Nurse leaders face a contradiction amongst their staff. According to an article from healthleadersmedia.com, a survey of nearly 3,000 RNs found that nurses are both happier than ever with their career choices while 30% are unhappy with their current jobs. Marcia Faller, PhD, RN, and chief nursing officer at AMN Healthcare which conducted the survey says, “it's a finding that should make nurse leaders stop and listen.” How can RNs be both satisfied with their careers and unhappy with their jobs? Faller believes that although nursing is viewed as a critical and important part of society nurses day-to-day work lives have not caught up to their appreciation and gratitude they receive as a whole. As Faller puts it, when RNs are happy with their career but unhappy with their surroundings, "People don't leave their jobs; they leave their manager and their leaders."

The survey also reveals that RNs are eager to continue their nurse education and that 40% wanted to pursue an advanced degree. When broken down by age, “Almost 70% of 19- to 39-year-old respondents planned to pursue more advanced degrees, with 37% of this age group saying that they planned to purse a master's degree in nursing.”

If most nurses want to advance their educations, gain new certifications, and continue to improve their skills as a nurse and better provide for their patients, it makes sense for nurse leaders to open these doors for their team. If RNs are eager to become more skilled and higher educated nurses, but are unhappy at their workplace, this provides nurse leaders with an opportunity to motivate their staff and help them achieve their goals. This could include offering onsite training, workshops, or courses, providing tuition reimbursement for education, or working with nurse schedules to make them more flexible if they want to try to fit education into their family and work lives.

By helping nurses achieve these goals, hospitals will make nurses feel more valued and happy to work at for an employer that cares about their education and future. If nurses had a workplace that supports their education and career goals, they are more likely to stay and find fulfillment and satisfaction.

Rue Education has been advancing nurse education for over 20 years. We know nurses value becoming the best nurse possible to be able to provide more for their patients. However we understand traditional college courses and nurse education doesn’t always fit into the busy schedules of nurses and their family and work obligations. For this reason we created a unique RN bridge program where LPN/LVNs, Paramedics, and RTs can bridge to RN, or RN to BSN, at their own pace. They can study when they want, test when they’re ready, and become a licensed RN or BSN with their degree at a pace that works with their life. Along with our nursing courses, you also receive real academic support so you’ll always have help when you need it along the way. If you’re like those nurses surveyed and are eager to advance your nursing education, but never thought you had the time or program to do it, now you have a choice that can fit into any schedule. Visit RueEducation.com to get started.

 

 

The National League for Nursing Center for Innovation in Simulation and Technology, one of the new seven centers that comprise the DC-headquartered NLN Home for Transformative Excellence in Nursing Education, will benefit from a five-year sponsorship by Excelsior College of NLN's Scholar-in-Residence Program. The NLN Excelsior College Scholar-in-Residence will facilitate career advancement for nurse educators with doctoral degrees, bringing them professional development opportunities and exposing them to the latest evidence-based scholarship.

Excelsior's support of the NLN Center for Innovation in Simulation and Technology represents an extension of its mission and values in promoting the nursing profession; these resonate with those of the NLN.

"The League is profoundly grateful to the leadership of Excelsior for their vision and generosity. The NLN Excelsior College Scholar-in-Residence will bring critical knowledge and experience to the NLN Center for Innovation in Simulation and Technology, supporting the NLN mission to create a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation's health," noted NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.

Added NLN President Marsha Howell Adams, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF and senior associate dean of academic programs and professor at the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa: "The four core values that permeate the NLN and guide its mission – caring, integrity, diversity and excellence – are reflected in transformative strategies the League implements to lead in advancing excellence and innovation in nursing education. Thanks to Excelsior College, the NLN is poised to maximize the potential for advancing excellence in nursing education through new and expanding programming in the increasingly sophisticated field of simulation and technology. The sponsorship couldn't be more timely."

"As an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, we have an obligation to share our knowledge and experiences with other schools of nursing," said Excelsior College president John F. Ebersole. "As a transformative organization ourselves, sponsoring the Scholar-in-Residence Program means that we can help support the professional growth of the larger nurse educator community and benefit from the advances participants will achieve for the nursing profession."

The new simulation scholar-in-residence will have multiple and varied responsibilities at the NLN. The scholar will provide direction to all ongoing NLN simulation activities; collaborate with other NLN professional leadership to develop and execute simulation research; increase the NLN faculty development simulation and technology program offerings, expand the Simulation Innovation Resource Center (SIRC) website and related simulation activities; support participants in NLN's Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators through conference calls and one-to-one meetings; and provide guidance to NLN's Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors (ACES) Project through unfolding cases and simulations; plan simulation events at the NLN Education Summit, Technology Conference and other NLN professional development programs; and collaborate with companies involved with simulation to provide resources and updates of simulation research advances, studies, and research.

Excelsior College has been an NLN Center of Excellence since 2005. That year, the college earned the distinction in the category Creating Environments that Promote Student Learning and Professional Development. Known for its innovative programs, Excelsior has been a recognized leader in providing educational opportunities for adult learners and those historically underrepresented in higher education since its founding in 1971. Its School of Nursing, introduced in 1975, has been a pioneer in non-traditional higher education, providing a competency-based, outcomes-assessment program through a distance education format that draws on the expertise of faculty from across the nation.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its more than 40,000 individual and more than 1,200 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations.

Excelsior College (http://www.excelsior.edu) is a regionally accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Excelsior's School of Nursing is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is a three-time designee as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/04/prweb11755334.htm

Imagine the benefits if all health care facilities ditched the pens and papers and decided to go digital. The environmental and financial savings on paper alone would be staggering. Factor in the cost of hardware like large printers and expensive ink cartridges, duplicates being made, unnecessary waste, and other accessories like envelopes, pens, postage, etc. and the savings are easy to add up. In addition, the non-financial benefits of turning charts digital would be increased accuracy and better treatment for patients. It would be as if suddenly everyone involved in patient care all had the same handwriting. Misinterpreted prescription amounts, dosages, and diagnoses would be a thing of the past. Furthermore, imagine patients’ charts being updated and shared across all caregivers in real time. No more repeat treatments or redundant visits to an already treated patient. Additionally, doctors and nurses could carry hundreds of quick-reference resources all in one electronic tablet computer, increasing their speed in care given and accuracy of information provided. The only cost would be the initial cost of providing the digital components such as tablets, styluses, and charging mats.

 

However, revolutionary changes are often met with stubborn resistance. People fear change, even beneficial ones, and will often fight to keep things status quo. One major obstacle to adopting a completely electronic and digital charting approach would be the generations of doctors and nurses that didn’t grow up with computers at an early age. For these generations, checking email can be an all-day venture and navigating a website can be confusing. Unlike younger generations that were born into the digital age, the baby boomer generation has transitioned into it, and sometimes prefer to leave things as they were, pen and paper, the way they’ve always been. It’s comfortable, and more importantly they understand it. A healthcare career can be stressful enough, adding in learning new technology can feel overwhelming. This is where training comes in, and the advanced generations, given a little patience and room to learn their way, can realize the transition to digital tools can be easy and even enjoyable. Technology grows to be both more complicated, but also more intuitive. Large keyboards and peripherals have been replaced by touch-screen interfaces and slim, portable devices. Tablets can be made to feel like books, with animated turning pages and a pen-like stylus for highlighting or taking notes. Introducing and training from a boomer’s point of view will make the transition much smoother; teach them and train them using concepts and ideas they’re already familiar with. They’ll soon be as fluent as their children and will wonder how they ever went so long without going digital.

 

Rue Education understands the needs of adult learners.  We’ve been helping adult LPN/LVNs, paramedics, and RTs transition to RNs for over 20 years. Rue Education has adapted and grown to keep up with technology and the demands of a changing health care industry and the new ways of earning a nursing degree and becoming an RN. Classrooms have turned into online courses, and teachers have become online tutors and mentors. The result? Hopeful nurses that thought they never had time to earn their RN degree due to their busy family lives and work schedules now have a chance to be RNs. Rue Education also understands that online study can be intimidating, which is why we have academic advisors with you from your first day until you pass your state board exam. You’ll also get support from other graduates that have used Rue’s system.  Maybe you’ve been thinking about earning your nursing degree, and are open to completing it in a new way that works into your busy schedule. Having a little help getting started might be the only thing you need. Give Rue Education a call if you’re ready to transition to RN and see how easy it can be!

All across the United States, nurses are being saluted. On May 6, 2011, Rue Education and Innovative Academic Solutions is joining the American Nurses Association in celebrating Nurses Trusted to Care, as part of National Nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, every year. The purpose of the weeklong celebration is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people.

 

In honor of the dedication, commitment, and tireless effort of the nearly 3.1 million registered nurses nationwide to promote and maintain the health of this nation, Rue Education and Innovative Academic Solutions are proud to recognize registered nurses everywhere on this particular day for the quality work they provide seven days a week, 365 days a year.

 

As a healthcare professional, how are you celebrating National Nurses Week? Visit the Rue Education Facebook page and share how you plan to commemorate this special time just for nurses!

 

Patient care is a top priority throughout the healthcare community, and over 12,000 healthcare professionals took a stand for passion for patients and the nursing profession. On June 10, 2010, Minnesota nurses with the National Nurses Union walked off the job for a one-day strike to protest patient issues, staffing concerns and better pay.

 

Although Minnesota Nurses Association and 14 local hospitals have yet to agree on the union’s protests at the time this article was written, the following video shows the dedication, compassion and concern these “patient advocates,” as one nurse calls them, have for their patients.

 

Many of these patient advocates are asking hospitals to maintain a better nurse-to-patient ratio. For example, nurses request 1 Registered Nurse to 4 patients in medical and surgical units, and 1 RN to 2 patients in critical-care units. These healthcare professionals are also saying that higher mortality rates could be linked to poor staffing, because nurses are unable to give proper attention to patients and are being pulled in several directions at once.

 

Opinions about patient care issues resonated throughout the healthcare community. A June 3rd Rue Education Facebook discussion asked followers their thoughts on patient/safety issues.  Followers felt long hours with inadequate breaks, high nurse-to-patient ratio, and being called in multiple directions at once were among the top concerns that could affect patient safety.

 

With reform beginning to reshape the healthcare community, it will be interesting to see how the acts of LPNs/LVNs, Paramedics, Respiratory Therapists and other healthcare professionals will contribute to the future of healthcare.

Great News Florida!

Thanks to new legislation recently signed by Governor Crist, Paramedics and Respiratory Therapists can now get their ASN degree using distance learning programs in Florida. Call us today for details!

If you are a Paramedic or Respiratory Therapist and you have had the dream of pursuing your Associate of Science in Nursing Degree through an independent study program,  without having to spend time in a classroom, you now can in Florida!

Your training as a Paramedic or RT will be immensely valuable as you work toward your ASN Degree. After you earn your degree from an accredited college with Rue's help, and obtain your RN license, you can enjoy increased stability, prestige, and the benefit of increased earnings!

On average, RNs make $10,250 more per year than RTs and $33,122 more per year than Paramedics.*

Learn more about Rue Education's Paramedic to RN or RT to RN learning systems and get on the fast track to becoming an RN. You won’t regret the decision to positively change your future lifestyle!

Call Now to Learn More
1-800-479-2941

*Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, 2010-2011 edition

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When 56 year old paramedic Wayne Schneider responded to a respiratory distress call, he didn’t expect to be waking up in the hospital himself. He was shocked to learn he had suffered a cardiac arrest, and more astonishingly he had gone 68 minutes without a pulse. As a paramedic, Wayne knows first-hand how lucky he is to be alive. According to the heraldonline.com, “There are over 300,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the US each year, and of those, approximately 92 percent die. Furthermore, those who survive often have some sort of permanent neurological damage.” Wayne praises both the immediate life-saving actions of his partner and the use of advanced CPR technologies called the ResQPOD and LUCAS mechanical CPR device. The ResQPOD doubles the blood available in the heart for chest compressions during conventional CPR, increasing survival rates by 25% or more.

Paramedics and paramedic firefighters are the first-responders that can mean the difference between life and death of those in danger on-scene. They may save the life of someone on-site or stabilize them to be rescued at the hospital. When paramedics are thinking about a career change within the healthcare industry, they may choose to become an RN. This can be a smart career change for many paramedics, as well as the possibility to have more patient contact on a daily basis and continue to make a difference in more patients’ lives. Paramedics also see one of the biggest salary increases when making the switch to RN, with an increase of $34,330. So whether it’s to grow in your career, to move to a less physically demanding position, or to enjoy an increase in salary, switching to RN can be a smart move for paramedics. That is why Rue Education pre-qualifies paramedics for our RN bridge program. Real testimonials from paramedics that have used the Rue program and enjoy the flexibility of choosing when and where they study for their nursing courses. One firefighter paramedic used his down-time at work to take his nursing courses and work towards his associate’s degree in nursing. If you’re ready to advance your career and bridge to RN, Rue is ready to help!

Only a small percentage of women qualify to take the genetic test that screens for BRCA mutations, said Dr. Marisa Weiss, founder of Breastcancer.org and director of breast health oncology at Lankenau Medical Center in the Philadelphia area.

Women who test positive for one or both mutations have about a 60 percent risk of breast cancer during their lifetimes, compared with 12 percent for women without such mutations, according to the National Cancer Institute. Women with a BRCA mutation are also likely to develop the disease at a younger age and are more likely to get it in both breasts, Rader said.

"The discovery of the BRCA mutation was an enormous step forward," Rader said. For the right candidate, "the mutation is a really good indicator of the possibility of developing breast cancer."

Who should test

If you have a strong family connection to breast cancer that includes an immediate family member, you may consider genetic testing, said Susan Brown, Komen's managing director for community health.

But "not everyone with breast cancer in their family should run out and get this test," Brown said, as it's expensive, about $3,000, and may not be covered by insurance.

As we grow closer to understanding breast cancer on a genetic level and identifying precursors, molecular warnings, and genetic predispositions, we anticipate the costs of testing go down. As technology and research increase, the demand for affordable genetic testing will create a stable supply for anyone to use.

Genetic testing is recommended for those with:

►A personal or family history of breast cancer at age 45 or younger.

►A family member with ovarian cancer at any age.

As the population of the boomer generation gets closer to retirement, hospitals are looking for ways to prepare for an increase in new patients. One way to increase the quality of medical care provided by RNs is to require a 4 year degree, as opposed to the 2-year degree that is the minimum requirement for a degreed nurse. That is exactly what some hospitals in Wisconsin are doing according to lacrossetribune.com. The obvious benefits to the hospital include improved patient care quality, fewer mistakes made in treatment and prescriptions, and fewer legal infractions that can cost facilities pricey fines. Patients gain expert treatment, faster recovery, and a peace of mind, but what do the nurses gain from all this? Nurses with a bachelor degree realize a higher level of professionalism and expertise in their selected medical field. And hospitals are backing up the incentive by offering financial bonuses to their current nurses to go onto their BSN. Mayo Clinic Health System plans to enact a similar requirement of their nurses next year. One nurse, Rachel Rysewyk explains it perfectly, “Nurses are always learning,” she said, “needing more education to provide good, quality care to patients.”

Rue Education supports RNs holding an ASN degree who want to sharpen their skills, increase their knowledge, and grow in their profession. For these reasons, Rue Education has ASN to BSN learning systems. As always, RNs can expect the highest quality from Rue Educations learning approach and their support to back it up. The world of nursing is changing and Rue Education wants you to be prepared ahead of time.

Whether a person is in a doctor’s office, a hospital, a clinic or another type of healthcare facility, the first point of medical contact is usually with a healthcare professional, particularly a nurse.  And although these nurses have the overall goal of providing the best patient care, every nurse is not the same. Their educational levels, responsibilities and functions, salary differences and career path aspirations may vary.

 

The roles of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) have significant differences. It’s important for nursing students to understand these differences because it can help them better assess their current educational goals and their future healthcare career path.

 

EDUCATIONAL DIFFERENCES

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RESPONSBILITIES/FUNCTIONS 

CAREER PATH DIFFERENCES

 

Along with these differences, the US Bureau of Labor Board Statistics reports that an RN’s annual salary ranges from $59,600 to $77,200. An LPN’s salary generally falls between $25,400 and $47,400. Both RNs and LPNs may receive benefit packages, such as a 401k plan, paid vacation and sick time, tuition reimbursement and disability insurance. Benefit packages offered by employers can vary, so it’s important LPNs and RNs check with their human resources department to find out more about the benefits that are available to them as employees.

 

If you’re ready to take the next step in becoming an RN, Rue Education provides a comprehensive LPN/LVN to RN program. Programs are also available for Paramedics and Respiratory Therapists looking to advance to RN.

 

Contact a Rue Educational Consultant for more details at 1-866-499-5083 or fill out a contact form.

Anyone that is going through cancer treatment can tell you how difficult it is, both physically and emotionally. Having a trusting and positive relationship with a nurse can help chronically ill patients through treatment while caring for the many needs a person may have or develop.

Research has proven that having a positive relationship with a nurse leads to the best cancer outcomes. Whether in the hospital or in the home, compassionate and high quality nursing care can improve health and makes the most of limited resources.

Role of the Nurse:

Nurses are a patient’s main point of contact and are able to assist in ways that lead to receiving the proper services based on the patient’s unique needs. This is easily seen in the home where a nurse will bring care closer to the home so that both the patient and their family can better manage treatments and symptoms.

Nurses treat all patients with dignity and respect. This leads to a trusting relationship between the patient and their nurse. With this confidence, patients see their cancer managed effectively while improving quality of life.

 

These high quality relationships can increase communication between the patient and nurse. By working closely together, unplanned care is reduced. Nurses are able to coordinate care so that other specialties such as social care services, support groups and therapies can be incorporated into the patient’s personal plan of care. The nurse can even assist the patient in finding relief from financial burdens.

Benefits to the Patient:
The nurse advocates for the patient; in other words, the nurse is on the patient’s side. Any concern will be addressed and questions will be answered. When the answer is not immediately known, the nurse will seek out the answer on the patient’s behalf.

Nurses can help to alleviate anxiety by listening and finding additional support if needed. This is facilitated when the same nurse is assigned to the patient throughout the cancer journey. Not only is the patient supported, but the family is supported as well.

The patient may even receive holistic care from the beginning of care through the end of treatment, if necessary. The nurse will assist with understanding medications, diagnoses, treatments and schedules. Assisting the patient to self-manage increases confidence and improves outcomes.

The patient is in control and the nurse is there to assist. The nurse uses his or her skills and knowledge to provide the patient and their family support so that the best progress is made. It is to the patient’s advantage to have a dedicated and compassionate nurse at their side. So whether you are battling a breast cancer diagnosis, mesothelioma treatment or leukemia chemotherapy, find a nursing staff that not only can help you along the way to recovery but one you can trust and feel comfortable around as well. Keep fighting on.

 

Melanie Bowen

Awareness advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives

    If you’ve already entered into a healthcare career, you already know the importance of healthcare professionals and the impact helping others can have. However, you may have never considered how beneficial, rewarding, and easy the transition to becoming a Registered Nurse can be. RNs enjoy increases in salary, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, averages $24,310 annually, when making the transition from LVN/LPN to RN.

    If you’re thinking about making the change to become an RN, you’re not alone. Many people are pursuing a nursing degree as, according to an article from fdlreporter.com, “Nurses are in high demand, and the need for nurses will only grow as the population ages.” Maybe you’re worried about going back to school, that your family and work schedules would disagree with your school schedule, or that it’s simply too late to go back. Fdlreporter.com explains that “It's not just high school graduates choosing nursing. Many nurses are also returning to school for advanced degrees.” With options like online classes to earn transferable credit available, earning your nursing degree is easier than ever. In fact, nearly 100,000 healthcare professionals have earned credit towards an ASN degree with the assistance of Rue Education. The New Rue has thorough courses, academic advisors and support, and easy ways to get started anytime. Talk to a friendly educational consultant about monthly savings available from Rue to help you get started today.

1-800-479-2941

Nursing school is certainly a memorable experience for many nurses–a pivotal time of hard work and new friendships. In fact, three nurses from New York who went through nursing school during the 1950s had such an notable time that they’ve written a book about it!

Mary Herbst, Maureen Ott and Maureen Weber trained at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. together decades ago, and recently released the aptly titled Have Mercy: A Nursing Memoir about their collective experiences.

Under the direction of the nuns who worked at the hospital, the three women had a bit of a different school experience than many are used to–Herbst described it as a “boot-camp” environment when speaking to the Niagara Gazette. For example, a nun came by every day between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., which were study hours, to make sure the students were studying.

However, the book isn’t all about studying and regimented schedules. Stories range from humorous to personal as the authors recall their entire training experience.

It’s interesting which stories stuck out as memorable to the authors after all these years. What stories from your schooling experience would you include in a book a half a century after they occurred? Share them in the comments below.

If you are interested in reading Have Mercy, you can find it at Amazon.

Originally posted on Scrubsmag.com
http://scrubsmag.com/three-nurses-share-their-story-of-attending-nursing-school-in-the-1950s/

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a topic that nearly every woman can identify with by knowing a relative or friend that has experienced breast cancer or having gone through it themselves. Rue Education’s campaign during this important month includes bringing awareness and education to women. From womenshealth.about.com, here are 10 steps that may help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

1. Maintain a healthy body weight (BMI less than 25) throughout your life. Weight gain in midlife, independent of BMI, has been shown to significantly increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, and elevated BMI has been conclusively shown to increase the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer.

2. Minimize or avoid alcohol. Alcohol use is the most well established dietary risk factor for breast cancer. The Harvard Nurses' Health study, along with several others, has shown consuming more than one alcoholic beverage a day can increase breast cancer risk by as much as 20-25 percent.

3. Consume as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Eat seven or more servings daily. The superstars for breast cancer protection include all cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower) ; dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach) ; carrots and tomatoes. The superstar fruits include citrus, berries and cherries. Note: it is best to eat cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly cooked, as some of the phytochemicals believed to offer protection against breast cancer are destroyed by heat.

4. Exercise regularly. Many studies have shown that regular exercise provides powerful protection against breast cancer. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking) five or more days a week. Consistency and duration, not intensity, are key!

5. Do your fats right! The type of fat in your diet can affect your breast cancer risk. Minimize consumption of omega-6 fats (sunflower, safflower, corn and cottonseed oils), saturated fats and trans fats. Maximize your intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and herring). Consume monounsaturated oils (canola, olive oil, nuts/seeds, avocados) as your primary fat source, as these foods have potential anticancer properties. Specifically, canola oil is a good source of omega-3 fats; extra virgin olive oil is a potent source of antioxidant polyphenols, including squalene; and nuts and seeds provide you with the cancer protective mineral, selenium.

6. Do your carbs right! Minimize consumption of the high glycemic index, "Great White Hazards" - white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar and products containing them. These foods trigger hormonal changes that promote cellular growth in breast tissue. Replace these "wrong" carbs with whole grains and beans/legumes. Beans/legumes because of their high fiber and lignan content are especially special.

7. Consume whole food soy products regularly, such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, roasted soy nuts, soy milk and miso. Only consume organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) soy. Epidemiologic studies have shown a positive association between soy consumption and reduced breast cancer risk.

8. Minimize exposure to pharmacologic estrogens and xeno-estrogens. Do not take prescription estrogens unless medically indicated. Lifetime exposure to estrogen plays a fundamental role in the development of breast cancer. Also avoid estrogen-like compounds found in environmental pollutants, such as pesticides and industrial chemicals. Buy organic produce if you can afford it; otherwise, thoroughly wash all non-organic produce. Minimize exposure to residual hormones found in non-organic dairy products, meat and poultry.

9. If you’re missing key nutrients in your diet, take your supplements daily. A multivitamin, 500-1,000 mg of vitamin C in divided doses, 200-400 IUs of vitamin E as mixed tocopherols, and pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Also take 200 mcg of the mineral selenium or eat one to two Brazil nuts as an alternative. If you have a chronic medical condition or take prescription drugs, consult your physician first.

10. Maintain a positive mental outlook. Engage in self-nurturing behaviors regularly. Develop rich, warm and mutually beneficial relationships with family and friends. Get adequate sleep (7-8 hours per night). The mind-body associations with breast cancer are significant.

About Rue Education
For over 20 years Rue Education has been utilizing new technology to bring learning materials to nearly 100,000 healthcare professionals and help them earn credit towards their Nursing Degree. Distance learning technology has changed the way adult learners traditionally become RNs. Rue’s approach makes learning flexible for any type of schedule and busy life. Rue delivers quality learning systems and the academic support to back it up. If you’ve been thinking about becoming an RN, but you don’t know how to start or what options you have, talk to Rue’s educational consultants to see what direction is best for you. Paramedic to RN, RT to RN, LVN to RN, and LPN to RN programs are available.

According to an article from The Daily Pennsylvanian, Graduates of the University of Pennsylvania Nursing School saw significant increases in employment over the class of 2011. A post-graduation survey conducted by the university revealed that 75 percent of Nursing School graduates obtained full-time employment, a major increase from 59 percent full-time employment for graduates of the class of 2011. This is an encouraging statistic for those graduating from nursing schools or programs with their ASN or BSN. Undergraduates facing the uncertain employment that comes with recessions typically have to decide one of two choices: face possible months of searching for employment or return to school for a number of years to earn their advanced degrees in the hope that the job market would improve by the time they finish. Seeing positive gains in nursing employment is the perfect remedy for post-graduate job anxiety. Part of the reason for more nursing jobs becoming available is the slight boost in economy and bouncing back from the recession. When the jobs are fewer and economic futures are uncertain, more people tend to push retirement further back, retiring later in life, and holding onto their jobs. As the economy turns around, those eligible for retirement will start to feel more confident and their job will open up for the next generation of nurses and graduates. However, this is only partially explains why there was an increase in employment.

According to an article from businessinsider.com, a recent poll from Monster.com reveals more than half of U.S. workers want to change jobs. What are the reasons someone would want to switch career paths and try out a new profession? Some reasons include needing more satisfaction, less stress, a new challenge, more responsibility, or more flexibility. According to the article, “Nursing is an in-demand, well-paying, personally rewarding career track with good benefits and non-traditional hours. No wonder it’s a popular choice for career changers.” The great thing about nursing careers is there isn’t one set way to start a nursing career, and not all nurses have the same career. Nurses can go into travel nursing, trauma, education, pediatrics, neuroscience, and many more. For people looking for a career switch, nursing offers many opportunities and a meaningful way to impact others’ lives daily.

Rue Education values the role Registered Nurses play in the lives of people every day. Nearly 100,000 hopeful nurses decided to pursue a nursing career filled with flexibility and rewarding benefits, and they decided to work with Rue Education to get to there. Rue Education prepares adult learners for a nursing career with their unique RN learning systems, weekend clinical, and NCLEX preparation. If you’re thinking about making the switch to RN, see what Rue can do for you!

For some hospitals, filling their shortage of nursing positions requires a new approach to conventional hiring and communicating with potential hires. Hospitals in Pennsylvania are turning to social sites to help find qualified RNs where the right kind of message and timely posting can be shared hundreds or thousands of times with a simple click of the mouse to large networks. After all, who has better access to plenty of qualified nurses better than the nurses themselves? St. Luke’s Miners Campus posted on Facebook to promote an RN open house, while Hazleton General Hospital used Twitter to let people know they have openings for RNs. Leigh Ann Wiedlich, community relations coordinator for the Greater Hazelton Health Alliance explains “Social media is a way to attract young professionals." This search for qualified RNs is partly in response to the reported current or impending nursing shortage for the U.S. Some areas may be hit by a shortage more than others, as one doctor shares “The nursing shortage is far from over." Dr. Mary Ann Merrigan explained, associate dean at the School of Nursing at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre. "The United States projected a shortage of registered nurses that will intensify as the baby boomers age."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for registered nurses will grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020 - a rate that is faster than the average for all occupations. Merrigan agrees with the agency's outlook, saying that the need for more nurses has affected the enrollment at her school and across the United States. "There will be a shortage of a quarter of a million nurses in the next 10 years. This is the greatest nursing shortage since the 1960s." Some companies take a proactive approach to hiring and staffing, preparing for demand before it hits. They do this by working closely with nursing schools at colleges and adjusting their staff based on predicted demand. However, this isn’t a guaranteed solution and finding the right nurse for the job can take some extra incentivizing. The shortage also could affect how many students can enroll in nursing programs because of a lack of faculty to teach the courses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing studied this last year and identified 1,181 faculty vacancies across 662 nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs in the United States. This could have a major impact on the number of future nurses available to fill positions left open by retiring nurses. If there aren’t enough nurse educators, there won’t be enough graduating nurses to meet the demands of healthcare system.

Rue Education has been innovating the way LPN/LVNs, RTs, and Paramedics become RNs for over 20 years. We understand that although the motivation and desire may be there for an individual to pursue their nursing degree and become an RN, the means to do so isn’t always available. Not everyone can afford to miss hours at their work to attend campus classes, or take time away from their family to commute to class. Lives and responsibilities come first and career goals can be sidelined. That’s why Rue Education created a unique approach to becoming a registered nurse by studying and taking nursing courses on your own schedule at your own pace. We also gave you a team of support with real academic advisors and nurse educators to help you from beginning to graduation. You also have options like tutor-led online courses for those that like the structure of a tutor. We also understand that people are more connected and social than ever. Rue’s Mentor Connection is a place where other classmates just like you can come together for study tips, words of advice, and encouragement. You can also stay up-to-date on current events in the nursing world by reading our blog and following us on Facebook and Twitter. Join the Rue family! Nearly 100,000 others have already used Rue Education to earn credit toward their nursing degree, are you ready?

How do I become a registered nurse? This is a question many aspiring registered nurses are looking for an answer to. There are different paths to earning an Associates Degree in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and choosing the best RN program often depends on choosing the program that best fits your needs as a student. Some students are looking to the fastest degree path to their RN with an accelerated nursing program. Others may be looking for a full time 4-year nursing program to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Another group may be trying to find an ideal balance between going back to school and maintaining their full-time job and family responsibilities and need an online nursing program that can fit into their schedule. We’ll go over these different options to help you choose the program that’s right for you.

 

Choosing to become an RN is a strong career move. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary from 2012 of Registered Nurses was $65,470. RN jobs are expected to grow by 19% from 2012-2022, which is faster than the national average for all other occupations. The number of jobs added within this period is over 525,000. RNs can look forward to providing patient care and advocacy, job security, increased income compared to their current position, and the respect that comes with the RN title. Making the transition to RN is a big opportunity and a big decision. Once you’ve decided to become an RN, you’ve got to find the right program.

 

All RN options share a similar path. These involve:

1.       Complete basic/core course credit towards an ASN degree

2.       Complete required core nursing courses

3.       Complete clinical requirements established for RNs

4.       Graduate with a degree in Nursing

5.       Prepare for and pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination)

6.       Register with your state Board of Nursing as an RN

If you are starting from scratch with little to no background in health care, a two-year or four-year nursing degree program is typically the best option. These are often completed on-campus at a physical brick-and-mortar college or university. Some of the most popular nursing schools are in NY, FL, TX, and OH. These programs cater to newer students that are able to commute to class, stay on a set schedule, and typically don’t have the same job and family responsibilities that older students that are returning back to school may have. These students can enjoy a structured format and interact in person with their peers and instructors. These are typically more expensive options as tuition is usually higher and other costs associated with physical on-campus locations must be taken into account such as commuting costs or housing costs. These students will have to find time to complete their clinicals as well as part of their path to RN. Often times these nursing programs have strict requirements to enter as competition to enter is high and openings fill up fast due to their limited class sizes. Wait lists are available, but are not a guarantee of acceptance into the program. Despite being qualified for nursing programs, these types of RN degree paths turn thousands of students away each year due to their limiting factors. This may lead to some students to seek out online degree options from those same schools. This is a convenient alternative to a physical classroom. Online options may be limited to availability by the colleges and may be subject to the same waitlists, but may have fewer class size restrictions, allowing more students the option to enter. Online RN classes also eliminate the need for commuting or housing located near the college, offering considerable savings on education costs. For those with a background already in healthcare, there is another option that is both faster and more affordable.

 

For those with a previous background in health care, accelerated nursing programs or RN bridge programs are one of the best options available. These programs can be completed in as little as one year to complete an Associate of Science in Nursing degree (ASN). These are flexible, online programs that understand adult learners going back to school have full-time jobs and family responsibilities that must fit into their education. The accelerated online RN programs allow flexible schedules that allow students to progress as fast or as slow as they need. The best online RN programs come with customer support and tutor assistance and allow students to take their courses from mobile devices as well as laptop and home computers. Typically, these accelerated programs are only available to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), Paramedics, and certain military medical personnel. The reason for this is these positions have already completed a majority of clinical requirements for ASN degrees and don’t have to repeat their clinical hours to transition to RN. This is an excellent advantage for those looking to transition from LPN to RN, LVN to RN, or Paramedic to RN as the path is much faster to become a registered nurse than a traditional RN program. Students that have a successful experience with an online nursing degree program will be happy to know there are also similar RN to BSN online programs that offer the same flexibility.

 

Rue Education is one such RN bridge Program company that has been helping adult learners bridge to RN for over 25 years. During this time they have helped over 100,000 adults earn credit towards their Associates Degree in Nursing and enhanced the accelerated online RN education experience with education consultants that walk students through the degree process and help them figure out what courses they need and what past credit will apply towards their degree. They have real customer support that helps to motivate and assist students when they need guidance or that extra boost of motivation. Their tutor-assisted courses are available online through easy-to-use online platforms that are accessible from computer and mobile devices. They also provide two industry-leading education success guarantees. This program assists LPNs, LVNs, and paramedics to bridge to RN from beginning to NCLEX to graduation.

 

Whichever path you choose, successful students all share similar habits and attitudes towards their education that make a difference in their education success. They are self-driven, motivated, and ready to set a goal and work towards finishing it. They set schedules and stick to them, working time around their job and other life responsibilities. They’ll set small goals as part of the bigger picture, such as finishing a chapter today, taking a practice test this week, and finishing a course by a particular date. Having the drive and motivation makes all the difference, as well as proper planning. No matter what age, it is possible to go back to school. There are resources and paths available for students of all backgrounds looking to become an RN; all it requires is taking that first step.

  

As an LPN/LVN, Paramedic or Respiratory Therapist, you could be spending the majority of your day on your feet, running from patient to patient to provide the best care and attention that you possibly can. But by the time you finish your hectic day and have a minute to sit down, you might notice that your dogs are barkin’, and we’re not talking about our fuzzy, four-legged companions here.

We’re talking about your feet, and more specifically, the type of shoes you’re wearing throughout the day. Did you know that most foot pain is caused by shoes that don’t fit properly and can cause pain to other parts of the body, like the back and neck? 

But there might be a cure to your pain. Brands such as Sketchers, LA Gear and Reebok created footwear that make for the perfect nurse shoes that can help improve posture and blood circulation, relieve stress to knees, strengthen backs and even help tone muscles! These “nursing shoes” could help you throughout the day and leave you feeling more pain-free when you’re done with your shift.

You work hard as a healthcare professional, and just like the care you provide to your patients, you need to care of yourself.  Make sure to treat yourself (and your feet!) with the care you deserve. Investing in comfortable nurse shoes is the first step.

We want to hear from you. Have you tried any of the brands of nursing shoes mentioned above? What did you think of the nurse shoes you tried? Leave us a comment below or post to the Facebook page!

Which job is the 18^th highest paying job that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree? It’s the same job that has a median annual wage of $64,690 a year. It’s also the same job that is expected to have 1,207,400 new job openings through 2020. To top it off, this job doesn’t require any previous work experience. This respectable position, allowing you to help others on a daily basis, is none other than the Registered Nurse. With the Baby boomer generation transitioning out of the workforce, there is an abundance on both fronts of those retiring from nursing positions and those entering lives where more medical care may need to be provided. Therefore, choosing the career path of an RN is an easy choice. It becomes especially appealing when aspiring nurses only need to complete their associate degree in nursing, or ASN. There are many options for earning an ASN degree, and those looking to start their RN career fast. One of the best options is distance or online learning. This solves many problems that aspiring nurses have that are ready to start their career, but may not have the time to attend traditional classes, family obligations, financial obstacles, or a clear path to their RN goal.

Rue Education has been helping potential nurses earn credit towards their degrees for over 20 years. Rue Education specifically targets LPNs, LVNs, Paramedics, and RTs that are looking to transition to become RNs. Rue Education’s approach includes directed, customized learning systems aimed at addressing your needs of spending the least amount of time studying and getting the maximum amount of knowledge needed to pass the right exams. Even clinicals have been concentrated into a focused one-weekend approach to getting everything you need to get started as an RN. To top it off, Rue always provides financing for all LPNs, LVNs, Paramedics, and RTs.  RN program grants and scholarships are also available. The best thing you can do to get started towards becoming an RN right now is call Rue Education today!

It has become common practice in the nursing world to work 12 or 13 hour shifts and enjoy the work-life balance of a 3-day work week. The potential benefits include flexibility during your work week and more days to devote to family responsibilities. However, the glitter of only working 3-days a week might not be all that golden. Shifts can often lead into overtime and after hours of paper work, which can compound the stress of a nurse who has already worked 12 or 13 hours straight. Shifts can rotate between day and night shifts, throwing off sleep schedules and turning a nurse’s day off into a day of sleep and rejuvenating. 8-hour shifts 5 days a week may give nurses fewer days off and less flexibility, but they can enjoy a more consistent schedule and consistent hours to make planning around work easier and more predictable. However, apart from the nurse’s world is a broader scope of patient care and the quality of care each of these nurses provides during the shift they are in.

This is where the issue of nurse burnout comes into focus. It is a serious problem for nurses as the patient-to-nurse ratio increases and nurses skip lunches, breaks, and bathroom visits in order to keep up with facility expectations and patient demands. Add into this mix the overtime of filling out paperwork, long shifts, sore feet and backs, and the overall stress of a job where nurses can’t be everywhere at once yet are expected to be. Looking at the type of shift they are working can have a bigger impact than first examined, and a few hours extra a day might not seem like a lot, but the outcome can be profound.

According to an article from psychcentral.com, “Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing examined the relationship between nurse shift length and patients’ assessment of care. They determined that nurses working shifts of ten hours or longer were up to two and a half times more likely than nurses working shorter shifts to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction. Job performance also appears to suffer as seven out of ten patient outcomes were significantly and adversely affected by the longest shifts.”  The study examined 23,000 nurses and their patients in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. They found “In hospitals which had higher proportions of nurses working longer shifts, higher percentages of patients reported that nurses sometimes or never communicated well, pain was sometimes or never well controlled, and they sometimes or never received help as soon as they wanted.” The study authors recommended management should monitor more closely the number of consecutive hours worked and the impact overtime can have on both the nurse and patient. One doctor commented ““Nursing leadership should also encourage a workplace culture that respects nurses’ days off and vacation time, promotes nurse’s prompt departure at the end of a scheduled shift, and allows nurses to refuse to work overtime without retribution.”

We want to open the discussion and hear from the nurses. Do you prefer working 3-day schedules with longer hours or 5-day schedules with shorter hours? Do you think changes in the expectations of nursing schedules are easier said than done and do you think it’s even possible to create stricter policies relating to overtime and consecutive hours when so many unexpected events can happen in a hospital? What policis do you think are the most needed, the easiest to achieve, and the biggest obstacles to overcome?

Educated RNs are in high demand for many reasons and make up a fundamental core of healthcare facilities. It’s no wonder they’re asked to work longer and past their scheduled hours. Eager LPNs, LVNs, RTs, and Paramedics that are ready to take up the call and become RNs can’t always attend nursing schools in a traditional manner. The ones that have the experience and patient understanding often have families and busy schedules that prevent attending classes in person. Rue Education understands this problem many healthcare professionals face and has helped nearly 100,000 adult learners earn credit toward their nursing degrees. Rue Education’s advanced learning systems prepare healthcare professionals to transition into RNs and support them every step along the way. If you’re ready to start becoming the RN you’ve always wanted to be, talk to Rue Education today.

In Suffolk, VA, a new program coordinated by the Western Tidewater Health District is pairing up nurses with expectant mothers. This unique approach to prenatal and post care matches nurses with low-income expectant mothers from pregnancy until the baby’s second birthday. This program has been studied and found that, according to pilotonline.com, “the program improves prenatal health, reduces the number of subsequent pregnancies for the mother, and increases the number of months she is employed. The children experience fewer injuries and are better prepared for starting school.” Nurses are the fundamental cause for the success of this program and the benefits to the mother. Lauren Baker, CMO for the partnership explains, “The program's success comes from the trust that nurses inspire and the long-term bonding between the nurses and the mothers.”

Nurses are a vital caregiver for many patients. It’s easy to understand there is a certain amount of trust developed between nurses and patients as nurses are often the health professional who interact with patients the most. There is an increase in demand for Nurses and an increased demand for other caregivers to take on more responsibility and become RNs. One of the best ways to take up the RN call is through Rue Education’s RN bridge program. This learning system appeals directly to LPNs, LVNs, Paramedics, and RTs as they are the best suited to transition into RNs and earn their ASN and BSN degrees. Rue Education’s program is specifically designed for adult learners licensed in a medical position who are ready for the rewards of becoming RNs. Nearly 100,000 adult learners have earned college credit towards their Nursing Degree with Rue Education already. Start today!

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (The Tribune) — Lorretta Krautscheid was growing frustrated. The University of Portland nursing professor knew she was teaching her students right from wrong.

Every one of them took a full semester course in nursing ethics. They’d had patient protocols drilled into their brains over the course of their four years of study.

And yet, Krautscheid kept hearing from students who had begun working at area hospitals that they were doing things they knew were wrong and that were compromising the health and safety of patients.

They were inserting urinary catheters into patients without following the sterilization protocols that prevent infection. They were giving hospitalized patients medications without first going over the possible side effects. They were watching doctors and senior nurses enter patients’ rooms without washing their hands. And they weren’t saying anything about it.

For years Krautscheid had believed that her job was teaching students the right way of doing things and the importance of behaving honorably. Now she was becoming convinced that wasn’t enough.

In Krautscheid’s view, her students were putting their relationships with doctors and senior nurses ahead of their responsibilities to their patients.

“How do we teach courage?” Krautscheid asks. “How do we teach backbone?”

Krautscheid started by conducting a study, recently published in the Journal of Nursing Education. The results only increased her dismay. She put unaware students through simulations of precisely the types of situations she had been hearing about, with hidden cameras filming the scenes.

In one, a senior nurse, or preceptor, is watching a young nurse preparing to give heart medication to a real patient with dangerously high blood pressure. As planned, the patient’s phone rings and he tells the young nurse he has to take the call, and could she please just leave the medications on the table so he can take them later?

Krautscheid figured some of her nurses would go along and some would at least pause, knowing they had to check to make sure they were giving the right medication to the right patient, and that the patient was aware of potential complications.

“I thought some of them would say, ‘We learned in school we shouldn’t do this,’” Krautscheid says. Only one did. She turned to the preceptor and said that’s not what she had been taught to do. The preceptor told her it was OK, she should just leave the medications next to the bed. Which the young nurse did.

Six other young nurses left the medications without so much as a question.

In a follow-up study, Krautscheid surveyed 93 young nurses, asking them what they do when a senior nurse gives them bad advice. Nearly half responded that they followed the bad advice. Her takeaway?

“It’s easier just to go along and get along, and when you drill down on that through one-on-one interviews, what they tell you is, ‘I have to keep working with these people, and it seems to be part of the culture that this is OK,’” Krautscheid says.

Tamara Mazelin was one of the students in Krautscheid’s simulation who did not speak up. “It’s hard,” she says about contradicting a more experienced nurse who is in a supervisory capacity.

Mazelin has worked at a number of Portland-area hospitals and clinics, and she says the simulation mirrored the reality she’s confronted. She recalls working at a hospital neonatal intensive care unit and watching nurses improperly inserting a catheter into an infant. Infection protocol requires nurses to discard a catheter if it has fallen out of the bladder and use a new, sterilized one. But when the catheter fell out of the infant’s bladder several times, she says, nurses simply reinserted it.

“They could have given the baby an infection,” Mazelin says. “I knew it, but I started questioning. These are real experienced nurses. They must know. I started questioning what I’d learned.”

Mazelin says later she talked to the charge nurse in what she figured was the least confrontational way possible. “I (said), ‘I thought this was a sterile procedure,’” Mazelin recalls. “She said, ‘Things are sometimes different in the real world.’”

Later Mazelin talked to her preceptor, who said she would talk to the other nurses. But she has since seen similar scenarios, including one in which she wanted to tell a physician who had left a patient’s room and come back that he needed to put on new, sterile gloves. She didn’t say anything. Next time, Mazelin says, she will speak up. But it won’t be easy.

“We’ve learned everything we should do that is ethically right,” Mazelin says. “But we haven’t learned how to have that conversation.”

Learning to speak up

Mazelin says she’d like more simulation opportunities aimed specifically at ways to confront authority figures without being confrontational. Nursing school leadership classes might help, she adds. And she’d like to see hospitals call meetings with all the nurses on hand where the message is relayed that they want people — even the newbies — to speak up if they see someone cutting corners.

Justin Britton is one of those students who told Krautscheid how difficult it was to practice to the standards Krautscheid had taught him. Britton is in his last year of nursing school at the University of Portland and has been working as a certified nursing assistant at a number of local hospitals. In one, he was stationed in acute care, where most of his patients were elderly, many with pneumonia or having suffered strokes.

He says one nurse told him he shouldn’t take so much time swabbing an IV port with alcohol. Sterilization protocol calls for 15 seconds of swabbing to kill any infectious bacteria. The nurses where Britton worked had a different routine. “They’ll do a quick swipe, a once over, and say that’s good enough,” Britton says.

The first time Britton saw this, he says, he tried to distract the senior nurse in the room so he could continue to sterilize the IV port. Later they had a conversation. The nurse, Britton’s preceptor, told him that if the patient got an infection, “Well, that’s what antibiotics are for.” Britton says he began trying to get into patients’ rooms early so he could sterilize IV ports properly before his preceptor arrived.

And yet, Britton rejects the idea that he was showing what Krautscheid calls moral courage. “I didn’t think it was brave because I didn’t confront her and say, ‘Hey, you’re doing it wrong,’” he says. “I felt like I was more protecting myself and my patient by being sneaky about doing it.”

Britton says he’s “not good at confrontation.” He’d like to see nursing schools teach students how to speak to fellow employees in a more assertive fashion. And he says he’s still not sure if he’d have the courage to talk to a physician who failed to wash his or her hands.

Oregon Health & Science University assistant nursing professor Seiko Izumi says part of the problem is that nurses “are in an in between position.” They are responsible to their employers, usually a hospital, she says, and also to their patients, to doctors and even to other nurses.

OHSU, Izumi says, is starting to put student nurses and medical school students together in some classrooms so they better understand one anothers’ roles and “develop a more equal (way of) relating.”

It might take more than that, says Portland State University philosopher Alex Sager. Krautscheid’s desire to widely teach moral courage, Sager says, is something of a paradox.

Difficult to teach courage

“Moral courage almost by definition is exceptional,” Sager says. “When we think of people who exhibit moral courage, they do what ordinary people don’t.”

It isn’t easy to teach people to behave in ways that put themselves at risk, according to Sager. “We’re pretty good at teaching things that most people learn to do. We’re not really that good at teaching people to be exceptional,” he says.

Sager says Krautscheid’s simulation experiments remind him of the famous 1971 Stanford University prisoner experiment in which students pretending to be guards were willing to abuse other students playing prisoners (see accompanying story).

“People are pretty good at doing the right thing when it’s not hard,” Sager says. “The best thing we can do is try to create environments where we don’t make doing the right thing all that hard.” That means if Krautscheid expects her nurses to stand up to authority, first, someone will have to work on the institutional culture in the hospitals.

“Most people are not going to display moral courage, we know that,” Sager says. “So we need to create institutions where people are encouraged to question authority.”

Moral imagination, not simulation

That could start with making hospitals less hierarchical and providing incentives for nurses who speak up when they see shortcuts being taken, says Sager, who says real action might take “moral imagination.” The idea is that simulations can’t cover every potential situation, but moral imagination can prepare students for situations they haven’t been asked to consider.

“Some people think of ethics simply as applying rules,” Sager says. “It’s not really like that in the real world. The real world is complex. … It takes a lot of time to learn. Moral education is being able to understand and anticipate more and more complex situations.”

Sager would have the nursing students read novels where characters show moral courage, and have students discuss the books. And teachers should talk about nurse whistleblowers in the classroom. The key, he says, is that teachers need to stimulate more than just the rational part of their students’ brains.

“Just understanding something intellectually doesn’t seem to be enough to motivate you. You have to tie your sentiments into it,” Sager says. “Begin to stimulate moral imagination and you can prepare yourself to react if you do end up in this kind of situation.”

 

Original Article by Peter Korn: http://koin.com/2014/07/31/nursing-professors-studies-suggests-ethics-problem/

 

Clinicals – for some hopeful nurses, clinicals aren’t about studying data or mastering proper techniques, but actually finding the time to do them. Clinicals can typically take place over multiple weekends, spanning multiple rotations and hundreds of hours.

 

For some adult learners, who are ready and excited about their nursing career and becoming RNs, the obstacle isn’t in preparing, but their busy schedules involving work and family life that won’t allow enough consecutive time to take a multi-week clinical. Does your job allow for time off to attend clinicals? Most jobs don't. Motivated nurses shouldn’t let this stand in their way.

 

Rue Education understands the needs of adult learners, specifically those of adult LPN/LVNs, RTs, and Paramedics who are ready to transition to RN. In addition to Rue Education’s Learning Systems that allow learners to pursue their nursing degree on their own time and schedule, Rue’s program prepares you for a compact, focused, weekend clinical that only takes 3 days to complete. That’s right, a 3 day clinical. If you’re ready to get your RN, Rue Education is ready to help.

 

YourCareerInNursing.com was created to support healthcare professionals at every step of their careers. For those looking to get started in a healthcare career, there are plenty of resources for diploma and certifications such as home health aide, nursing assistant, pharmacy tech, rehab nursing, long term care, and medical assistant. YourCareerInNursing.com also offers continuing education opportunities such as bridging to RN and LPN/LVN refresher resources. For those looking for job/career opportunities, there is an active board of different health care jobs across the country. Find out what the site can offer you and explore the useful tools and resources available at your fingertips.

 

Good News Virginia Healthcare Professionals:

You Can Now Become an RN with Rue Education’s Help!

 

Whether you are a LPN/LVN, Paramedic or Respiratory Therapist looking to advance to RN, Rue Education can assist you in earning college credit toward a nursing degree from Excelsior College.

 

Excelsior College graduates are eligible for licensure by endorsement in the state of Virginia with documentation of 960 hours as an RN in another state.

 

With Rue, you decide when and how to study. The Rue nursing and general education learning systems give you the tools, motivation, and access to experts that will propel you to success!

 

For more information, contact an Educational Consultant at

1-800-479-2941

 

Get Started in May and Receive a Grant up to $1,200.* 

Take the Next Step - Advance to RN Today!

 

*Restrictions apply. Call for details.

 

 

Right now there are more nurses in their 50s than any other age group. Often described as the backbone in health care institutions, RNs provide an essential link between patients and doctors, providing much of the initial, on-going, and follow up bedside care. Now, imagine a shortage of nurses caused by the largest population of RNs entering ages closer to retirement and themselves becoming recipients of healthcare they once provided for so many patients. No doubt it is a humbling thought, and it is closer and closer to a reality. An obvious need for new nurses to take the reins and enter the work force is imminent, but it isn’t from lack of future nurses ready to take up the call.

According to an article from nursefuture.com, “the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that in 2010 over 67,000 qualified nursing school applicants were turned away.” An alarming statistic‒considering the current and future need for Registered Nurses. Unfortunately, the cause for so many rejected qualified applicants is due to, as the article reports, “an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, and budget constraints. Schools cannot keep up with the demand for slots in nursing programs.”

One approach to crafting new nurses is a 2-year degree nursing program. This convenient option can be accomplished at community colleges, which are often a strong alternative to traditional universities as they often have lower tuition and are easily accessible from many locations. However, even community colleges can be short-staffed and their smaller class-sizes can make scheduling and finding time difficult. For some motivated learners who are ready to become nurses, attending any physical college isn’t a possibility. Work schedules, family schedules, and other responsibilities prevent potential nurses from reaching their goal of becoming an RN. Rue Education has designed their RN program specifically for this reason. Adult learners can study from the convenience of their own home on their own time with Rue’s Learning Programs. LPNs, LNVs, RTs, and Paramedics can start working towards their ASN degree today. Rue Education provides challenging course material that is comparable to actual material you’d find in traditional nursing schools, and even prepares you for your clinicals. That’s right, you can get your 2-year nursing degree from start to finish using Rue Education’s quality learning systems. In this way, Rue Education’s innovation is addressing the nurse shortage with a real solution for anyone looking to get their nursing degree.

All across the United States, healthcare professionals are being saluted.
On May 6, 2010, Rue Education is joining the American Nurses Association in celebrating Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow, as part of National Nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, every year. The purpose of Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the healthcare needs of the American people.

The ANA and Rue Education are proud to recognize healthcare professionals everywhere on this particular day for their dedication, commitment and tireless effort to maintaining the health of this nation seven days a week, 365 days a year.

 

National Nurses Week History
National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning, and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week each year.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA's state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

National Nurses Week Facts

• There are nearly 2.9 million registered nurses in the United States. And, 2.4 million of them are actively employed.

• The American Nurses Association was founded in 1896.

• Isabel Adams Hampton Robb was the first president of the American Nurses Association.

• According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, more than 2.9 million RNs will be employed in the year 2012, up 623,000 from the nearly 2.3 million RNs employed in 2002.

• The nation's nurses rank first for their honesty and integrity, with 82 percent of Americans rating them "high" or "very high," according to a 2005 Gallup Poll.

• The American Nurses Association consists of 54 state and territorial associations. Their mission is to work with ANA's Associate Organizational Members and Organizational Affiliates for the improvement of health standards and availability of healthcare services for all people, foster high standards for nursing, stimulate and promote the professional development of registered nurses, and advance their economic and general welfare.

Mobile health technology has broadened nurses’ horizons beyond what anyone could have imagined, giving them the ability to improve care and communication and educate patients in managing their own health. No longer do nurses need to assess and make clinical decisions based only on office visits, episodic emergency care and hospitalizations. By using technologies from smartphones to wearable activity trackers and Web-based or downloadable apps, they can monitor patients in the home setting.

Healthcare professionals and organizations have only begun to scratch the surface of this avenue in caring for and educating patients, families and communities. With the support of their interprofessional colleagues, nurses have created and developed mHealth tools, improving patient care and empowering patients and families in the process.

Educating patients

For the past 10 years, Rebecca Schnall, PhD, RN, assistant professor of nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, N.Y., has focused her work and research on using informatics strategies for improving the lives of people from underserved communities. The informatics tools she has developed are all about “giving patients information to empower themselves so they can more easily interact with providers and make decisions about their own health and healthcare,” Schnall said.

Her work has targeted individuals living with and at risk for HIV. She recently was awarded two grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to conduct research focused on using mHealth technology to help people with HIV manage their symptoms.
The AHRQ-funded project will use avatars on a mobile platform and deliver self-care strategies to these individuals, Schnall said. This work is based on the previous paper-based tool developed by William Holzemer, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and distinguished professor at the School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, while he was at the UCSF School of Nursing.

Similarly, the NIH-funded project seeks to help patients with HIV and comorbid conditions manage their symptoms using a mobile tool. Via a national survey, this project will identify the symptoms these individuals experience.

Maximizing the tool

Schnall sees other benefits to apps that support patients with symptom management strategies. “HIV is a chronic condition, and the findings from this work can reasonably be transferable to other chronic conditions,” she said. “Given the proliferation and growth of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease and our aging population with comorbid conditions, [mHealth] work is timely and of great import for helping improve the lives of persons living with chronic diseases.”

Anne Teitelman, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, also knows about maximizing the capabilities of an mHealth tool and enabling patients and consumers in managing their care. Recognizing the need to augment patient education outside of the office setting, Teitelman, who is the Patricia Bleznak Silverstein and Howard A. Silverstein Endowed Term Chair in Global Women’s Health, associate professor of nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, created a computerized preassessment tool focused on patients’ barriers to preventing cervical cancer. Once patients complete the profile and preassessment tool in the provider’s waiting room, a nursing student, who serves as a research assistant, provides tailored information, based on the patients’ responses.

Both the preassessment tool and the one-on-one informational sessions focus on adherence to receiving the three doses of the HPV vaccine, using condoms and having regular PAP smears, as well as the need for smoking cessation. “Cervical cancer is higher in minorities and low-income groups, and we also know that these particular groups need to be supported in completing the HPV vaccines,” Teitelman said. “We’re targeting the 18-26 age group with our project since that group is lagging behind in receiving the HPV vaccines.”

Teitelman and colleagues didn’t stop there. She received funding to create the free downloadable app called Now I Know, which evolved from another prototype app, Everhealthier Women, described as an app “that could save your life” by O magazine.

In the Now I Know app, the consumer will receive notifications offering two theory-based, educational stories every week for six months on HPV vaccine completion and other cervical cancer prevention strategies, as well as links to other information and resources. It also includes a discussion board and feedback from other users and experts in the field. Users can receive test results and be reminded of when they are due for their next vaccine.

From concept to reality

It was Nancy P. Hanrahan’s foresight and passion that led to the creation of University of Pennsylvania’s Nursing’s Health Technology Lab where she developed and coordinated the Health Tech incubator program. Working with undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines, she helped them find appropriate technology and marketing components for new ideas, innovations, pathways and products. “The students actually began start-up companies, and we partnered with business students and faculty and corporate businesses that offered their expertise in marketing and testing of the innovations in the marketplace,” she said.

One nursing student played a key role in the development of a mental health app designed specifically for college students, while another nursing student designed the gaming methods used for the app, said Hanrahan.

Hanrahan, PhD, RN, FAAN, is now dean and professor for the School of Nursing and associate dean of Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston. In her new role at Northeastern she and the school will work closely with other schools within BCHS on mHealth projects. “An integrated, interdisciplinary approach is essential in education and technological innovation, and our moving away from silos will only enhance our learning, our thinking and our creativity,” she said.

A strong proponent of technological advances in mHealth, she believes mHealth will improve patient advocacy and healthcare delivery and increase efficiency of care. “Nurses are advocates and experts in patient care and the patient experience. In this powerful dual role they can be leaders in technological innovation — and now is the time to get involved,” she said.

Hanrahan speaks from experience. Funded by the American Nurses Foundation, Hanrahan created a Web-based PTSD nurse toolkit in 2014 that teaches nurses about the condition and uses a gaming component to reinforce learning. It is now being developed in app form. Hanrahan plans on adding a list of provider support resources for patients. “Nurses work with veterans and their families in every possible setting, and they need to be able to determine at what level of suffering they are and reinforce help-seeking behaviors with them,” said Hanrahan. “With support from the toolkit, nurses can be facilitators to help PTSD sufferers receive care.”

Hanrahan credits the interprofessional team who worked together to develop the program, “enabling others to deliver the best possible care and overcome care barriers in the process.”

Targeting patient needs

Nurse experts agree mHealth technology has the potential to transform healthcare delivery. It’s also clear that mHealth tools need to be tailored to meet specific patient needs, said Ryan J. Shaw, PhD, RN, assistant professor, School of Nursing, Center for Health Informatics, Center for Precision Medicine, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, N.C.

Shaw is part of a team that includes a programmer, physician and health scientist, who are developing an app that measures walking and balancing abilities of the elderly. The ultimate goal is to use the data collected to predict those at high risk for falls and provide preventive interventions to them. “These data have huge implications for our elderly and us, and [the app]is an easy-to-use tool that can be used as an objective assessment in our communities and in retirement communities,” he said.

Along with colleagues, Terri H. Lipman, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, created a Web-based text/short messaging system targeted specifically for youth with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Lipman is an assistant dean for community engagement, Miriam Stirl endowed term professor of nutrition and professor of nursing of children, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, and nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Designed for patients age 10-17, MyDiaText provides text message reminders that help participants work toward a healthy diabetes lifestyle and improve self-management practices. “Using the American Diabetes Association guidelines, we collaborate with our patients to select particular health goals,” Lipman said. “For example, if the goal is to eat more fruits and vegetables, daily text messages provide a reminder, a link to an appropriate site on the topic or a game to play reinforcing knowledge.”
After creating a profile on MyDiaText.com, participants earn points toward their goal as they rate their progress and take quizzes. As an incentive, points earn printable certificates.

The short messaging system is a collaborative initiative among the School of Nursing, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UPenn and the Diabetes Center for Children at CHOP. Initially created as part of a University of Pennsylvania Year of the Games challenge in 2012, the SMS won first prize in the school of nursing’s Game of Solutions for Healthcare.

Lipman and her colleagues have determined the feasibility and functionality of individuals receiving SMS educational and motivational messages. “It’s been quite a learning experience, right from its inception,” Lipman said. “While engineers had the expertise in technology development, nurses were invaluable in their input related to diabetes management, national diabetes guidelines, issues affecting youth and adolescents and reasonable expectations of providers. The nurses also were adamant the design could not move forward without the input of youth with diabetes and their families. This program, like other mHealth tools, provides a unique approach to interact with patients in a manner that is familiar and age-appropriate. Our learners can access information at their convenience, and they collaborate with us in identifying their health needs and priorities.”

Challenges, opportunities ahead

There are more than 100,000 health apps available in iTunes and the GooglePlay store (http://research2guidance.com/), and nurses are well aware of the volume of mHealth technology. “Given the robustness of the current marketplace, it can be overwhelming for providers to find ones appropriate for their patients,” Schnall said.

In his work, Shaw also has found that mHealth tools may result in data overload for those providers who are tracking the information. “When we look to the future, our patients are and will continue to be monitored, on much larger scales, between office visits, and we will need to be comfortable at looking at a lot of data,” he said, adding that tracking patients day to day results in better clinical decisions.

As reimbursement models shift more and more to pay for performance, we will need to assume, as nurses, the role of data managers, he said. “In addition, much of the data gathered from mHealth tools now are able to come back to the EHR, which is a definite advantage to all of us,” Shaw added.
Shaw created a Web-based mobile health platform, which has enabled him and his colleagues to gather patient data from a variety of devices and sensors into a secure database.

Recruiting three healthy and three chronically ill participants who provided data on 11 health indicators through a Fitbit accelerometer, wireless blood pressure cuff, wireless scale, wireless pulse oximeter and a diet app, he and his colleagues discovered that “sicker and more chronically ill patients, who could benefit from our mHealth devices, are actually the ones who often don’t use them,” Shaw said. “Results also indicate that device fatigue may be a significant problem.”

Nurse experts agree it’s important for nurses to get involved in the development of mHealth tools that support patients as well as themselves in their clinical practice. “As nurses, we identify the day-to-day needs and healthcare challenges of our patients,” Teitelman said. “When we partner with our interprofessional colleagues, it can result in fruitful collaborations, creative solutions and partners who can support us with technological solutions. Our ideas become realities.”

 

Source:
Janice Petrella Lynch, MSN, RN, is nurse editor/nurse executive.

https://news.nurse.com/2015/11/09/on-the-move-with-mhealth-nurses-develop-mobile-health-tools/