
you need to learn subjects such as math, science, chemistry,
microbiology, anatomy and physiology. This does require
serious study but it is very rewarding and diverse. There
are so many fields within nursing, you can choose what
suits you the best.
There are classroom lectureexperiences as well as labs
and actual clinical experiences in hospitals, in public
health and so many other areas. This will help you know
what you like the most.
Becoming a nurse practitioner takes additional study,
again a blend of classroom and field experience. The length
of time varies by field and your experience.
It is also rewarding to make a difference in people's
lives!
Susan Fraley
Executive Director
Foundation of New York State Nurses Association, Inc.
518-456-7858 x29
sfraley@foundationnysnurses.org
Question: Is nursing school hard?
Yes, you have to study hard. You will be
responsible for caring for very sick people and it is
important that you
study hard so that you become wise. You almost have to
think about taking 4 years of your life and commiting
it to studying, learning alot about people, interacting
with people at their greatest need, and having the opportunity
to have a tremendous impact on their lives. Is it hard?
YES, but so rewarding!
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: How do you apply what you know?
Answer: For the first two years of your
college, you will be taking basic courses (i.e. english,
history, science courses, etc). The last 2 years are primarily
clinical courses. During these clinical courses, you are
actually in a clinic, hospital, home setting, etc, caring
for people. During these clinical courses, your nursing
instructor will be watching you closely, making suggestions
on improvement and encouraging you all the way. The clinical
opportunities really give you the chance to apply what
you have learned in the class room. Also, schools of nursing
have a skills lab and you can practice many skills on
mannequins before doing a skill on a live person.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: What is a residency like?
Answer: Many hospitals today have a nursing
internship or residency program for new graduates. I would
highly recommend that you only apply to work at hospitals
that have these programs. The amount of time you spend
in one of these programs can be from 4 - 12 weeks. They
will vary from hospital to hospital. But, you will be
paired-up with another nurse who will assist you in the
beginning of your career as a nurse. You may also attend
special courses, as well. Make sure you understand how
long the new graduate program will be. You don't want
to get short-changed here.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: After graduating with a bachelors of
science degree in nursing (BSN), when should I go to graduate
school?
Answer: This really varies on your career
goals. For example, if you plan to be a nursing faculty
member, you would most likely want to go directly into
a fast-track PhD or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
program. This would allow you to get your advanced degree
and begin teaching. Many nurses feel that they need a
year or two of clinical experience before going back to
graduate school. Nurses who
want to become nurse practitioners (NP) many times feel
that those years right after their undergraduate studies
were invaluable, in regards to giving them experience.
When they went on for their NP, they had
excellent clinical experience and skills. However, many
people do go
right from their BSN into a master's program. Again, depends
on your
career goals.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: Should I become a nurse, then a doctor?
Answer: I know of people who went to
4 years of nursing school and then decided to become a
doctor. You can do that, but it is many extra years of
schooling. If you think you want to become a physician,
I would suggest that you plan and prepare to go the medical
school route.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: Is a BSN degree better than an associates
in nursing degree (AD)?
Answer: Here at AACN, we strongly believe
that the BSN is the best way to go. There is no other
healthcare profession that offers an AD in its field.
People who are in AD programs report that it takes them
4 or 5 years to finish anyway, so why not go the BSN route?
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: Will hospitals take new RN's into Labor
and Delivery?
Answer: This will vary from hospital
to hospital. It will depend on their needs. There are
hospitals that will place new RN's into an internship/residency
program and train them in labor and delivery. They are
out there, you might have to look a few places to find
them. Again, make sure they will give you plenty of training.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: Is it worth getting a master's degree?
Will you be paid more?
Answer: Getting a master's degree really
depends on your career goals. If you want to teach, be
an NP, hold a leadership position in an
institution/organiztion, you have to have an advanced
degree. Will you
get paid more? Depends. If you want to go into teaching
at the
college/university level, you will not be paid as much
as if you worked in
a large hospital. With any other field, the more education
you have,
generally, you will have more options to work in specific
areas and have
opportunities to climb the professional ladder. You can
never have too
much education.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: I am a biology major. Could I switch
and become an RN? Could I go on to graduate school?
Answer: There are many "second-degree"
students in nursing programs across the country. These
are people who already have a bachelor's degree in biology
or communication, etc. They can take a very intensive
18-month to 2 year study in nursing and come out with
a master's degree. There are many programs like this across
the country. This is a very popular program. It is very
competitive to get in. So, keep your grades high.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: I would like to become a travelling
nurse (NP in peds). What is that like?
Answer: Travelling nursing is very popular.
It is a great way to see
the country and to use your skills as a nurse in a place
that has a real
shortage. There are various travel agencies and their
requirements
vary--some will take nurses with only 1 year of experience
and others 2-3 years. These agencies hire a variety of
nurses--NP, clinical nurse
specialists (CNS), nursing educators, staff nurses in
a variety of
clinical settings. So, get your experience and go for
it!
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: What is the difference between a nurse
practitioner (NP) and a physician's assistant (PA)?
Both the NP and PA fields are very popular today, as it
allows both to
work independently, most of the time. There are some differences,
in
regards to various state license laws, but generally both
have
prescription privileges and can see patients on their
own. They both can
do physical exams, order blood work and interpret blood
work, x-rays, CT scans, etc. Depending on the clinical
interest, it is not unusual to see an NP or PA work in
a pediatric office, OB/GYN clinic, working
side-by-side with a physician. Many NP's and PA's work
in hospital
settings, such as in cardiac, respiratory, oncology, etc.
PA's also work
with orthopedic surgeons, cardiac/pulmonary surgeons and
assist in the operating room. There are many similarities
between the NP and
PA--numbers of years in school, etc. Nurse practitioners,
however, have
attended nursing schools and have gone on to do further
schooling, whether obtaining a Master's degree or post-Master's
degree. The NP has been schooled with nursing theory and
looking at every phase of the patient (not just physical,
but psychologically, socially, and spiritually). The NP
is licensed to practice nursing, and the PA is licensed
to practice medicine with physician supervision. For more
information on the NP role, go to www.aanp.org
and for the PA role, go to
www.aapa.org
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: How do I get into a good nursing program
after I finish with general education courses?
Answer: Getting into a nursing program is very competitive
today. Keep your grades up! If there is a particular school
of nursing that you are
interested in, contact them and see what their prerequisites
are. Take
those classes and do well in each of them. Stay connected
with the
admissions office at the school of your choice.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
Question: I am interested in volunteering for
hands-on experience.
Answer: Volunteering is so cool and really
great! It gives you an opportunity to give back. There
are certainly alot of places you can volunteer at. What
do you like? Do you like working with children? Then volunteer
at a children's camp this summer or work in an after-school
program in teaching kids how to play a sport, paint a
picture, or read. Maybe you like older folks. There are
tremendous opportunities to volunteer in long-term care
facilities. Again, what are your interests.......volunteer
in a place that offers you opportunities to use your gifts
and talents.
Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC Project Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
202-785-8320 (fax)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu
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