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

Angela Jacquinto started her journey to become a registered nurse in December 2004.  Angela had been an LPN for one year and was working in a nursing home.  Angela wanted to become an RN because of a previous experience she had in her life.  Angela’s grandmother was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.  When Angela saw the impact that the hospice nurses had, she decided right then and there that she would become an RN and work in hospice.  She wanted to provide the same support and care to patients and their families that she and her grandmother received.   

In May 2005, Angela reported that she had passed her first exam.  In 2005, Angela also switched jobs and began working as a hospice nurse.  She continued studying and progressing in 2006.  Angela put her studies on hold for a very brief period in January 2007 to welcome her third child into the world.  Angela jumped back into her studies passing the remaining exams, and applied for Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE®) in November 2008.  

For nursing students, the CPNE is the final hurdle in the ASN degree earning process.  Angela’s CPNE was scheduled for May 15, 2009.  On May 14 Angela was at the Cincinnati airport on a layover on her way to the CPNE in Albany.  She had missed her original flight.  Luckily Angela had decided to schedule her flight the day before her CPNE allowing her plenty of time to travel.  On top of the missed flight and layover, Angela was not feeling well - all three of her children were sick the night before.  This is not the way she wanted her CPNE experience to begin. 

On May 15, Angela spoke to her Innovative Academic Solutions Academic Advisor several times from her hotel room where she was mentally preparing for the CPNE.  She was nervous, but she was ready.  At the end of the weekend, Angela sent a text message letting her Academic Advisor know that she had successfully passed the CPNE!

Congratulations to Angela on her achievements thus far!  Everyone at Rue and IAS is proud of her achievements, and we’re sure her grandmother is as well. 

For adults who are furthering their education through independent study without the typical campus and classroom socialization, this may be perceived as a nearly impossible task. Nevertheless, being socially active can be an integral part of the learning process.

 

If you are studying by independent means, without a formal instructor and without being in a formal classroom, how does the transmission of the ideas and accumulated knowledge occur? Most of the information is communicated and learned one-dimensionally by reading and self-studying, but it doesn’t have to be that flat and boring. So much can be learned from other people!

 

As adult learners, working in the healthcare profession, you have the a basis of a some unifying relationship, because you share a similar goal in continuing your education to becoming registered nurses. Now you just need to find a way to connect with each other. Whether you post a bulletin at work announcing a study lunch hour, set up a Facebook profile, tweet to other adult learners or use an internet web forum, you can find several ways to communicate and share ideas! Imagine what you can learn from others across the nation with various life experiences but a unified goal.  

 

It doesn’t matter how you assemble, electronically or in person, what matters is that you engage others with common interests who are in the same pursuit to further their education.  You’ve heard that old adage; experience is the parent of wisdom. There is so much to be gained from interacting with others to learn, share experiences, motivate one another, gain wisdom and who knows, and maybe cultivate a lifelong friendship. Reach out, learn by way of others, and socialize as a part of your education experience!

 

Rue Education provides opportunities to become a socially active learner via online learning courses, Rue Education's Facebook and the Mentor Connection. To learn more, contact your academic advisor at 1-800-479-2805.

With Nurses Week upon us, now is a great time to advance your career to becoming an RN with Rue Education's help!

As a special Nurses Week only gift, Rue will be giving away 25 FREE CPNE PREP COURSES PER HOUR - EVERY HOUR! This exclusive opportunity starts Monday, May 9th at 9am through Thursday May 12th.

Call and mention coupon code NURSESROCK11 and if you are one of the first 25 callers of that hour, you will receive your CPNE Prep Course FREE!*

Call Rue today to get started.

1-800-479-2941

From all of us at Rue Education, we wish you a happy Nurses Week.

We commend you for your compassion and care in the nursing profession!

*Offer valid for new clients only.

Summer Giveaway - Enter to Win a Dell Laptop Computer and Wireless Printer!

Our goal at Rue is to support you in every way we can.  This summer we’re going to help one of you take technology with you wherever you go!  Use your new laptop computer for online learning, staying connected to family and friends, managing your finances, playing games, or maybe some of each.  Don’t let the summer slip away without entering! 

There are several ways to enter.  Go to http://rueeducation.com/Home/2010SummerGiveaway.aspx for full details.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about the importance of early detection. More and more women are getting mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. As a result, breast cancer deaths are on the decline. Encourage the women in your life to get mammograms on a regular basis.

For more information, visit Cancer.org

Deciding to pursue your Associate Degree in Nursing and fulfilling your goal of becoming an RN is a big step but it’s a rewarding one. Earning your online ASN degree with Rue’s nursing programs will not only advance your income but you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you took the next step in your career.

 

Many nursing students, though, are pursuing their Associate of Science in Nursing degree while working full-time. Studying, juggling a 40 hour job and staying on top of family, social and personal commitments can cause an overwhelming amount of stress. 

 

There are ways to manage school and work without feeling like you’re in over your head. Here are a few tips to consider if you’re working full-time and completing your online ASN degree.

 

Support from your boss - Believe it or not, many employers recognize the fact that you’re working full-time while pursuing a degree. In fact, if you’re able to balance work and school, most managers will be supportive of their employees learning new skills. Also, because you’re balancing multiple projects at once, your employer might commend you for your ability to multi-task.

 

Lay out your priorities - Splitting up your responsibilities between work and school can get stressful. It’s important to determine what your priorities are for both and how to balance those priorities. Making daily or weekly to-do lists, jotting down in a calendar when projects are due and setting a reminder alert on your phone are just a few examples of how to plan your time and succeed in your associate degree nursing program.

 

Saying no - Success in an assoicate degree nursing program relies on your ability to prioritize. Having so much on your plate can make it hard to take on another new task. Don’t be afraid to say “no” when you’ve hit your limit. When you’re asked if you can take on another task from a friend, family member or co-worker, calmly explain to them that you’d love to help but you’ve not sure if you can take more on your plate right now.  Learning to say no may not be easy if you’ve always said yes. However, with practice, saying no can get easier; it can help you to reduce stress and it can help you stay focused on what your priorities are.

 

Study effectively - With working full-time and completing your Associate Degree in Nursing, you may find there aren’t enough hours in the day to study. When you have a break during your work day, take that time to review notes, read a few pages in a chapter or prepare for an upcoming exam. These small steps can help you retain more material because you won’t need to cram later. Also, while you’re working, see if what you’re learning in your studies can be applied to your current job. This can help you make connections between what you’re studying and real life situations.

 

To help you study more efficiently for your Associate degree nursing program, Rue Education’s subject matter experts have created a Rue Total Learning System™ for each of the subjects offered.

 

Rue’s learning styles feature:

- A workbook/study guide created by subject matter experts with PhD or master’s degrees 

- Objectives and required readings at the beginning of each chapter

- Textbook page references so you can quickly, find out what to study and efficiently check your answers

- End-of-chapter and final exams with page references and answer keys

- Study and time management tips

 

Rue hopes that these tips help show you how you can earn your online ASN Degree using Rue’s learning systems. Remember that Rue’s nursing programs are flexible to help you fit studying into your busy schedule. You can work full-time and still earn your Associate Degree in Nursing with Rue Education’s learning materials!

 

Rue wants to hear from you! How do you balance working full-time and your studies? What are some tips that helped you manage work and school?

Rue Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Designer

Wins 2^nd Place in Nursing T-Shirt Design Contest

 

The Fibers.com contest was designed to celebrate the nursing profession and Nurses Week 2010.  After sharing the contest with all the Rue Education followers on Facebook and Twitter, Lauren Fuino, Rue Education’s Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Designer, decided to enter the contest.

 

It’s a good thing she did – For taking home 2^nd place Lauren won a $75 Visa Gift Card, $50 voucher at Fibers and two shirts with her award-winning design!

 

Also, Fibers.com will donate $4 from the sale of each of the three winning designs toward preventing birth defects, premature births and lowering the rate of infant mortality.

 

Lauren enjoys working at Rue Education because she has the ability to help healthcare professionals learn how they can go back to school and earn an ASN degree without having to spend time in a classroom.  LPN to RN, LVN to RN, Paramedic to RN, RT to RN - Lauren finds a way to reach out to everyone with her designs.

 

Lauren recently graduated with her Bachelor's degree and is looking into getting her master's degree using a distance learning program.  Everyone at Rue Education is proud of Lauren and her accomplishments. 

 

Congratulations, Lauren!

Read what the judges had to say about Lauren’s design on the Fiber.com blog!  

This Memorial Day, Rue Education would like to honor and remember those who are back home and safe, those still serving and those who are remembered in our hearts. We wish all of you a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Jason Jonas began his educational journey with Rue Education and Innovative Academic Solutions in June 2009.  He started with the Life Span Developmental Psychology. A month after signing up, he ran into some conflicts with work and had to put his studies on hold for some time.   

Jason was studying independently, so putting his studies aside to focus on his work matters created no difficulties in his progress.  In January 2010 an Academic Adviser spoke with Jason and he was back to his studies and ready to tackle his first exam for Life Span Developmental Psychology. After speaking with Jason in April, he reported that he received a B on his Life Span Developmental Psychology exam! 

At the end of January, he ordered his next learning system, Microbiology. Jason was ready to tackle this learning system, but he was quite nervous about the Microbiology exam.  His Academic Adviser discussed with him how to use all of the great resources Rue has to offer learners.  He signed up for the Mentor Connection to utilize the student submitted study notes and to communicate with the Alumni members about the Microbiology exam.   

On December 3, Jason called in to report his score.  All of Jason’s hard work and preparation paid off – he scored an A on his Microbiology exam!  Jason said the most helpful tools to supplement the learning system were the Rue Mentor Connection™ study notes and the content outline guide from Excelsior College.  

Jason has now completed his required general education courses and is moving into the core nursing curriculum.  He is currently working on Health Safety and is looking forward to conquering his first nursing exam.  Rue and Innovative Academic Solutions look forward to seeing Jason progress through his educational journey.

Don’t Miss Out On Your 2010 Tuition Assistance!

As we approach the end of 2010, we would like to remind you to take advantage of any tuition assistance eligibility or reimbursement provided by your employer.  Most companies have a ‘use it or lose it’ policy.  If your employer provides tuition assistance or some form of reimbursement, we encourage you to explore this option before time runs out.  Seeking and receiving financial support from your employer can help offset your monthly payments and testing fees. 

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get started toward your goal of becoming an RN, Rue is here to help you with the guidance, flexibility and support you need. Whether you are going from LPN to RN, LVN to RN, Paramedic to RN, or RT to RN, with Rue Education’s help you can accomplish all of this without ever attending classes in the traditional college setting.

 

We have put together a list of the 11 reasons why you should choose Rue in 2011 and to help you make this year the best one yet!

 

 

 

Ready to begin your journey toward becoming an RN? 

Contact an Educational Consultant at 1-866-499-5083 today!

 

*Based on report scores.

**Offer ends 1/31/11. Restrictions apply. Call for details.

 

1. Open the Workbook One Section at a Time

• Read the introductory information for useful study strategies that you can use throughout all of your learning systems.
• Now you can open “Section 1” to get started.
• Review the two sections on page one: The assignments and the learning objectives.
• Hint: Objectives help you identify the important topics and you may want to refer back to them when you have completed the assignments.

2. Follow the Reading and Work Assignments

• Read the assigned portions of your text(s) (Reminder: If the material is new to you, you may want to break the reading up into different “study sessions”).
• When you have completed the readings, it is time to open the workbook and complete that section in the workbook.
• Hint: Try to answer the questions in your own words – this helps YOU to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. It can be tempting to rush through the questions but it is better to take your time.

3. Check Your Work

• Workbook questions have references to page numbers you should consult to check your knowledge.
• Hint: A highlighter might help you to mark sections where you want to re-read.
• The Quick Reference Guide answers the questions from the workbook so this will be a valuable way for you to quickly check your progress.

4. Review

• You have now identified where you need to focus your energies for this section.
• Remember, you are not alone. If you feel "stuck," contact an academic advisor at 800-479-2805 for assistance.
• When you feel you know all the information in a section, take the self-assessment exam at the end of the Workbook section.

5. Congratulations ~ You are ready to begin the next section

• Repeat this process throughout each learning system.

The nursing process, which is the foundation that drives all current nursing practice, is one of the misunderstood theories in nursing. Many nursing students have difficulty understanding this process and what it means for our patients and our nursing practice ...

Read More >>

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

The Rue Summer Giveaway promotion brought in 21 success stories, 21 referrals, and 5 people who were referred got started.  With almost 300 entries, a winner was chosen at random.

Tammie Kruse from Unionville, Michigan.

Erin, Tammie's Academic Advisor, called Tammie to let her know she was the winner. Tammie, who is typically very talkative, was speechless!  After getting over her initial shock, she was very excited.  She will receive her laptop and wireless printer next week!

Thank you to everyone for participating and for choosing Rue Education!