Accelerated Nursing Program Requirements

Non-nursing Bachelor’s Degree

The first requirement for entering an accelerated nursing program is that you hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject not related to nursing. Generally speaking it does not matter what discipline this degree is in. however if the degree is too specialized you will most likely not be accepted. In addition it is not enough to simply hold a degree; you must have graduated from the degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (generally speaking) although this does depend on the school you are applying at to a large degree.

Prerequisite Courses

As with many degree programs you need to have completed a number of prerequisite courses in order to complete an accelerated nursing degree. There are a number of prerequisite courses that you will need to complete, including:

• Anatomy and physiology with lab
• Microbiology with lab
• Introductory chemistry with lab
• Basic statistics
• Two to three introductory social sciences, such as sociology, psychology or anthropology

Usually it is assumed that you completed at least some of these while working towards your original bachelor’s degree, but if you have not you will have to attend a community college or another educational institute in order to get the necessary prerequisite courses.

Personal Statement Of Intent

This is a short essay of about 1 or 2 pages in length that expresses your desire to study nursing through an accelerated program and describes your reasons and intentions for doing so. This is your chance to make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd and will greatly improve your chances of entering an accelerated nursing degree program if you take the time to tailor your essay specifically for each school that you are potentially interested in attending.

Letters Of Recommendation

In addition to your own letter of intent you will also usually need to provide letters of recommendation from credible sources. These sources can include:

• Your current and/or former supervisors
• Your professors
• Your mentors

Entrance Exam

Entrance exams are not required by all schools that offer accelerated nursing degree programs, but in some cases you may need to prove that you have the basic academic skills necessary to complete a degree program of this intensity. The most common entrance exam that students are required to write is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).

Patient Contact Experience

This is not usually an actual requirement for entering an accelerated nursing degree program, but it is strongly recommended that you take the time to volunteer your services when possible. This will help you for a number of reasons:

• Some schools will consider first those applicants that have completed voluntary patient contact hours.

• Your supervisors at the facility where you volunteered are often excellent resources for those letters of recommendation and they can give you a foot up in terms of entering this highly competitive educational domain.

Applying For An Accelerated Nursing School

In summary, there are three basic steps to applying for accelerated nursing programs:

• Create a list of the schools that offer this program and that you will be able to attend. Your list should take into account your personal preferences and needs as well as the quality of each of the schools in your area. A comprehensive list of all the programs available in each state is available at bestnursingdegree.com. Create a short list of schools.

• Find out what prerequisite courses are required in order for you to enroll in the various programs on your list, and complete them by attending a community college or other educational facility that offers the subjects in question. Two things are important here: different schools may have different prerequisite course requirements, so make sure that you know exactly what courses you need to do; and completing the prerequisite courses before applying at the school will increase your chances of being accepted as it shows that you are really serious about completing an accelerated program.

• There will be a large amount of paperwork that will go hand in hand with your application, including an application form and letters of recommendation, among other things. Find out exactly what paperwork is needed for each course you are interested in applying for and complete it adequately. Remember that different schools may have different such requirements.

Top Accelerated Nursing Degree Schools

The school that you choose is very important as it will affect the rest of your career as a nurse. Potential employers always look at the school that you attended as an indication of your suitability or expertise and, consequently, you want to attend the best school possible. Some of the better schools to consider when looking into starting an accelerated nursing degree are the following:

Johns Hopkins University
School of Nursing
525 N. Wolfe St.
Baltimore, MD 21205
410-955-7548
jhmi.edu

Barnes-Jewish College
Goldfarb School of Nursing
4483 Duncan Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-454-7055
barnesjewishcollege.edu

Marymount University
School of Health Professionals
2807 N. Glebe Rd.
Arlington, VA 22207
703-522-5600
marymount.edu

University of Washington
1959 NE Pacific Street,
Seattle, WA 98195
206-543-8736
son.washington.edu/

University of Pennsylvania
3451 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6243
215-898-5000
upenn.edu/

University of Texas Health and Science Center Houston
6901 Bertner
Houston, TX 77030
713-500-2100
son.uth.tmc.edu/

Oakland University
2200 North Squirrel Road
Rochester, MI 48309
248-370-2100
oakland.edu

University of Missouri
1201 Rollins Street
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-0277
missouri.edu

Creighton University
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
402-280-2000
creighton.edu

Accelerated Nursing Degree Programs By State

When considering an accelerated program it is important to look into accelerated nursing programs by state. This is because each state has its own set of rules governing the nurses that work within that state, and completing a program within that state is the best way to ensure that you meet all of the necessary requirements. However, some states simply do not offer as many options as others when it comes to finding accelerated nursing programs. In Arkansas, for example, there is only one school offering an accelerated nursing program, namely Arkansas State University. Other states also have very few options on offer, including Rhode Island (Rhode Island College) and South Carolina (Medical University of South Carolina). New York, on the other hand, has numerous options, including Adelphi University, American University of Beirut, the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Columbia University, Concordia College New York, Dominican College of Blauvelt, Hartwick College, LIU Brooklyn, New York University, Niagara University, Pace University, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Stony Brook University, SUNY-Binghamton, The College of New Rochelle, The Sage Colleges, University at Buffalo, University of Rochester, and Wagner College, making it a far better state to live in if you would like to jumpstart your nursing career by completing an accelerated program. The programs mentioned here are specifically for BSN degrees.

Although there are stet by state differences in accelerated nursing programs, the average program length is about 15 months, with the longest accelerated program being about 18 months. This is an incredibly intensive education regime to commit to, especially if you consider that the four years that your counterparts will spend on becoming qualified nurses will be condensed in to no more than a year and a half for you. Consequently these accelerated nursing degree programs cannot be completed online or in your spare time because the sheer intensity of the program makes it a full time matter. You should also be careful as completing an accelerated degree may into allow you to properly digest and comprehend all of the subject matter that will come up during the course. Perhaps the most worrying factor is that the amount of hands-on training will be significantly decreased in an accelerated nursing degree program, which means that you may not be as well equipped for the job as other nurses. The basic idea is that an Accelerated second degree BSN gives you credit (often referred to as “general education” or “lower division” credits) for non-nursing classes you already took in college. Then it puts you through a sequence of nursing theory and clinical classes to prepare you to sit for the national licensing exam for Registered Nurses, called the NCLEX. There are a few online schools available in order to complete an accelerated nursing degree, bit these are few and far between. In any case, for an intensive program like this it is generally better to attend campus-based lessons.

Accelerated Nursing Program Scholarships

Students often of not pursue their educational dreams simply because they cannot afford to. However there are scholarships available for accelerated nursing degree programs that you may be able to benefit from.

State-Funded Scholarships

Each state will have its own specific scholarship options. The state of Illinois, for example, administers a Nursing School Grant Program, which provides between $29,000 and $44,000 to students pursuing an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN).

Minority Scholarships

Because minority members in the US have, for so long, been deprived of educational benefits as well as the financial resources required to pay for education, there are a number of scholarship options for minorities who feel that that they would like to attend an accelerated nursing degree program. Minority Nurse, which is an online publication, offers scholarship opportunities to minority nurses.

Private Organization Scholarships

If you have no luck at state level there are also a number of private organizations that offer scholarship opportunities for accelerated programs. For example, the Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) provides scholarships of $3,000 to students enrolled in accredited schools.

Nursing School Scholarship

Many actual nursing schools, such as the University of Miami, actually offer scholarships in order to entice student nurses to their facility. This is well worth looking into and you can find out more from the financial aid department of your school.

Examples of Specific Scholarships

Minnesota State University Accelerated Nursing Program Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Eligible students:

• Have a GPA of 3.3 or higher
• Are enrolled in the School of Nursing
• Are in need of financial aid

Interested parties can apply on the School of Nursing scholarship site: http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/scholarships/undergraduate/scholarshiplist.html.

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Accelerated Nursing

This is a scholarship opportunity for students enrolled in an accelerated program at the University of Missouri. For additional information, students should contact:

Office of Student Affairs
S235 School of Nursing
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-0277
nursing.missouri.edu/paying-for-education/scholarships/scholarships/hearst.php

AfterCollege / American Association Of Colleges Of Nursing Scholarship

This is a scholarship that all nursing students can apply for, but higher grade point averages will be considered first. The award amount is $2,500. Two winners are announced each time the scholarship is offered. More information on the scholarship can be found at the AfterCollege website: aftercollege.com/content/article/aftercollege_aacn_scholarship/76107013/.

Completing an accelerated nursing program can certainly help you jumpstart your career, but you will need to first determine if it is worth the time and effort involved or not. If you think that you will not be able to devote the required amount of attention to the program, you may want to consider going through a regular four year nursing program. However an accelerated program is perfect for people who already have an idea of what is going on in terms of nursing theory and practice, and can be a great way to save time and money.

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What Is The Accelerated Nursing Program All About?

The accelerated nursing degree offers candidates the fastest possible route to becoming a registered nurse. Of course, this is only available to those who already have a bachelors or masters degree. The whole process takes anywhere from a year to 18 months though a masters degree that is accelerated can take about three years. Though many potential students have not even heard of the accelerated nursing degree, more than 40 states offer it and there are many nursing schools that offer this course both online and offline.

The way in which the program works is that the courses build on previous knowledge. The instruction can seem really tough and this is because there is a lot of material to get through in a very short time. For those applying for an accelerated nursing degree, there are some prerequisites that you need before you can be admitted into the program. Most colleges will dictate a 3.0 GPA and will conduct interviews with any potential students before they allow admittance. As for those who are trying to work while they study, this is discouraged as the program is so intense, there is no way one could work while completing it.

So the accelerated degree is really not for everyone. It is in fact for those who have some kind of proven track record and who are serious about completing their nursing degree quickly. This type of student is typically older than those just entering college for the first time and will have some kind of work experience.

Financial Aid For Accelerated Nursing

As with any type of college student, there are those who want to enter the accelerated nursing degree but cannot afford to do so. In these cases, financial aid is offered in a number of forms:

• In some cases, the student can get a scholarship to complete their program. This really depends on their grades and the status of the college, and students applying for a scholarship may have to write an essay substantiating why they deserve it.

• A partnership with hospitals and private practices is also possible so that those who wish to study can do so. Once they have graduated, they then go to work for those hospitals or practices as payment for the finance of their studies.

• Grant funding is also an option for those who cannot afford these studies, and these can be applied to by the student or by the college. Some colleges do assist with state funding while others will help those students who need aid to apply for federal funding.

The Program Breakdown

The accelerated nursing degree is not just one degree. There are actually three options for those who wish to fast track their journey to becoming a nurse, namely, the BSN or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, the MSN or Master of Science in Nursing and the DN or Doctorate of Nursing.

The accelerated BSN program covers the basics of nursing for those who wish only to work as a registered nurse. This helps them get into entry level positions and build their experience from there. This program usually takes about a year to complete, based on the student’s previous knowledge.

The masters program is more specialized than the BSN and can take just three years to complete. If this seems like a long time, consider that the general masters in nursing degree takes six to eight years to finish. The doctorate degree is a very specialized one and those who complete generally do not work in hospitals or clinics. This is really for those who wish to work in research or become administrators and is a program that is both intense and time consuming.

One of the best benefits of these accelerated programs is that they can be a link to finding a job. In an economy where so many people are struggling to stay afloat, one of the best ways to ensure you have a job is with a nursing degree. While you complete your accelerated nursing degree, you can claim unemployment insurance for one year. Once you have earned the degree, you can work part time while studying further.

Once you have completed the accelerated nursing degree, you will have to take the NCLEX exams. These are board exams that anyone who wishes to have a career in nursing must pass to obtain a nursing license. It is vital to note here that these accelerated degrees are general degrees and do not prepare nurses for particular specialties. If you want to take up a particular specialty, you will need to study further upon completion of the degree and take a specific exam.

There are various courses that you will need to complete on the accelerated BSN degree including:

• Medical administration – part of nursing is being able to do basic administration, and this is a skill that is not as easy as simply filing. There is a need for nurses to do stock take of medications and to be able to fill in charts, a specialized skill that needs to be taught.

• Pharmacology – for those who will be working with doctors in hospitals or clinics, it is vital that they know what medications have which side effects and how to help patients to the best of their abilities. In hospitals or clinics with few resources, there is also a need to administer drugs on the nurse’s part, and this is why pharmacology is such an important skill.

• Nutrition and basic healthcare – part of the nurse’s job is determining what life changes a patient needs to make. This can include putting together a healthy eating plan for a diabetic, or helping a new parent track the progress of their baby. In these cases, there is a need to understand the human body, and what it needs to remain healthy.

• Anatomy and physiology – obviously, as with any medical qualification, there is a need for nurses to understand the human body, how it works and what could potentially go wrong. This is so that quick diagnoses can be made and patients treated.

Online Degrees

It is possible to do an accelerated nursing degree online, but it is more common for those who already hold an RN license and wish to do a masters degree to go online, rather than studying at a physical college. All of these online courses can be found using any search engine, and by adding in your particular requirements.

Because the economy has gone downhill in the last few years, more and more schools are offering this option so that those who wish to become nurses can do so. This is because nursing is a vital skill and every country needs more medical practitioners. This is one of the only careers that can claim to be recession-proof.

Even in online degrees there is a need to complete coursework. This coursework is often completed in a hospital or clinic and will involve just about everything from changing bed pans to doling out medications. This is when the nurses actually start interacting with patients and getting a sense of what it means to work in these environments. Everything they do at this point is supervised, so that there are fewer mistakes and so that they can learn.

The Job Outlook And Salary

Anyone who is in the process of completing an accelerated BSN degree will be doing it with the knowledge that they can get a job. In this field there is such a need for nurses that it is easy to find a job. In fact, government researchers have found that the increase rate for nurse positions will be about 22%, which means that there will be about half a million jobs open for those who wish to take them. In an economy where so many people are losing their jobs, this is a glimmer of hope.

Those who complete the basic accelerated BSN degree can earn up to about $57 000 a year. While this may not seem like much, it is certainly better than facing the unemployment line. Those who continue to study to the masters level will be able to earn more, with the top RNs making about $95 000 a year.

Making the decision to become a nurse is one that can lead to a long hard journey culminating in a job that few people appreciate. However, there are a lot of rewards to doing a job like this. From helping those people who cannot help themselves to contributing to developing communities, the work of a nurse is valuable, even if it is not always valued.

For those who decide to enter the nursing field, certain qualities are needed to ensure that they cope with anything that is thrown at them. Tenacity is perhaps the most important. In a field such as this, it can be easy to just give up especially when faced with difficult tasks, difficult colleagues and difficult patients. However, being able to stick to the task at hand and not give up until the work is done and done well will not only boost your career, but will also give you a sense of accomplishment.

Being a considerate and patient person is also important. Most patients are grumpy because they are scared and many may not want to communicate, may verbally abuse nurses or may simply refuse to take treatment. It is important in these situations that the nurse is on hand to soothe them, calm their fears and help them in any way possible. Though this may seem to be an impossible job, it is part of nursing.

Intuition

Another part is intuition. It is important for a nurse to be intuitive and to get things done quickly and efficiently. This ensures the health of the patients and if adhered to, can make the whole work environment a more pleasant place.

There is no doubt that the work that nurses do is not easy. The journey to become a nurse is not an easy one either, especially if you have chosen to do an accelerated BSN degree. However, for those who have the patience and the tenacity to see it through, the rewards can be great too.

The BSN degree in itself covers a lot of material and can result in late nights spent learning theories. The accelerated degree then, must be at least twice as intense and difficult for those who wish to pursue it. Not only is there are a lot of theoretical knowledge to be gained, but there is also coursework to complete and exams to study for. Depending on the college you choose to attend, there may also be extra lectures and courses to help you specialize should you wish to do so.

Why do so many people opt to study an accelerated nursing degree if it is so difficult? Because the rewards are plentiful. Not only are you guaranteed a job, but you also have the opportunity to help people and to make a difference in the world. This is not a claim that many people can make, so if you have chosen to become a nurse, you have taken the first step towards a better world. For those who are completing the accelerated nursing degree, it is vital to keep the goal in sight and to keep reminding yourself why you are studying and what rewards your will gain once you have earned your degree.

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What To Expect From Your Course

The RN degree forms the foundation of your career in the nursing field and there are three ways of doing this namely:

• Associate’s degree in nursing
• Bachelor’s in nursing degree
• National Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN)

Associate’s Degree In Nursing

This degree can take between two and three years to complete and gives you an opportunity for an entry level position that offers many benefits and opens up the doors to higher degrees as well. This degree is usually the most popular because it doesn’t take so long to complete and students can graduate quicker and enter the job market a lot quicker than with the other degrees. Having an associate’s degree in nursing also counts towards the credits for your Bachelor’s degree in nursing and the nurse can gain valuable practical experience in the field while studying.

Bachelor’s In Nursing Degree

The next step after obtaining the Associate’s degree would be to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. This degree is also obtained by earning credits through your associate’s degree and on the job training as well. Many of these degrees are available with flexible schedules and class rosters to make it easier for nurses to study and work at the same time. There are also many online bachelor’s degree programs available.

National Licensing Examination

The National Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN) is essential for a registered nurse to complete in order to have a license to practice. Without completing this examination the nurse’s chances of employment drop drastically and the chances of being able to move forward in your career will also be diminished.

All of these courses can be done by attending classes at a campus, by going to night school or by doing an online accredited course. The type of course you choose will mostly depend on what will be most convenient with your work schedule.

Requirements For Doing A Nursing Degree

Before enrolling for an RN degree there are a few rules and regulations to be aware of.

Academic Standards

In order for you to pass your degree in nursing you would have to show your determination and commitment to your patients. The best way to start doing this is by keeping your grades up to standard.

In order to continue on the program, you will have to keep a 2.0 average across your subjects, which is a fair grade to maintain when you are dedicated to becoming a nurse.

Attendance

When you are doing an online course, the attendance is not really taken into account, but you need to make sure that you spend enough time on each subject and each module that is being handled, especially when you are attending class. Each credit that you earn during your degree is equated to an amount of hours that you should spend on that module.

The hours to credit ratio is usually about three to one. This means that for every credit you will be receiving for the module, you need to spend three hours of studying and work. When you are spending time in class, you are working towards your hours for your credit and if you are doing the degree through the Internet, you need to spend the same amount of time working through your textbooks and doing research as your would have done if you were attending classes at a campus.

Withdrawing From The Course

If you decide that the degree is not what you wanted to do, that you have too many other responsibilities or you want to stop the course for any other reason, you will need to give notice of your intent. The department of nursing has extended the dates for withdrawal from courses and these withdrawal dates depend on the type of course you are attending.

Examinations

Examinations are done for the degree on predetermined dates. When you enroll for the program, you will be notified of when the examinations will take place and the venue for the examination will be confirmed closer to the date. It is very important to keep to these dates and to make sure your schedule is cleared on these dates to attend the examination.

Should you not be able to be at the examination on the determined date, you will need to give your instructor or the invigilator proper notice before the date of the exam and confirm why you will not be able to attend the examination on the date. The instructor will then decide whether a make-up exam will be given to you based on the merit of your excuse and the notice period that was given to the instructor of your absence from the examination.

It is prudent to go through the examinations in order to obtain your degree regardless of which type of degree or which type of course you are attending. The examinations will determine whether you are ready to be sent out into the nursing field and if you are competent enough to obtain your degree.

What Can Make You Fail Regardless Of Your Marks

Being a nurse is about more than just the knowledge of the working environment and the human body. There are many other aspects that need to be taken into consideration when you are a nurse.

Physical Jeopardy

Should a nurse do anything that would threaten the well-being of a patient, they are considered as being in physical jeopardy. This could include not maintaining a safe and hygienic environment and not doing everything possible to contain the threat of the spread of disease. A nurse needs to keep themselves and the patients safe from infection and re-infection at all times.

Any change in a patient’s physical condition needs to be reported to the physician in charge of the patient or on duty as well. Should a student fail to observe the correct procedures, they will fail the course.

Even though the student is still practicing and learning, they have to consider each practical exercise as a real medical emergency and if they show any aggression towards the imagined patient or they do not observe the correct use of restraints to secure the patient without hurting them, the discretion could lead to failing the course.

Giving patients the incorrect information or advice can also lead to them injuring or killing themselves and this is also a great risk to the safety of the patient. The student needs to show knowledge of how to convey information to patients in the correct manner and the knowledge that they can only give informational material to patients that is approved and that is applicable to their condition. Any unauthorized informational material may cause greater harm than good.

Emotional Jeopardy

There are ways to harm another person without laying a hand on them. This is considered emotional jeopardy and can be just as dangerous as physical jeopardy.

Not keeping the information of a patient confidential is a very serious offence as it is in breach of the patient’s human rights. Keeping a patient’s information private is very important and can lead to you losing your job and not being able to work in the industry ever again.

Threatening a patient for which ever reason and in which ever circumstances is a very serious violation as well. A nurse needs to be compassionate and empathetic towards patients in all circumstances and at all times regardless of the patient’s treatment of the nurse.

A situation which is as seemingly innocent as a nurse not being able to control their own anxiety properly can put a patient in jeopardy and will cause a nurse to fail the course. A nurse needs to be in control of the situation. If the nurse is in a state of panic, then the patient could start to stress and this could lead to the distressed patient going into shock and losing their life.

Health And Safety Regulations Of Nursing Schools

Just as in the hospital situation, there is a level of safety that needs to be maintained when going on course. These standards must be upheld as if in the hospital situation. If the health requirements are not met by the student then they will not be allowed to enter the clinical area and can also be prohibited from entering the nursing program.

The nursing student needs to obtain a Tuberculoses clearing. Tuberculosis is highly contagious and can be spread by air which makes it all the more dangerous. If a nursing student does not pass the TB test, they will not be able to practice until they have been cleared. The threat of spreading the disease to patients and other nursing staff is too great.
The student and nurse’s Hepatitis B inoculations will also need to be up to date. The possibility for a nurse to get this disease accidentally from a patient is very great and it is one of the occupational hazards of being a nurse. Proof will have to be supplied of the inoculations being up to date. If they are not, the student or nurse will have to get these inoculations up to date.

Each student is required to have a Tetanus injection as well if they have not had one in the past ten years. Tetanus is spread through blood and a nurse comes into contact with the blood of their patients on a daily basis. Accidental exposure is a very real possibility in this line of study and work.

Because students have to complete a certain amount of on-the-job training they will need professional indemnity insurance to protect themselves against lawsuits from patients. This cover is essential for students and nurses as well in order to work with patients. Without this insurance, the student will not be allowed to do any practical work on patients and will then not be able to complete the relevant modules or credits to pass the course successfully.

Health insurance is also compulsory for nurses. If you do not have health insurance, the chances increase of you not going to the doctor when you need to and serious conditions can go undetected for too long which can then be spread to your patients. It is better to be covered properly to protect yourself as well as your patients.
Another requirement for enrolling in an RN program is a CPR qualification. A nurse and student nurse should be competent and fully versed with all types of CPR on different kind of patients. These certificates have to be current and need to be kept up to date throughout the time of the course.

Licensing

After the degree course has been completed it is important that the student request their transcripts and sends it to the Board of Nursing soon after graduation. The board will then give you information about the NCLEX-RN and how and when to register for this examination.

The Board of Nursing will decide which of the nurses who apply will qualify to take the examination. For this reason you have to apply as soon as possible after graduation so that all of the relevant deadlines are met.

You can apply to write your NCLEX-RN in another state if you intent to work in a state other than the one you did your studies in. The application needs to be submitted in writing and you will then be notified whether your application has been approved or not.

On The Road To A Better Future

To become the best RN that you can be and to climb the ladder to a better career, it is important to go through the process of getting your RN degree. You will be able to work without this degree, but the choices going forward are often limited.

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What Degree Do I Need To Become A Medical Assistant?

Medical Assisting has become a very popular vocation over the past few years due to the dearth of nurses and assistants in the medical industry. This need for personnel is set to grow due to the advances of modern technology keeping people alive longer but requiring assistance for longer too. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job prospects for medical assistants are anticipated to grow by 34% between 2008 and 2018.

A medical assistant degree can be applied to a vast array of areas within the medical caring industry. When it comes to studying to become a Medical Assistant, you have two ways you can go, and it is important that you find out as much as you can about both choices so that you can make an informed decision as to which direction would best suit you.

Medical Assistant Degree Programs

Medical Assistant Certificate Versus Associate Degree

There are various schools that offer medical assisting certificates, which will increase your chances of getting employed in the medical field. Although you do not necessarily need a certificate to be employed as medical assistant, it will definitely improve your chances.

Vocational Schools and Community Colleges offer undergraduate certificates, and some of them offer an opportunity to focus on either clinical or administrative skills whilst others give instruction on both.

A Medical Assistant Certificate Program requires you to do 30 credit hours and usually takes about 9-12 months to complete whilst an Associate Degree program will take you two years to complete.

Both programs will contain certain clinical and administrative tasks such as:

• Administrative skills – form a large portion of an assistant’s job. The Medical Assistant Degree Programs will cover all the skills necessary to run a medical office efficiently. The course covers word processing programs, spreadsheets, e-mail, organization skills, professional conduct in the workplace and how to prioritize your duties.

• Clinical procedures – are the processes that medical assistants are required to perform on a daily basis. The course will cover collecting bodily fluid specimens from patients, performing simple lab tests, how to change dressings, how to prepare patients for x rays, and how to use medical equipment like EKG machines.

• Coding and Insurance Processing – this is an integral part of the billing process and as such important to the medical assistant. It covers how to document the services provided to patients by assigning diagnostic and procedural codes to their files, and how to use those codes to create insurance claims.

• Human Anatomy and Physiology – anatomy covers the structure of the body, and its organs, tissues, and bones. Physiology deals with bodily functions such as breathing and the cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. This knowledge prepares medical assistants for clinical duties.

• Infection control – is a set of procedures performed by the medical assistant in order to maintain the integrity of the sterile environment of the hospital or clinic. Medical Assistant Degree Programs discuss standard precautions that should be taken, such as avoiding contact with body fluids, wearing protective clothing, frequent hand washing, and correctly disposing of needles.

• Inventory management – is the stocking, control and ordering of essentials such as disposable medical gowns, bandages, swabs, and other supplies required in a clinic or hospital. The course will cover how to catalog items, how often they need to be ordered, how to track the use of certain items.

• Medical Ethics and Law – provides an ethical framework to assist students with difficult decisions that need to be made. It covers situations like healthcare reform and informed consent, patient confidentiality, and medical experimentation.

• Medical Terminology – this portion discusses the technical language that is used in the medical and healthcare industry and covers the vocabulary relating to medical legislation, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic testing and clinical procedures. The Latin roots of medical terminology are also explored.

• Measuring Vital Signs – is how the physical condition of patients is determined. All Medical Assistant Degree Programs cover how to measure and record vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, pulse and breathing rate.

You may also be required to complete an internship in a health-care facility or a physician’s office in order to get hands-on experience.

The main difference between these two Medical Assistant Degree Programs is what they are worth in the long run; an associate degree makes it easy to transfer credits towards obtaining an advanced degree in the future should you decide to study further. Those with a certificate may find that those with associate degrees pip them at the post when applying for employment as many employers prefer applicants who have a higher degree and who have an opportunity for further study.

Online Medical Assistant Degree Programs

There are various online Medical Assistant Degree Programs offered, and the main thing you need to remember when sourcing the program that you would like to enroll in is to ensure that the program includes a practical component so that you can get your hands-on clinical experience. Many of the online programs include internships or externships, which are important as you cannot learn to perform tasks such as removing stitches or testing blood without actually physically doing it.

The other very important factor in your decision regarding a school is that it must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This is very important as you will not be able to become a Certified Medical Assistant unless you graduate from an accredited school.

Although things could change in the future, you need to be aware that very few online Medical Assistant Degree Programs were accredited in 2012.

What Does A Medical Assistant Do?

A medical assistant who has qualified with a certificate will perform both administrative and clinical duties such as taking and recording a patient’s vital signs, coding and filing insurance forms, scheduling appointments, updating patient records, collecting specimens, and organizing hospital admissions and lab services.

Those who qualified from their Medical Assistant Degree Programs with an associate degree will be qualified to do more than those with a certificate. They will do many of the same tasks but will also be qualified to draw blood, remove stitches, authorize prescription refills, and prepare and administer various medications under direct supervision of a physician.

Various Medical Assistant Professions

Choosing between Medical Assistant Degree Programs also depends on which type of medical assisting you would like to do:

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

• Education Required: Certificate (approximately 12 months of study)

• Average Salary: $28,900

• Work Environment: Hospitals and Medical clinics

• Job Description: CMAs perform a combination of clerical and clinical duties, including taking patient histories, billing patients, collecting specimens, basic laboratory work, and helping patients to understand medical instructions.

In order to become certified, graduates must pass the CMA Certification Exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Administrative Medical Assistant

• Education Required: Certificate (approximately 12 months of study)

• Average Salary: $26,000

• Work Environment: Medical Clinics and Hospitals

• Job Description: Administrative Medical Assistants do purely administrative work such as scheduling and confirming appointments, ordering supplies and keeping examination rooms well-stocked, and maintaining patient medical records.

Clinical Medical Assistant

• Education Required: Certificate (approximately 12 months of study)

• Average Salary: $30,000

• Work Environment: Medical Clinics and Hospitals

• Job Description: Clinical Medical Assistants work very closely with both physicians and patients. They explain medical procedures to patients, sterilize medical equipment, record patients’ vital signs, and are also qualified to give injections and remove stitches.

Specialized Medical Assistant

• Education Required: Certificate (approximately 12 months of study)

• Average Salary: $28,900

• Work Environment: Clinics

• Job Description: Specialized Medical Assistants perform the same administrative and clinical duties that other assistants do, but they also perform more specialized clinical tasks as required by the specialized industry in which they work, such as ophthalmology, podiatric and chiropractic care or dentistry.

Salary Information

Salaries for Medical assistants differ according to your qualifications, the number of years of experience you have, and your level of skill as well as location. The median annual income for medical assistants, according to the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, is around $29,914. One should, however take the whole package into consideration:

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Job Outlook

Medical Assisting is a field that is growing exponentially, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 527,000 medical assistants employed in theUnited Statesin 2010. This figure is estimated to increase by approximately 34% within the next decade, making it the fastest growing occupation, and medical assistants that gain their certification will have no shortage of job opportunities.

Accreditation

Whichever course you decide to take, it is important that when looking for Medical Assistant Degree Programs you ensure that you find one that is accredited.

The two accrediting agencies that are tasked with establishing policies and procedures that ensure quality medical assistant training for students are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

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• EMT Certificate Program
• Associate Degree in Para-medicine
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services Management

What is important is that you take the time necessary to carefully study the various options that are open to you and make your final decision only after you have given the issue due thought. There are advantages and disadvantages to getting a certificate, just as there are advantages and disadvantages to getting a degree, so you will need to see which option better suits your particular goals and situation.

EMT Degree Programs vs. EMT Certificate Programs

There are, as has already been mentioned, a number of options open to you when considering the prospect of becoming an EMT. You can loosely split these into two categories, namely, degree programs and certificate programs. There are three main certificate programs.

However, you also have the options of rolling all three of these into one Associates degree course. This is one of the EMT degree programs that we will consider today. This allows you to get your certification after a two-year course that combines all the aspects mentioned above, making the entire process go faster. There are a number of advantages to doing it this way:

• You will get a more well-rounded education at the end of the day
• You will be given the opportunity to complete additional courses to the regular EMT coursework. These include things like English, Math and Biology.

You will need to weigh these advantages against the disadvantages of degree programs, namely that they tend to take longer to complete than certificate programs. They can also be more expensive. Careful consideration of the resources that you have to dedicate to your studies will be needed here.

Perhaps the most important part of an EMT degree program is that you will be required to complete hands-on practical training. This could take place in an emergency room or in an actual ambulance. This is very important as it will not only prepare you well for any exams that you have to write, but it will also provide you with valuable experience that will help you to get a job in the future. In addition it will make you a more confident EMT once you are working as you will already have a very good idea of what you need to do in order to your job to the best of your ability.

EMT Certificate Program

We will now take a good look at the different program options that are open to those students who would like to eventually qualify as EMTs. There are, as previously mentioned, three main options. The first option, which we will discuss here, is the EMT certificate program.

As mentioned previously, there are three main certificate programs, these are:

• EMT-Basic certificate program
• EMT-Intermediate certificate program
• EMT-Paramedic certificate program

In addition, these can be rolled into one degree program that can be completed over a period of two years.

This program is one that combines a certain amount of field work (focusing on cardiac emergencies, respiratory emergencies, toxicological emergencies, and metabolic emergencies) with classroom lectures (focusing on human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and medical terminology). Both are equally important for preparing you for what you will be doing once you are a certified EMT. This combination also serves to prepare you effectively for the various certification exams given through the National Registry of EMT. So the advantages are twofold; you are prepared for the theory part, which is the exam that you will need to write, and you are prepared for the practical part, which will be your working life out in the field as an EMT in the future. This is a more comprehensive approach to the field, which is why many people choose this option. In total, you will have to complete about 21 to 45 credit hours in order to get a certificate of this kind.

The greatest advantage is that it is shorter than a degree program, so you will be able to get out there and embark on your new career in the field within a shorter time frame, thereby reaching your goal speedily. The disadvantages are that it is not taken quite as seriously as a degree qualification, and you will not have as comprehensive an education as if you had undergone the EMT degree program in order to become qualified. However you could consider using this as a stepping stone to a higher qualification.

Associate Degree In Para-medicine

There are two main degrees that you can obtain; the associate’s degree and the bachelor’s degree. The associate’s degree is the one we have already mentioned as the two-year degree that contains all of the certification programs in one. However, many universities will require that you already hold an EMT qualification or certification of some kind before you can enter into a degree program. More information about the various prerequisites for this program is contained in the next section. Make sure that you look into the particular prerequisites for your state as they can vary significantly, and make sure that you know what the particular school you are interested in attending requires of you before you take the time to enroll at that school. The curriculum you will follow here will be very strict and structured. It will contain a number of aspects including field work, where you will get the hands-on, practical experience that you need. Another aspect includes formal lectures, where you will learn the theory that you will have to apply on a daily basis in your job as an EMT. Lastly, hospital clinical hours will be completed, where you will learn how to apply what you know in a hospital setting in order to prepare you for your future as an EMT. The required coursework, which we have already discussed, should be adequate enough to prepare you for the examinations that you will have to write in order to attain certification. If you do not pass you will be unable to practice, so this is very important.

Bachelor Of Science Degree In Emergency Medical Services Management

The bachelor’s degree program is the longest program of all as it requires that you study for 4 years before you receive your qualification. This may seem like a long time, but it is worth it in the long run because of the career opportunities that will become available to you if you hold an advanced degree such as this one. The program essentially trains you to become an effective manager in the field of being an EMT. You will be working towards a leadership position if you get a degree of this kind, and, although this comes with a much higher load of responsibility, it also comes with a variety of benefits and perks. Some courses that you may have to do in this degree that are omitted from other qualifications are:

• Health science
• Clinical management
• Clinical science
• Business classes
• Marketing
• Financial management
• Statistics

Once you have your bachelor’s degree there are a number of career options open to you, including:

• Advanced paramedic
• EMS instructor
• EMS supervisor
• Paramedic program director
• Paramedic supervisor

In short, the degree opens up doors for you that you would have otherwise not have had access to. It is, however, time-consuming, so you will have to weigh this disadvantage against the various advantages offered.

Prerequisites

Like any degree there are prerequisites that you will absolutely have to meet if you are to enter the degree program. This section outlines the prerequisites that you will have to fill for the two EMT degree programs that we are interested in. read through the prerequisites carefully and determine ahead of time whether or not they are something that you will be able to meet. Let’s have a look at the specifics now.

Associate Of Science Degree In Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

In order to get an Associate of Science Degree in Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic you will need to be able to resent either a high school diploma or a GED qualification. This is the bare minimum requirement. In addition you also need to already be a registered basic EMT. You also need to be well versed in CPR and have the card that proves it. The other prerequisites are going to depend on the school that you apply at. Many require additional background checks and drug screening, but you will have to find out from the specific school what the requirements are.

Bachelor Of Science Degree In Paramedic Studies

At colleges and universities, EMT studies will fall under one of the following headings:

• EMS programs
• EMT programs
• Health science programs

In order to enter a bachelor’s degree program you will need to be a credentialed professional in the EMT field. The degree is essentially an additive to an education you have already had. Again, for most of these programs you may already need to hold an EMT qualification. Several of the degree programs mentioned here are in fact aimed at those EMTs who would like to improve their knowledge and skills in the area. A CPR card is also a prerequisite for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Paramedic Studies.

Coursework

There are a number of different subjects that will form part of your coursework. Firstly it is interesting to note that EMT degree programs tend to have more theoretical courses than EMT certificate programs. However there is a lot of hands-on experience to be gained from both. According to this website these are the main courses that certificate and degree programs tend to have in common with one another. Basically you can be pretty sure that you will at some point have to cover the following topics:

• Patient assessment
• Basic emergency equipment
• Airway obstruction
• Treating trauma
• Cardiac arrests
• Nasal incubation
• Anatomy and Physiology
• English composition
• Biology

If you decide to go for the Associate of Science Degree in Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic then the following coursework will be on your task list:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Assessment of patients
• Cardiac life support
• Hazardous materials
• Paramedic internship
• Para-medicine
• Pediatric care
• Trauma care

If you would prefer the Bachelor of Science Degree in Paramedic Studies option you will have slightly different coursework to get through:

• Administration systems
• Management principles
• Medical law and ethics
• Paramedic practicum and internship
• Patient and situation assessment
• Pharmacology
• Responding to medical and trauma emergencies

In most cases you will have to complete a combination of field work, clinical hours, and lectures in order to complete your EMT degree program. As you can see above the topics covered in a Bachelor’s Degree are a little more complex and intensive than those covered in an Associate’s Degree.

The essential issue that you will have to face here is what qualification you should get as an EMT. There is a lot of information to be found on each of the qualifications that are on offer. For example, if time is an issue and you need to start working as soon as possible, a certificate program may be your best option. You can always work towards a more advanced qualification later on. If, however, you have the time and the resources to get a degree you will have a well-rounded education that is guaranteed to be of the best quality. In addition you should look into specific certificate and degree programs that are available to you in your area. There are some certificate programs that are better than others, just as there are some EMT degree programs that are worse than others. It is your responsibility to do a comprehensive assessment of the options that are actually available to you in order to make the best decision possible.

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Social Worker Degrees Open Up Many Doors

If you are interested in helping others, a social worker degree can open up a number of doors, and job prospects in this field are excellent, especially when you consider that employment is expected to increase dramatically as well as the population growth. It does not matter which social worker degree programs you choose, because your job will always revolve around helping people in their different phases of life. There is a particular need for social workers in rural areas around the world, and medical social workers will be particularly in high demand. The reason for this, is that the elderly population is also increasing.

A Range Of Specialties For Social Workers

Social workers can pursue a range of specialties, but of all the social worker jobs, most are in the field of health care and social assistance industries. Social worker degrees will allow graduates to enter a number of exciting fields like helping people overcome drug addictions, domestic abuse, children and family services, mental health treatments, homelessness and much more. To assist with all of these problems, social workers don’t only possess skills which they have learned, they are also compassionate people, who communicate and listen well and are up to date with all the laws and ethics of social welfare.

Being a social worker is not for everyone. First of all you need a compassionate and helping nature, while still having the ability to not crack when you see and experience things that can be very disturbing. Seeing a tiny baby who has been physically abused can be very upsetting, and it is for this reason, that this career choice is not for everyone. Alcohol and drug counseling is a complex field too, and counselors are trained to treat the disease as well as the individual and assist with coming up with a treatment plan towards healing. For this they may need to get the help of other professionals, which includes those in the criminal justice system. Social workers need to be mentally and emotionally strong to handle the high levels of stress with these cases.

Different Aspects of Social Worker Degrees

For a social worker degree you will need to be able to work on your own and in multidisciplinary teams writing up assessments, taking part in meetings around mental health and child protection, maintaining records, preparing reports for legal action, appearing in court and giving evidence, providing counseling and much more. Social workers have also developed charitable organizations which serve people in need, sorting out injustices and providing inspiration.

When deciding on where to study for your social worker degree you will want to know something of the philosophy and courses offered. Degree programs for social work will involve classroom study as well as practical field experience. There are three types of degrees offered for social workers:

Bachelor’s Degree

• Master’s Degree
• Doctorate in Social Work

Bachelor’s Degree

Social workers need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work for them to be able to be certified. In order to become a licensed social worker, you will need a bachelor’s degree in social work, which will immediately open many doors for you in the field of social work. If you want to work in a specific area of expertise, you can go on to get your master’s degree in your specific area. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for an entry-level job in social work, though these days it is better to go for a more advanced level. A bachelor’s degree offers majoring in sociology, social work and psychology. The jobs available to those who have a bachelor’s degree are pretty lucrative.

Social workers with a Bachelor’s degree will in all likelihood report to someone, but they will still be given a lot of autonomy in their work and will be allowed to make many decisions. An important part of counseling work is psychology, and social workers studying for a master’s degree will put their skills to the test and work with a person with real problems, and help them to free themselves of the problem they are dealing with. When entering into social worker degree programs you will see there are different types of counselors like educational counselors, marriage and family counselors and others.

With social worker degrees you can choose from several different occupations. Graduating with a master’s in social work is necessary for some jobs. There are occupations that call for a higher level of learning and this is why a master’s degree is needed.

Master’s Degree

In this case, there are jobs that require counselors to have clinical counseling experience apart from a master’s degree in social work. A license is required for those who will engage in counseling work. After obtaining your social work degree get your license by passing the certifying exam.

The Master of Social Work is the second highest and most common degree attainable for the field of social work. Some of the specializations which are part of this degree are:

• Medical and Public Health which entails providing psychosocial assistance to families, helping them to cope with things like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse involves treating patients who are dealing with mental health and substance abuse problems, offering care and counseling services.

• Child, Family, and School is where social workers work at improving the social and psychological status of families, assessing their needs. They can specialize in things like adoption, foster care and domestic violence.

To reach the master’s level, students require two years of full-time study, coupled with two years of actual field experience acquired through internships, work experience as well as volunteer work. In fact, a master’s degree includes the completion of a demanding program of 900 hours of field work, and when some would-be social workers see this they realize that social work is not for everyone. Field placements are an important part of your social worker program, and it includes working in places like schools, clinics or a social service agency for example. You will learn a whole lot of practical skills you will need in your career.

Those who enroll in this degree will need to decide which area of social work they want to focus on. A common area to work in is health care, specializing in the elderly and rural areas.

The requirements for admission to a Master of Social Work program is different in every institution and from country to country, but there are some common requirements. If you are still in school and looking to make being a social worker your career choice, check the requirements at your school and make sure that you are taking the correct subjects. Before you can start with your Master’s Degree, you will need a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Having majored in certain areas like psychology, social sciences, humanities and sociology for example, will stand you in good stead. To do your Master’s Degree, you may be required to take specific classes before admission. You may need to complete things that are not part of your course such as tests and examinations or maybe even a thesis.

To enter into any social worker degree programs you may even be requested to submit other documents and information, or to have a couple of reference letters too. It may be that you will have to submit transcripts of your previous academic work. You may also need to complete a skills assessment. Students from other countries interested in social worker degrees may need to provide additional information about their ability to speak English as well as their financial status.

Social Worker Degree Online

These days there are a wealth of online social worker degree courses that universities offer students, and what makes them so popular is that you can carry on with work while you study for your degree on-line. They work on the principle of self-study, so you will need to be disciplined in setting time aside to study. Online master’s degree program courses are fantastic for anyone who needs the flexibility of a web degree in order to balance work, education, studying and family. Contrary to what many people thing, online social worker degree programs allow for plenty of sharing with other students and professionals involved in the same degree.

More and more people are opting to pursue social work degrees online, because of the affordability of online degrees, and the Internet provides ideas for the best online colleges and universities offering online Master of Social Worker degrees as well as other social work related graduate degrees.

The post Want To Obtain Your Social Worker Degree? appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

When you get a physical therapy assistant degree you will be qualified to assist physical therapists in a wide range of daily activities. You will be eligible to work in nursing homes, home health care situations, health care practitioner offices and hospitals. You will need an associate’s degree in order to become a physical therapist assistant.

Training And Licensing

To be a physical therapy assistant you will need to get a physical therapy assistant degree. If you want to practice, you will also need to be certified. Something that is very important to keep in mind is that certification qualifications vary from state to state, so find out what the exact prerequisites in your state are.

There are several different courses that you can engage in order to become a PTA:

• Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assisting
• Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health
• Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assisting
• Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Health

Some physical therapy assistants train on the job, but in most states you need to be fully qualified and licensed in order to practice as a physical therapy assistant. For this you will need an associate’s degree.

Online Physical Therapy Assistant Degrees

An online PTA degree is an easy and flexible way for you to become an accredited PTA, but you need to make sure that the online school that you get your Physical Therapy Assistant Degree through is actually one that is accredited and that you are not effectively wasting your time with the qualification.

The following are generally considered to be the 9 best online schools (in reverse order) for getting your physical therapy assistant degree in the United States:

• Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
• Pima Medical Institute
• Keiser University Online
• Independence University
• Penn Foster Career School
• A.T. Still University
• Argosy University
• Herzing College
• Grand Canyon University

Your Learning Expectations

Different physical therapy assistant programs come with different curriculum’s, but there basics that you will learn will include:

• Theory and Practice of Physical Therapy (resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid, and field experience in treatment centers)
• Medical Sciences Courses
• General Courses (algebra, English, anatomy and physiology, and psychology)
• Practical Work
• You will also develop the skills needed to be well-organized, detail oriented, and caring, as well as being easy to lead and able to work in a team
• Interpersonal skills

More specifically, at the end of a physical therapy assistant degree:

• You should be able to become employed as a physical assistant in an entry-level capacity
• You should be able to comprehend and implement the various procedures that a physical therapy assistant will be responsible for easily and adequately (under the supervision of a Physical Therapist)
• You should be able to pass a licensing exam easily
• You should be able to put theory knowledge regarding legal and ethical considerations in the physical therapy arena into practice efficiently and consistently
• You should have developed an interest in constantly bettering your knowledge in the field through the acceptance and adherence to life-long learning standards for the industry
• You should be able to implement treatments plans and adapt them according to patient responses and interactions
• You should be able to take information you learn from literature reviews into practice efficiently and appropriately
• You should be able to report and communicate changes in patient status and patient progress
• You should be able to communicate effectively in terms of documenting information regarding the patent’s care, progress and responses
• You should be able to collect data and then apply that data appropriately to the plan of care formulated for the patient
• You should be able to identify how to interact appropriately with the various people with whom you will come into contact with and provide the appropriate support needed at a variety of levels

To enter a physical therapy assistant degree:

• You will need to have the comprehension skill of an 11th grader
• You will need to be able to function competently and safely if you are taking prescription or over the counter medication
• You will need to be able to communicate and assimilate information in a variety of different formats
• You will need to have personal and grooming standards that are appropriate for the work you will do as a physical therapists assistant, namely close contact with clients
• You will need to have the skills necessary to analyse and draw conclusions from data
• You will need to have the social skills necessary for this type of work
• You will need to have the physical ability to stand for a minimum of 2 hours
• You will need to have the emotional stability to keep your head under emergency circumstances
• You will need to have the physical ability to walk for a minimum of six hours
• You will need to have the natural ability to identify a potentially dangerous situation and intervene before the situation becomes severe and serious
• You will need to be physically able to stoop and bend for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time and to repeat this activity at uncertain intervals
• You will need to be able to respond well and appropriately to various skills and signals given by patients
• You will need to be physically able to lift a person weighing 40 pounds on your own, and you will need to be physically capable of assisting in moving a much heavier patient
• You will need to have the fine motor coordination necessary to do tasks such as assisting with dressing
• You will need to be able to determine what is going on with a patient by touch

Nature Of Work

You should note that there are differences between physical therapy assistants and physical therapy aides, but a physical therapy assistant degree should qualify you for both.

As a Physical Therapy Assistant you will assist the physical therapist in:

• Providing care to the patient
• Providing exercise instruction to the patient (under supervision)
• Providing therapeutic methods to the patient (under supervision)
• Recording responses to and outcome of the various treatments that the patient is made to undergo

As a physical therapy aide you will:

• Assist in making the therapy session productive (under supervision)
• Keep the treatment area clean
• Keep the treatment area organised
• Prepare the treatment area for each therapy session
• Assist patients in moving from treatment area to another
• Deal with various clerical and administrative tasks (depends on the institute you are working for)
• Physical therapy assistant aides are not licensed to perform clinical duties

In general the work you will do with a PTA degree is:

• Assisting in improving patient mobility
• Assisting in preventing or lessening any disabilities a patient may have
• Assisting patients with exercising
• Assisting patients in learning to use aids, such as crutches
• Gathering and preparing therapy equipment

Environment and Hours

• Strength is required to a certain degree , something you need to keep in mind when applying for a physical therapy assistant degree
• Hours will vary depending on your place of work
• Part time and weekend hours are a possibility in this line of work

Future Prospects And Salary

You’ll be very happy to hear that jobs in the physical therapy assistant field are projected to grow faster than average in the future, making it a safe and secure bet for someone looking for a stable career. This is in fact true of many jobs in the health care industry, the fastest growing job industry at present. New technological advances create new jobs, and higher prevalence of certain conditions cause health care workers to be highly in demand.

It is important to remember, however, that you may face quite stiff competition when applying for a PTA job as more and more people are becoming qualified to work in this area.

There are several future plans you may be able to make once you have a PTA degree:

• You could enter an accredited physical therapy assistant school that will allow you to convert your PTA degree to a Physical Therapist Degree, opening up your career options even further.

The physical therapy assistant salary you can expect varies slightly, generally falling somewhere between $33,840 and $49,010.

In general it is easy to see that if you want to get your foot in the door of the health care industry without the years of study involved in becoming, for example, a doctor, then a physical therapy assistant degree is the perfect avenue for you to pursue. As far as employment goes, you should be able to find a job if you have the appropriate certification, and once you have entered the job market in this way you should never have any trouble staying employed.

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