“In the past several years, there’s been a lot of talk nationwide about childhood obesity, and Tennessee Wesleyan College-Fort Sanders Nursing students are stepping up to do something about the issue.

Dozens of nursing students from TWC’s class of 2013 are throwing the second annual Fit-N-Fun for Everyone at West Hills/John Bynon Park, between North Winston Road and Sheffield Drive, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6.

“It’s a free event to the public,” said Jenna Tarpley, a student member of the event planning committee. “It’s to raise awareness about childhood obesity, how prevalent it is and ways we can very easily and simply combat it by getting out there.”

Dan Doyle, this year’s Fit-N-Fun faculty director, said, “The event really is student driven As nursing students, they’re focused on identifying needs and then intervening to improve health, whether it’s at the patient level or community level.”

Tarpley, 25, referred to statistics obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 1980, the number of obese children and adolescents has almost tripled. Approximately 17 percent, or 12.5 million, of children from 2 to 19 years old are obese in the United States. In Tennessee, obesity among low-income kids 2 to 4 years old is between 10 and 15 percent.

The CDC recommends every child spend at least 60 minutes participating in some sort of physical activity each day. So, at this year’s Fit-N-Fun, participating children will spend an hour rotating between several stations, each with a different focus on ways to stay active and healthy.” Read more from Adria Amos: Nursing Students Welcome Public to Day of Fitness

For more information about the effects of childhood obesity, visit Let’s Move.

Are you ready to learn how you can make a difference in the lives of children? Why not start looking into a career in nursing where you can have a dramatic impact on the health and wellness of people of all ages! Nursing Schools Direct can help you get all of the information you need to make an informed decision about your future. We offer free resources, including news, career guides, and access to our network of nursing schools. You may request information from the school or schools of your choice for free! You’re never under any obligation to act on the information you receive. To get started, use the form on the right to Find a School near you, or Search by State to see schools across the nation!

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About Alzheimer’s

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, this disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is  “a physical disease affecting the brain. During the course of the disease, protein ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells.” (Alzheimer’s Society) Dementia, which can be a symptom of other conditions, is a collective term used to represent a set of symptoms that includes loss of memory, problems with reasoning and communication, and mood changes. For nurses, these symptoms make providing quality patient care a challenge. Patients may present unexpected changes in personality, personal accountability, and ability to care for themselves as expected. These changes can happen rapidly, so constant care and analysis of the patient’s status is often required. Individuals with dementia are subject to falls and accidents, which may lead to infections. Accidents are more likely when the patient is also being treated for other age-related conditions.

Types of Nurses for Dementia Patients

The most common type of nurse involved in dementia care are geriatric nurses. Other specialty certifications for the care of dementia and Alzheimer’s are available from nursing schools and continuing education organizations. Alternatively, home health nurses may be called upon to care for these individuals in their home or during their stay at an assisted living facility. Caring for dementia patients may include administering medications on a schedule, helping individuals throughout the day, or providing counseling and general support on a regular basis.

Nurses Role in Care for Dementia Related Disease

According to Nursing Management, an industry publication, nurses are doing much to further the case management success and improve quality care among dementia patients. “Some of the promising approaches emerging today are models and protocols for care researched and developed by nurses. An example of an innovative and all-inclusive nursing model is Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders-known as NICHE. This national program of the John A. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University is a nursing-driven model intended to provide nurses with tools and expertise to develop excellence in practice for older patients (not just those who are dementing). The original three NICHE practice models were the Geriatric Resource Nurse Model, Acute Care of the Elderly Nursing Unit, and the Syndrome-Specific Model. An additional program designed to meet the needs of older adults is the Comprehensive Discharge Planning Model. Today NICHE is operational in part or in its entirety in approximately 256 hospital sites nationally, and the number of sites continues to rise.” (Alzheimer’s Disease: An elusive thief.)

Read more about Alzheimer’s and dementia from the Alzheimer’s Association.

If you are searching for a well-rounded nursing program that includes dementia, Alzheimer’s, and geriatric care training, Nursing Schools Direct can help! You can   Search by State or use the form on the right to Find a Nursing School near you. Once you’ve found a school, click the Request Info button and fill out the form to learn more. You will be contacted by a school representative who can answer any questions you may have. Access to our network of schools, career information, and more is available for free. There is no cost or obligation to request information from the school, or schools, or your choice.

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Nursing students at the University of Wyoming are expected to be among the first round of college students to take part in a new project to transform nursing education. According to UW, the program will focus on pressing healthcare issues such as access and cost. This new program is only available in 20 states so far and promises to fill a void in current programs. As it stands, students who do not receive this type of training could be at a disadvantage when they first enter the career field.

“March 28, 2013 — The University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing has been chosen to participate in an initiative aimed at transforming nursing education in the United States.

The school’s Wyoming Center for Nursing and Health Care Partnerships is one of the organizations, in only 20 states, selected to be part of the $3 million initiative, called the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program. The program is designed to help states prepare the nursing profession to address the nation’s most pressing health care challenges — access, quality and cost — amidst an aging and more diverse population.

“Our focus is on transformation of nursing education that will truly enhance health care in Wyoming, and this was a key factor in being selected,” says Mary Burman, dean of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. “We are part of a powerful movement working to shape the future of health care for all Americans. We are very grateful for this support, which will strengthen our work.”

Burman notes that the Wyoming Center for Nursing and Health Care Partnerships plans to focus on enhancing clinical education for all Wyoming schools of nursing.

The Future of Nursing State Implementation Program bolsters efforts already under way in 50 states and the District of Columbia — the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action — to transform health care through…”

Read more: UW Nursing School Chosen for National Initiative

Are you ready to start an exciting career in nursing in Wyoming or another state? If so, Nursing Schools Direct is your one-stop resource for career information, news, and more! Spend some time browsing this site to determine if nursing is the right career choice and discover the multitude of options available to professionals in this fast-growing industry. When you’re ready to learn more about specific programs, we’ve got you covered. Simply complete the form on the right side of this page to Find a School near you or Search by State to browse our network of programs across the country. When you’re ready for more, just click on the name of a school (or schools) and then choose “Request Info”. A representative will contact you soon with more information. This service is provided at no cost to you and you are under no obligation to apply to a program. Just get the information you need to make an informed decision. It’s that easy!

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In case you missed it, a book excerpt by an RN was published in the American Journal of Medicine in January that describes a special kind of wisdom that comes from experience. She describes the first moments of a difficult patient situation as a nursing student. It’s something we don’t learn from a text book or a simulator. It’s the first hand account of being a real nurse; someone who has emotions attached to his or her work and is affected by patient outcomes. To help us understand the depth of this facet in nursing, we can look to Crossing the River Sorrow, One Nurse’s Story by Janet L.  Richards, BSN, RN. In her book she writes:

“On a Tuesday afternoon in 1973, during my second year of nursing school, I’m looking out the window on the eighth floor neurology wing, stalling for time. One of my patients from my rotation in the ICU has been transferred to the floor, and I’ve come to see her. Her name is Carrie. She’s 20 years old and paralyzed.”

Richards goes on to describe Carrie’s situation and illustrates the sorrow of her young husband, who is described as “slumped against the heater under the window at his wife’s bedside. His eyes blazed, wild with fear and disbelief as he struggled to make sense of his sudden immersion into the alien world of disability.” The author then gets to the root of this story, the student nurse’s own emotions during this trying time. “At my post by the window on that day, I’m aware of my fear. I’m scared that the sadness and horror of what’s happened to my patient will overwhelm us both. But I am a nurse and with grim resolve force myself to enter her room.”

We know that the road is long, but it’s well worth the trek in the end. We consider all of the technical skills to cover, all of the terms and medications to memorize, even the bedside manner tips we’ll learn from mentors along the way. Yet, few students entering nursing school for the first time really anticipate the depth of knowledge they will acquire over the next two to five years. To read the rest of this excerpt and learn more about her story, view the American Journal of Medicine’s A Special Kind of Knowledge

Are you thinking about starting a career in nursing? Nursing Schools Direct is here to help with career information, news, and program information. To get started, use the form on the right to Find a School near you or Search by State to browse schools. You may contact as many schools as you’d like. All services are free of charge and you are under no obligation to act on the information you receive. Just click on the name of a school and then “Request Info” to fill out a short form. A representative will contact you soon.

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So, how long does it take to become a nurse? This question is best answered with another: what type of nurse do you wish to become? Additionally, consider where you are in your career today. If you have never had formal training and no experience in the field, it will take longer to become a Nurse Practitioner than someone who is already a Registered Nurse. Nonetheless, pursuing advancement in this career field is a smart choice – even if you’ve never stepped foot in a class.

Becoming a Nurse with No Nursing Background

CNA training provides quick entry into the field of nursing. Although this is an entry-level position, formal training and certification is required. Training last from 3 weeks (for accelerated programs) to a full semester at a nursing school.

LPNs can achieve training and certification in as little as one year, earning more as an entry level professional. Depending on the setup of the program, either CNA or LPN training may take longer to achieve.

RNs earn more annually and can achieve greater degrees from a nursing school. There are several types of degrees for this type of professional, as well as plenty of specialty certifications available. Without extra specialty training, however, an RN designation can be earned in 2 to 4 years. Students may achieve a nursing diploma, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree.

Becoming an NP takes the longest amount of time because it requires the most formal education credits as well as more experience in the industry. A full-time student will spend up to five years earning a master’s degree for this position. However, bridge programs are a popular option for students who wish to enter the workforce while earning their degree.

Moving Up in Your Existing Career

Many nursing schools provide ‘bridge’ programs to help you achieve your desired career goals. These are programs that build on the education and experience you’ve already achieved in your career. With a bridge program, the general timeframe from start to completion is considerably shorter than it will be for a new student. The following programs are typical of nursing schools:

• RN to BSN (2-years, full time)
• BSN to MSN (2-years, full time)
• RN to MSN (3-years, full time in an accelerated program)

For more information about becoming a nurse using a bridge program, or just to review your local education requirements, visit the American Nurses Association.

Are you ready to start working on your nursing degree or certification? Nursing Schools Direct can help! To find opportunities in your community or across the nation, simply  Search by State or use the form on the right to Find a Nursing School near you. Once you’ve found a school, click the Request Info button and fill out the form to learn more. You will be contacted by a school representative who can answer any questions you may have. Access to our network of schools, career information, and more is available for free. You are under no obligation to act on the information you receive, so contact as many schools as you’d like!

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“A top priority for the NLN and the NLN Foundation is to attract seasoned and ethnically diverse nurses to nursing education by making the pursuit of advanced degrees required of nurse educators more affordable,” said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.

In 2013, scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 will again be awarded to three outstanding nurse educators who are currently enrolled in accredited master’s or doctoral programs related to nursing education. Once their studies are complete, according to the terms of the scholarship, they are expected to seek full-time faculty employment at a school of nursing.

“The NLN Foundation’s scholarships promoting educational opportunities for faculty dovetail with the NLN’s four core values of caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence,” noted Nancy Langston, PhD, RN, FAAN, chair of the foundation board and dean and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing and executive director for academic nursing at VCU Health System.

Added Judith A. Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF: “The Faculty Scholarship Program is one resource for qualified applicants, but the need for more external funding remains critical to expand the general capacity of nursing schools to increase the overall number of qualified nurses in the workforce, prepared to meet patient demand and advance the nation’s health.”

The three nurse educators named the 2012 FNE scholarship awardees are: Brenda Washington; Denise Johnson Dawkins; and Sandra S. McNeely. See below for bio-sketchs.

Scholarships are limited to League members, and candidates must be be enrolled in an..” (Read more: NLN Foundation for Nursing Education Announces 2013 Nursing Education Scholarship Program)

For more scholarship and grant information, visit the Federal Student Aid website from the U.S. Department of Education. For more information about nursing schools and programs near you, Nursing Schools Direct can help! Simply use the form on the right side of this page to Find a School near you or Browse by State to search options nationwide. Click on the name of any school and then look for “Request Info” to fill out a short contact form. A representative of that school will contact you soon. All of the services and information from Nursing Schools Direct is provided to you for free, so contact as many schools as you’d like! You are never under any obligation to act on the information you receive. Browse our site for career information, news, and more!

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What is Mentorship?

Students in nursing schools are certainly in no short supply of professionals that can answer questions and provide guidance. However, a true mentor relationship goes beyond preceptor, head physician, and teacher-student relationships. The true definition of a mentor is someone who is available to coach or tutor a student toward excellence in their career. Ideally, your mentor is someone who shares your job duties and has traveled the same roads in their own career.

How Does a Mentor Benefit Nursing Students?

Nursing students are charges with much responsibility and expectations throughout the education process. From the inception of a nursing degree program, students are tasked with so much work that it can at times seem unbearable. A good mentor can help guide you through this trying time and provide the kind of perspective that will allow you to make good decisions about your time management, study programs, and even outside work in a related field.

Even though the initial phases of nursing school is one of the most challenging times for nursing students, the real obstacles begin after graduation. This is a time when a guide or coach will be especially helpful. A mentor-mentee relationship should be one of mutual effort, where both parties are invested in the success of the new professional seeking guidance.

How to Find a Mentor

If you are looking for a mentor to help during nursing school or following graduation and licensure, there are few places to turn. In fact, mentors are also professionals with their own career and interests. However, a great place to start is you local nursing association. Find a nursing association near you by visiting the American Nurses Association (ANA). In addition to outside resources, many employers and clinical facilities can guide students and new nurses in the process of discovering a mentor.

Are you ready to get started on your career in nursing? Nursing Schools Direct provides all of the information you need to make an informed decision about your future. From career information to programs, we provide free resources with no obligation. To get started, use the form on the right to Find a School near you. Browse by State to explore options across the nation. When you’re ready for specific information, you may contact as many schools as you’d like. Click on the name of the school and then “Request Info”. Complete the short contact form and a representative will be in touch with you soon.

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LPN to RN Bridge Programs

LPN to RN bridge programs are designed for Licensed Practical Nurses who are ready to become Registered Nurses. Coursework for LPNs will include advanced practice training and other skills courses typical of an RN. However, basic nursing principles may be skipped provided that the LPN completed formal education from an accredited agency to earn LPN status. Students in an LPN to RN bridge program typically earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, so core classes will be required. These may include language, composition, mathematics, and other common core courses.

RN to BSN or RN to MSN Bridge Programs

RN to BSN or MSN bridge programs are designed for registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing or any other subject. Because most associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs contain the same core course content, there is no need for the student to repeat these classes. Therefore, in a bridge program, the RN can complete only those classes which are missing from the graduation criteria. Depending on the student’s former degree, these classes may include only advanced practical nurse skills. Alternatively, if the former degree is in a non-nursing field, the student will be required to take the full course load that a new MSN student would take.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, “These programs prepare nurses to assume positions requiring graduate preparation, including roles in administration, teaching, research, and as Clinical Nurse Leaders. Master’s degree-prepared nurses are in high demand as expert clinicians, nurse executives, clinical educators, health policy consultants, and research assistants.” Learn more about bridge programs by visiting the AACN.

If you are searching for a bridge program or thinking about going to nursing school for the first time, Nursing Schools Direct can help! You can   Search by State or use the form on the right to Find a Nursing School near you. Once you’ve found a school, click the Request Info button and fill out the form to learn more. You will be contacted by a school representative who can answer any questions you may have. Access to our network of schools, career information, and more is available for free. There is no cost or obligation to request information from the school, or schools, or your choice.

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“OKLAHOMA CITY — The State of Oklahoma is committed in helping provide well-trained nurses through the Physician Manpower Training Commission Nursing Student Assistance Program.

This year, approximately 250–300 nursing students will be helped by scholarships funded through the Oklahoma State Legislature. This program has helped over 5,900 nursing students and has provided nurses to all 77 counties in Oklahoma with an emphasis placed on the rural communities.

The Oklahoma Nursing Student Assistance Program, established by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1982, provides financial assistance to as many nursing students as funds allow.

If a scholarship recipient works as a nurse in Oklahoma upon graduation, the financial assistance does not have to be repaid. Financial assistance is available for selected qualified students pursuing Licensed Practical Nurse, Associates Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing degrees. To qualify, student must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the State of Oklahoma, and be accepted into an accredited nursing program.

An application is available on the web-site of the Physician Manpower Training Commission. The web-site is www.pmtc.ok.gov. Applications have also been provided to all nursing schools, hospitals and nursing homes in the State of Oklahoma for distribution. For…” Read More: Applications available for financial aid to nursing students

Are you ready to explore you career options and take advantage of the new program available to students Oklahoma? Nursing Schools Direct can help you find the right nursing school and get all of your questions answered today. To get started, complete the form on the right to Find a Nursing school near you. Search by State to view all nursing schools in Oklahoma. Once you find a school that interest you, click on the name of the school and then “Request Info”. A representative from the school will be in touch with you soon after completing the short contact form. All of the resources available from Nursing Schools Direct is free and you are never under any obligation to act on the information you receive. Contact as many schools as you’d like so you can make the right decision for your future!

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Think About Extra Costs

The most talked about expenses when it comes to medical training are those associated with text books. Text books for nursing school, or any medical program, can be unexpectedly expensive. It is acceptable to seek out used books and explore the stocked shelves of school book stores. Just make sure that any used books you purchase have no writing or answers indicated between the covers. (You’ll want to know the answers on your own, naturally.) Also explore the possibility of electronic copies. While they don’t allow handwritten notes, it may be worth the savings on some texts.

Mind Your Schedule

Scheduling can be a nightmare, especially for adult nursing students who need to work full time and (or) take care of a family while earning an advanced degree. Most programs recommend that school be a full-time endeavor, without the distractions of a full-time job. While this is ideal, it’s not realistic in today’s world – when so many adults are heading back to school. When scheduling classes around work and other life obligations, consider a blended program with plenty of online class options. Online classes are generally more flexible and allow you to study on your own time.

Expect to be Online – A lot.

With the advent of the internet, few medical professionals considered the impact that online posting would have in nursing school programs. However, most nursing programs require regular postings to an online board shared by other classmates. Online posts can make up one-third to one-half of a student’s grade in some classes. Be sure to take the time to understand the online posting requirements of your nursing school’s program.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, Nursing Schools Direct can guide you to the perfect program. We offer completely free resources, including career information, industry news, and access to some of the best schools in the country! To Find a School near you, simply complete the form on the right. To browse nationwide options, Search by State. Once you find the schools you like, just click the name of the school and then “Request Info”. Soon after you send your contact information, a representative will be in touch! This service is provided at no obligation to you, so feel free to contact as many schools as you’d like!

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