A pediatric nurse practitioner is a nurse who specifically works with children and adolescents in a number of different health care settings, providing them with care specific to their age group. It is well known that infants, children, and adolescents have different nutritional and medical needs to adults and geriatrics, which is why the need for experts in this area exists.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The duties of a pediatric nurse practitioner are as follows:

• Pediatric nurse practitioners work alongside pediatricians and other health care professionals to provide adequate care to pediatrics (defined as any individual younger than the age of 18).

• The pediatric nurse practitioner may serve as the child’s primary caregiver in charge of all diagnoses and treatment plans.

• In addition to dealing with ill children, nurses with this qualification also assist the families of patients who are chronically ill or severely injured.

• In cases where a child has lost the physical ability to stand or walk, pediatric nurse practitioners will administer thorough assessments of that child and engage in rehabilitation should it be deemed necessary.

• A pediatric nurse practitioner is also active in providing preventative care information to the parents of the children under her care, as well as providing tips on how parents can care for their ill child in the home environment.

Employment

Although a large number of pediatric nurse practitioners work specifically in hospitals or in doctor’s offices, it is possible to have your own practice if you have this qualification. This is one of the primary reasons why this is such a popular career path with many nurses. Naturally the educational requirements that you will have to meet before you will be able to run your own practice are vast, but it will result in having a higher degree of professional prestige and earning more respect from others in the healthcare field.
Employment as a pediatric nurse practitioner suits those nurses who have a special interest in the well being of youngsters and who are willing to engage in the training needed to become certified. As tragedies can happen in a pediatric ward, a strong emotional character will also stand you in good stead.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Requirements

The following are the requirements that you must meet if you want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner:

• To begin with you will need to attend a nursing program that results in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Once you have your bachelor’s degree you will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)

• After you have experience as an RN, you will need to go back to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

• Take any courses that are offered by your program convener in child health and psychology in order to prepare for work in pediatrics

• Once you have met the educational requirements you will need to earn board certification in pediatrics through the Society of Pediatric Nurses, which will result in you officially becoming a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP)

Personality Traits

There are a number of general nursing skills that will stand you in good stead as a pediatric nurse practitioner, but there is one very important skill that is not required in most other nursing specialties. This is the ability to understand the individual psychology of each child and communicate with children at their level. Although this skill can be taught, it will help you considerably if you have a natural ability in this regard. In addition to this specific skill you will also need the personality traits of empathy and understanding, especially as children often need greater reassurance and levels of support than adults do when they are in a hospital or other health care facility. Attention to detail is also extremely important as children will not be able to explain situations or symptoms to you as easily as an adult would, making it your responsibility to infer details through other means.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for this line of work are fairly stringent as you are required to earn a master’s degree. However, this is a cumulative process as an undergraduate degree must be obtained first. Here you have two options:

• You can earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing
• You can earn an associate’s degree in nursing and then complete an associate’s degree to bachelor’s degree bridge program

Your undergraduate training, regardless of the specific route you choose to take, will prepare you for a career as a general nurse. Quality programs include comprehensive classroom training, as well as clinical training regimes. The core topics that you will cover in most programs will be related to community nursing, health assessment, nursing ethics, anatomy and physiology, and complex health problems.

To enter into the master’s degree program that will allow you to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you must have:

• An RN license
• Experience as an RN (about 1 year)

If you are enrolled in the master’s program full-time, you should be able to complete it in about 2 years. The general and specific courses that you will need to complete during your master’s program include nursing theories, research methods in nursing, advanced practice nursing, pharmacology and pathophysiology, health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance and pediatric theory. At the end of the course you will be required to submit a thesis.

If you are a student who has a bachelor’s degree in a topic not related to nursing, you may be able to complete an accelerated nursing program to become a registered nurse.

Licensure

The only license that you need, strictly speaking, is an RN license, which is earned by completing an accredited RN training program. After completing the program you will need to apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing. Once your eligibility to become licensed is confirmed you will take the NCLEX-RN examination through Pearson VUE, the examining body. This exam is computer based. Passing the exam earns you your RN license, which will need to be renewed periodically according to the rules in your particular state.

How To Become A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

The question that occurs to many nurses is why it is necessary to become a pediatric nurse practitioner if you are already a pediatric nurse. The reason for this is related to career advancement and career opportunities. With your advanced degree and certification, you’ll have more responsibility, and higher earning ability, than pediatric nurses.
Once you have earned your qualification as a pediatric nurse practitioner it is very important that you then continue to boost your knowledge by engaging in continuing education related to the field of pediatric nursing. This will not only allow you to improve your efficiency on the job, but it will also make your resume more attractive to any potential employers that you apply with over the course of your career.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is very important that you source an accredited training program when studying to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. Your state board of nursing can confirm the accreditation status of the school that you choose. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/pediatric-nursing-rankings lists the 18 best schools offering a master’s degree in pediatric nursing:

• University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA
• Yale University in New Haven, CT
• University of Washington in Seattle, WA
• University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA
• Duke University in Durham, NC
• Rush University in Chicago, IL
• University of Colorado-Denver in Denver, CO
• University of California-San Francisco in San Francisco, CA
• Columbia University in New York, NY
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC
• Emory University in Atlanta, GA
• Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD
• University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI
• University of Illinois-Chicago in Chicago, IL
• University of Maryland-Baltimore in Baltimore, MD
• Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN
• Ohio State University in Columbus, OH

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

The most basic degree that you can earn is your associate’s degree, which will allow you to become an RN. However, in order to become a pediatric nurse practitioner you will have to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in addition to your associate’s degree.
To earn your associate’s degree apply to at least three different nursing schools offering the qualification in your area. This will greatly improve your chances of being accepted. To choose the best school for you, create a list of all the personal and practical requirements that the school must meet. Enroll in the most appropriate school and complete the course requirements. This will earn you your associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In addition to the RN license that you must hold in order to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you are also required to become certified. The easiest way to do this is through the American Nurses Credential Center which offers a PNP-BC (pediatric nurse practitioner-board certified) credential. In order to earn this credential you will need to take a computer based multiple choice test. Preparation for the test can be completed by buying study guides and textbooks or by using the many online resources that are available. Once you have become certified, you must renew that certification once every five years in order to continue practicing as a pediatric nurse practitioner in your particular state.

Online/Distance Education Programs

There are a number of advantages to studying online:

• The hours are more flexible and you can work according to your own schedule
• It is often cheaper to study online than in a traditional classroom situation

However, as you will always be required to complete a certain amount of clinical training in a nursing degree program, you cannot hope to earn your qualification entirely online. Online and distance education schools are often affiliated with health care facilities where you will be able to complete your clinical training. Others require you to make your own arrangements for achieving the required number of clinical hours. Without hands-on training you will be unable to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for pediatric nurse practitioners is fairly good as this is a subset of the health care industry which is always on the increase in terms of the number of jobs that become available. In addition to having a specialized qualification, you will also be able to work in facilities that require non-specialized RNs due to your undergraduate training. However, this is a fairly popular line of work, which means that there may, in some cases, be steep competition for finding employment in pediatric nursing.

Earnings

The overall salary that you can expect to earn as a pediatric nurse practitioner is about $61,676 – $94,383 a year, but if you also consider the potential for an annual bonus of between $0.00 and $7,465 a year, as well as the potential for profit sharing of between $507 and $19,727, your overall earning potential comes to about $63,996 – $102,228 a year. The industry you choose to work in will also affect your pay as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Popular industries are Healthcare where you can expect to earn about $58,819 – $94,359 a year, Pediatric Offices where you can expect to earn about $59,254 – $94,223 a year, Hospitals where you can expect to earn about $59,905 – $96,324, Medical Offices where you can expect to earn about $57,726 – $93,395 a year, and Medical Services where you can expect to earn about $58,571 – $95,578 a year. Some cities pay more than others. The top paying cities are:

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Washington, District of Columbia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Nashville, Tennessee
• St. Louis, Missouri
• New York, New York
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Orlando, Florida
• Columbus, Ohio

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Louisiana State Requirements For Becoming An EMT

Basic EMT State Requirements

The first requirement involved in becoming a basic EMT in Louisiana is that you complete a Louisiana Bureau of EMS-approved training program based on the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic curriculum. According to braintrack.com, you need to meet the following requirements before you will be admitted to such a program:

• You must be 17 years of age to enter a program
• You must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) or be state certified as a First Responder prior to starting the course
• High school students should be enrolled in good standing with their high school
• You must take a Bureau of EMS-approved standardized proficiency exam and demonstrate an eighth grade reading level

Along with proof that you have completed an accredited program, you must also provide a transcript from a doctor stating that you are in good health and therefore able to perform your duties as an EMT adequately and without putting the lives of you or your patients at risk. This assessment must be performed within 6 months prior to application. Although you can enter an EMT training program at 17, you must be at least 18 years old to take the National Registry exam to receive Louisiana State Certification. This consists of both a practical as well as a written examination.

Intermediate EMT State Requirements

To become an EMT at Intermediate level in Louisiana you must begin by completing a Louisiana Bureau of EMS-approved training program based on the Emergency Medical Technician 1984 curriculum.

Note: You will be unable to enroll in such a program if you were previously dismissed from a similar program for any reason other than simply failing the program academically within the last two years. In addition, you will not successfully pass the program if you attend less than 90% of the training hours offered.

Although there are some exceptions, you will also need to be a National Registered EMT Basic and State Certified EMT-Basic before you can become an Intermediate EMT in Louisiana. If you have a criminal record for any reason it is unlikely that you will be able to receive certification at this level, except under very rare circumstances. While EMT-Basics only need to read at 8th grade level in Louisiana, EMT-Intermediate’s must be able to read at 10th grade level if they are to be accepted into the industry. Proof from a doctor that you are free from communicable diseases and that you have received all of the necessary immunizations is also required if you are to be certified at this level. Last, but not least, you must receive National Registry Certification and Louisiana State Certification.

Choosing A Program

There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when it comes to selecting EMT programs in Louisiana as there are a fair number to choose from. Your final decision depends heavily on what you are looking for in a school. Some of the schools listed below have, for example, a stronger focus on the emergency medical services than others. This often implies that the education offered will be more comprehensive and that the qualification will be taken more seriously. Schools that fall into this category include South Louisiana Community College, Delgado Community College, and Bossier Parish Community College. However, there are also other factors involved in selecting a school. If, for example, you specifically want to attend a school with a diverse student body, you should consider enrolling at Southern University at Shreveport, Louisiana Tech Alexandria, Nunez Community College, or NTC. If you are an adult learner who would feel more comfortable around other adult learners, you should consider applying at Southern University at Shreveport and Bossier Parish Community College. And if you would prefer to attend a school that has small class sizes, you should consider South Central Louisiana Technical College, NTC, Louisiana Tech Alexandria, and Delgado Community College.

List Of EMT Programs In Louisiana

Louisiana has a number of schools on offer for students interested in pursuing a career in the emergency medical services industry. Some of the EMT programs in Louisiana are listed below:

• Bossier Parish Community College, located in Bossier City and offering an Associate’s degree
• Delgado Community College, located in New Orleans and offering an Associate’s degree
• L E Fletcher Technical Community College, located in Houma and offering an Associate’s degree
• Louisiana Technical College- Alexandria Campus, located in Alexandria and offering an Associate’s degree
• Louisiana Technical College- Delta- Ouachita Campus, located in West Monroe and offering an Associate’s degree
• Louisiana Technical College- Northeast LA Branch Campus, located in Winnsboro and offering an Associate’s degree
• Northshore Technical College- Hammond Area Branch Campus, located in Hammond and offering an Associate’s degree
• Northshore Technical College- Sullivan Main Campus, located in Bogalusa and offering an Associate’s degree
• Nunez Community College, located in Chalmette and offering an Associate’s degree
• South Central Louisiana Technical College- Lafourche Campus, located in Thibodaux and offering an Associate’s degree
• South Louisiana Community College, located in Lafayette and offering an Associate’s degree
• Southern University at Shreveport, located in Shreveport and offering an Associate’s degree

Certification And Examination

In order to become certified as an EMT in Louisiana you must first complete a Department of Transportation approved EMT or Paramedic course prior to taking the National Registry Exam for Emergency Medical Technicians. This exam is both computer-based as well as practical, meaning that your theory knowledge and your clinical skills will be tapped before you will become certified. To become certified you must provide proof that you have passed this examination. In addition you will need to provide your current NREMT card.

Preparing for the examination is essential. This involves doing online revision, but also involves becoming familiar with computer based testing as there is no longer a ‘pen and paper’ option available. The EMT National Data Training Base has thousands of questions for you to use while you practice for your examination. This can be found by visiting http://www.emt-national-training.com/louisiana-emt.php. What is particularly helpful about this resource is that it not only provides questions for you to use as you practice, but it also provides all of the answers as well as explanations regarding why one answer is correct while another, similar, answer is incorrect. If possible, form a study group with other EMT students who are also in the process of preparing for the examination as this will greatly improve your efficacy.

If you would like more information, please contact the Louisiana Bureau of Emergency Medical Services:

11224 Boardwalk Drive, Suite A-1
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Phone: (225) 275-1764
emsweb@dhh.la.gov

Major Private Employers Of EMTs in Louisiana

There are two main private employers of EMT professionals in the state of Louisiana. They are American Medical Response, located in New Orleans, and Priority Mobile Health, located in Terrytown. In addition to these employers, of course, you will also have the opportunity to work for hospitals and ambulatory care units across the state. The following are examples of non-private employers you could work for as an EMT in Louisiana:

• Charity Hospital of Louisiana (Hospital)
• Louisiana State University (Hospital)
• Ochsner Medical Center (Hospital)
• University Hospital (Hospital)
• Acadian Ambulance Services Incorporated (Ambulance Service)
• American Medical Response (Ambulance Service)
• Balentine Ambulance Services (Ambulance Service)
• Lifeline-West Calcasieu (Ambulance Service)
• Med Life Ambulance (Ambulance Service)
• Alexandria Fire Department (Fire Department)
• Bossier City Fire Department (Fire Department)
• Eastbank Consolidated Fire Department (Fire Department)
• Fire Protection Dist 4 (Fire Department)
• Lake Charles Fire Department (Fire Department)
• Monroe Fire Department (Fire Department)
• Violet Fire Department (Fire Department)
• Wards 1 and 2 Fire Protection (Fire Department

Not only are there many EMT programs in Louisiana to choose from, but there are also many different employment opportunities available to a prospective student in the emergency medical services once they have graduated from their program. This makes it an extremely sensible career option. It must be noted that not all students are good at taking exams. If you are a student of this kind, you may wish to consider engaging in additional training and examination preparation in order to be well prepared for certification. This will often cost you more money, but in the long run it is certainly worth the time and expenditure.

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This means that there are many jobs available for a military medical assistant in the various branches of the U.S. Military at any given time. The military provides excellent training, and those looking to start somewhere and get trained for free and serve their country at the same time can look to getting some of the best training around today. Individuals can choose to sign on permanently or choose to finish their stint as a military medical assistant to go join the ranks of the civilian medical assistants.

The training, career paths and requirements for a military medical assistant differ from branch to branch of the U.S. Military, but they all do have some requirements in common, such as patience, a scientific mind and empathy. An individual, whether male or female, is required to enlist in order to become a military medical assistant, which means that they must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency, have a excellent command of the English language, a clean criminal record and be between the ages of 17 and 34; if they are under 18 years of age they must have parental consent to enlist.

The Military Medical Assistant In Various Branches Of The U.S. Military

Each branch of the U.S. Military trains slightly different and has different career paths for a military medical assistant according to the particular kind of warfare that they conduct:

The U.S. Army

• The U.S. Army trains enlisted men and women as Health Care Specialists to work alongside doctors and nurses in hospitals, both in bases and on the battlefield, and this means that a health care specialist could find themselves deployed anywhere in the world, from a base nears their home-town to a war zone in Africa.

• Health care specialists in the U.S. Army are required to take Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) sub-tests and must score a total of 95 points.

• The health care specialist is basically the army’s military medical assistant, and some of the main requirements are that they are interested in helping others, have an aptitude for science and algebra, and are good communicators.

• These individuals will receive the normal nine weeks of basic training and then a further 16 weeks of training as a health care specialist.

• A health care specialist can work themselves up through the ranks by receiving promotions and could even become a chief medical non-commissioned officer.

The U.S. Navy

• A military medical assistant in the U.S. Navy is called a Hospital Corpsman, and they provide dental and medical care to sailors and Marines.

• A corpsman also provides a range of services and works in different settings, which means that they could be deployed to a ship, a base onshore, or alongside Marines in a war-zone.

• Hospital Corpsmen also tend to Navy SEALs, and could therefore suddenly find themselves stationed in some remote area alongside Navy SEALs carrying out a clandestine special operations mission.

• Hospital Corpsmen are enlisted service members and as such receive specialized training to enable them to perform their duties to the best of their ability.

• Naval hospital corpsmen do the regular basic training and must take the ASVAB tests and obtain a score of at least 149, made up of a combination of the general science section, the paragraph comprehension section, and the mathematics section.

• Only male hospital corpsmen are deployed into the battle-field with Marines.

The U.S. Air Force

• A military medical assistant in the U.S. Air Force is called a Physician Assistant.

• The U.S. Air Force is the second-smallest of the military branches, and as such is very competitive, which means that enlistees must already be enrolled in a physician assistant program or have already graduated from one.

• A minimum score of 44 is required on the general sciences section of the ASVAB tests.

The U.S. Coast Guard

• The U.S. Coast Guard is the smallest branch of the U.S. military, and as such generally has the least positions available.

• A military medical assistant in the U.S. Coast Guard is called a Physician Assistant.

• Due to the fact that they have so few positions available, the Coast Guard is rather selective in choosing their Medical Assistants.

• A military medical assistant in the Coast Guard must already be qualified as a physician assistant.

• Unlike all of the other branches, the medical assistants in the Coast Guard are commissioned officers.

• Due to the fact that they are already qualified physician assistants, they are offered direct commissions as officers and therefore do not need to go through basic training.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting in general will remain one of the fastest growing occupations over the next ten years, with an expected growth of about 35% over the next six years.

Duties Of A Military Medical Assistant

A military medical assistant may work in clinics, on ships, or in the battlefield, and performs various duties such as assisting in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury. Medical assistants perform many clinical and administrative tasks, depending on where they are stationed. Their primary duties consist of making it easier for the medical doctors and nurses to attend to patients.

A military medical assistant can generally work in either the medical or dental field, and they perform a variety of clinical duties, including:

• Administering preventative care
• Assisting physicians during procedures and exams by giving them necessary tool
• Administering medications and injections
• Changing bandages and removing sutures
• Conducting elementary lab tests like urinalyses
• Correctly disposing of bio-hazardous materials
• Conducting respiratory tests and EKGs
• Drawing blood
• Educating other military personnel on personal hygiene and first aid
• Filling prescriptions
• Informing patients on procedures and treatments
• Informing patients on the proper administration of medication
• Maintaining patient records
• Performing a variety of medical tests
• Providing emergency medical or dental treatment
• Preparing and developing patients’ x-rays
• Preparing lab specimens
• Providing vaccines and medications for patients as indicated by the physician
• Sterilizing and cleaning equipment and instruments
• Serving as emergency medical technicians
• Serving as surgical technicians
• Taking down the medical history and vital signs of patients

A military medical assistant works under direct supervision, and their other duties may include manning the front desk and answering the phones, greeting patients, scheduling patient appointments, arranging for procedures and tests, updating patient information in their files, handling insurance, assisting patients to the examining rooms when necessary, and assisting during examinations.

No college degree is required to work as a military medical assistant, whereas this post traditionally requires an associate degree in civilian life. Many military medical assistants from all branches do follow the career of a medical assistant once they leave the armed forces, and become members of the civilian medical health fraternity. They can quite easily do this by taking advantage of tuition assistance, which means that the Armed Forces will pay for a portion or all of your education while you are doing active duty.

Various branches of the U.S. Military provide enlistees with free medical benefits, free food, free housing, and an annual salary, which allows the enlistees to afford to pay for college courses in the military medical assistant. The post- 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Education Assistance Program, and the Veterans Education Assistance Program also provide educational assistance for active duty, reserve, and veterans of the Armed Forces, according to the United States’ Department of Veteran Affairs.

Once a military medical assistant has completed training required and obtained a certificate, diploma, associate degree or bachelor’s degree, they can apply to work as a medical assistant in any healthcare facility. Medical assistants are an important member of any healthcare team and are the backbone of any healthcare business, including hospitals and doctors’ offices. As a member of a civilian healthcare team you will be able to make a difference in patients’ lives and enjoy the security of a career that you enjoy and which will be in demand for a long time to come. Once you have completed a formal medical assistant program successfully and obtained your degree you will be eligible to sit for the National Health Association’s (NHA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) certification examination. A certified medical assistant earns in the region of $38,000 per annum.

There are many medical assistant opportunities available, and you will be able to enjoy a fruitful civilian career as a medical assistant if you have enjoyed your time in the armed forces as a military medical assistant.

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Choosing A Program

EMT programs in New York can differ considerably, and consequently there are a variety of factors to take into account when selecting the best program for you. For one thing, some of the schools listed here have a stronger emphasis on EMT training than others. This carries with it the implication that these schools may be better options in terms of receiving adequate EMT training. If this is one of your primary concerns, you should definitely consider attending the following schools over others:

• Manhattan Community College
• La Guardia Community College
• Monroe Community College
• Rockland Community College

However, this is not the only consideration to take into account as there are a number of schools in New York that do not primarily focus on training for the emergency medical services, but which are still excellent options offering very good EMT programs. If, for example, you are particularly interested in attending a school with great student body diversity, the best options for you to look into may well be La Guardia Community College, Manhattan Community College, Rockland Community College, and Westchester Community College. Some students begin college late and are considered to be adult learners. If you are in this position you should consider attending Westchester Community College, Monroe Community College, or Duchess Community College as these are schools with many adult learners enrolled. This means that you will be among students in a similar position to yourself. It also implies that these schools may be better equipped for coping with your specific educational needs and may even account for the busy schedule that many adult learners have. If you are interested in attending a school that has geographic diversity (in other words, is located out of state), La Guardia Community College, Herkimer County Community College, and Corning Community College are good options to consider. Many students have to live on campus as well as study there. In New York, MVCC Utica and Monroe Community College are good options to consider if you need to attend a residential campus.

List Of EMT Programs In New York

The following is a fairly comprehensive list of the EMT programs available in the state of New York. Before selecting a program, careful consideration must be made of several factors, including the accreditation status of the school and the quality of the tuition offered.

• Corning Community College, located in Corning and offering an Associate’s degree
• CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, located in New York and offering an Associate’s degree
• CUNY LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City and offering an Associate’s degree
• Duchess Community College, located in Poughkeepsie and offering an Associate’s degree
• Erie Community College, located in Buffalo and offering an Associate’s degree
• Finger Lakes Community College, located in Canandaigua and offering an Associate’s degree
• Herkimer County Community College, located in Herkimer and offering an Associate’s degree
• Hudson Valley Community College, located in Troy and offering an Associate’s degree
• Jefferson Community College, located in Watertown and offering an Associate’s degree
• Mohawk Valley Community College- Utica Branch, located in Utica and offering an Associate’s degree
• Monroe Community College, located in Rochester and offering an Associate’s degree
• Rockland Community College, located in Suffern and offering an Associate’s degree
• SUNY Westchester Community College, located in Valhalla and offering an Associate’s degree
• Ulster County Community College, located in Stone Ridge and offering an Associate’s degree

EMT Certification Classes In New York With Certificate Information

In order to get a clearer understanding of what EMT programs in New York actually offer, we will now consider two of the more popular schools and the courses that they offer.

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College’s EMT Certification Programs

CUNY (City University of New York) offers excellent training options for the emergency medical students. At the moment about 22,000 students representing 155 different countries across the world are enrolled at this school.

Emergency Medical Care Course

Although most states allow you to become an EMT once you have completed the NREMT certification exam (which certifies EMTs at a national level), New York requires students to take a state certification examination. This is called the New York State Emergency Medical Technical Certification Examination and the Emergency Medical Care Course offered by CUNY allows you to sit for this exam. The primary skill that this course will teach you is:

• The assessment and treatment of emergency injuries and illnesses in pre-hospital settings

This course can be taken independently, or it can serve as a prerequisite course for the paramedic program offered by the university.

Associate In Applied Science In Paramedics

This is a two-year program that prepares you to be a paramedic, one step up from simply being an EMT in New York. This degree consists of the following coursework:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Trauma assessment
• The treatment of head and neck injuries

You will gain knowledge by engaging in three internships that involve rotations in:

• The city morgue
• Hospital emergency rooms
• A paramedic advanced life support ambulance

Monroe Community College’s EMT Certification Programs

This two year college has about 19,000 students currently enrolled. It has three tracks, namely emergency medical services (EMS) management, basic-level emergency medicine or paramedic training.

Emergency Medical Services Certificate

This is a course which prepares prospective EMTs for taking the EMT-Basic examination. The coursework that you will cover during this training program includes:

• General EMT training
• Hazardous materials
• Early defibrillation
• Patient assessment
• Emergency operations
• Pediatrics
• Trauma management
• Airway management

Associate In Applied Science In Emergency Medical Services – Paramedicine

This is a substantially more intensive course as it requires 66 credits, 42 of which must be paramedic training course credits. Before a student can even enroll in this program, he or she must already have EMT certification as this is, in fact, a degree that leads to a paramedic qualification. Coursework includes:

• Assessment and prioritization of multiple trauma patients
• Techniques to manage cardiac or respiratory emergencies

In order to successfully complete the program you will have to meet all of the coursework requirements as well as engaging in clinical education and fieldwork.

There are a number of topics that you will study over the duration of this course, including:

• Advanced pediatric care
• Paramedic-level medicine
• Surgical airway techniques
• Chest decompression
• Special immobilization techniques

There are a number of additional skills that you will also pick up over the course of your training, such as how to work in a team, how to interpret 12-lead electrocardiograph (EKG) machines and how to handle incidents involving hazardous materials and incident management. Completion of this program qualifies graduates to sit for the New York State certification exam for paramedics.

Major Private Employers Of EMTs In New York

There are a number of private employers that hire EMTs in the state of New York. They include Arista Car & Limousine LTD, located in New York City, Dial Car, located in Brooklyn, Rural Metro Inc, located in Rochester, 1-800-Cityride, located in Long Island City, We Care Inc, located in Buffalo, Hunter Ambulette Ambulance, located in Inwood, D & J Ambulette Svc, located in Bronx, Alamo Ambulance Svc, located in Poughkeepsie, XYZ Two Way Radio Inc, located in Brooklyn, Bynum Yorktown Taxi, located in Peekskill, Classic Executive Limousine, located in Long Island City, Brentwood Legion Ambulance Svc, located in Brentwood, Bravo Volunteer Ambulance Svc, located in Brooklyn, New Harlem Car Svc Inc, located in New York, All City Radio Taxi Assn Inc, located in Bronx, Audubon Car & Limousine Svc, located in New York, Skyline Credit Ride Inc, located in Long Island City, Ben’s Car & Limousine, located in Long Island City, and Prime Time Transportation Inc, located in Long Island City.

Although there are a number of considerations to keep in mind, it is clear that New York offers a variety of opportunities for future EMTs. In fact, in comparison to other industries in the state, emergency medical services is certainly one of the better options with which to become involved. Technological improvements mean that there are more and more procedures that can be performed at the scene of a medical emergency. Consequently, EMTs and other emergency respondents are becoming increasingly more important in terms of saving lives and giving the health care industry in general a good name.

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A school nurse practitioner is a nurse who provides care to children and young adults at their school or college. As nursing specialties go, this one is slightly less intensive than most others, as it usually involves dealing with minor injuries and illnesses with a greater focus on overall well being rather than on emergency medical situations. Nurses who prefer to work under less pressure and who also enjoy working with young people are ideally suited for this line of work.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The following are usually considered to be the main duties of a school nurse practitioner:

• In addition to simply caring for individual children and students, school nurse practitioners are also responsible for developing an overarching health care plan for the entire institution.

• School nurse practitioners are responsible for ensuring that all other school staff are trained in dealing with common medical situations that may arise, such as first aid and first response skills, as well as how to deal with Epilepsy and asthma.

• They also tend to have an active role in educating students and teachers on different healthcare issues.

• School nurse practitioners do not only deal with physical ailments but are also responsible for providing help and support to any students who are suffering from mental health problems, such as depression or substance abuse disorders.

• A school nurse practitioner must also work closely with other Community Groups and Social Workers and refer the students under her care if and when necessary.

• Nutrition and exercise are closely linked to the health status of children, and it is therefore the school nurse practitioner’s job to educate parents and students on this aspect of their well being.

• Last but not least, the school nurse practitioner is responsible for testing hearing and eyesight and monitoring the weight and height of the children under her care.

Employment

School nurse practitioners are either employed full-time at a school, or are required to serve a number of schools in a specified geographic location. In cases where the nurse is a full-time employee, they will work out of an office within the school and be available at all times during the school day. If, on the other hand, they are required to serve a number of different schools, their visits will be intermittent (although they could follow a set schedule). Because school nurses tend to keep to school hours, they have more free time and a more convenient lifestyle than many other nursing professionals. In addition, depending on the school that they work in, they stand a higher chance of being employed in a well ventilated and lighted facility.

School Nurse Practitioner Requirements

There are a number of requirements that you need to meet in order to become a school nurse practitioner, but the main ones are as follows:

• You must have completed an RN training program and hold an RN license
• You must have a pediatric nurse qualification

Pediatric nurse practitioners are nurses who are specifically trained to care for the needs of babies, children and adolescents, which is why this qualification is essential for working in a school or college. Young people and children have different medical needs and are at risk for different medical conditions than adults or geriatrics, so it is essential that, before applying for positions in a school, that you have the necessary knowledge and qualifications for becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Personality Traits

Certain personality traits will make your job as a school nurse practitioner substantially easier:

• You need to have well-developed communication skills in order to effectively communicate with children as well as with adults

• You must have the ability to observe accurately and make decisions accordingly as mistakes can often be serious and even life-threatening when it comes to children

• You must be able to work with patients who are sometimes reluctant to cooperate, especially if you are working with teenagers in a high school

• You must be willing to work with a team as you will need to interact with other school employees as well as outside agencies

• You must be able to supervise others

• You must be emotionally stable and have a sympathetic disposition towards children

Educational Requirements

The educational path to becoming a school nurse practitioner is a fairly lengthy one as you are required to first earn a pediatric nurse practitioner qualification:

• Firstly you need to become a qualified Registered Nurse and receive several years of experience as one, preferably working with children in, for example, a pediatric ward.

• These programs are usually about two years in duration and earn you a Master’s Degree in Nursing.

• Once you have completed the pediatric nursing program, you must apply for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) certification exam and licensure in the state in which you wish to practice.

RN programs can vary in length from about 2 years to 4 years, depending on the qualification you pursue. By adding the pediatric nurse practitioner qualification you will need to devote 4 to 6 years of your life in total to meeting the educational requirements for this specialty.

Licensure

The only license that you really need in order to become a school nurse practitioner is your RN license. This process involves enrolling in an accredited RN training program. These programs can take 2 to 4 years to complete, depending on the type of qualification you plan to earn. A bachelor’s program will take 4 years to complete and provide you with more career advancement options than an associate’s degree or a diploma. However, an associate’s degree can take as a little as 2 years to complete while a diploma will take about 3 years. Completing a program and meeting all of the theory and clinical course requirements will make you eligible to apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing. Once the board confirms that you meet the requirements for becoming licensed, you can set a date to write the NCLEX-RN, which is the national licensing exam for registered nurses in the US. Pearson VUE administers the exam for a fee of $200. Your results will be passed on to your State Board of Nursing. If you pass satisfactorily, you will receive licensure. Licensure must be renewed regularly, although the specific time periods and requirements for achieving this may differ depending on the state in which you are licensed in.

How To Become A School Nurse Practitioner

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

It is interesting to note that, because you need to hold a pediatric nurse practitioner qualification in order to be a school nurse practitioner, there is plenty of room for advancement in this line of work. The bottom line is that you will not be limited to working in schools and you will have the opportunity to branch out and expand your knowledge in the area of pediatric nursing specifically, if that is what you choose to do.
Continuing education credits with a focus on pediatric care will stand you in good stead and improve your career advancement opportunities in this line of work.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is important that the school through which you complete your pediatric nurse practitioner qualification is accredited. If it is not accredited, you may find yourself in a situation where the program that you invested so much time and money in is worth nothing. Some examples of schools you could consider attending are:

The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Avenue Northeast
Washington, DC 20064
202-319-5000
cua.edu

University of California at San Francisco
400 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-476-2342
ucsf.edu

University of Virginia
202 Jeanette Lancaster Way
Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-924-0141
virginia.edu

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

As you have already noted, in order to be a school nurse practitioner you must hold a pediatric nurse practitioner qualification. This is, essentially, a master’s degree. However, earning an associate’s degree is a very useful first step in the process as this will allow you to receive an RN license, a requirement for entering a pediatric nurse practitioner program. Begin the process by noting all of the schools in your area offering associate’s degrees in nursing. Create a shortlist of the options that are most closely aligned with your personal needs. Apply for at least 3 different schools in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Each school will have its own application procedures that you should take careful note of. Choose the best school from among those that accept you and enroll. Completing the program will earn you your associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In order to be a school nurse practitioner you must, in addition to earning your RN license, become certified by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), which is affiliated with the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBSCN). This process involves taking and passing the NBSCN national school nurse certification examination. There are a large number of schools that offer programs that will prepare you for this. A comprehensive list can be found at http://www.education-online-search.com/programs/nursing_school/school_nurse_certificate_programs, although you need to ensure for yourself that these schools are appropriately accredited.

Online/Distance Education Programs

Because you need to complete a certain amount of clinical hands-on training for any nursing qualification, it is simply not possible to complete a qualification such as this entirely online. It is possible to complete the theory portion in this manner, and this can certainly alleviate the burden placed on your shoulders, but your clinical work must always be completed in a face-to-face situation. When selecting online schools, choose one that also has a brick-and-mortar presence as well as a good track record. Schools that provide resources through which to complete your clinical training should also be prioritized.

Job Outlook

Some nurses worry about where their money will come from during vacation time if they do choose to pursue a career as a school nurse practitioner. Because of your pediatric qualification it is possible for you to seek temporary positions as a pediatric nurse practitioner during these time periods. This also implies that you could leave school nursing altogether if you chose to do so. School nurses are also on the front lines of healthcare in that they have a great deal of interaction with the community. This also implies that there is potential for nurses with this qualification to branch out into community nursing should they be interested in doing so.
Job stability is always guaranteed in the health care industry as this is the only industry that stays strong no matter what. In addition, it is the industry that is growing at a faster rate than any other.

Earnings

School nurses, with their pediatric nurse qualifications, are eligible to earn the following:

• Average Salary = $61,676 – $94,383
• Bonus = $0.00 – $7,465
• Profit Sharing = $507 – $19,727
• Total Pay = $63,996 – $102,228

School nurses are not limited to working in schools, and it is therefore interesting to note what other pay options a nurse with this specialty may have:

• In Healthcare you could earn about $58,819 – $94,359 an hour with this qualification
• In a Pediatric Office you could earn about $59,254 – $94,223 an hour with this qualification
• In a Hospital you could earn about $59,905 – $96,324 an hour with this qualification
• In a Medical Office you could earn about $57,726 – $93,395 an hour with this qualification
• In the Medical Services you could earn about $58,571 – $95,578 an hour with this qualification

The educational path to becoming a school nurse practitioner is fairly lengthy, but the career and salary opportunities that characterize this specialty make it a worthy option to consider. The primary qualification is that you have a genuine love for children and a passionate interest in their well being.

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There is a need for Licensed Practical Nurses wherever patient care is required, and they can either continue to practice as an LPN, study further to become a Registered Nurse (RN) or follow another track and do some specialized programs for LPNs, of which there are in excess of 60 available, according to the Mayo clinic. Most LPNs start off their careers in hospitals, long-term facilities or clinics, and do the basic patient-care tasks such as taking down patient histories, taking vital signs, monitoring patients’ reactions to medication, assisting patients with their personal grooming, and generally seeing to their personal comfort.

Choosing to do one or more of the specialized programs for LPNs will make your foray in the world of nursing much more exciting, and will make you much more marketable to prospective employers; apart from the additional skills that you will gain from the specialized programs, doing them will also prove that you are passionate and dedicated about your career, which is what employers are looking for. There are many specialized programs for LPNs and the best way for you to decide which one or more you should do is to take stock of which field interests you most; if you enjoy working with babies then perhaps you should do a course in Pediatrics; if you have a soft spot for the elderly then I would suggest that you do a Geriatrics course; if you prefer to work one-on-one, then perhaps a Home Health Care program would suit you.

Some of the most popular specialized programs for LPNs are:

• Cardiology: Patients with heart conditions
• Critical Care: Patients are in critical condition and often require advanced medical care
• Emergency Care: Patients require immediate attention
• Geriatrics: Patients are 65 years or older
• Home Health Care: Patients receive treatment from the comfort of home
• Neonatology: Newborns under 28 days of age
• Oncology: Patients with cancer
• Pediatrics: Infants and children up to 18 years of age

The following are just a few more of the specialized programs for LPNs that are available:

LPN Hospice Certification

An LPN Hospice Certification is one of the specialized programs for LPNs that trains a Licensed Practical Nurse to care for those in the end-stages of their life. People are living longer and longer and therefore need nursing care longer, but there are also young and old individuals that are in need of care in their last days on earth, and who need dedicated, compassionate nursing to ease their transition. There is currently in excess of 2 000 hospices in the United States, and more than a million individuals who require palliative care.

Hospice versus Palliative Care

• Hospice Care – Hospice care is given to patients who are in the end-stages of a terminal illness, and who a medical doctor has determined will not benefit from medical treatment. Hospice care essentially means that an LPN cares for the patient either in the comfort of their own homes or in an institution and helps to ease their pain and suffering, allowing them to spend their last days on earth in peace and pain-free and to die with dignity.

• Palliative Care – Palliative care is given to patients who have life-threatening illnesses but who can still have some life-expectancy if given palliative care. This type of care focuses on the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs and expectations of the patient, and could include aggressive forms of treatment.

Palliative and Hospice Nurses also provide support to the families of their patients, helping them to accept what is happening and keeping them informed as to what is transpiring with their loved one. The fact that the LPN is providing their loved one with end-of-life care and assisting them to live without pain and die with dignity also gives the family peace of mind.

LPN Pharmacology Certification

This is one of the popular specialized programs for LPNs, and one that is more than likely to increase your salary and make you more marketable. This type of certification shows commitment to the field of nursing and many employers will even sponsor an LPN for the pharmacology certification in exchange for them working for said employer for an agreed period of time.

This program is a mark of excellence that has allowed thousands of LPNs to gain a national, post-licensure credential, the National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Services (NAPNES) Certification in Pharmacology (NCP), and has been around since the mid 1960s.

LPNs who have gained their NCP will, apart from the normal LPN duties, also:

• Give injections and enemas
• Dress wounds
• Give alcohol rubs and massages
• Monitor patients for adverse reactions to treatments or any medication and report any to the RN or attending doctor
• Monitor Patients’ catheters
• Record fluid and food intake and output

LPNs that have successfully completed the program and certification exams are entitled to use the designation LPN, NCP in their signature/title.

Certification in Long-Term Care

Certification in Long-Term Care, generally referred to as CLTC, is another of the specialized programs for LPNs. This is a comprehensive program that covers the entire lifespan from the cradle to the grave for the chronically ill. NAPNES Long Term Care Certification has replaced what used to be the NAPNES Gerontology Certification program, and is a far more comprehensive program.

The Long Term Care Certification covers excellence in nursing for all age groups, which means that individuals who obtain this certification can care for babies, toddlers, seniors and any patient in-between that requires long-term care for a chronic illness. Licensed Practical Nurses who have completed this program and passed the certification examination can use the designation LPN CLTC, which serves to inform employers that that you are engaged in skill-building and possess the necessary knowledge in long-term care.

Ambulatory Care Nursing

Ambulatory care nursing is another of the specialized programs for LPNs which is very popular with those who like to work in outpatient settings where they will be required to make quick focused assessments of patients, deal with high volumes of patients and issues that are not predictable.

Ambulatory care nurses are often called on to teach the patients and/or their family how to do certain activities that will assist the patient to recuperate quicker, and therefore often foster long-term relationships patients and their families. Ambulatory care spans all populations and includes wellness to preventative care, illness care, and hospice or palliative care.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

This is one of the specialized programs for LPNs that requires the LPN to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a related bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply to the program.

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist works as a part of a team, alongside other medical professionals such as dentists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, podiatrists, or ophthalmologists, and often operates in rural areas where they provide much-needed services to the traditionally medically-underserved.

CRNAs provide pain-management services, deliver local, general or regional anesthesia, administer intravenous sedation, administer anesthesia to patients undergoing surgical procedures, monitor patients recovering from anesthesia, conduct pre-anesthetic evaluations, provide pain relief therapy, give drugs or fluids, and provide ventilator support if necessary.

Perioperative Licensed Practical Nurse

If you are looking to do some specialized programs for LPNs and are interested in surgery, then this is one program which bears looking into. The Perioperative Nursing for Licensed Practical Nurses program is designed for LPNs who are interested in pursuing a career in surgical nursing.

Perioperative nurses provide support and care support to patients before, during, and after surgery. They are also responsible for monitoring the patient during surgery, maintaining a sterile environment in the operating room, and providing care throughout the process.

Forensic Nursing

If you are interested in not only caring for victims of crime, but also working with a legal team, assist police investigations, collecting forensic evidence connected to crimes, and providing consultation services to courts, law agencies and other medical personnel, then Forensic nursing is one of the most interesting specialized programs for LPNs that you could do.

A Forensic Nurse spends most of their time in a laboratory, but also travels to prisons, hospitals, various crime scenes, police departments and morgues.

There are various categories of forensic nurses:

• Correctional Nursing Specialist
• Forensic Psychiatric Nurse
• Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Forensic Nurse Investigator
• Forensic Gerontology Specialist
• Nurse Coroner
• Legal Nurse Consultant
• Sexual Assault Nurse

Advanced Education In Orthopaedics For LPNs

This is a post-diploma advanced certificate program that imbues LPNs with the knowledge and skills required for a specialized career in orthopaedics. This program serves to further an LPN’s understanding of physiology and anatomy with regards to orthopaedics and orthopaedic radiology, assessment, and trauma, and includes specialized orthopaedic procedures, including casting.

The program consists of two courses and a clinical practicum and upon completion of this program an LPN will be equipped to work in a cast room, an orthopaedic patient care area, and an emergency room.

There are many other short specialized programs for LPNs, including:

• Urinary Catheterization and Bladder Irrigation – This is a 30 hour, 2 credits program that is designed to provide a licensed practical nurse with the knowledge and skill required to safely insert, maintain, and remove a urinary catheter; safely care for a client requiring intermittent or continuous bladder irrigations; basic knowledge on caring for suprapubic catheters and the care of the catheter site of a client with peritoneal dialysis.

• Mental Health Nursing for LPNs – This is a 60 hour, 4 credits program that teaches LPNs to examine care based on best-evidence related to clients and their families whilst they are adjusting to changes in functioning associated with mental health issues and related treatments. The program builds on previous knowledge and related theory in adapting the nursing approach to the health promotion and care of mental health patients and their families. The course includes a 2-day observation experience in a mental health environment.

• Wound Care: Using a Standard Approach – This is a 30 hour, 2 credits program that is designed to provide the LPN with advanced knowledge and skills in wound management. Once an LPN has completed this course they will be in a position to work in a leadership role and apply the principles of wound healing in various settings.

• Infusion Therapy for Nurses – This is a 45 hour, 4 credits program that builds on an LPN’s previous knowledge with practices based on best evidence in intravenous therapy, infusion therapy, care of central lines, subcutaneous infusion therapy (hypodermoclysis), medication administration, and blood transfusions. The program includes a laboratory component during which students will apply new theories and practice nursing skills related to infusion therapy, including IV cannula insertion.

• Nasogastric Tube Insertion – This is a 15 hour, 1 credit program that teaches an LPN the knowledge and skills necessary to safely insert, maintain, and remove a nasogastric tube, the use of nasogastric tubes for tube feedings and oral medication administration, nursing assessments and the roles and responsibilities of the LPN in relation to nasogastric intubation.

Whichever of the specialized programs for LPNs you decide to do, you will find that the knowledge that you gain, together with the esteem that another qualification gives you is well worth the effort, and will also open up many new avenues to you, so pick specializations that you will enjoy and have fun while you learn and earn.

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A rehabilitation nurse works with two types of patients:

• Patients who have a chronic illness that restricts their activity
• Patients who have suffered a severe injury

The primary duty of the rehabilitation nurse is to help those patients recover from their ailment and reach their full potential. This is achieved by working closely with the patient and the patient’s family to create a plan for recovery involving short- and long-term goals. The aim is to help the patient achieve the maximum amount of independence possible. Because you are likely to spend long periods of time with the same patient, you will have the opportunity to form lasting bonds with each person who comes under your care.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

Although there are a wide variety of different tasks involved in being a rehabilitation nurse as there are many overlaps with general nursing, the three main duties that set this specialty apart are as follows:

• Your primary role will be to show patients how to adapt to temporary, or permanent, disabilities. This has a practical/physical as well as psychological dimension.

• There are a number of rehabilitation challenges that must be faced and overcome in the process, so one of your main duties will be to prepare the patient as well as the patient’s family for these challenges.

• Above all your duty as a rehabilitation nurse is to help your patient return to his or her daily life as it was before the illness or injury occurred. Although this cannot always be achieved, it is still a goal worth striving towards.

Employment

When it comes to employment as a rehabilitation nurse, there are a number of options available to you. The most common places for a rehabilitation nurse to be employed in are:

• Rehabilitation facilities
• Home healthcare agencies
• Long-term acute care or sub acute care facilities

Rehabilitation Nurse Requirements

As with any advanced nursing specialty, there are several requirements that one must meet in order to become a rehabilitation nurse. To begin with you must earn the appropriate degree, namely a Nursing Diploma, Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Then you must get a position as an entry level rehabilitation nurse. This can be done by taking courses in rehabilitation or getting an internship at a rehabilitation facility. The next step involves successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) that will allow you to work as a registered nurse (RN). At this point you have two options:

• You can either work as a Registered Nurse for at least two years in rehabilitation nursing, or
• You can receive one year rehabilitation nursing experience and one year of advanced study.

The next step involves getting your rehabilitation nurse certification from the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB) through the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN), which will, finally, allow you to be a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN). This will need to be renewed at set intervals.

Personality Traits

The main personality traits that are desirable in this line of work are:

• Patience: This is a trait that is desirable in all nurses, including rehabilitation nursing. Note: patients in rehabilitation programs are often uncooperative or feel like giving up.
• Flexibility
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Patient and family education: As it is your responsibility to educate patients and their families on homecare strategies, a natural ability to teach others will be very helpful in this line of work.
• Innovative thinking

In addition to the above, physical fitness is also a desirable trait to have as you will need to actively work with patients on a daily basis.

Educational Requirements

To be a rehabilitation nurse you will need to be an RN with either an associate’s degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Although both will allow you to work towards the goal of being a rehabilitation nurse, it is important to note that employers tend to be more interested in hiring nurses that have a bachelor’s degree, as more advanced qualifications often indicate more advanced skill sets. Consequently, if you have the opportunity to freely choose which degree you will do, a bachelor’s degree in nursing is the better educational goal to strive towards.

Licensure

In order to become a rehabilitation nurse you must pass the NCLEX-RN examination, which is the licensing examination that all Registered Nurses, or RNs, in the United States must take before they can practice in this capacity. You will not be able to become a rehabilitation nurse if you only hold a licensed practical nurse (LPN) license. Licensure is earned in the following way:

• Firstly you need to enroll in an accredited nursing program in your area that will allow you to become an RN

• Once you have completed this program, you must apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing

• Once your eligibility for licensure has been confirmed by the Board, you will set an examination date with Pearson VUE, the company that administers the NCLEX-RN

• Your State Board of Nursing will inform you in due course whether or not you are licensed

• Licensure must be renewed on a regular basis

How To Become A Rehabilitation Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

There are a number of advancement opportunities available to nurses who pursue a career in rehabilitation nursing. You could, for example, go on to become a case manager, a researcher, an educator, a nurse practitioner, or a clinical specialist, each of which comes with an increase in responsibilities as well as in pay. In addition, there are subcategories of rehabilitation nursing that you could choose to specialize in. For example, you could specialize in cardiac rehabilitation where you would be responsible for assisting patients in recovering from heart-related conditions and surgical procedures.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is extremely important that you complete your undergraduate nursing training through an accredited program. You will be unable to take the NCLEX-RN examination if it is not accredited. You can confirm the accreditation status of a school in the following ways:

• The school itself should provide you with this information, but their claims should always be confirmed just to be safe.

• Nurses who are currently employed in health care facilities must have completed training at an accredited school, and can therefore point you in the right direction.

• The third and most reliable method for ascertaining the accreditation status of a school is to enquire with your State Board of Nursing. The Board often provides a list of accredited program in your state on their website, and you can also ask them about a specific school that you are interested in.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

Although a bachelor’s degree is usually preferred, and often even required, before a nurse can become certified in rehabilitation, it is possible to earn an associate’s degree as a stepping stone to achieving your career goals. An associate’s degree will allow you to work as an RN and gain experience in general or rehabilitation nursing. When considering associate degree programs, make sure that you apply for more than one option as this will greatly improve your chances of being accepted. Have a clear understanding of what you are personally and practically looking for in an associate’s degree program as this will make your final decision easier when it comes time to enroll. By meeting all of the course requirements, both theoretical and clinical, you will earn an associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In order to become a rehabilitation nurse you will need to become certified. This is done through the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB) of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN). In order to qualify for certification you must first become an RN and then work for two years in a rehabilitation setting as a registered nurse in an entry level position. Alternatively, you can elect to gain only 1 year of experience, provided you also complete a one year advanced training program in rehabilitation nursing. For more information about this certification, please contact the RNCB:

Rehabilitation Nurses Certification Board
(800) 229-7530
(847) 375-4710
E-mail: cert@rehabnurse.org

Online/Distance Education Programs

While searching for nursing programs you may notice that there are several online and distance education schools offering tuition of this kind. Provided that you make arrangements to complete your clinical training through another facility or school, online programs can alleviate your burden in two key ways:

• You will not have to compromise your current job in order to study, and your time will generally be more flexible
• These programs are often far cheaper than traditional classroom-based learning options

As with traditional schools, it is important that you check the accreditation status of any online school that you are interested in. Generally speaking, it is better to enroll in a school that also offers traditional face-to-face classes, or one that makes provisions for your clinical training by being affiliated with a health care institution of some kind. Overall, you need to be more careful as there are, unfortunately, several dishonest online nursing schools out there that will waste your time as well as your money should you enroll in them.

Job Outlook

The nursing profession is one that is, and always has been, on the increase regarding the number of jobs that are available in the field. This is due in large part to technological advancements in medicine, allowing more illnesses and injuries to be treated by medical professionals, and an increasing emphasis on preventative care, a role that nurses are able to fill easily. As a result any career in nursing has excellent employment prospects for the future. In addition to clinical practice, rehabilitation nurses also have the opportunity to fill roles in education, increasing their job prospects considerably. As rehabilitation nurses are required to undergo basic nursing training during their undergraduate program, they are also, therefore, eligible to seek employment in other nursing settings where specialization in a certain area is not a requirement and where they will be able to engage in general health care. As a rehabilitation nurse, all of your bases will be covered and you will have numerous employment opportunities. According to allnursingschools.com:

“There is not only a need for rehabilitation nurses in the athletic and progressing senior citizen populations, but also in the everyday people population—full of people recovering from injuries and surgeries”.

Earnings

According to simplyhired.com the average salary that you can expect to earn as a rehabilitation nurse is $52,000 a year. If you compare this to related occupations you will soon realize that it is not a bad salary at all:

• A registered nurse only earns about $50,000 a year (on average)

• A nurse practitioner, who has a master’s degree and is therefore far more advanced than a rehabilitation nurse, only earns about $8000 more a year than a rehabilitation nurse at $60,000

• A nurse manager, who is in charge of a number of other nurses, earns only $6000 more on average than a rehabilitation nurse at $58,000 a year

• A physician or doctor earns less than double of what a rehabilitation nurse is eligible for on an annual basis at about $102,000

Rehabilitation nursing is one of the specializations in nursing that do not require advanced education in the form of a master’s degree. The salary that you will be eligible to earn once you have sought certification in rehabilitation nursing is worth the effort that you put in. In addition, there are several advanced career opportunities that you could pursue after becoming a rehabilitation nurse. Each of these come with salary increases as well as professional respect. This line of work is suitable for patient people who are willing to devote long periods of time to assisting the same patient achieve his or her rehabilitation goals.

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According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), universities and nursing colleges across the country are struggling to increase their enrolment levels to meet the ever-rising demand, especially for Registered Nurses (RNs). AACN is working in collaboration with policy makers, schools, the media, and kindred organizations to focus attention on the nursing shortage and to enact legislation, identify strategies, and form collaborations to address it.

Current And Projected Shortages

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in March 2012 that the job growth in the healthcare sector was exceeding the growth accomplished in 2011, currently accounting for 1 in 5 new jobs that were created this year.

• In January 2012, 43,300 new jobs were created, and in February 2012, 49,000 new jobs were created in the long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other ambulatory care settings sector.

• According to the February 2012 Employment Projections 2010-2020 BLS report, the Registered Nursing workforce is expected to experience a 26% growth, from 2.74 million in 2010 to 3.45 million in 2020.

• A “United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast” published in the American Journal of Medical Quality in January this year, the nursing shortage is expected to spread right through to 2030; the South and the West will be hardest hit.

• The Institute of Medicine’s landmark report released in 2010 called for the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce to be increased to 80%; the aggregation of nurses with doctoral degrees needed to be doubled. Currently only 50% of nurses are at baccalaureate or graduate degree level.

• According to figures released by the Bernard Hodes Group, based on findings by the Nursing Management Aging Workforce Survey, 55% of surveyed nurses, the majority of which were nurse managers, indicated that they would be retiring between 2011 and 2020.

According to the above figures, there can be no doubt that there is definitely a nursing shortage, and unless something drastic is done, it is set to get far worse, with analysts stating that all fifty states will experience a nursing shortage by 2015.

What Is Impacting The Nursing Shortage?

The sad truth is that nursing school enrolments are not growing sufficiently to meet the projected demand, particularly for registered nurses. Although there was an approximate 5% increase in enrolments in 2011, this is totally insufficient to meet the demand. Compounding the need for RNs and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), is the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, which will account for in excess of 32 million Americans gaining access to healthcare services in the near future.

Shortage Of Nursing School Faculty

• AACN reports that in 2011, 75,587 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs were turned away by U.S. nursing schools due to insufficient faculty, not enough classroom space, insufficient clinical preceptors, a lack of sufficient clinical sites, and budget constraints.

• According to a study done by the Southern Regional Board of Education (SREB), and released in February 2002, there was a 12% shortfall of nurse educators documented in 16 SREB states and the District of Columbia. These figures pose a huge threat to nursing education.

Average Age Of The Registered Nurse

• A 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, released in 2010, put the average age of nurses at 46 years of age, which was up from 45.2 years of age in 2000.

• The average age of RNs in 2012 is closer to 50 years of age, and this sector forms the largest portion of the nursing workforce, at around 25% of it.

Changing Demographics

• The Nursing Workforce: Emerging Nurse Shortages Due to Multiple Factors report done in 2001 and various other reports, the nursing shortage is expected to increase as “demographic pressures influence both supply and demand.” A big part of these changing demographic changes and the need for more nursing care is due to the baby-boomer generation reaching their 60s and requiring more care.

• A report released by the Nursing Institute at the University of Illinois College of Nursing in 2001 found that the ratio of caregivers to those who needed care would decrease by 40% between 2010 and 2030. This meant that many people would be limited in gaining access to healthcare unless the nursing shortage was resolved.

Insufficient Staffing

• Apart from the fact that there are just not sufficient nurses coming in to the healthcare sector, many nurses are also leaving it due to too-high patient-to-nurse ratios, which increases the chances of burnout and also impacts on the care given to the patients.

• An article in Nursing Economic$ in 2005 revealed that in excess of 75% of RNs believe the nursing shortage impacts the quality of their job satisfaction, the quality of patient care, and the amount of time that they get to spend with patients.

• This leads to increased levels of stress, emotional exhaustion, job dissatisfaction and more resignations.

Negative Effects Of The Nursing Shortage

Whilst many individuals may feel that the nursing shortage is a positive thing for job creation, this is not particularly so, especially if those positions cannot be filled by qualified healthcare workers.

The truth of the matter is that the shortage in the nursing fraternity is creating a situation wherein patients are suffering from a lack of professional and dedicated care. This is not only due to the fact that there are insufficient nurses, but also due to the fact that the nurses that there are need to work longer hours under very stressful conditions. This means that there is more chance of them suffering injury or fatigue, making mistakes in care or medical dosages, which could lead to injury or even death of patients.

Higher nursing staff levels result in better care for the patients, shorter hospital stays, fewer deaths, lower rates of infection, and lower failure-to-rescue incidents. The New England Journal of Medicine published findings of a study done by Dr. Jack Needleman and colleagues in March 2011, wherein researchers studied an analyzed the records of approximately 198,000 patients that were admitted to 43 patient-care units at large academic health centers, and 177,000 eight-hour nursing shifts. This study indicated that the mortality risk for patients in understaffed units was about 6% higher than in fully-staffed units.

A growing body of research draws direct links between baccalaureate-prepared nurses and lower failure-to rescue and mortality rates. Whilst nurse-aides and licensed practical nurses can do many of the tasks required in caring for patients, baccalaureate-prepared RNs are fundamental in the care of patients in various medical disciplines such as cardiac care and surgical units amongst others.

Strategies To Address The Shortage

In order to address the nursing shortage, it is necessary to address the shortages in the nursing faculty and the resources that are available to the nursing schools so that they are able to enrol more qualified applicants for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.

The AACN and various other stakeholders are at pains to formulate strategies that can positively address the nursing shortage, including the expansion of the nation’s centralized application service for RN programs, NursingCAS, to include graduate nursing programs. This strategy was implemented to address the almost 55,000 vacant seats in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.

If There Is A Nursing Shortage Why Can’t I Find A Job?

This is the question on the lips of many newly-qualified nurses, and the answer is relatively simple and straightforward; many of the nursing positions that are available call for a higher level of education and technological comprehension. Although there are many newly qualified nurses and the job-market is difficult, the problem is that many of these individuals have only done a short course and do not have the skills required.

In order to make themselves more employable, newly-qualified nurses should add some business courses, informatics or technology to their qualification. Although there is a nursing shortage, doing a quick online course of about 6 weeks is not going to help much, as it will not make you marketable to the healthcare institutions that have shortages or for the positions that are vacant.

There are many really good short courses which are offered by reputable institutions, and these generally include administration, computer skills or other technological training, and offer various tracks for expedited training.

So, the answer is clear; America needs more nurses, but it needs more highly-qualified nurses who can fill the more senior positions, thereby allowing the current senior staff to move over into administrative and educational pursuits, which will in turn help to train more baccalaureate and graduate nurses, which will slow down and eventually completely address the nursing shortage that the U.S. is currently experiencing.

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What Is A Home Care Assistant/Aide?

A home care assistant/aide is someone who works with elderly and disabled (mentally and physically) patients in order to ensure that they are able to function on a day to day basis. The main purpose of this line of work is to provide a service to these patient populations that will allow them to continue living in their own homes with assistance. The idea is that the home care assistant/aide will help the patient regain some form of independence. The assistant or aide will provide those services that family members are, for some reason, unable to provide. As an entry level position in the healthcare industry, your tasks will be basic. In this line of work you may find employment in the following areas:

• Patient homes
• Hospice clinics
• Day programs
• Assisted living facilities,
• Other medical facilities

Another role of a home care assistant/aide is to organize transport when necessary for their patients when those patients are required to go to an event or appointment of some description. In short an assistant of this kind makes life easier for a patient experiencing difficulties.

What Does A Home Care Assistant/Aide Do?

A home care assistant/aide is in charge of assisting patients with basic tasks in:

• The patient’s home, or
• A residential care facility

There are a number of duties that a home care assistant/aide is required to fulfill on a daily basis. For one thing they are in charge of observing the residents or patients in their care and working in shifts to assist the patient in performing daily tasks (such as bathing or dressing). Because the role is a junior one, home care aides/assistants have to report to a Registered Nurse (RN) in cases where they work in a Residential Care Facility. One of the main duties of a carer in this position is to promote the patients independence as much as possible and help them to get back on their feet. Because nutrition is so important, you will also be in charge of documenting food and fluid intake. The last three tasks that you will be in charge of performing are generally keeping the patient’s space tidy and neat, transporting patients when necessary, and turning bedridden patients to avoid the development of bedsores.

Working Conditions

The working hours and working conditions for home care assistants/aides are, general speaking, reasonable. Most full-time aides work about 40 hours a week, which is very similar to what many other healthcare professionals work. Often the job is a Monday to Friday affair with weekends off, something that cannot be said for working in a hospital setting. However because patients often need care 24 hours a day, and because their family members are not always able to take over from you in the evenings or on weekends, some aides work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays in order to ensure that the patient receives constant care. This is less convenient, but very necessary and is characteristic of many jobs in this industry. Often you will work shifts with one or more other aides who will work the times that you have off. Many home care assistants/aides work part time, making it easier to fit into a schedule that may include another job. Aides spend many hours standing and walking, and they often face heavy workloads, so you need to be physically capable of meeting the strenuous demands of the job.

Education Requirements And Training

Technically speaking there are no formal education requirements for being a home care assistant/aide, but there are courses that you can choose to complete which will make your career path easier for you. In these programs you would complete courses in the following subjects (among others):

• Gerontology
• Philosophy of long-term care
• Dementia management strategies
• Promoting independence
• Psychology and personal care

Home healthcare often involves working with elderly patients, hence the need for a focus on gerontology. To get into a program of this kind you will need to have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. You will also, in addition to the theory studies that you will engage in on topics, such as medical terminology, human anatomy, taking vital signs, CPR training, nutrition and patient care techniques, have to complete an internship of some kind to gain hands-on experience. This type of course will make you more marketable as a carer. Your state may require that you obtain licensure before you can be allowed to be a home care assistant/aide, so be sure that you know the rules for your state.

Challenges

There are, it goes without saying, a number of challenges involved in being a home care assistant/aide, but you must not lose sight of the rewards that the job brings. By rewards we mean emotional and spiritual rewards rather than physical compensation. The main challenges that may come up during your training or while you are on the job are the following:

• Language challenges due to neurological damage and speech impairments from a person’s health condition – this will create a necessity for you to develop an alternative pattern of communication with your patient, perhaps based on eye movements or gestures rather than on actual speech; this is very similar to learning a new language and will require a great deal of patience on your part.

• Your shifts could be quite lengthy at times (but you will be compensated accordingly) – this is because patients in this position tend to need 24 hour care.

• You will be unable to do this job if you are physically weak or ill in some way – a clean bill of health from your physician is therefore essential.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this career is extremely good. This is because of:

• The high turnover rate in the profession
• The increase in demand for home healthcare services
• A rise in the elderly population (mainly due to the fact that the baby boom generation has now reached old age)
• An increase in understanding that mentally disabled adults also require home healthcare services

Through 2018 we can expect to see an increase in home care assistant/aide jobs of no less than 50% which is remarkably higher than most other professions. There will, very soon, be large number of job openings in this field, and, as you do not technically speaking need any formal training, you should be able to begin your career immediately (although it must be noted that initially you may find it difficult to seek employment if you do not have any training or experience behind your name). Once you have the all-important first job you will be well on your way to developing a career in this industry.

Salary

The salary for a home care assistant/aide is not bad at all when you consider the nature of the work that you will do. You can expect to earn about $7.35 – $18.22 in this position with an overall salary of around $15,342 – $37,892 a year. This is according to payscale.com. There are slight variations in the roles that you may perform. In Home Health Care you will probably earn about $7.49 – $15.17 an hour, in the Health Care Services you will probably earn about $7.85 – $14.90 an hour, and in Child Care or/ Day Care you will probably earn about $7.52 – $13.68 an hour. Learn4good.com states that you can expect to earn anything from $15,000 to $30,000 as a home care assistant/aide. The differences in salary here depend on a number of factors including:

• The position you hold
• The location where you are employed
• The qualifications that you have

Experience also affects pay. With a year or less of experience you will earn between $8.09 and $10.08 an hour and with one to four years experience you will earn between $8.11 and $10.37 an hour.

This job can be fairly intensive as it requires you to work long hours. However it is an excellent way to become involved in the health care industry. Because more and more people are interested in being treated on the comfort of their own homes, more and more home care assistant/aide jobs are becoming available for people who are skilled in that area. Consequently it is one of the more stable jobs that you could choose to pursue in this already stable field.

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A certified registered nurse anesthetist is a nurse who functions in the operating room in the same way as an anesthesiologist. In other words he or she is allowed to administer anesthesia to patients. This is one of the most advanced nursing specializations that you could choose to pursue, and, because of the high degree of responsibility involved, it is also one of the most highly paid.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

A certified registered nurse anesthetist’s main task is to administer anesthesia to patients when it is required. This may be necessary before, during, and after surgery. In many cases certified registered nurse anesthetists also provide anesthesia to women in labor in order to assist with the birthing process. It is interesting to note that certified registered nurse anesthetists have the ability to be largely independent in their roles as in many rural areas and other locations where a n anesthetists is too expensive to employ, certified registered nurse anesthetists work on their own in an operating room and are therefore entirely in control of the anesthesia process. So although the duties that you can perform will be limited, you will be in high demand in many areas because of your skill set.

Employment

The impression that you may have so far is that this is a fairly niche area of nursing in which you will be quite limited when it comes time to seek employment. However anesthesia is used in a number of different ways in a number of different settings. Essentially you will be employable in any healthcare setting where pain needs to be dulled. Consequently there are certified registered nurse anesthetists employed in all of the following places:

• Hospital operating rooms
• Ambulatory surgery centers
• Pain clinics
• Physicians’ offices
• The U.S. military

Another aspect to consider is the fact that you need to complete general RN training before you can become a certified registered nurse anesthetists, and this training will make you employable in general nursing settings as well as in operating rooms.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Requirements

The first requirement that you must meet in order to become a certified registered nurse anesthetists is a bachelor’s degree in nursing or in another major which is deemed to be appropriate by the school where you would like to study to become a nurse anesthetist. In addition to that you will not be able to enter a certified registered nurse anesthetist program unless you already hold an RN license. Consequently you will need to go through all of the training and study necessary to become an RN and earn your license before moving on to being a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Generally speaking you will need to have at least 1 year of acute nursing care experience as a registered nurse. “Acute nursing care experience” is defined and determined by each school offering the nurse anesthetist program.

Personality Traits

The main personality trait that will serve you well as a certified registered nurse anesthetist is a desire to learn and to strive towards improving your knowledge and skills. In the field of surgery and anesthesia new advancements are made fairly regularly, which means that, in order to serve your patients effectively, you need to keep up to date. In addition to this personality trait you should also have the other skills that characterize good nurses:

• A natural ability to be compassionate
• The tendency to pay close attention to detail
• A good spirit
• The natural tendency to be helpful in most situations
• Excellent communication skills for interacting with diverse people
• Last but not least, a general love for working with people from all walks of life

Educational Requirements

To begin with you will need to hold a high school diploma in order to enter a registered nursing training program. At the very least you must earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing or in some field that is related to nursing or that is deemed to be acceptable. A master’s degree is not a prerequisite for entering a certified registered nursing course because you will be awarded with this qualification once you have completed the certified registered nurse anesthetist program. In short the educational requirements for entering this particular nursing specialty are fairly intensive and may take you a fair amount of time to complete. You must also remember that a certain amount of experience as an RN is also necessary in order to enter a master’s program that will prepare you for this role.

Licensure

To become a certified registered nurse anesthetist you need to hold an RN license. This is one of the basic requirements for the job. The procedure for earning your licensure is simple enough to understand:

• Begin by applying for licensure with your state board of nursing.
• Once they have confirmed your eligibility to become licensed, apply to take the licensure test with Pearson VUE for a cost of $200. This test is called the NCLEX-RN.
• Passing the test will allow you to become licensed. Patience is required as your results will be sent to the board and they will inform you in a few months f you are licensed or not.
• Your license may need to be renewed periodically depending on the rules in your particular state.

How To Become A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

This is an extremely intensive aspect of nursing that requires you to have a high degree of both theoretical and practical knowledge and skill. Consequently it will be necessary to complete additional training in the form of a master’s degree program. This is one top of your basic RN training. Generally speaking these programs take about 24 to 36 months to complete depending on the school you attend and whether or not you are enrolled full-time or part-time. The topics that you will be required to become skilled in during this advanced training program include the following: anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, pharmacology, principles of anesthesia, and management and advanced practice nursing. Mastering these topics and completing all necessary coursework will allow you to graduate from the program and become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Source An Accredited Education Program

The importance of ensuring that the program you enroll in is accredited cannot be stressed enough. When it comes to master’s degree programs in nurse anesthesia you need to be aware of the following accrediting bodies:

• The National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)

The NLNAC accredits all types of nursing education programs including master’s, baccalaureate, associate’s and diploma the CCNE accredits programs that offer only master’s and baccalaureate level nursing degrees, and the COA accredits nurse anesthesia programs at the certificate, master’s and doctoral degree levels. If the program that you enroll in is not accredited appropriately you will find that in effect you are wasting your time and your money on that school.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

As mentioned previously it is necessary for you to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing to enter a master’s degree program that will allow you to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. However, as it is also necessary that you hold an RN license, an associate’s degree is not a bad place to start as it can serve as a stepping stone in your nursing career that will bring you that much closer to the highly acclaimed and envied position of a certified registered nurse anesthetist. When looking into such programs in your area, remember to apply for more than one, and remember to adhere to the specific application guidelines that each school would like you to follow. This will broaden your chances of being accepted speedily into an appropriate associate’s degree program.

Obtain Your Licensure

In addition to RN licensure you will need to become certified with the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists in order to use the title of certified registered nurse anesthetist in your career. There are a number of prerequisites you will need to meet before you will be allowed to take this exam. You must provide:

• A valid registered nurse license
• Completion of the required forty credits of continuing education
• Proof of practice of anesthesia during the two year period preceding application
• Absence of any problems, mental or physical, that would be detrimental to the practice of a nurse anesthetist

On top of that it is necessary to renew the certification regularly, once every two years. When renewing you will provide proof of continuing education credits as well as of hands-on experience.

Online/Distance Education Programs

Completing the theoretical potion of your master’s degree program online or through distance education can reduce the burden many students experience at this advanced stage of their studies. Online programs are often cheaper, alleviating the financial strain placed on students. In addition they also tend to be far more flexible. Although some master’s degree online programs will be synchronous (i.e. you have to be online at certain times), others will be asynchronous (i.e. there are no set times at which you must be online). Other programs combine these two aspects. Generally speaking, however, you will have more freedom and the ability to work in your own time and at your own pace at all times throughout your training program. Your hands-on training will need to be done in an actual health care facility even if you complete your theory training online.

Job Outlook

There are a number of factors that lead us to believe that the job outlook for nurses in this specialty is extremely good:

• There will an increase in the number of jobs for RNs in general of 26 percent increase in employment from 2012 through 2020.

• Certified registered nurse anesthetists provide the same services as anesthesiologists, but at lower rates, meaning that they are more and more likely to be employed.

• This is one of the most advanced nursing specialties, meaning that your skills will be in very high demand.

• Because you will also have completed basic nursing training in order to earn your RN license you will also be employable in general nursing settings where no specialties are necessary in order to provide patient care.

Earnings

This is one of the nursing specialties that come with the best salary options. In general you should expect to earn around $77,792 – $169,583 a year. However there are also additional earnings you may receive, such as a bonus of between $0.00 and $15,351 a year as well as the potential for profit sharing of around $1,449 – $19,678 a year. This brings your overall potential earnings to $78,202 – $184,291 a year.

This is one of the nursing professions where almost as many men as women are employed. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are approximately 55% female and 45% male. However it is interesting to note that men can earn slightly more than women in this line of work:

• Women can earn about $103,212 – $150,382 a year as a certified registered nurse anesthetist

• Men can earn about $119,578 – $160,302 a year as a certified registered nurse anesthetist

The level of education you have achieved will obviously play a role in your salary expectations:

• With a Bachelor’s Degree you can expect to earn around $59,800 – $194,100 a year

• With a of Science in Nursing (MSN) you can expect to earn around $91,089 – $157,049 a year

• With a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Anesthesia you can expect to earn around $82,602 – $197,324 a year

• With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) you can expect to earn around $61,277 – $168,860 a year

• With a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Nurse Anesthesia you can expect to earn around $110,494 – $168,479 a year

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