How To Make A Quick Career Change Into Nursing - Part II

My last entry discussed the ABSN degree and what you should consider in finding an ABSN program.  This installment takes it one step further -- how do you find out which schools offer ABSN programs and what courses do you need in order to qualify for admission?

There are numerous ABSN (accelerated nursing programs) that can totally change your career and life in 18 months or less.  But how do you find a program that meshes with your timetable for beginning classes, geographic location and pocketbook. The key to identifying nursing programs quickly is registering on the web with NursingCas.  NursingCas is a centralized application system that is being used by the majority of private university nursing programs in the United States.  (Many public universities still require you to go directly to their webpage to find out which programs are being offered but I predict more and more will shift over to NursingCas in the next few years.)  Establishing an account on NursingCas is quick and easy to do.  Once you have signed up you have access to scanning nursing programs throughout the country.  Since these programs are all competing for you as a potential student, most have virtual open house days each month where you can meet and question faculty and even their Dean in some instances.  You also have the ability to shoot off an email with questions to the NursingCas liaison for that particular university.  As a centralized portal for nursing school admissions, NursingCas allows you to submit your credentials and apply to several schools at once.  There is a $50 dollar fee if you decide to apply, but many colleges and universities will give you a voucher that waives the $50 fee if you simply ask for it, so applying to their school will be free.  

Most nursing schools require a 3.0 or close to it for serious consideration for their ABSN program.  In addition to the B average, you also need to have taken Anatomy and Physiology with labs, Microbiology, Nutrition, Statistics and Developmental Psychology during your undergraduate degree years.  These are fairly standard requirements.  There was a time when Chemistry was also required, but colleges are beginning to move away from that requirement.  Anatomy and Physiology with labs are considered your most important science courses, and some schools will put a time limit on the age of those college credits. 

Say your science credits are old or perhaps you were a "late bloomer" and although your first two years of college reflected poor grades, you later began to turn things around.  My suggestion would be to retake or take the prerequisites online or at your local community college.  Shoot for As. This makes your grades reflect your current ability and eagerness to enter nursing -- something not lost on ABSN admissions committees.  Many colleges and universities want to see science credits that are not more than 7 years old, so taking courses as a refresher can also be a great idea.

Let me know if you have any questions about ABSN programs.  Always happy to help.

How to Make a Quick Career Change into Nursing - Part 1

There was a time when college graduates stayed in a field their entire career.  With a degree in history or economics you went into politics or law school.  A degree in elementary ed saw you teaching in an elementary school; business students gravitated to business opportunities.  So there was a natural progression from school to work.  And once you entered a field, your family usually expected you to stay there.  After all, isn't that why you studied a particular area within college?  How else could you justify those student loans facing you or your family?  Even if the career turned out to be not what you envisioned, what could you do about it?  Many people simply felt stuck or that they had made a mistake they simply had to live with.  But that need not be the case.  

We change as we mature and likewise our career interests evolve as well.  Due to fast-track career options and direct admit graduate fields, it is possible explore a number of career paths and/or change careers after obtaining that initial college degree.  Let's talk about one opportunity - the ABSN.

ABSN stands for Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  This is a fast-track degree that usually takes anywhere from 14-18 months to complete, depending on your school.  The idea is simple -- the college takes your existing college bachelor's degree in any area and gives you credit towards a second degree - but this time the degree is in nursing.  

You graduate with a new bachelor's degree and are eligible to take the national nursing board exam (NCLEX) and upon passing you can work as a registered nurse (RN) anywhere in the United States.  

Close to 300 ABSN programs are offered throughout the United States.  Tuitions vary wildly, as do class sizes.  The curriculum is fairly standard but since the NCLEX is known as a very difficult exam to pass, you want to attend a program that will give you the best shot at success.  How do you know which program to choose?

1 - Pick a program that has an entering class of less than 40 students.  Otherwise it is easy to get lost in the crowd.  You want a school that will give you the individual attention you need to be successful.

2-  Check out the faculty.  Do they have terminal degrees (meaning, do they have DNP or PhD degrees)?  You should apply to schools where the majority of nursing faculty have doctorates and where many have recent nursing experience.  You don't want to be trained by dinosaurs, rather you need faculty who are first rate and at the top of their profession.  What are their areas of research?  Do they still work at the area hospitals part time?  Do they have connections that can help you?

3 - What clinical sites are being offered?  ABSN curriculum consists of three parts:  lectures, labs and clinical.  Since nursing requires you to think on your feet and become confident in a wide range of settings, you want to be trained in a number of various healthcare settings -- both large and small.   Clinical experience at a small community hospital is wildly different from clinical at a 900-bed hospital and you need to understand and live the difference.  You want a program that offers both.

4 - Ask about the lab experience.  What manikins do they have?  Nursing lab experience has evolved to the point at which many state boards of nursing expect students to spend a significant amount of time training on manikins before ever entering a hospital setting.  This means the manikins must be capable of advanced simulations.  There are manikins we call "task trainers" where students learn basic nursing skills;  then there are high fidelity manikins that can mimic a number of serious healthcare and emergency situations.  You want a program that provides a significant amount of lab time with newer state-of-the-art manikins, so don't be shy about asking faculty to tell you about their manikins -- what do they have?  How old are they?  What types of experiences can be demonstrated and can be learned in their labs?  

See Part II of this blog article for more information on ABSN programs and prerequisites.

Nontraditional College Students: Returning to Complete Your Degree

I’m an adult who never finished college.  Is it too late to return?

The good news is that it is never too late to return for a college degree.   You can do it!  Millions of adult students return to college every year, in fact, nontraditional students are now the majority of college students in the United States.   Whether you are age 30 or 80, there are numerous possibilities for college.  Consider the program options:  day, evening, weekend and online.  The important part of returning is in finding the right college that provides an affordable major and a schedule that works with your every day commitments.  As a nontraditional student you can receive financial aid at many institutions, and depending on your major, you may be able to enroll and take courses at your own pace.  There are many options for enrollment, and we will discuss each within the days ahead.

Should You Get A Nursing Degree?

One of the first things to understand about nursing is that the job market for nurses ebbs and flows on a 12 year cycle.  This means that while jobs may be plentiful at any point in time, within twelve years the job market will change completely.  Some attribute this to burnout within the profession, while others see it as a function of young nurses leaving to have children. At the same time we see more and more men and women entering the profession, so even in times when many nurses have left the workplace, there is still a healthy competition for positions.

Nursing has changed dramatically during the past two decades.  One thing to understand about nursing school is that you do not become a nurse upon graduating from an associate or bachelor's degree nursing program.  After graduation you must take a national board exam known as the NCLEX.  The NCLEX is offered in every state, and your college will discuss it with you in the months prior to your graduation.  This is a very difficult examination, and you would be wise to take a review course prior to taking the NCLEX.  Once you pass the examination you can apply for your nursing license.   This license will qualify you for RN status.

Bedside nursing is very satisfying, and one of the wonderful parts of the job is getting to know and help the patients.    There are also numerous areas within nursing -- from psychiatric to working in the operating room.   Many of these areas require specialized training beyond the college degree and the RN license.  The additional training may be provided by the hospital, or may require additional education -- such as a master's degree.

Next -- Should I get a BSN?

Should I return to School?

The story plays out again and again.  In this economy, job security is nonexistent.   You lose your job unexpectedly and don't know what to do.  You tell yourself you are too old to return to school, but is that really true?   The answer is a resounding "No!"  It is never too late to return to school -- especially if you are the family breadwinner or plan to continue working for several years.  Rather than allowing yourself to become consumed with depression, think about turning back the clock.  This can be a great opportunity to start over and do that thing you've always wanted to do.  Here are a few interesting ideas for meaningful careers:

Nursing -- take it at a community college to save $$

Surgical Technician -- offers all the excitement of the operating room -- offered at many community colleges and you can work anywhere in the United States.

EMT -- offered at colleges and community colleges

Physician's Assistant -- a wonderful career with a fair amount of autonomy - think university

Professional Chef --  cooking schools are easy to find throughout the country

Radiation Therapist -- accredited programs are offered at many colleges

Teacher -- great programs at state schools and private colleges/universities

The next installment will discuss degree options in business.

Which College Should I Attend?

Making the Final Choice

Congratulations!  If you are reading this blog it probably means you have been accepted to more than one college or university.  Choosing the right college is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make.  Attending the wrong school can make you miserable, while the right college can set you on a path for success for the rest of your life.  So how do you decide when both schools are attractive choices?

Here's two sound pieces of advice:   

1.  Look at the Freshman Retention and Graduation rates in US NEWS & WORLD AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGES.  These rates are true indicators of how students judge their schools.  The higher the rate for graduation and freshman retention, the better the school is doing at providing a strong learning environment and welcoming culture.   

2.  If two schools are evenly matched in your mind, then contact the Admissions Department and tell them you wish to sit in on classes for an afternoon.  This must be cleared with the instructor in advance, but it will give you a great opportunity to see the culture in action -- and not through the artificial lens of a student visitation day or weekend.   You'll either click with the faculty, students, and classroom environment, OR you will know quickly that despite the great campus, financial aid package, etc., it is really not a good match.

It's Not Too Early To Study The Rankings!

Whether you are a high school junior or a 45-year old career changer, gaining acceptance to the "right" college and degree program is one of the greatest challenges you will ever face. College choice is driven by a number of factors, and unfortunately, many potential students apply to a particular school simply because of its name. This site was developed by a university administrator (and parent of college-age children). Take a moment to read the weekly blog and it will help you on your journey to finding the "right" college.

It's Not Too Early To Study The Rankings!

Although the latest US News & World Report college rankings have not yet been released, it is important to realize that in the case of most colleges and universities, the numbers change little from year to year. An older version of the magazine can be just as useful if you know what to look for. Let's examine some basic categories and then we'll dig deeper. The magazine breaks schools into several categories: National Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Universities - Master's (By Region), and Baccalaureate Colleges. There are significant differences between schools in each category and by understanding these you can narrow your list of potential schools.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

National Universities include the highly selective "Ivy League" in addition to a long list of other outstanding public and private institutions. They decrease in selectivity as you scan down the list. These are the schools we've all heard of, and often they are famous for a particular area of study on the graduate level, or for their research. I recently heard a father's lament over the fact that few of the "big name" schools were chasing after his daughter. In reality, the famous schools don't have to chase after students -- their admissions departments are flooded with outstanding applicants. Just take a quick look at recent Harvard statistics. In 2006 there were over 22,000 applicants, yet only 9% were accepted. In Harvard's entering freshman class, 95% came from the top 10% of their high school graduating class. There were undoubtedly countless class Valedictorians, and others with perfect SATs who were rejected. Then there were the legacies -- children whose parents attended the school. There was a time when being a legacy counted with admissions officers, but those days are fading fast.

As you move down the list of national universities, you come upon many excellent schools where it is still tough to be admitted, but their acceptance rate is much higher than Harvard's. The University of Michigan, University of Illinois, University of Virginia, Pepperdine University, etc. -- the list is lengthy.

What is a national university really like? Some are relatively small institutions, like Pepperdine, with under 3000 students. At the opposite end of the spectrum are those universities that are larger than small towns -- like the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with 24,000 or Ohio State University with 35,000 undergraduate students. These universities have well-designed campuses, beautiful grounds, and a large number of academic buildings and dorms. The very large schools do not provide a setting where you will be recognized by 30+ students as you cross campus, or receive loads of individualized attention from faculty, but for many students that doesn't matter.

There are usually fraternities and sororities, and countless clubs and activities. National universities have a wide range of majors, minors, and research opportunities you'll not usually find at smaller institutions. As these schools place great emphasis on research, odds are the world famous professor you hoped to see in class probably won't be there. At some universities graduate students teach undergraduate classes, and the majority of classes are taught by assistant and associate professors. Class size often tends to be large in the "intro" courses, and some schools have been known to mount television screens so those sitting in the back of the lecture hall can get a better look at their instructor. As you progress in your major, class size decreases significantly, and it is simply a fact that strong students do get to be known by the faculty in their major -- no matter what size the school. National universities are great for the student who is independent, mature, self-confident and who enjoys being part of a large community of learners. National universities are known for their outstanding graduate programs, so even if you do not attend one as an undergraduate, consider a national university if graduate school beckons. Coming Next: Liberal Arts Colleges