Ready for Nursing School?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

CPR certification is a requirement for entry into all programs with clinicals. There are several types of CPR certifications such as: Adult CPR, Child/Infant CPR, First Aid, Blood Bourne Pathogens, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and CPR for Health Care Providers (usually recommended). Don't sign up for one without checking with your school to find out exactly which type(s) they require. Courses will run about 5-8 hours and cost around $45-$80. Usually getting requirements done early is a great idea however, take this course between semesters. You don't want to have to re certify your CPR just as your May finals begriming.The American Red Cross and The American Heart Association both hold classes and you can enter your zip code, on their web sites to find a class near you. You can also check your local hospital for classes. Hospital Sponsored CPR is less expensive and is usually good for 2 years. Note that the Red Cross Certification is good for one year while the Heart Association's is good for two years.

Immunizations and Physical Exam

Make an appointment with your doctor right away and check with your school for any forms your MD needs to fill out. Immunizations common to most all schools are:

* MMR-documented 2 dates given or positive titer (Do not get MMR if you are pregnant and do not become pregnant within 3 months after receiving the vaccine)
* Hep B-documented 2 or 3 dose series, or have had 1st of 3 dose series (2nd dose in 30 days, 3rd in six months), or positive titer
* Varicella-(Chicken pox) documented 2 dose, given 4-6 weeks apart, or positive titer
* Td-documented booster within the past 10 years
* Tuberculin Skin test (PPD)/Chest X-Ray-All nursing students are required to have a TB skin test every year. Students with a positive result are required to provide results of a recent chest X-ray.
* Drug Screening - This is becoming more common as medical centers, where you may do clinicals, are requiring this of anyone providing care in their facility.

Uniforms

Many schools have distinct school uniforms for purchase in the school's store, while others may say any white scrub-type top and bottom is acceptable with your student ID. Lab coats with your school's patch sewn on the sleeve is common. If you can choose your own style, get scrubs with pockets. You may or may not use them however, they will be there if you need them. Check with your school on any shoe restrictions. All white, no laces (for cleaning purposes), no open backs, are some of the common restrictions.

Stethoscopes and Accessory Items

You may have to buy a specific stethoscope, or they may issue you one and the cost will be included in your fees. There are nursing student starter kits sold by several companies. Your school may have contracted with one of the suppliers and have a custom kit issued to you with all the supplies you require for your program. Here are some typically helpful items for nursing students.

* Watch-one with a second hand is a must. A watch that includes military time is very helpful if your clinical site works in military time.
* Stethoscope-a double bell is good to have and may be required by your program.
* Blood Pressure Cuff-not absolutely necessary if not required by your program but, it's nice to have your own. These run about .
* Medical Scissors-blunt tip scissors do come in handy.
* Penlight-A must for checking pupils among other things.
* 4-Color Pens-or at least 3 colors (Blue, Black & Red), depending on the colors your clinical site uses.
* PDA-More and more, Personal Digital Assistants are becoming a requirement. Even if it's not required, it's HIGHLY recommended.

Liability Insurance

You will either purchase your own or your school will purchase a group policy and will include the cost into your fees. An individual policy price varies by state. The average cost of a year's coverage is $30.

Background Checks

CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sexual Offender Registry Information) background checks are required by many clinical sites. Most schools will process these check and include the cost in your fees. If you need to submit one to the school it shouldn't cost more then $20.

Read your school's entrance paperwork; including the fine print. I heard many stories of students being dismissed from programs for not having all their requirements in order. Read everything the school sends you and if you are unsure of anything, give the school a call and ask. Also, be aware of general school requirements such as, health insurance, registration and financial aid deadlines, signing up for online school user accounts, housing, meal plans, etc. Get it all organized and completed and you'll be ready to start school.

Have you done all the above and still have some time before school starts?

Would you like to know what else you can do to prepare yourself for school? Honestly, nursing is a very tough course. Reading over nursing material suited for beginning students will be of great benefit. You will have a chance to become familiar with nursing terms so they won't seem so foreign when your professor discusses them in class. Student Nurse Journey (SNJourney.com) is the resource community for nursing students. The more time you can spend there the more prepared you'll be for the work ahead.

Which Online Nursing Program is Right For Me?

Choosing the right online nursing program can be crucial to your success as a nurse. Not only because of the qualifications that are necessary, but also the number of hours that you must spend in study to obtain a degree from the program. There are several viable options when it comes to choosing an online nursing program and all of them offer many perks that will be of interest to the new student. It is no secret that more and more people are turning to the online programs because of the flexible schedules and lower costs as compared to the tuition that is required by standard nursing schools. You should check out several programs before deciding on which one you will go with to ensure that you have made the right decision.

One of the things to consider when choosing an online nursing program is the cost. Even though the rates are dramatically lower than those for the standard schools, they can still be quite costly. Any reputable school will be up-front with new students about all of the costs that are associated with the program. You will need to consider the fact that an internet connection is required and access to a computer is mandatory for all of the programs that offer such courses. Then there is the subject of materials that may be needed for the program. Even though the program may be operated online, they normally require books to be purchased as well as other supplies. Along with this, there may be software programs that will need to be purchased and other computer accessories that program needs to succeed.

Next you should consider the amount of time that will be required to complete the course. Even though it is online, students are still required to attend classes and spend a certain number of hours in class each week to be proficient in the aspects of the course. Each program has a different number of hours required and the days that the courses are offered vary as well. The programs do offer flexibility but there is some give and take required from both parties involved in the program. If you do not feel that you have sufficient time to dedicate to the program then you should look else where to another that is perhaps more flexible in nature.

You need to also consider the type of degree that is earned through the program that you are planning on taking. There are several levels of degrees that can be earned through these programs and the different levels offer different opportunities in the work force. Just a basic degree in nursing as offered by some schools does not go very far in the work place. A more specialized and advanced degree will open up a whole new world of opportunities for a rewarding career in nursing.

You should keep in mind that no matter which online nursing school you choose you will still be required to take part in clinicals. This part of the course will require that you transfer to a land campus before completing the degree.

Whichever program you choose should be a perfect fit for you in every aspect. If it is not comfortable than it will most likely not be successful.

Determining the Quality of the Nursing Program

The process of accreditation is not mandatory for nursing programs, but it is desirable. Accreditation is a voluntary program that schools can use to make sure that their program is on par with other schools across the country. While there may be many fine schools that are not accredited, accreditation should give you confidence in an online nursing program. Another reason to choose a school with a valid accreditation is that many schools will not take transfers or allow continuing education from a school that is not accredited.

There are two groups that accredit nursing programs in the United States. They are the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, or NLNAC, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE. By choosing a school that has the seal of approval from one of these agencies, you should feel confident that you are enrolling in a quality program.

Styles of Learning

Once you are comfortable that your school meets national standards, you must determine whether it will work for you. Online classes are becoming increasingly popular, which is both good and bad. The rapid growth in popularity of online classes has made it difficult for some schools to turn away students. Consider it from the schools point of view. An online course normally costs the same as a regular course. However, the online student does not need a seat in the classroom, does not need to fit into a class. Many colleges do not restrict the class size for online classes. While this may not be a problem if you really understand the coursework and are able to work well independently, it can cause a problem if you need extra help or find yourself falling behind.

One way that many online classes work is by collaborative learning. It is not unusual for the instructor to divide the class into smaller groups and provide assignment for each small group to work together on. Depending on your group you may find yourself spending a good deal of time in online discussions that you had not counted on when planning your time.

Other classes provide little to no interaction between yourself and other students. You will check a class message board for assignments and receive your grades in an email and have little interaction with anything other than the text book.

While it is helpful to discuss the styles of classes before you settle on a school, most teachers within a school have their own style of teaching, and you will have to adapt to each method. The most important factor when considering an online nursing program is the availability of the teachers. In even the smallest classes, if the teacher is unavailable or less than timely in returning graded assignments it will be hard to get the most from your classes.

Hands on Training

In a nursing profession it is important to receive hands on training. You will have to count on a certain number of class hours to be clinical, or hands on. The number of hours and how they are accumulated will vary by school and degree program. Someone studying for the registered nurse, or RN, degree will spend a great deal of time doing clinical work, while a student completing their Bachelor's of Science in Nursing that already is an RN and has worked as a nurse will require few, if any, clinical hours.

Getting Your Questions Answered

An online nursing program, like any other online degree program, is only as good as the people running it. It can be more difficult to determine the quality of the teaching in an online setting, but by paying attention and doing your research you may have find some clues. When you contact the school initially, how are you treated? Are your calls and emails returned promptly? Are your questions answered in a clear manner? The treatment you receive before you are a registered student can be indicative of the treatment you will receive through your time at the school.

Does the staff seem generally knowledgeable and available to answer your questions about financial aid, transferring credits, and other factors that you must consider before committing to one school? While everyone is an individual, you may discover that a helpful and administrative staff often works in the same places as supportive teachers.

The bottom line when shopping for an online nursing program is straightforward. Check that the program is accredited, make sure that there is a system in place for you to receive your clinical hours, and consider the attitude of the staff before you enroll as a student.