2017/2018 Education Guide - Nontraditional education options Interprofessional - Wound Care Advisor
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Nontraditional
education
options
Interprofessional
education Postgraduate
degree
certificates
Switching
specialties
2017/2018
Education Guide
2017/2018 Education Guide
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2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 1
2017-2018 Education Guide
2017/2018 Education Guide
Contents
4 Moving ahead with your nursing education
By Deborah E. Trautman
Returning to school opens doors of opportunity, and resources
abound to help you make the right choice.
6 Ready, set, go…to school!
The market for nurses continues to grow. Find out how to
make yourself the nurse your ideal employer is looking for.
8 Frontiers of nursing education
By Janet Boivin
The traditional classroom isn’t the only way to advance your
education. Learn how you can go to school and still tend to all
of your other responsibilities. page 8
10 Is an accelerated nursing program right for you?
By Janet Boivin
An accelerated nursing program requires sacrifices, but it can get you to your goal quickly.
12 Returning to nursing school? Keys to success
By Teresa Shellenbarger and Meigan Robb
Plan ahead to make your return to school as smooth as possible.
16 Ready to change specialties?
By Janet Boivin
Change can be scary, but when you ask yourself the right page 12
questions and are clear about you want, the path ahead becomes exciting.
22 Lifelong learning: Is a post-master’s certificate the right option for you?
By Meigan Robb and Teresa Shellenbarger
In your pursuit of a post-master’s certificate,
plan ahead so you can meet your goals in
a way that aligns with your personal
circumstances. page 22
26 Interprofessional education
By Joanne Disch
When you learn along with students from other professions and disciplines, you broaden
your approach to patient care.
32 Can nursing meet the 80/2020 goal?
By Janet Boivin
Find out how nursing is progressing toward the goal of 80% of nurses with BSNs by 2020.
36 Your doctorate and the path to persistence
By Nancy Bellucci
Use a multipronged approach to balance school and other responsibilities.
27, 29, 31 Education listings
© 2017 Healthcom Media.
2 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE
2017/2018 Education Guide
Moving ahead with your
nursing education
Take advantage of the resources available to you.
By Deborah E. Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN
W
hether you’re a newly licensed nurse health professions, including links to career
or a seasoned professional, the time profiles, enrichment programs, financial aid
is always right to take the next step resources, and current issues in health care.
in your education. Returning to school opens • Your Nursing Career:
new doors of opportunity for your career, as www.aacn.nche.edu/students/your-nursing-
higher levels of education allow you to work career
in the settings of your choice and assume Housed on the AACN website, this re-
more responsibility for shaping care delivery. source features the latest facts about the
Today’s nurse employers are looking for nursing profession, links to schools of
clinicians with additional levels of education, nursing offering baccalaureate and graduate
and nurses are responding by enrolling in degrees, and a directory of available schol-
baccalaureate and graduate programs in rec- arships.
ord numbers. According to the latest annual • NursingCAS:
survey conducted by the American Associa- http://www.nursingcas.org
tion of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), enroll- Use the profession’s centralized application
ments were up across the board in 2016, with service, called NursingCAS, to explore nurs-
the greatest increases seen in doctor of nurs- ing program requirements and apply to
ing practice (up 15%), master’s (up 8%), and multiple programs using one convenient
baccalaureate (up 4%) programs. application.
Nursing schools are working to accept all If you need financial assistance to complete
qualified applicants by offering a wide menu your education, you’ll find that federal, state,
of options to meet the needs of today’s learn- and local programs are available, if you know
er. In addition to traditionally paced, face-to- where to look. Your first stop should be your
face classes, schools now offer degree pro- employer to find out what assistance is avail-
grams completely or partially online, as well able in terms of professional development
as accelerated programs for those looking to and degree completion incentives. Next,
complete degree requirements at a faster, check with your local school of nursing and
more intense pace. talk to the administrators about what pro-
As you begin planning your education, ac- grams working adults are using to pay for
cess the following resources to find out more school. In addition, check with your state
about your options and available support board of nursing and state department of edu-
services: cation to see if assistance is available, includ-
• Johnson & Johnson’s Discover Nursing: ing funding for advanced clinicians looking to
www.discovernursing.com teach after graduation. If you’re seeking an
Developed to interest new generations in advanced degree, consider applying for feder-
nursing careers, this information-rich site al sources of aid from the Department of
provides clear advice on getting into nurs- Health and Human Services and the Depart-
ing school, paying for your education, and ment of Education.
selecting the nursing specialty that fits your With a little advance planning, you’ll soon
interests. be on the path to expanding your nursing
• ExploreHealthCareers.org: knowledge and enhancing the quality of care
https://explorehealthcareers.org/career- you’re able to provide to those in need.
explorer/
This online clearinghouse gives students re- Deborah E. Trautman is president and chief executive officer of the
liable information about nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in Washington, DC.
4 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE
2017/2018 Education Guide
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2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 5
2017/2018 Education Guide
Ready, set, go…to school!
W
ith 79.6% of employers now requiring or having a strong preference
for nurses with a baccalaureate degree and a growing demand for
nurses, there’s no better time to return to school.
Don’t forget to…
Set your goals
Consider what you hope to
achieve personally and
professionally.
(See page 4.)
Nursing is growing…
and so are your opportunities! Choose a program
Decide if you want an online,
16% onsite, or hybrid program
Projected increase in employment from and whether an accelerated
2014 to 2024 for nurses (7% average option might be right for you.
growth for all occupations) (See pages 8 and 10.)
The marketplace…where do Find funding
you fit in?
In addition to the schools you
61% apply to, check out Johnson &
Percentage of RNs who work in hospitals Johnson’s The Campaign for
(but opportunities in other settings are Nursing at https://goo.gl/GKuwa3
expanding quickly)
Prepare yourself
Be sure your computer skills
Average mean annual wages are up to speed and organize
$72,180 RNs your time.
$102,390 Nurse midwives (See page 12.)
$104,610 Nurse practitioners
Be open to new learning strategies
$164,030 Nurse anesthetists
Like practice, education is
becoming interprofessional.
(See page 26.)
Average nurses’ salary by education
$79,000 Bachelor’s degree
$87,000 Master’s degree Balance your life
Demands at work, home, and
$96,000 Doctorate degree
school will compete for your time.
Take advantage of all your
resources, delegate when
possible, and take care of yourself. For ideas,
visit https://goo.gl/m7AFK7
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, https://www
.bls.gov/ooh/; American Association of Colleges of Nursing; Medscape survey http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/854372_5.
6 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE
LEAD WITH YOUR PASSION
FOR NURSING
Grow your knowledge and skills to help others.
Meet the demands of the changing, complex health care field by earning
your RN to BSN, MSN or DNP degree 100% online.
Take the next step in your nursing career today.
gcu.edu/AmericanNurse
RN to BSN | MSN | DNP
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and
in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/) The baccalaureate degree in nursing,
master’s degree in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice at GCU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation). GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions is also approved
by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/academic-policies.php GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed
to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX The information printed in this material is accurate as of June 2017. For the most up-to-
date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu ©2017 Grand Canyon University 17CONE0126
2017/2018 Education Guide
Frontiers of nursing education
As student needs and priorities shift, education adapts.
By Janet Boivin, BSN, RN
I
n less than half a century, nursing educa- Nursing’s Dean of MSN Specialty Tracks. “At
tion has advanced from a highly structured one time, nontraditional would have meant
model to one with a wide menu of options any courses that were presented outside of a
designed to satisfy the diverse learning needs brick-and-mortar standard classroom. Today,
of today’s students. higher education uses technology to support
Now, in the first quarter of the 21st centu- access to many types of learning opportuni-
ry, nursing education is an amalgam of tradi- ties, including clinical practice, academic,
tional classrooms, innovative educational and continuing short-course offerings.”
tracks, and technology-enhanced training. Changes in nursing education are driven
This new frontier is geared toward the learn- by changes in society, the growing use of
ing and lifestyle needs of students and the technology, and the profession’s need for
changing healthcare environment in which more nurses. Accelerated programs, the first
new RNs will care for patients. of the nontraditional programs, were de-
Accelerated and online nursing programs, signed for adults with an undergraduate de-
once considered nontraditional, have proven gree in a non-nursing discipline who wanted
effective and valuable to students and the to enter the nursing profession. They allowed
nursing profession. Combined with the Inter- students to become licensed nurses by com-
net, technology, and social me- pleting shorter, more intensive programs.
dia, nursing education is a These graduates proved highly successful as
smorgasbord of options for RNs and are sought after by employers.
potential nursing students, say
nurse educators interviewed by Online options suit advanced
American Nurse Today. degree learners
Technology allows nursing education to
adapt to the schedules of busy students with
families and work commitments as well as
tech savvy Generation X-ers and Millennials
who prefer learning online and on screens,
whether laptop, smartphone, or tablet.
“Our goal is to provide broad access to
high-quality education in line with the evi-
dence that more students are gravitating to
online learning,” says Joan Shaver, PhD, RN,
FAAN, professor and dean of the University
of Arizona’s College of Nursing in Tucson.
“With good instructional design, [online edu-
cation] provides new ways to enhance learn-
ing and to be more efficient and respectful
of students’ time, many of whom are work-
ing to cover the rising costs of education.”
Online education has helped fuel an in-
crease in licensed RNs obtaining their BSNs,
MSNs, and doctorate degrees. These options
particularly suit working nurses with fami-
Nursing education changing rapidly lies, allowing them to choose when and
“The use of the term ‘nontraditional’ as it re- where they want to learn.
lates to nursing programs has evolved over When online nursing programs first be-
time,” says Robin Kirschner, EdD, DNP, RN, came available, educators were skeptical of
CNE, NEA-BC, CRA, Chamberlain College of their value.
8 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE2017/2018 Education Guide
“The skepticism was related to fear—from mentation of promising practices that will
fear of a loss of control to a sincere concern help states achieve the IOM’s goals.
for whether a nontraditional educational envi- Shaver believes that accelerated and bridge
ronment would lead to content comprehen- programs for those with either a community
sion, mastery, and application,” Kirschner college nursing degree or with a degree in
says. “Today, as we recognize the academic another field are conducive to bypassing the
achievement equivalency between the online BSN and moving straight to a general mas-
or nontraditional academic environments and ter’s degree.
traditional environments, we’re able to main- University of Arizona has a conventional
tain a high level of education as we prepare BSN entry into nursing program and an
nurses to meet the needs of their patients MSN entry to the profession. In 2013, the
and the communities they serve.” college of nursing launched an online gener-
al master’s degree pro-
Increasing the number of advanced gram in clinical systems
degree RNs
T
leadership.
Both online and accelerated nursing pro- “This program is
grams have contributed to the increase of specifically designed for he online
RNs with BSNs and advanced degrees that practicing RNs who have
was recommended in the Institute of Medi- earned an associate’s de- completion rate of
cine’s (IOM) The Future of Nursing: Leading gree from a community
Change, Advancing Health 2010 report. The college (44 credits) by RNs to BSNs and
report called for 80% of RNs to have a BSN merging baccalaureate
or higher degree by the year 2020. It also with graduate-level stud- BSNs to MSNs has
said, “Nurses should achieve higher levels of ies (31 credits). They
education and training through an improved graduate with a general doubled. The
education system that promotes seamless aca- master’s degree and not
demic progression.” the more usual advanced number of RN to
Online BSN- and MSN-completion pro- specialty practice mas-
grams have fueled the race for BSN comple- ter’s degree,” Shaver BSN online
tion. The online completion rate of RNs to says. “Since RN enrollees
BSNs and BSNs to MSNs has doubled, says have learned basic nurs- programs rose from
Juliann G. Sebastian, PhD, RN, FAAN, chair of ing, the greatest empha-
the AACN board of directors and dean of the sis is on knowledge and
60 to 220.
University of Nebraska Medical Center Col- skills for practical clinical
lege of Nursing. In addition, the number of systems leadership.”
RN to BSN programs increased from 152 in
2010 to 346 today, and completely online University campuses still an option
BSN to MSN programs rose from 60 to 220, The educators interviewed agreed that brick-
according to AACN’s latest annual survey. and-mortar classrooms will probably always
Accelerated nursing programs continue to be an option for nursing education. Clinical
be an important pathway into nursing for in- practice simulation and real patient field
dividuals with degrees in other fields who are practice isn’t likely to be fully replaced with
looking to change careers, Sebastian adds. technology anytime soon.
(See Is an accelerated program right for you? “But even face-to-face programs use some
on page 10.) online components or elements that augment
Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE, deputy director classroom discussion,” Gerardi says. “This
for Academic Progression in Nursing (APIN), gives students an enriched learning environ-
a grant initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson ment and allows faculties to be more respon-
Foundation in partnership with the Tri-Council sive to students’ personal needs.”
for Nursing and administered by the Ameri- Says University of Arizona’s Shaver, “It is
can Organization of Nurse Executives, says hard to know how long we will have stu-
seamless academic progression and accelerat- dents who prefer the on-campus intensive
ed programs have indeed helped the num- experience. I think it best for educators to be
bers. In 2010, first-time NCLEX test takers planning a shift in strategy to better match
with a BSN or MSN was 39.3%. In 2015, it the evolving lifestyles of students and their
was 44.9%. use of technology now and in the future.”
APIN collaborates with state Action Coali-
tions and their partners to accelerate imple- Janet Boivin is a freelance writer.
2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 92017/2018 Education Guide
Is an accelerated nursing
program right for you?
This challenging approach to nursing education offers plenty
of rewards.
By Janet Boivin, BSN, RN
E
ven with a 3.8 GPA from the University formatics, research, statistics, clinical rotations,
of Florida, Katrina Sherman, a junior ma- and not much else, she says. Clinical rotations
joring in English, harbored doubts that and classes were held simultaneously.
she could find a well-paying job when she The payoff was a bachelor of science in
graduated. So she began considering nursing nursing degree (BSN), a guaranteed job at
as an option. Johns Hopkins, and the expectation that she
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree would eventually go on to earn a master’s de-
in English in 2010, Sherman searched for ac- gree in nursing to become an advanced prac-
celerated nursing programs across the coun- tice nurse.
try. She created a spreadsheet and systemati- “It was pretty intense,” says Sherman, who
cally recorded program names, the types of lives in Austin, TX, with her husband and
credits each required for admission, and the baby boy. She works as a labor and delivery
deadlines for applying. nurse at Seton Medical Center Austin. “[An
Sherman chose a newly opened accelerated accelerated program] wouldn’t be for every-
program at Johns Hopkins University School one.” Sherman is now enrolled in Frontier
of Nursing that included a nursing residency. Nursing University’s midwifery program
For 12 months, her life was about nursing in- based in Kentucky.
10 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE2017/2018 Education Guide
Is an accelerated program right for you?
Consider the following when deciding if an accelerated pro- value the many layers of skill and education that graduates
gram is a good fit for you. of accelerated programs bring to the workplace. According
to AACN, employers report that these graduates are more
Benefits
mature, possess strong clinical skills, and are quick studies
• Less time required before you can look for a job. Fast- on the job.
track baccalaureate programs take between 11 and 18
months to complete, including prerequisites. Fast-track Challenges
master’s degree programs generally take about 3 years. • High admission standards. Admission standards for accel-
• Most states offer accelerated programs. According to the erated programs are high, with programs typically requiring
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), accel- a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a thorough prescreening
erated programs are available in 46 states plus the District process, according to AACN.
of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In 2016, there were 272 accel- • Intense time committment. The time required to complete
erated baccalaureate programs and 69 accelerated or entry- an accelerated program can interfere with personal or other
level master’s programs. In addition, 24 new accelerated time-consuming responsibilities. And students enrolled in
baccalaureate programs are in the planning stages, and 9 accelerated programs are encouraged not to work because
entry-level master's programs are also taking shape. To locate of the intensity and time commitment.
accelerated programs near you, visit www.aacn.nche.edu/ • Organization and time-management skills. To stay on top
students/nursing-program-search. of accelerated program requirements, students must have
• Accelerated program graduates are prized. Employers exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
Many roads, same destination First, know thyself
The good news about nursing education to- Kirschner also advises potential students to
day is that an array of options exists to suit consider what they’re most passionate about.
your learning style, career interests, financial Is it technology? Is it leadership? Is it direct
and time constraints, and lifestyle. You’ll find care? And you should consider how this pas-
accelerated programs, online programs, and sion can be continued as your career ad-
various program tracks that lead to different vances.
degrees in a variety of specialty areas. “We urge students not to work because of
The challenging news is that sorting out the amount of time and effort an accelerated
all the options and deciding which program program requires,” says Juliann G. Sebastian,
is right for you is ever more confusing. Nurs- PhD, RN, FAAN, University of Nebraska Med-
ing experts say that potential students need ical Center, dean and chair of the American
to do more research, ask more questions, Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
and know themselves much better than nurs- Board of Directors.
ing students did in the past. Accelerated programs offer a “wonderful
Because accelerated programs condense a return on investment because of the short
great deal of information into an 18-month time frame,” Sebastian says. But you’ll still
time frame (or less), you need to be sure need to figure out how to pay for tuition and
you can devote the time to the program and other related expenses.
immerse yourself in the learning experience, Despite the heavy demands of an acceler-
Sherman says. You also need to be self-disci- ated program, once you have the BSN or
plined and have effective time-management MSN in hand, you’ll be welcomed by health-
skills, she adds. (See Is an accelerated pro- care recruiters. Past accelerated program
gram right for you?) graduates have proven themselves to be
“Accelerated programs are generally those quick learners, hard workers, and dedicated
that require a full-time credit load that is be- professionals.
yond the number often assigned in the indus- For more information about and locations
try,” says Robin Kirschner, EdD, DNP, RN, of accelerated programs, go to AACN’s web-
CNE, NEA-BC, CRA, Chamberlain College of site www.aacn.nche.edu and search “acceler-
Nursing’s Dean of MSN Specialty Tracks. “For ated nursing programs.” Also, most large uni-
example, a full-time undergraduate student versity schools of nursing offer accelerated
would be expected to complete 12 credits per nursing programs that can be found on their
semester in a traditional program; in an accel- websites.
erated program, the number of credits would
likely be about 18 per semester.” Janet Boivin is a freelance writer.
2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 11Returning to nursing school?
2017/2018 Education Guide
Keys to success
Preparation will help ease the transition.
By Teresa Shellenbarger, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, and Meigan Robb, PhD, RN
C
ongratulations! You have decided to Improving your technology skills
pursue additional nursing education Today, higher education uses digitally driven
and been accepted at the program of approaches, including electronic textbooks,
your choice. You’re happy—right? But you mobile computing, collaborative editing, and
also may be feeling a bit anxious, especially learning-management systems. That means
if you haven’t been in school for a while. you’ll have to be tech-savvy to complete
To help ensure your academic success, your coursework and assignments.
take time to prepare for the demands that
lie ahead. You can spare yourself much anx- Basic computer literacy
iety on your educational journey by: Students must have basic computer literacy
• improving your technology skills skills—at least a beginning competency with
• becoming a better writer word-processing programs, email, and elec-
• getting organized tronic searches. Here are some ways you
• staying engaged. can hone your skills in these areas:
These strategies can help ease your transi- • Take a community-based computer
tion and lay a strong foundation for your course.
success. • Enroll in a workshop hosted by the
12 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE2017/2018 Education Guide
school you’ll be attending.
• View online videos about computer
skills, such as those on YouTube.com.
• Ask a tech-savvy friend or family member
to give you a quick lesson or two.
If you’ll be completing online course-
work, get in touch with the school’s tech
support center in advance. Some schools of-
fer free trial courses or orientation programs
that give students the chance to practice
course navigation, document retrieval, and
form submission. (See Digital literacy: Re-
trieving information online.) The tech sup-
port center also can help you identify your
technology needs.
Electronic storage options
Plan for how you’ll save important comput-
er documents and files you’ll use in nursing
school. Your nursing program may offer Digital literacy: Retrieving information online
personal electronic storage space on a net-
work drive, allowing you to save files to All students must have the skills required to retrieve information,
the campus server. Such network storage whether online or otherwise. This means you need at least some de-
gree of digital literacy. The American Library Association defines digi-
offers advantages over a portable device
tal literacy as “the ability to use information and communication tech-
like a USB or flash drive because in most
nologies to find, understand, evaluate, create, and communicate
cases, campus storage is automatically digital information.”
archived. USB drives, in contrast, are con- Obviously, the Internet abounds with valuable information. But you
venient but easily misplaced and suscepti- also need to know how to locate, access, and evaluate other sources.
ble to viruses and damage. If you decide to These include scholarly databases, such as the Cumulative Index for
use a USB drive to save your files, protect Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and PsycINFO.
it from damage during and after use and Become familiar with key nursing journals, most of which are now
during transport. available online, and how to access them through your school’s ac-
Another storage option is a cloud-based count. Consider touring the campus library, visiting the library’s web-
service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or site, or talking with a campus librarian to get up to speed on informa-
tion retrieval. If you’ll be enrolling in an online nursing program, work
Microsoft OneDrive. Accessible from any
with the campus librarian to identify available off-site resources.
device with Internet access, they offer cost-
effective connection convenience, sharing
ability, and archived storage. An Internet
search can help you locate free or trial- ly on familiar and reputable sources. Also,
based online storage options that you can install antivirus and Internet security soft-
try out to see if they meet your needs. ware on all of your electronic devices; this
No matter what electronic storage option software may be available free or at a low
you choose, consider what techniques you’ll cost from your school. You can also pur-
use to stay organized. Come up with a sim- chase it online from stores that sell software
ple naming convention for documents, and or from antivirus companies. In addition,
create computer folders with course names work with your campus tech support center
or numbers to use when saving files to pre- on computer security issues.
vent your computer home screen from be-
coming disorganized and cluttered. Becoming a better writer
Expect to do a lot of writing as you pursue
Computer security additional nursing education. Before starting
Increased email and Internet use may make an essay, report, or other writing assign-
your devices susceptible to malicious virus- ment, plan carefully. Read the instructor’s
es that can damage or destroy data on your guidelines thoroughly, and review the scor-
computer. Be sure to take essential precau- ing criteria. Think about the major points of
tions to prevent disastrous loss of digital in- the assignment. We highly recommend that
formation. Use caution when downloading you create an outline, use ordered bullet
content from the Internet to a USB; rely on- points, or design a concept map to help
2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 13you organize your thoughts. guidelines difficult to understand,
Begin your paper with a topic you can get help from an online
or thesis sentence that states the resource, such as the Purdue
purpose of the assignment; this Online Writing Guide (OWL) at
helps you focus your efforts. At https://owl.english.purdue.edu/
the end of the paper, provide a owl/, or online tutorials, such as
conclusion that summarizes your apastyle.org/learn/courses/index
key takeaway points. Finally, al- .aspx. If you think you’ll be using
low adequate time for revisions. one of these resources, consider
Revising is the key to good writ- downloading the app or access-
ing, so once you’ve made a first ing the website in advance so
draft, expect to revise and edit it you can practice before complet-
several more times. ing your assignment.
Writing resources Getting organized
If you struggle with writing, look As a returning nursing student,
into your nursing program’s writ- chances are you’ll have to juggle
ing resources. Many schools have the demands of school, family,
writing centers or peer resources and work. So planning and man-
that can help identify your writing aging your time effectively is vital.
problems and offer editing sugges-
tions. Distance-education pro-
grams may have online tutorial
tools, such as Pearson Smarthink-
ing service or eTutoring.org. If
these resources aren’t available,
ask an experienced writer, such as
I f you’re going to
an English teacher, to review your study at home,
work for clarity, grammar, struc-
ture, and other problems. You also carefully protect that
can explore apps or electronic
grammar checkers, such as Gram- time for school work
marly (grammarly.com), which de-
tect errors. For a handy resource and don’t get
on grammar rules, consult Strunk
and White’s The Elements of Style. distracted by
Or visit websites such as Gram-
mar Girl (quickanddirtytips.com/ household chores.
grammar-girl), which give helpful
tips on writing.
Formatting and style guidelines To record important dates and
Some students struggle to format deadlines, use a paper planner or
their papers according to specific calendar or, alternatively, an elec-
standards and guidelines. Many tronic calendar, so you can set au-
nursing education programs use tomatic reminders. We suggest you
the American Psychological Asso- establish a study routine and build
ciation (APA) style guide to en- it into your weekly schedule.
sure consistent presentation of Don’t forget to schedule time
written material, including punc- for course readings and studying.
tuation, abbreviations, headings, It may be helpful to spend time
references, citations, and other every day reading over class
elements. notes, or accessing the learning
Make sure you have access to management system so that con-
whichever style guide your pro- tent is reviewed regularly. Using
gram uses, and familiarize yourself this technique may help you avoid
with it before classes begin. If, cramming for exams. Regular re-
like many students, you find the view also ensures you have time
14 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE2017/2018 Education Guide
to ask for content clarification Keep important school phone
from your instructor. numbers and email addresses in
Find the best location for study- your contact list so you can easily
ing. Does your schedule allow reach administrators and faculty.
you to go to a library or coffee And be sure to check school com-
shop for uninterrupted quiet time, munication daily so you don’t
or will you study at home? If miss important class or school an-
you’re going to study at home, nouncements.
carefully protect that time for Strive to get involved with oth-
MOVE
school work and don’t get dis- er students and the campus com-
tracted by household chores. Use munity as a whole. For example,
YOUR
a notebook or folder for each take part in collaborative learning
class to help you organize impor- activities, such as study groups
CAREER
tant papers. with other students. These activi-
Plan your studying activities ties can boost your motivation
FORWARD
and techniques around your and enhance your understanding
unique learning style. For exam- of materials while offering peer
ple, some students use flash cards support.
to help memorize content. And Academic advisors and faculty
while traditional index cards work members can make your back-to-
well, technology-savvy students school transition easier. Make an
may want to use electronic flash- appointment to meet with your
card applications, such as Study- advisor when you start your pro-
Blue, Cram, Quizlet, or others. gram and periodically throughout
Some students find it helpful to your coursework. Research sug-
highlight their notes, while others gests proper academic advising
like to take notes about their promotes student persistence, en-
course readings or rewrite their hances success, aids with the tran-
class notes. Consider your learning sition to school, and promotes ap-
style and use the approach or propriate decision making. Faculty
techniques that work best for you. members, for their part, can sup-
port your learning efforts, offer
Staying engaged guidance on coursework, and
During the first week of classes, serve as mentors.
carefully review the syllabi and
course materials, including assign- Ready for success Want to take your
ment guidelines, evaluation crite- Returning to school may present
ria and rubrics, and available many challenges. Planning your ac-
next step in the
course resources. Mark due dates ademic program appropriately can nursing profession?
and important assignments on promote your success. Boosting
your calendar. You might find it your tech skills, honing your writ- Gain the skills and
helpful to create a daily or weekly ing skills, getting organized, and experience to become
to-do list to keep track of impor- staying engaged can make your re- an effective leader and
tant activities. You can record turn to school a more productive outstanding practitioner.
these lists on paper, in an app, or and enjoyable experience.
by setting reminders on your mo- f Master of Science
bile devices. Teresa Shellenbarger is a professor of nursing at Indi- program
Also take this first week to be- ana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylva- f Doctor of Nursing
come familiar with school policies. nia. Meigan Robb is an assistant professor of nursing
at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Practice program
Many programs provide you with f PhD program
a student handbook or have a
web site that specifies rules such Selected references Learn more:
as an attendance policy, grade re- American Library Association. Digital literacy
definition. September 14, 2012. connect.ala nursing.umaryland.edu/
quirements, and social media
rules. Refer to those guidelines,
.org/node/181197 academics
National Survey of Student Engagement. A
particularly if you’re ill, can’t at- Fresh Look at Student Engagement—Annual
tend class, or when preparing for Results 2013. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Uni-
a clinical experience. versity for Postsecondary Research; 2013.
2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 152017/2018 Education Guide
Ready to change specialties?
Make sure you know yourself and what you really want.
By Janet Boivin, BSN, RN
D
eciding to change your nursing spe- and medical knowledge, as well as a nation-
cialty can require as much self-assess- al emphasis on providing more prevention,
ment and research as transitioning in- treatment, and end-of-life care in the home
to an entirely new career. Or it can be as and community.
simple as moving to a hospital unit that re-
quires similar nursing skills but has a differ- Where do I begin?
ent patient population. Start by knowing yourself and what you and
I started my Baby Boomer nursing career your family need psychologically, spiritually,
in orthopedics. After a year or so, I went to and financially, say career coaches Carmen
a neuro-medical surgical unit in a Boston Kosicek, MSN, RN, CNM, PMHNP, and Keith
teaching hospital. I made the change not be- Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC. (See Honest self-
cause I disliked orthopedics but because I reflection.)
thought neurology and caring for cognitively “Do a deep self-assessment of who you
impaired patients would be more challeng- are and what you like to do; what lights you
ing. But I also knew I didn’t want the level up and makes you feel happy and fulfilled,”
of complexity associated with patients in the says nursing career coach, nurse blogger,
neuro intensive care unit (ICU). and podcaster Carlson. “For most people,
The challenge for today’s nurses who that’s a big deal.”
want to change specialties is the growing ar- Kosicek, who has an online coaching pro-
ray of new nursing and health disciplines gram and is CEO of Alay Health Team, a
from which they can choose. These areas, group of psychiatric prescribing providers
such as information technology, pharmaceu- caring for children and adults via onsite vis-
tical sales, and nursing research are the out- its and tele-psychiatry throughout Wisconsin,
growth of rapidly evolving healthcare tech (continued on page 18)
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Latoya Myers
MSN in Nursing Leadership in
Health Systems Management ‘152017/2018 Education Guide
agrees. “Think about what kind of work en-
vironment would be best for your personali-
ty and work needs. Do you like to be con-
stantly busy with unexpected challenges? Or
do you prefer a slower pace with a fairly
predictable routine?”
Next, do your research
Once you understand why you want a
change and what you think you want to do,
then it’s time to research your areas of inter-
est. You don’t want to move into a new spe-
cialty only to find it’s not what you expected.
“Some specialties are simpler to jump into
than others,” Carlson says. “If you have
worked in an emergency department (ED)
or ICU, it would be easier to become a
Honest self-reflection flight nurse because you already have many
of the skills you would need, such as think-
ing quickly and working with trauma pa-
Switching nursing specialties requires honest self-reflection. tients.”
Ask yourself these questions to ensure you make a change Think beyond the clinical setting, Kosicek
that best suits your interests, abilities, and needs.
urges: “Focusing [only] on a hospital job is
• Why do you want to change specialties? so 1980s and 1990s. Nurses don’t realize
• Are you making the change for the right reasons or do how many jobs can be found working in the
you want to get away from your boss or uncooperative community.” For example, she says, pharma-
colleagues? ceutical companies hire nurses to work with
• Do you want a change from hospital nursing? providers and patients, demonstrating how
• Do you want less or more contact with patients? to use new injectable medications. Psychi-
atric telemedicine, home health, and patient
• Do you want to work with patients only by phone or
monitoring for chronic diseases are other
videoconferencing?
growing areas. “You just have to open your
• Do you want an entirely new specialty requiring addition- mind and ask yourself, ‘What can I do?’”
al skills and training, such as intensive care units or the
Kosicek says.
operating room?
Do some digging on Google to discover
• Do you prefer to work with colleagues as part of a team or these new roles as well as more traditional
to work on your own? specialties through nursing blogs, websites,
• Would you like a job that requires traveling, such as phar- and nursing publications. From your re-
maceutical or medical device sales? search, determine what transitioning into the
• Have you ever considered the benefits of military nursing, specialty takes. You’ll want to find answers
such as free education and travel? to these questions:
• Do you prefer working in a rural or urban setting? For ex- • Do you need certifications?
ample, working in an emergency department (ED) in a ru- • Will you need additional education or
ral area may provide a broader range of experience than a training?
city ED where residents, medical students, and physicians • Does the specialty require a certain
provide most of the care. amount of previous experience? If so,
• Will changing to a new specialty require you to move to how can you get it?
find a job? If so, will the cost of living, housing, and in- • What are the physical requirements for
come levels of a new geographic area work for you and the specialty?
your family? Talk to nurses you know in that specialty
If you require deeper insight, read a book frequently used and ask them what they do and how they
by career centers: The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change like it. Don’t be shy. People usually love to
Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success, by talk about themselves. Carlson recommends
Nicholas Lore. Another classic is What Color Is Your Parachute? setting up informational interviews that in-
2017: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, volve asking an experienced nurse in a partic-
by Richard N. Bolles. ular specialty to meet with you and talk about
his or her area of expertise. “These types of
(continued on page 20)
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patients you care for every day will affect
your job satisfaction, Kosicek says.
We all know some patients are easier to
take care of than others, whether it’s because
of their personalities or the type of illness,
disease, injury, or disability for which they’re
being treated. If you’re uncomfortable around
serious illness or death, then oncology or
hospice nursing probably isn’t for you. Some
nurses enjoy caring for individuals in the final
stages of life. Others may be better suited for
specialties focused on an earlier stage of life,
such as neonatology or pediatrics.
If you prefer less face-to-face contact with
patients, you might want to consider work-
ing for a call center, telemedicine provider,
Can you go back to school? pharmaceutical company, or health insur-
ance provider.
A career move may require going back to
school. Ask yourself these questions to help you How do I find a job in a new specialty?
make sure it’s the right move for you. Network, network, network. Talk to every
• What’s your long-term career goal? nurse you know working in the specialty or
specialties in which you’re interested and
• What do you want to do with the degree? tell them you’re looking for a job. Carlson is
• Do you have the resources to finance a new a proponent of using social media, such as
degree? joining Twitter or Facebook chats and nurs-
• Do you want the challenge of being an ad- ing conversations on LinkedIn.
vanced practice nurse, such as a nurse practi- More traditional job boards, such as
tioner or certified nurse anesthetist? www.indeed.com and nursing websites, are
• Can you go back to school full-time or do you also worth checking out and let you narrow
have family or work considerations to factor your job search by specialty and geographic
into the equation? location. Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics
website (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/health-
care/registered-nurses.htm) for information
about the areas of nursing seeing the most
interviews are powerful tools,” Carlson says. growth.
“I consider them a form of deep networking.”
Take advantage of nursing organizations, Is it time for educational advancement?
such as the American Nurses Association. Maybe it’s not a new specialty you want or
And most nursing specialties have a national need but more education to advance in your
association with local chapters. Their web- career or take it in a new direction. Deciding
sites often contain a wealth of information. to return to school requires planning and a
Take it one step further and call or email full understanding of your goals. (See Can
nurses who are listed as members of the lo- you go back to school?) Several organizations
cal chapters and reach out to national asso- and websites provide help. Two of the more
ciation leaders and tell them you’re interest- useful sites are the American Association of
ed in learning about their specialty. They’ll Colleges of Nursing (www.aacn.nche.edu)
be happy to talk about what they do. and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for
You’ll find a comprehensive list of nation- Nursing’s Future (www.discovernursing.com).
al associations at the Illinois Center for Nurs-
ing website (http://nursing.illinois.gov/nursing The sky’s the limit
speciality.asp). Whatever you decide to do, Carlson and Kosicek
emphasize not limiting your choices by what
Remember the patients you think you can or can’t do with your nursing
Patients and their characteristics and partic- education, experiences, and skills. “Nurses can
ular needs can get overshadowed when learn to do almost anything,” says Kosicek.
you focus on the nursing or medical disci-
pline in which you’re interested. But the Janet Boivin is a freelance writer.
20 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE2017/2018 Education Guide
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2017/2018 Education Guide
master’s certificate the right
option for you?
It may be the key to opening the door to new opportunities.
By Meigan Robb, PhD, RN, and Teresa Shellenbarger, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
A
s a professional nurse, you know the If it does, choose a program that works for
importance of embracing lifelong you. (See Types of post-master’s certificate
learning and the value of furthering programs.)
education to enhance your career opportuni-
ties. The Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report Is it the right path for you?
The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Ad- To determine if a post-master’s certificate
vancing Health suggests that to promote program supports your professional growth,
change and enhance population health, you’ll need to do some soul-searching. Make
nurses must commit to advancing their a list of your goals. Are you interested in
knowledge and skills. One way to do this is changing your work focus and shifting away
to continue your education and seek a post- from your master’s preparation into a new
master’s certificate—an educational option area? If so, consider whether you want to
for both clinically focused advanced practice leave the bedside, enter the academic set-
registered nurses (APRNs) and nonclinically ting, or move into a different clinical role,
focused master’s–prepared nurses. such as nursing informatics. Or do you want
Nurses pursuing post-master’s certificates to expand your current work role but obtain
can continue their education in a new spe- additional education or specialization? In this
cialty or in a subspecialty of their current case, think about which role you would like
practice. Certificate programs are attractive to transition to (for example, nurse execu-
because they build on previous tive) or which specialty population you
academic success and leverage the nurse’s would like to gain expertise in (for example,
professional experiences. pediatrics).
But before embarking on further educa- Next, ask yourself:
tion, learn more about your options so you
can make an informed decision about • What new skills do I need to acquire to
whether this educational track suits your meet my goals?
needs. • How will completing a certificate pro-
gram help me meet my goals?
22 American Nurse Today Volume 12, Number 7 2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE2017/2018 Education Guide
• What new professional skillset do I
want to obtain from completing a cer-
tificate program?
• How will I be viewed professionally af-
ter completing this additional education?
• Have I established a work history that
adequately prepares me for a certificate
program?
• Do I have the time it takes to complete
the additional education?
• Do I have the funds needed to com-
plete it?
Your answers to these questions will help
you identify the best certificate programs for
you and choose among them.
Which program is the best fit?
Once you’ve decided on the area in which
you want to pursue a certificate, explore Types of post-master’s certificate programs
specific program options. Consider such fac-
tors as program length, course delivery Once you’ve determined that a post-master’s certificate pro-
method, financial considerations, admission gram can help you reach your career goals, learn about the
requirements, and application process. To types of programs available. Internet searches are a good
gather information, visit the academic insti- starting point, as are nursing program websites.
tution’s website or contact its program direc- In general, these programs offer specialty education and
skills training either in clinical areas, such as gerontology, or
tor. Also, ask professional contacts for their
in nonclinically focused areas, such as nursing education.
opinion on the programs you’re considering.
They may have personal experience and be • If you’re seeking advancement in a clinical field, consider
pursuing one of the advanced practice RN (APRN) special-
able to provide information that’s not widely
ties—certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist,
available.
certified registered nurse anesthetist, and certified nurse-
midwife. If you’re already an APRN, you might want to
Program length specialize by enrolling in a program with a specific popu-
Certificate programs may vary in length de- lation focus, such as adult gerontology acute care, pedi-
pending on the student’s enrollment status atric primary care, or psychiatric mental health.
(full- or part-time) and number of credits re- • On the other hand, perhaps you want to explore a non-
quired. Total credits required can range clinically focused certificate program that emphasizes
from 9 to more than 42, with clinically fo- other roles, such as nursing education, leadership, or in-
cused certificate programs typically requiring formatics. Nonclinical post-master’s certificate programs
a higher number of credits. Time to com- can help you expand your professional roles and oppor-
plete the program can vary from two con- tunities.
secutive semesters to more than 24 consecu-
Certificate program vs. certification
tive months.
Be sure you understand the difference between a certificate
program and certification.
Course delivery options
Courses in certificate programs may be de- • Completing a post-master’s certificate program indicates
you have successfully passed the coursework and earned
livered in a traditional classroom only, on-
the associated credits.
line only, or in a mixture of both (hybrid);
in the latter, students attend some classroom • To become certified requires you to pass an exam offered
through a professional credentialing organization.
sessions while also completing online
coursework. Traditional classroom and hy- Keep in mind that some, but not all, certificate programs
brid methods may work well if the program prepare you to take certification exams to earn professional
is located near you. credentials.
Online programs, which offer greater
accessibility and scheduling flexibility, are
growing nationally. To determine which
type of course delivery best suits you, con-
2017-2018 EDUCATION GUIDE July 2017 American Nurse Today 23You can also read
