Career | Male Nurse

The Evolution of Nursing Uniforms

2010-05-08T01:06:00.003+08:00

About the author: John Smith works for NursingUniforms.net, the largest online selection of nursing scrubs, lab coats and medical uniforms.

Uniforms are the most essential part for any profession, may it be a lawyer, doctor, police or even the nurses. It is through these uniforms that people are recognized for their professions. This was the main motive behind the creation of nursing uniforms. The first nursing uniform was worn by renowned Florence Nightingale who also went on to become one of the most influential nurses in the entire profession. In the 1800’s Nightingale took up nursing as a profession and treated the underprivileged and poor people along with the wounded soldiers in the wars. Her work and achievements gave the profession a completely new elevation and also made it count amongst the highly respected professions.

The advancements made by the profession slowly brought in several changes that crept in the nursing uniforms which were previously designed similar to the dresses worn by the nuns in the missionaries. Nuns in the earlier times served the wounded and other people suffering from several diseases. As a result of this the first nurse uniform designed was the identical to the uniform of the nuns. Later on, somewhere during the First World War, the nursing uniform changed slightly. The nurses working in the wars wore an additional arm band from the Red Cross on their left arm. An additional cloak was also included in the uniform apart from its previous full length gown.

With the passing time, the nursing uniforms evolved further giving way to several other patterns. The newer uniforms were more practical and designed according to the varied functions performed by the nurses in the hospitals. The uniforms were also made available in different colors which were used as a major source of identification for the nurses belonging to the different departments and ranks. Nurses of different ranks were assigned a different colored uniform which thus became an easy way for the patients to recognize the nurses. These nurse uniforms also had a little touch of style in them which thus gave the nurses a smart and stylish look. Uniforms with pockets were also introduced which became a very feasible addition to the nurse uniforms. The pockets allowed the nurses to carry their essential things such as pens, reports, etc. However, new styles were also introduced in the later phase of the nurse uniform history.

Nurses wearing their newly designed nursing uniforms based on the requirements of the profession look highly authoritative. This look impressed the patients and gave them great comfort and mental satisfaction. Also, new designs have been designed especially with the growing popularity of the profession amongst the male nurses. Different colored nursing scrubs are assigned to the nurses performing different tasks in the hospitals. The scrubs are usually the shirts, trousers, tunic tops, etc. which are worn in combination by the nurses in the hospitals. The scrubs are also worn by the doctors in the operating theaters and are extremely comfortable to wear.

Nursing career: Role and responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse

2010-04-11T02:02:00.004+08:00

Becoming a Public Health Nurse would be one of the most satisfying career options in Nursing Profession for the service-minded nurse who has a little extra patriotism and extra motivation to help the community or the State have a healthy population.

Who can become a Public Health Nurse?

As is the case with any other options in nursing profession, the basic qualification required to become a public health nurse is the normal 4-year degree course in nursing through any one of the affiliated nursing colleges, followed with license and recognition as a Registered Nurse. The number of years put in to the profession also plays an important in taking up the career as Public Health Nurse.

The role of a Public Health Nurse is to ensure that the health of the community at large is in good shape. It is the responsibility of the Public Health Nurse to monitor the health of the community, foresee threats for diseases of mass communication, plan accordingly for prevention of such diseases and also educate the community at large about the benefits of leading a healthy life.

The real challenge for a Public Health Nurse lies in promoting health of the children, adolescents and pregnant women. Educating the people about nutrition, adequate care in hygiene and precautions to be taken at times of calamities such as flash floods or spread of any disease is one of the very essential or prime responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse. He or She has to co-ordinate with other agencies, doctors and community services in maintaining the health of the community at large and the inhabitants of the community.

The role and responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse goes beyond healthcare assistance to a patient in a hospital setting. The responsibilities can be broadly classified into three broad categories – primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention.

As a public health nurse, it is essential that adequate steps are taken by the community at large before the threat of any disease affecting the community at large. A flash flood or thunderstorm might be the ideal cause for outbreak of diseases like cholera or other diseases. It need not be just a calamity. Possibility of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS/HIV are ever present in a community. Teaching the population about the importance of precautions, organizing promotional activities to create awareness among the people and educating the importance of prevention are the activities that come under the purview of primary prevention.

The responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse does not rest with primary prevention. A public health nurse should take all possible precautions and organize for carrying out tests to ensure that the diseases are discovered at an early stage, and the spread of diseases is nipped in the bud. For example, a screening test for colonoscopy will help in discovering whether the patient is suffering from or likely to be affected by colon cancer.

Tertiary prevention is another important thing that a public health nurse should be responsible for. He or she, on discovery of a disease, should provide scope for rehabilitation of the patient and also developing ways and means for management of chronic diseases that include preventive interventions.

CNABoard has more information on cna training and cna programs for nurses seeking cna career.

Nursing ad campaigns take on the male stereotype

2010-04-09T21:08:00.002+08:00

By Marisa Ramiccio
Source: The Orlando Sentinel

When young boys are asked what they want to be when they grow up, they're supposed to answer "doctor," not "nurse," because nursing is for women--at least that's how the stereotype goes.

But national ad campaigns are trying to eliminate that stereotype by asking men "Are You Man Enough to Be a Nurse?" The ads depict a variety of men some in nurse scrubs, some in sports uniforms or business suits--and provide a brief description of a hobby each man enjoys.

"I love [these ads]," said Christopher Blackwell, an assistant professor for UCF's College of Nursing. "When we get positive ads and positive characters on shows like 'Nurse Jackie' and 'House,' they break some of the stereotypes down," said Blackwell.

A study conducted by the Bernard Hodes Group in 2004 found the most common misperceptions about male nurses are that they are homosexual, that nursing is viewed as a more feminine profession, and that men aren't seen as caring enough to be nurses.

"When you look at stereotypes, you have two different kinds: public and professional," Blackwell said. "Because nurses work together, they know the gay stereotype isn't true."

However, Blackwell said that some female nurses may feel that men should be better at the technical side of nursing and that men can be seen as "muscle" for the female nurses who can't lift patients.

According to the Hodes study, 50 percent of the male nurses polled said they have encountered these kinds of stereotypes in the workplace, and 56 percent of the men polled said they encountered stereotypes in school.

Are the men in UCF's nursing school facing these stereotypes?

"I don't really know how much of a presence stereotypes have concerning male nurses anymore," said Joe Eichorn, a nursing major in the accelerated nursing program. "We have fun in class joking with each other about them. Other than that, it has never really come up."

Dominic Pham, who is also in the accelerated nursing program, says that the stereotyping he has faced has mostly concerned his Asian descent. "I've never really minded the stereotyping I've faced since none were ever truly malicious in my eyes," said Pham.

Stacey Grant, a first-year nursing student, says she used to believe some of the stereotypes herself. "I must admit, when I first entered the program, I did have a few stereotypes about male nurses stuck in my head. Some people may still think that 'murses' [male nurses] must be feminine or pre-med drop outs," Grant said.

"However, all of the guys I know in the nursing program are the 'typical' college student just trying to get an education," Grant said. "If anything, they get more attention than all of the girls."

Although there are many males who have not encountered stereotyping, the Hodes study cites stereotypes as a factor in the low number of males who have entered the nursing profession.

Of the 2 million registered nurses in the U.S., only about 5 percent of them are male. At UCF, about 2,250 students are nursing majors, but only 246 of them are male.

According to Blackwell, this is why using ads to recruit men into the profession is crucial.

"I think it's important [to advertise to men]. Having a strong male presence [in health care] is important," Blackwell said.

Pham also thinks this type of advertising is a positive step.

"I think there are very few situations where publicity is bad," Pham said. "Like other advertisements, even if it is annoying or controversial, attention is brought to it, which may trigger inspiration in those that have never considered [male nursing]."

However, many of the men polled in the Hodes study did not view the ads as positive.

"Many commented that in pushing the macho image, the ads were underscoring the stereotype that men in nursing are overwhelmingly gay or that nursing is not a masculine career choice," the study reports.

Masculine career choice or not, Blackwell said that if you work in a good team environment, the stereotypes won't matter.

"We did not care if you were male, female, white, black or Puerto Rican," Blackwell said. "What we cared about was that you were a good, productive member of the team."

Marisa Ramiccio is a UCF journalism student.
Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

The Top 5 Areas of Nursing for Men

2010-04-07T23:42:00.001+08:00

The following guest post was contributed by Wendy Graham who frequently writes about college related topics for Online College Guru. She invites readers to checkout online nursing degrees if they are interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

Nursing is one area that is currently not overly affected by the economy. The American Hospital Association estimates that 75% of all medical job vacancies in the U.S. are in the field of nursing and the Department of Labor lists Registered Nurses as the top occupation for job growth through the next decade.

According to the American Nurses Association, between 5 and 6% of all nurses in the United States are male. While men are still currently in the minority, nursing schools are seeing an increase in the number of males who are entering the nursing profession, particularly in specialty areas. Studies have shown that men enter into nursing because they want a challenging position caring for sick and injured patients that also has reasonable job security and good wages.

Unlike other nursing careers, Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists are approximately 40-45% male, according to the American Association of Nurse Anaesthetists. A CRNA collaborates with surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and other procedural healthcare providers to safely administer anaesthesia medications. CRNA’s must first achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and hold a Registered Nursing license before being accepted into a CRNA program, which lasts about 24 to 26 months.

Military nursing is another field that has a strong following among men. Military nurses perform all of the duties of a traditional nurse, but may also be entrusted with a wider range of responsibilities. Careers in the military also have the added benefits of financial assistance, low-cost housing, specialized training, and world-wide travel opportunities. Nurses can enter into the field as Licensed Practical Nurses, but those with a BSN and RN can enter the service as officers. Military nurses also have the opportunity to continue their education with tuition paid.

Forensics is another appealing nursing career for many men, combining science with the caring atmosphere of traditional nursing. Forensic nurses document injuries and collect evidence for law enforcement agencies. They also counsel assault victims and testify against defendants in criminal trials. Most forensic nurses work in hospitals, primarily in the emergency department, or in the Medical Examiner’s office.

Surgical nursing is another nursing career that is drawing more men into the field. Surgical nurses prepare the patient before surgery, assists the surgeon during both major and minor surgical operations, and charts progress in the recovery room. Different positions within surgical nursing include scrub nurses, circulating nurses, and RN first assistants.

For men interested in entering into a nursing career, Male Nurse Magazine lists the University of Pennsylvania as the top male-friendly nursing school in the U.S. Rounding out the top.

Changing the stereotype: Men in nursing

2010-03-26T19:53:00.002+08:00

By Alyssa Rossomme (arossomme@wsbt.com)
WSBT.com

Two or three decades ago, nursing was a popular career choice for women. In time, it became a female-dominated field. These days, however, the number of men in the profession is increasing.
Wayne Dockery has been a nurse at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for about 17 years. He works in the surgical intensive care unit. Some patients are surprised when they meet him.

“A lot of them think I’m a doctor when I walk in the room, because I’m a male. Then I have to tell them, ‘No, I’m your nurse for the day,’” Dockery said.

In the last ten years, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center has seen more men make nursing a career.

“The true component of being a nurse, “ explained Marsha King, system chief nursing officer, “is caring about patients and caring about treating people with dignity and respect, and be able to have that hands on approach, so it really doesn't matter if you're male or female.”

Patients do not seem to think the gender of a nurse matters either.

“It's nice to see they [male nurses] can be just as attentive as the female nurses,” said Jill Molen, the wife of one of Dockery’s patients. “Sometimes, when it’s a male patient, it’s kind of nice to have another male taking care of them. It can be a little more comfortable,” she added.

Some male nurses, like Dockery, have chosen nursing as a second career later in life. Perhaps their first career was not fulfilling, or they may have lost their job. Dockery worked in a warehouse for 15 years, and started nursing school when the plant closed.

“My day [at the warehouse] was routine. I did the same thing day in and day out. Here it's a different challenge every day,” said Dockery.

He finds his current job rewarding.

“When I go home at night, I have a good feeling knowing I helped someone out, and the decision I made had a positive impact on their life.”

A growing trend is young men studying nursing. Five years ago, men in IUSB's School of Nursing accounted for about 8 percent of the students. Today, about 15 percent of the nursing students there are men.

Marta Makielski, IUSB undergraduate nursing program director, said there are a number of reasons men choose the nursing field. “A lot of men really work well with people. Sometimes they're attracted to the technology that's available. And, of course, the job opportunities are endless,” she said.

Additionally, nurses often work flexible hours, and the position pays well. King said the starting wage for a nurse in the Midwest is $20 to $23 an hour. She said nurses also have the ability to continue their education while on the job.

“Nursing is such a dynamic career. It is a great opportunity for men, and they’re recognizing that,” King said.

She said male nurses are welcome at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, and bring a different dimension to the dynamics of a nursing unit.

Michael Carroll is one of the men in IUSB’s nursing program. “I like working with people and I like helping people,” he said.

Carroll said he knows some still hold stereotypes, but he thinks fewer people see nursing as a female-only career. He looks forward to his future job.

“I don't see myself as a male nurse, I just see myself as a nurse,” Carroll said.

Healthcare workers hope everyone will begin to see things that way.

Women are still doing jobs men don't want

2010-03-08T21:48:00.002+08:00

By George Pitcher
Source: telegraph.co.uk

Sexism has returned – but not in the way the martinets of new feminism say it has, argues George Pitcher.

Today is International Women's Day. I know, your heart sinks, doesn't it? But this isn't one of those faddish lobbying festivals, like Bruce Forsyth's Artificial Hip-joint Day or the Andrew Rawnsley Stop Bullying Week. IWD has been going since 1911 and has its roots in the Suffragette movement, so today seems as good a day as any to review the progress of feminism.

I'm not, admittedly, first into the ring on this one. Heavyweight women's-issue wrestlers have been weighing in on the subject for weeks. In the red (in tooth and claw) corner, we have the likes of Charlotte Raven and Natasha Walter, whose new book, Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism, serves as the current seminal tract, if she'll pardon that expression, of how former visionary sisterhoods have been let down by the ladette culture, Wags and pole-dancers.

Meanwhile, in the blue (stocking) corner, we have Fiona Millar, "Mrs" Alastair Campbell as she isn't known, who writes in that Spare Rib of contemporary journalism, Radio Times, that men like hers are hopeless around the house, simple domestic vacuums who can't do the Hoovering. So women like her have to do all the domestic chores as well as holding down top-line executive jobs, like telling Cherie Blair what to wear and slagging off private schools.

There is some truth in all of this. Nearly a hundred years after truly fearless fighters for gender freedom, such as Millicent Fawcett and Emily Pankhurst, won universal suffrage and 40 years after Germaine Greer published The Female Eunuch, women are in a disappointing place. A majority of schoolgirls in a recent study said that the form of prostitution known as "glamour modelling" is a serious career choice. There are just four female CEOs of FTSE companies today and Katie "Jordan" Price sells more books than Martin Amis.

Admittedly, that last point is good news for a women's movement trying to counter oppressive and misogynistic male attitudes, but where the Walters and Millars have a point is that, in short, women are still doing the jobs that men don't want to do. Partly, that has its primal cause in biology: women bear the children and, unable to offer any role- reversal in that regard, men stand back or pretend to be hunter-gatherers while the women go on to feed the children, choose their schools and listen to their boring stories. I mean, empathise with their development, obviously. Beyond families, this tendency is reflected in the wider world
of work.

Alpha males do the competitive, dragon-slaying and lucrative stuff, while women do what needs to be done. There has been a spike recently in the numbers of men going into primary school teaching, which is nice, until you realise that they've all lost their jobs being masters of the universe in the City and have just noticed that children go to school.

Then there's nursing, still overwhelmingly dominated by women. I may have expressed the odd view against euthanasia here in the past, but guess who will have to do the killing as and when a predominantly male Parliament legalises "assisted dying". Yes, that's right. Jobs for the boys also means getting the girls to do the ones we don't like.

But the prophetesses of doom seem to miss one major point. And it's the economic one. Firstly, it's no good for moaning, middle-class minnies like Ms Millar to complain that they are shackled to domesticity, while loveable but useless Campbell potters about, hoping to be played by Neil Morrissey in the movie. I have it on good authority, as they say, that the Millar-Campbells have been as well served by domestic staff as the rest of us.

During the boom years, we subcontracted domesticity. Now the markets have turned, couples are jostling for position over who does the chores. And there may be the teensiest bit of control-freakery: I don't do the house either, but let's pretend it's just Alastair that's hopeless, shall we?

Secondly, one of the supposed triumphs of Seventies feminism was liberating women into the world of work. Never mind if most young women were going into second-line servicing, such as public relations, rather than the mainstream economy. They were getting out of the home. But that meant dual incomes for bigger mortgages, which in turn hugely inflated pushed property prices. So we're now in a place where both partners have to work just to service their mortgages, especially in London, whether they want to or not. Some liberation.

I have to be careful here, but if a martinet of the new feminism tells me it's Cheryl Cole or Jordan, or even Fiona Millar with her Hoover, who have betrayed the sisterhood, I have to tell her she's talking rubbish. It's the economy, stupid.

Breaking down stereotypes the key for male nurses

2010-02-18T10:46:00.001+08:00

Written by Dave Mabell
Source: Lethbridge Herald

Women as bishops? Jamaicans as bobsledders?

Neither group seems to be facing as many stereotypes as men becoming nurses.

That’s the report from Peter Kellett, a health sciences instructor at the University of Lethbridge. He’s working to encourage more men to consider a career in nursing, and says he’s finding some success.

“More men applied to the nursing program over the last year,” although not all followed through. And health science’s new baccalaureate nursing program, for students who’ve already earned a first degree, attracted considerable male interest as well.

But still, Kellett says, less than six per cent of the nation’s registered nurses are male. In contrast, more than half the enrolment in many of Canada’s medical schools is female.

Women have also proven successful as ministers and bishops in churches in Alberta and across Canada. As for those bobsledders . . .

Some people still find difficulty seeing men as professional caregivers, however.

“A lot of people are still tying themselves to certain roles,” Kellett says. “Part of the issue is society’s views about gender.”

As Canadians increasingly value diversity in their communities, some of these stereotypes are fading.

“We’re a far more diverse population today.”

And now more men are training for a career in nursing, Kellett points out. In psychiatry, about one nurse in seven is male, and male RNs are making their mark in intensive or critical care situations as well.

“I think one of the misconceptions is that nursing is somehow a lower profession,” he suggests — but it’s not.

“It’s very much a dynamic and challenging career and very worthwhile to be a part of.

“You make a difference every day.”

A nurse for 14 years, before becoming an instructor, Kellett is the son of an RN. Like others, he considered other roles in health care.

“What attracted me to nursing is that nurses are the people who have a long-term relationship with the patients,” he says. “I think the bond between nurse and patient is like no other in the health-care field.”

As part of his determination to see more men enter the profession, Kellett organized a recruitment event at U of L recently and plans another in the fall. But he encourages anyone to contact him — at peter.kellett@uleth.caThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it — for more information any time.

Myths about nurses persist

2010-02-17T13:44:00.001+08:00

By Jessica De Vault
http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2010/02/15/970849

Fact vs. Fiction

There are numerous myths pertaining to the field of nursing. Here are few worth debunking.

Myth: Nurses only work in hospitals.

Truth: Hospitals are the primary practice setting for 56.2 percent of all registered nurses, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health. But nurses can work just about anywhere, including schools, insurance companies, private practices and nursing homes.

Myth: Nurses assist doctors.

Truth: Nurses operate "independent of, not auxiliary to, medicine and other disciplines," according to the American Association of Colleges for Nursing. Nurses don't report to doctors. They report to other supervisory nurses.

Myth: All nurses have the same expertise.

Truth: The basics are taught in nursing schools, but many in the field choose departments in which to specialize during the course of their careers. Nurses also have the opportunity to earn advanced degrees to become nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives or certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Myth: Men who can't become doctors become nurses.

Truth: About 5.8 percent of the registered nursing population are men. And while every male nurse has his own reasons for venturing into the field, nurse Brian Wood at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center said nursing was his first choice. "If I wanted to be a doctor, I would have went to medical school," he said. "I believe that being a nurse can broaden your future. It gives you a holistic aspect to the medical profession. And I have a passion for meeting people and being able to help them in times when it's not too great for them."

Online Cure for the Nursing Crisis

2010-02-02T21:34:00.001+08:00

Steve Kolowich
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/02/02/nursing

With the baby boom generation wading into retirement, America needs more nurses. Many current nurses need more education. And, increasingly, it appears online degree programs are going to play a critical role in providing it.

A report released last month from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching asserting that all working nurses should be required to hold a bachelor’s degree in the field prompted several retorts from the nursing world. Beverly Malone, CEO of the New York-based National League for Nursing, wrote that additional credentialing is valuable but should not be a legal requirement. Kim Tinsley, a board member at the National Organization of Associate Degree Nursing, argued that such a mandate would place an undue burden on aspiring nurses who couldn’t afford to feed their families if they had to attend school for two extra years.

While the Carnegie recommendation is controversial, the number of registered nurses seeking advanced training is likely to rise. There is legislation pending in 18 states that would order nurses who hold only associate degrees return to school for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing within 10 years of graduating from their associate’s program. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has been advocating for the legislation, in large part because one of the key aspects of the nursing shortage is a dearth of qualified faculty, and nurses who hold bachelor’s are four times as likely to then pursue master’s degrees and possibly turn to teaching.

So demand for bachelor’s programs in nursing stands to rise — more specifically, demand for programs that allow students the flexibility to continue their nursing education without leaving work. “Online is increasingly the option for the student who does not have the ability to get on campus for a traditional course and who needs to balance home, work, and school,” says Linda L. Strong, coordinator of the R.N. to B.S.N program at Sacred Heart University.

Rising demand, of course, means not only more students to educate, but an expansion of the market and more money to be made. “The pie is very much still growing,” says Gerry Digiusto, a senior analyst at the higher-ed consulting firm Eduventures. And while forays into the potentially lucrative online education market can sometimes backfire, creating an online nursing degree program is a relatively low-risk venture. “Online programs have done their best in career oriented fields,” Digiusto says. “And healthcare programs have had great success online.”

As a result, nonprofit colleges have not been shy about vying for pieces of the pie, competing hard with the deep-pocketed for-profit institutions that typically dominate the online market.

This is not a new phenomenon; colleges have been moving their nursing programs online for almost as long as online education has existed. But they are doing so now at a fast rate: The number of fully online R.N. to B.S.N. programs in America has grown by more than a third in the last two years according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing — from 96 in 2007, when the association first started collecting data on online program, to 129 in 2009. (This still represents a mere fraction of the 621 R.N. to B.S.N. programs that exist nationwide.)

Colleges that already have established nursing programs are particularly well-positioned to carve out pieces of the market, since they already have personnel and a curricular infrastructure in place, Digiusto says. They also have ties to graduates from their associate’s degree tracks who may soon need to come back for a bachelor’s.

Such is the case in New York, where, as the so-called “B.S.N. in 10” legislation looks to have good support in the state assembly and the senate, a handful of State University of New York (SUNY) campuses have created — or are preparing to create — online versions of their R.N. to B.S.N. programs.

“There are many, many graduates to tap within the state system,” says Mary Pat Lewis, chair of the nursing school at SUNY-Delhi. Delhi, she says, polled graduates of its own associate’s degree program and found “overwhelmingly” that they would enroll in an online B.S.N. program with their alma mater if the price was right.

So Delhi made it relatively inexpensive: $207 per credit hour (60 credit hours are typically required), lower than at least two of its for-profit competitors — Walden University, which rolled out its program last March, charges $255 per credit hour, and University of Phoenix charges $450 per credit hour for its fully online program. Delhi also chose not to charge differently for in-state and out-of-state students, and shortened the program to 12 months from the typical 18 in order to let more students matriculate. It currently enrolls 250 students from all over the country in the program, and claims to be profitable, with plans to expand.

“It’s certainly an important part of our revenue growth strategy,” said Joel Smith, a campus spokesperson.

Although nursing degrees require clinical training, it is possible to run fully online R.N. to B.S.N. programs because they accept transfer credits from registered nurses who have already logged the requisite clinic hours and only need to complete an academic curriculum to earn a bachelor's. Still, there are nearly as many "hybrid" R.N. to B.S.N. programs (50 to 99 percent online) in the country, 114, as fully online ones. The important difference is that fully online programs can compete for students all over the country, not their in own regions.

The University of Phoenix, which enrolls 6,675 students in its R.N. to B.S.N. program, says it does not feel at all threatened by its new nonprofit competitors. Supply is so out of proportion with demand that everyone stands to grow, says Angie Strawn, associate dean of the university’s nursing school. “Given the high demand for qualified nurses and the limited number of spots available to incoming nursing students,” she says, “we… view them as partners rather than competitors.”

Scholarship Programs for Male Nurses

2010-01-24T18:12:00.002+08:00

Can a Guy Get Some Money Around Here?
Typically you hear about professional fields where women are underrepresented, but in the realm of nursing, it’s historically been the other way around. Women have pretty much dominated the field. But do men get any points for their pursuit of the career, any monetary incentive? Scholarships for male nurses are few and far between; so what’s up?

Scholarship Opportunities Exclusively for Male Nurses
The American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN) is committed to providing professional support for male nurses. The AAMN offers an online forum that fosters open communication between members including "factors which affect men as nurses." AAMN Scholarships offer men engaged in a "pre-RN" program or a graduate nursing program generous scholarships with the additional funding assistance from Johnson and Johnson, which is extremely instrumental in the support of all nurses. Eligible applicants must have a 2.75 GPA at least, including the program requisites. Twenty-$1,000 awards are meted out annually, and include an AAMN membership.

Lack of Funding for Males?
There is certainly no lack of funding in the world of nursing scholarships. However, there are few exclusive to men, who seem to be a solid minority. In fact, this is not a new topic. According to Science Magazine, the male shortage in nursing is largely a choice made by males. Arguably the issue is skewed: of the job positions in nursing most are populated by women. However, on the whole the profession itself cannot be termed "overrun" at all; nursing remains so understaffed and short it’s shameful. The article goes on to suggest the deepening pit of shortages has already inspired salary spikes that "will, no doubt, draw new blood into nursing, including men..."

Each year the Emergency Nurses Association awards a couple dozen scholarships, of which 1/3 or less have gone to males in the last couple of years. Does that mean men are overlooked in favor of females or that there are far fewer males that apply? The organization maintains a record of the current issues at hand, future of the profession, training issues, lack of educators and the future of the Emergency specialty. While gender is not addressed directly, clearly the shortage problem transcends the male/female paradox. That said, ENA scholarships provide new nurses, across the board with valuable monetary incentives and tuition assistance.

Minority Male Nursing Scholarships—Possible Resources

There are quite a few scholarships that take in minorities, including minority males:
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses offers scholarships, as do local chapters, such as the San Diego Chapter of the NAHN. In fact San Diego members may earn as much as $8,000 for a scholarship.
Eligible applicants for the National Black Nurses Association scholarships must already be working toward a nursing degree. Up to $2,000 per scholarship is possible. Letters of reference from faculty and extracurricular activities also figure prominently in the choice of recipients.
The National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations administers a scholarship program in concert with AETNA. The AETNA/MCEMNA Scholars Program is administered in partnership with local chapters.
Philippine Nurses Association of America Scholarship recognizes an outstanding student member who is engaged in a graduate or post-graduate nursing program. Award is $1,000.
The National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association makes scholarships available to active nursing students who are also tribal members.

Male nursing student learning the ropes

2009-12-29T22:04:00.001+08:00

BY STACEY BECKER TH STAFF WRITER
Source: TH Online

While growing up, Michael Gaber never considered becoming a nurse.

But now the 22-year-old hopes to become a nurse practitioner in a large hospital. He works part-time as a certified nursing assistant at Oak Park Place and also attends Northeast Iowa Community College's nursing program full-time.

"The program is not like any other program I've done," Gaber said about the intensive NICC program.

He plans to graduate from NICC's Licensed Practical Nursing program in May 2010 and from the Registered Nursing program in May 2011. Gaber plans to work awhile before he completes his Bachelor of Science in the nursing program.

Before Oak Park Place, Gaber enjoyed working as a CNA in the fast-paced environment at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic in Iowa City.

"I loved it," he said.

He now works in the relatively slow-paced environment of Oak Park Place. He was surprised to find that he enjoyed the work.

"When I started this job, it wasn't exactly what I wanted," Gaber said. "It turned out to be something that I really enjoy."

He passes out medication and helps residents with their meals during his shift.

"I get to know these residents very well," he said. "The more you talk to them, the more you learn. They give lots of good advice."

Gaber has dealt with the stigma attached to male nurses a couple of times.

"There are residents here that don't want a male nurse," he said. "It doesn't really bother me too much. It's totally understandable."

In addition, when he worked at the hospital, a woman refused to allow him to treat her because she felt Gaber was too young and inexperienced.

"You have to respect it," Gaber said with a smile.

Probably the most difficult thing the college student has faced is death. He vividly remembers the time at the hospital when he pushed the code button for a patient who wasn't breathing. The patient later died.

"It was hard," Gaber said. "It's something you don't do every day."

He said it's harder to deal with the death of residents at Oak Park Place because you get to know everyone by more than their chart.

He said humor has been the key to help him cope through the difficult times.

"If you don't laugh, you'll cry," he added.

Illinois offers scholarships to nursing student

2009-12-26T12:34:00.000+08:00

An Illinois scholarship program is providing 140 nursing students with money for tuition and expenses in programs throughout the state.

Scholarships are funded by nurses' license fees paid to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Brent Adams, who heads the department, says the program puts people to work and promotes the health of Illinois residents.

The application cycle runs from March 1 through May 31 of each year.

More information can be found online at the Web site of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Applications available for nursing scholarships

2009-12-22T00:31:00.000+08:00

Applications are available for two $1,000 nursing scholarships sponsored by nursing textbook author and former Illinois Valley resident Sheila Sorrentino.

One of the scholarships is for a La Salle-Peru Township High School student who has a strong interest in pursuing a nursing career. Applications are available in the L-P guidance office and must be returned by Feb. 15.

The other scholarship is open to certified nursing assistants currently working at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley and Heritage Manor nursing home in Peru. To be eligible, a CNA must provide a letter of acceptance into a nursing program at a community college or four-year college or university. Applications for the CNA award will be available in the nursing office at each of the three healthcare providers after Jan. 1 and must be returned by mail postmarked no later than April 15.

Sorrentino is the author of “Mosby’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants” and other texts for nursing assistive personnel.

She is an L-P High graduate who now lives in Arizona.

While living in the Illinois Valley, she worked at IVCH, St. Margaret’s and Heritage Manor.

Source: News Tribune

Men in Nursing: What’s Being Done to Appeal to the Male Caregiver?

2009-12-20T18:42:00.004+08:00

Nursing Shortage Drives the Search for Male Nurses
Often minority groups are aligned along a spectrum marked off by metrics of culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and gender. African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and women constitute the largest subsections on any given minority measuring stick. However, rarely does a category directly relate to males. But in the nursing world, men are considered a minority.

The nursing field was founded by women and populated by women. There have been distinct fluctuations in this gender specific paradigm over the years, but many specialties of nursing remain largely women-driven. What nursing specialties appeal more to men than women? What particular alterations—good and bad—could come from a more 50/50 mix of male and female nurses? And how does the nursing school sector begin to remake its image so that it appeals to both genders?

The Numbers Tell All
Male RNs constitute a fraction—5.7%--of the RN population in the U.S. Granted this number has blossomed just over the last decade or so, but real innovation must happen to attract more men to the profession. Perhaps the real mission is to convince them that nursing is a viable, competitive, challenging career that is also stable even during economic downswings. Initial education is affordable, and scholarships, loan repayment plans and other pros should become big-ticket items to males looking for a serious career path.

Image of Caregiver Becomes More Inclusive
Men should not think twice about the nursing field. If nothing else, the nursing shortage alone should be indication of the job opportunity available. Historically, women have been regarded as the caregivers, a personality trait required of nurses. This image still seems to off-put some men to the nursing profession. If you take the time to read the most recent survey of male nurses from Male Nurse Magazine you’d see many survey respondents said outright that they always wanted to help people. Sound too womanish?

Big social changes have forced men into more care-related roles. Once upon a time, women stayed at home, took care of the nurturing side of life, while men were breadwinners. Today most women work outside the home; they have many career options open to them, another reason why the nursing shortage is so glaring. Men have had to step up and take their turn as caregiver in the home as well as without.

Not all facets of nursing appeal to men. Those that top the list of most popular specialties among male nurses are: Critical Care, Emergency and Trauma Nursing, Flight Nursing, and Med-Surg make up the top level of RN specialties. But men also exhibit a strong desire to pursue their nursing careers into advanced practice degrees, such as nurse manager and nurse educator.

A “No-Brainer”
Good reasons why men should pursue nursing:

•Reliable salaries resist employment and economic downswings.
•Good benefits.
•Affordable educational opportunities. Many nursing programs are subsidized by tuition reimbursement programs and scholarships, others at community colleges cost relatively little in exchange for a solid career.
•Upward and lateral career mobility.
•Part-time nurses supplement other full-time careers.
•Worldwide mobility means RNs may take their jobs on the road for interesting travel assignments or relocate permanently with almost seamless employment.
In fact, salary and career opportunity for nurses led one survey respondent to reply, “It’s a no-brainer.”

Minority Males Wanted
Nursing is as white as it is female. For minority males there may be no finer time to get a foot in the door. There are increasing numbers of nursing programs that specifically aim a part of their recruitment at the minority male population; and scholarships designed for the same. At the same time there is also talk about nursing school discrimination, for minorities and especially for men. The concern is that many nursing faculty remain tuned to the female perspective, from curriculum to practice. This antiquated attitude leaves men out in the cold on many fronts and does little to attract any but the most tenacious and tolerant male students.

In government the heat is on to combat the epidemic size nursing shortage and part of the remedy is a battery of new big money grants from the Feds. The High Growth Job Training Initiative metes out millions of dollars to various regions or states heavy with minorities, beginning with Florida and Texas. In turn, monies are used to ramp up and expand Critical Care nurse training programs for minority nurses, including men.

Selling Males on Nursing
Marketing is the real crux of the male shortage issue: how to renovate nursing so that it appeals to men. The University of Washington School of Nursing has worked hard to engage a population of male nursing students for the express purpose of redesigning a program aimed at the male population. It’s clear that marketing is a big aspect of nursing, particularly the images used to appeal to nurses. UW-SON discovered that most of their participants suggested selling a program using images of nurses clearly chosen to depict diversity. There was also contention over the continued devotion to the nurse perspective as “she” in a lot of traditional and contemporary written material and curricula attached to nursing programs.

Putting the “he” in nursing is a bone of contention for many male nurses. There still exist a handful of nursing programs quite not ready to embrace the male nurse paradigm. The most “male friendly” nursing programs reportedly include: University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas-Houston, Ohio State University, and Duke University.

When Money Talks
Unfortunately what the nursing profession may need, before it really pulls in the volume of male nurses for which it hungers, is a salary revamp. This of course could be a real slap in the face for women nurses who’ve suffered low salaries for decades because of the gender attachment. But for many men, salary and tangible career opportunity matter as much as a desire to help others. They’ve had alternate career options from the get-go; they can choose other routes to the same types of salaries when some women still cannot.

Source: Onlinenursingdegrees.org

Student group unites male nurses

2009-12-13T17:03:00.002+08:00

Men Enjoying Nursing, a University student group, gives recognition to outnumbered male nurses.
By Katherine Lymn
Source: MNDaily.com

In a field where women outnumber men by a 16-to-1 ratio nationally, a group of University of Minnesota male nursing students have come together this semester for some male bonding and to increase awareness of their craft.

“When people find out I’m in nursing school, some people will say things like … ‘why don’t you be a doctor?’ ” senior nursing student Amir Zadaka said. “Nursing offers the opportunity to really get to know the patient.”

Zadaka started the group Men Enjoying Nursing (MEN) this year after being named a Densford scholar. Zadaka started MEN to fight the stereotype that nursing is a woman’s profession.

“When people see and respect what you do, and you do it well, then gender doesn’t matter,” Zadaka said.

Male nursing students at the University are outnumbered by a 6-to-1 ratio. There are 116 men enrolled in the nursing school this semester, compared to 730 women, according to statistics from the University Office of Institutional Research.

Zadaka said a loose form of the group has been around for a few years, but that it was officially registered this semester.

The group held its first meeting in late October, when a male nurse spoke about volunteer work he did in Kenya, Zadaka said.

Throughout the spring semester, Zadaka hopes to get male nurses with various types of experiences to speak at monthly meetings.

“Since men are underrepresented, it’s kind of [about] just coming together and acknowledging the fact that there are men in nursing and that there are men in nursing doing great things,” Zadaka said.

MEN is the newest of a crowd of groups at the University that cater to an underrepresented gender in a certain major.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at the University caters to the 1,517 women that make up 20 percent of the Institute of Technology student body.

Claire Rydeen, SWE secretary, said the group gives women engineers “a support system … to help them succeed.”

Nationally, 5.8 percent of registered nurses in 2004 were men, according to that year’s National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The survey reports the “numbers [of male nurses] have continued to grow,” as 5.4 percent and 4.9 percent of nurses were male in 2000 and 1996, respectively.

Benefits of a Nursing Career

2009-12-09T21:29:00.005+08:00

If you asked someone what they did for a living, and they replied that they were a nurse, then the stereotypical image you would imagine is of someone who works in a hospital treating the sick or injured patients and carries out and assists with medical procedures and the administration of medicines and treatments.

That is a part of what being a nurse is about, but there is also so much more diversity in nursing. The phrase ‘nurse’ seems to cover an almost limitless number of different jobs and roles, each with their own unique responsibilities and rewards. For example, did you know that there are a lot of nursing jobs that are actually based completely outside of a hospital? These type of jobs include working as a health care consultant, or working in the medical department of a company, or perhaps even carrying out research into new treatments and medicines.Nursing Instructor Information

In short, there are many different roles which fall into the umbrella term of a ‘nursing career’. However, there are countless benefits of a nursing career, both in terms of the individual, and the wider community as a whole.

For a start, you are sure to have a very secure career for as long as you want to work, as there is always a high demand for nurses. Hospitals are always looking to recruit new nurses to fill the gaps left when older staff members retire. Other institutions are also always on the search for nurses, such as health care clinics, and even private companies. It is often cheaper for a company to have it’s own ‘in house’ health care service, and naturally they need qualified personnel.

This puts nurses in a very strong position with many employers wanting to offer them a job. That’s not just in this country, there is a worldwide demand for nurses that exceeds the supply, so you have the option of working in practically any part of the world you wish.

A job in nursing is also extremely rewarding because you are actually making a difference to people’s everyday lives. It’s not like working a boring office job where you are doing the same menial tasks day in and day out. One of the great benefits of a nursing career is that you can actually see the impact you are having when a patient recovers, or when you help cure someone’s illness or infection. It gives you a really satisfying feeling, and also makes you feel extremely valued.

Finally, you are also benefiting the community in which you work. By taking a career in nursing you will be ensuring that the local area has a top quality of health care, which will be of benefit to everyone. You can be sure that whether you are working in a hospital in a busy city, in a small local practice in a rural town, or as part of the internal medical center in a company, you will be valued by everyone, and this is what really does make nursing such a rewarding and fulfilling career choice.

http://www.unitekcollege.com

About Unitek College Facilities
Unitek College; Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley; in sunny Fremont, California; is home to students of all backgrounds, ages, and experiences. We are a learning consortium, and our true focus is building careers together with our students. One of the reasons for our success is our immaculate facilities.

Our facilities feature some of the most up to date equipment. Our VN and RN classrooms feature 40 flat panel computer stations. Professors have access to large dry erasable white boards and ceiling mounted projectors and televisions with DVD/VCR capabilities. Above all, Unitek College prides’ itself on our real life scenario lab, exclusively available to only our students.

These labs feature the latest and greatest technologies, all designed to closely match a real-world working hospital room. Our new manikins cost around $30,000 each and they are worth every penny. They allow our students to perform various procedures and in the process experience the sights and sounds’ that mimic those of a real patient. This includes the Noelle Birthing Mannequin giving birth to her new born and the Sim Man who has a measurable pulse. Our labs give our students the preparation they need to be real- world-ready. From our well equipped classrooms to our new training laboratories, Unitek College has the right facilities necessary to lead the industry. For more information, please visit our website at www.UnitekCollege.com or call an enrollment counsellor at 888-735-4355

Fun Tip For Male Nurses

2009-12-08T22:21:00.004+08:00

This is a fun post. An interesting iteration on what not to say to any woman...

5 Things A Male Nurse Shouldn’t Say To A Female Nurse

photo credit, bronclune

Nurse hiring slump seen

2009-12-07T21:17:00.002+08:00

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Updated December 06, 2009

The number of jobless Filipino nurses is likely to swell further with the expected slump in the hiring of medical workers in the United States and other countries to last for the next two years.

Dr. Fely Marilyn Lorenzo of the University of the Philippines Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies said government data indicated a falling trend in hiring of Filipino nurses for the past years.

“Data from the Commission on Filipino Overseas showed that the demand for Filipino nurses is slowing down in foreign countries, particularly in the country’s top markets,” Lorenzo said.

From a total of 5,790 in year 2000, the number of Filipino nurses hired in the United States dropped to 771 in year 2007.

“This year only eight Filipino nurses are leaving the country every month to work in the United States,” she added.

While the demand remained in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries, Lorenzo expects the downtrend in hiring of Filipino nurses abroad for a few more years due to the prevailing economic crisis.

Aside from the global financial crisis, stricter migration laws imposed in destination countries also resulted to decline in the demand.

“Some foreign employers are also finding Filipino nurses replaceable with other nationalities like Indonesians and Chinese because of attitude and values,” she added.

The declining demand abroad and the significant growth in the number of nursing graduates have already resulted to surplus and sharp increase in the number of unemployed nurses in the country.

As of June 2009, a total of 544,967 passed the Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE). A great bulk of the figure is believed to be unemployed.

However, Lorenzo expressed confidence that the downtrend would just be temporary and deployment abroad would again post growth by 2011.

“The downtrend is just temporary and based on data the trend is actually cyclical and by early 2011 we could see an increase,” she said. – With Sheila Crisostomo

A Person's Realization on Male nurses

2009-11-22T20:08:00.003+08:00

Read the article below which had the original title "Male Nurses." Submitted by Madge Saunders for Coshoctontribune.com

Until I was rushed to the local hospital Nov. 5, 2006, with a mild heart attack I did not realize male nurses were a part of the nursing staff.

The first time I rang my bell for help and a male nurse came into the room I wasn't sure how to handle the situation. You see, the nurse was a friend of my son, and I was embarrassed to have him help me with my personal problem.

I asked him if he was sure he wanted to do this and he answered "I do it all the time," and he did so well with lack of embarrassment on his part, but I was still uncomfortable with the situation.

Recently I had to enter our hospital for three days, and again I was cared for by male nurses. When the first one came to help me, I asked if he would please ask one of the female nurses to come to help with a very personal problem. He was very courteous and left the room to send in a female nurse.

When she arrived she was laughing and remarked, "Our male nurse said you ran him off." I do hope I did that with finesse.

Later I had a male nurse in to take my blood pressure, temperature and pulse. No problem for me nor him. He was so young but very capable.

Before leaving my room he asked if there was anything else he could do for me. I remarked, "When will breakfast be here, I am so hungry this morning." He assured me it would be another hour or so before breakfast arrived. He asked if I would like a cup of coffee, I said yes, if I could have a piece of toast to go with my coffee.

In a short time he was back with a cup of coffee and a piece of toast with butter and jam on it. What a kind, thoughtful way to help a hungry patient.

Later I was conversing with my head female nurse and I raised the question, "Why do males get involved in the nursing profession?"

She seemed to think due to the lack of jobs in this current recession enticed men to join the field of nursing. The ones I have met seem well qualified and had a real sense of caring for the welfare of those who were unable to care for themselves.

I wonder if, in time, I will be able to accept their help without feeling embarrassed.

Engendering the Professional Debate: Men and Women in Nursing and Engineering

2009-11-20T20:05:00.002+08:00

by Raghu Godavarthi

Think of a nurse and the typical images are of Florence Nightingale and Linda Richards. Think engineer, and the corresponding image would be of a Thomas Edison, or a Robert Fulton. Josephine Cochran, inventor of the mechanical dishwasher, or Walt Whitman, who volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War, are merely historical statistics. Men form a mere 5 percent of the nursing workforce, according to the Wikipedia article on male nurses.

Campus enrollment statistics support this. According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the national average for men enrolling in undergraduate nursing program is 10.4 percent; for graduate programs, it is 8.9 percent. But UAH has traditionally had numbers higher than the national average. The percentages at UAH are 14.6 percent for undergraduates and 9.8 percent for graduates, and have not fluctuated much over the years.

The engineering side of the story almost flips the numbers. The National Society of Women Engineers counts 17.2 percent in undergraduate programs are women, and 22.3 percent in graduate programs are women. For UAH, the figures are 18.4 percent and 19.7 percent, respectively, again with low deviation.

Given the skewed gender ratio, some prejudices do exist. Charlsie Smith, a senior and civil engineering senior said, “They say and/or show me through actions that I am less of an engineer because I am female.” Lisa Blanchard, a graduate engineering management student, recounts her undergraduate days when being the only woman in the class meant that she was rarely heard. She is glad that male engineers have “greater regard” for their female counterparts today.

Alwin Heuer, a sophomore and nursing student, does not find much difference within the university, but finds a difference in hospitals where women nurses are generally better received. “It takes a lot of encouragement, time and will to become a nurse, whether male or female,” he added. He is appreciative of the support shown by the staff and faculty here toward male students. James Thompson, a nursing senior, agreed,saying there is no “awkwardness” being male.

from: The Exponent

Blog Post Featured in a Cool List

2009-11-18T21:21:00.009+08:00

A few months ago, I received an email telling me that one of my blog posts was included in an article entitled 100 Blog Posts You Should Read Before Going to Nursing School. The email was from the author herself. I told her I would write about it here as well so as to direct some interested readers that would want to read more.

Her article is about building a career in nursing.

Whether you've decided to go back to school after working in a hospital or are just coming out of high school and ready to start a career in nursing, you should do a little research beforehand so you know just what you're getting into...

The author placed about my blog post under "Finding a Job" category.

Nursing School Grads See Opportunities Shrink. Read this post to learn how many new nursing grads are struggling to find employment after graduation.

I recommend you go through the list at least once and see what you can use. Then, bookmark the post for future reference.
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High dropout rates threaten plans for degree-only nursing

2009-11-18T19:55:00.002+08:00

Sam Lister, Health Editor

Plans to make nursing a degree-only profession could be thwarted by the high number of students who drop out before finishing training, the latest figures suggest.

More than half of students on some nursing degree courses do not graduate because of pressures of time, money and the academic standards demanded.

The figures, obtained using the Freedom of Information Act, show wide variations in attrition rates among England’s 10 strategic health authorities.

At one university, in the North West, 51 per cent of students fail to complete its degree programme in adult nursing. The highest attrition rates in London, the South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber show more than a third of students dropping out.

The Department of Health is so concerned about the problem that it ordered an annual report on dropout rates from university nursing courses, Nursing Attrition National Aggregate. However, it has not published the findings.

The figures, obtained by Nursing Standard magazine,dropouts are even more common. One university lost 78 per cent of students on a children’s nursing degree course, and more than 54 per cent of students on a mental health nursing course failed to graduate.

The findings come a week after The Times reported on government plans to require those wishing to become a nurse to have a degree. Supporters claim that the move, which will be enforced from 2013, will improve the quality of patient care and raise the status of nursing.

Critics suggest that the changes will create an elitist profession and scare off recruits with the prospect of a long and expensive period of study. There are also concerns that some nurses would be “too clever to care” and refuse to carry out duties such as washing and feeding patients and helping them to the lavatory.

Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said that the dropout rates cast degree-only plans into disarray. Concerns have also been raised about the millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, given in bursaries, wasted on courses that were not completed.

“These figures appear to massively undermine the Government’s new plans for nurses,” he said. “Such high dropout rates suggest there is something seriously wrong. Ministers are burying their heads in the sand by refusing to publish their own report into quit rates.”

Nursing education specialists said that financial difficulties and the high number of mature students who juggled families with their studies were among the main reasons for dropping out.

Nurses, who make up the largest part of the NHS workforce, now require the minimum of a diploma — a nursing course lasting two or three years — for trainee nursing positions. Under the new rules, candidates will require a degree in nursing or equivalent international qualification. The courses, lasting up to four years, will meet standards developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the professional regulator.

Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, which helped to draw up the degree-only plans, said that losing potential nurses was “an entirely unnecessary waste of people who are willing to learn and want to care”.

He added: “Of course, some people will not be suited to the demands of nursing, but with rates as high as 78 per cent, something is seriously wrong with the support offered to the nurses of the future. Financial support is very important but it is not the only kind of support that needs to be on offer.”

A Department of Health official said that an incentive scheme to pay universities with low attrition rates would start next year.

www.timesonline.co.uk

Nursing Degree Requirements

2009-11-10T19:39:00.007+08:00

As I read through the recent articles from the UK: "Nurses: if a degree means that much to your self-esteem why not become a doctor?" and "How will a degree help a frightened patient?" these articles point out that the new developments concerning nursing school "improvements" need to be focused on more than just academic training as implied in getting a degree, and nurses need to want to care for the patient above anything else...

However, it did not provide a direct disadvantage of nurses having degrees. Except, maybe, that degrees will cost more money. And that is a common observation that degree holders tend to avoid "getting their hands dirty" and therefore not doing a good job at being a nurse that requires some "dirty work".

My initial opinion was, people who aspire to be nurses should get all the education and training that they can get. But is education the same as training? I realize that the situation is more complicated than that...

Read through the articles here and here. And let me know what you think.

You can also read more about it on these other articles with differing opinions as well:
Move to degrees 'could deter talented would-be nurses
It's about time we gave nurses a degree of respect

Scholarships for Male Nursing Students

2009-10-26T21:24:00.002+08:00

It’s not a profession that you would generally find men queuing up to join, but if you’re a man and are contemplating working in the world of medicine, you could consider nursing for a variety of reasons. For one, there is a shortage of nurses, so you’re bound to secure a good job immediately. And then there’s the fact that the profession pays quite well; also, the job satisfaction factor is pretty high. So if you’re thinking of taking up a career in nursing, go right ahead.

If you’re short of money for a degree, you could check out the various scholarships that are available for people who choose to enter this noble profession. There is one exclusively for male pre-RN nurses who are enrolled in an educational program that leads to NCLEX-RN eligibility and for RNs enrolled in graduate nursing or allied health education programs – the $1,000 scholarship program that is offered by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing Foundation (AAMN) and the Johnson & Johnson’s Campaign for Nursing’s Future. There is also the Jadeh Moore Student Nurse Essay Contest that gives out $500 for male pre-RN students enrolled in educational programs that lead to NCLEX-RN eligibility – this scholarship is awarded to the student who offers the best response to a specific question posed by the AAMN.

There are other general scholarships and some that are meant for minorities as well – like the one offered by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses for nursing students from San Diego, the one on offer by the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations, the $2,000 scholarship from the National Black Nurses Association, the one for air force aspirants from the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, and the one for tribal communities from The National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association.

While these are not exclusively for men, they do help when you’re a male who belongs to a minority. Also, nursing is one profession that allows you to take advantage of loan forgiveness programs. If for some reason you are unable to secure a scholarship, you could apply for a federal loan and then have it “forgiven” if you agree to work in medically underserved areas for a certain period of time.

Nursing is by no means a glamorous profession, but there are so few men in this field that your chances of securing a good job that pays well are pretty high. Male nurses are in demand at hospitals and other healthcare settings. So look beyond the gender bias that this job is associated with, and choose to become a male nurse today.

By-line:
This guest article was written by Amy S. Cook, who regularly writes on the topic of lvn to rn online. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: amyscook@yahoo.com

Inspirational and Educational Videos

2009-10-11T18:03:00.006+08:00

I have received a personal email from one of the administrators of the LPN to RN Blog, and they have notified me of a recent post entitled 100 Inspirational and Educational Videos for Nurses. Basically, they have done all the work in researching, compiling and classifying all these resource videos for nurses. They have videos that are inspirational, educational and funny. They also have videos with topics ranging from finding a nursing school, to reaching graduation, to the actual nursing career practice. I highly recommend bookmarking their site and viewing their collection.

Here are some sample videos that they have on their list:

Nursing, Why I Love My Work As A Male Nurse: Here you’ll hear one male nurse’s story about his passion for his work.
Males in the Nursing Profession: Watch this video to learn more about the roles men play in the nursing profession.
Guide to Nursing School: These male nursing students give their perspective on some of the difficulties of nursing school.
Nurses Documentary: Check out this video clip from a documentary that follows the work of nurses in the ward.
101 Nursing Tips Part I: This video starts off with tips on how to administer 50% dextrose IVs.
101 Nursing Tips Part IICheck out this second part to learn about things like Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
Nursing Makes a Difference: Learn how what you do each and every day truly does make a difference.
Thank the Exceptional Nurse: This video slide show will inspire you with the stories of nurses working with disabilities.