What Is Addictions Nursing?

Addictions nursing is a type of nursing where you will work with people suffering from an addiction of some kind, usually an addiction to a substance, such as drugs or alcohol. In addition you may work with the patient’s family as well as with anyone else who feels that they have been negatively affected by the addiction that your client has. Sometimes the patients will see you on a voluntary basis, while other times it will be against their will.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The main duties that you will perform as an addictions nurse are as follows:

• You will work with your patients to promote their recovery from their addiction
• You will also provide addictions therapy to your patients
• You will provide addictions counseling to your patients
• You will educate patients and their families about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse
• You may need to run group therapy sessions for groups of addicts and sometimes their families as well
• You will work closely with other members of the health care industry and public to promote general addiction awareness as well as the individual well being of your patients
• You will spend long periods of time with individual patients, as opposed to brief care in many hospital settings

Employment

This is not a particularly popular area of nursing to be employed in. for one thing it can be dangerous. You may, for example, be employed in a correctional facility, such as a prison, where you will be faced with treating hardened criminals. Usually you will deal with the fresh inmates who need to be detoxified and helped through the cleansing and rehabilitation process. Even in other employment settings, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers, you may be in danger. However, although addicts have a reputation for being dangerous and willing to do anything to get what they want, this is usually not the case and in many situations they are willing to cooperate in order to overcome their addiction and move forward with their lives in a proactive way.

Addictions Nursing Requirements

There are three main requirements that you will have to meet in order to become involved in the domain of addictions nursing:

• You must hold an RN license: This means that the first step on your journey involves entering an RN training program and completing a nursing degree which will prepare you to write the NCLEX-RN examination.

• You need to have experience in addictions: Once you have received your RN license you will need to find employment in an addiction setting in order to get the necessary experience for certification.

• You must have a Certified Addiction Registered Nurses (CARN) qualification, which is approved by The National Nurses Society on Addictions (NNSA): Experience, as well as theory training, needs to be completed before you can write the exam to receive your certification as an addictions nurse.

Personality Traits

Different areas of nursing require subtly different personality traits in order to make a successful career out of that specialty. When it comes to addictions nursing the real challenge lies in balancing your sympathy for your patients with the fact that you need to be objective and not give in to any manipulative strategies that your patients may employ. In addition to this you should also be hard working, non-judgmental and sympathetic. If you feel that you either lack these skills or that you will be unable to develop these skills, this may not be the ideal area of nursing for you to specialize in. Fortunately, there are many different nursing specialties that you can become a practitioner in that will suit the personality that you have. Not all nurses are suited for all areas of nursing.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for being an addictions nurse are as follows:

• You need to have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent thereof.

• You need to have completed an RN degree qualification. You can earn a diploma, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree in nursing and the more advanced your educational qualification is the better your employment outlook will be. The program must be offered by a school or college that is appropriately accredited in your state.

• You need to complete the CARN certification. This will include, among other things, theory questions based on the following topics: Addiction Therapies, Biochemical Basis of Addiction, Care of Patients with Addictions, Drug Abuse‚ Withdrawal and Pain Management, Eating Disorders and Addiction, Elderly and Incarcerated with Addictions.

Licensure

The only license you need, technically speaking, to be an addictions nurse is your registered nursing or RN license. This is earned by firstly completing one of the RN degree programs mentioned above. It will help if you focus on addictions nursing as far as possible when doing this training. Then you will have to apply for licensure with your state board of nursing. There are different licensing requirements in different states, so you need to know ahead of time what your particular state requires of you when you make this application. Once your application has been confirmed you can set an exam date for writing the NCLEX-RN exam. Passing this exam will earn you your license which you will have to renew every few years while providing proof that you have done continuing education.

How To Become An Addictions Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

Training for addictions nursing, as in all other aspects of nursing, consists of two main sections:

• Theory, and
• Clinical

The theory training will be covered in your nursing degree. During your degree you may have the option of selecting courses and electives that focus on addictions nursing. There will also be additional theory training provided for taking the CARN certification exam.

Clinical experience, on the other hand, will require you to be active in an addictions treatment setting. The most common way for nurses to receive the relevant amount of experience in this regard is by engaging in an internship that their school or training program approves of for a set period of time. You may not get paid during internships, but the experience that you will gain will be invaluable for your exam as well as in your career.

Source An Accredited Education Program

The program that you attend to earn your RN degree must be accredited. If it is not accredited the degree that you earn will count for nothing. There are two main ways in which you can determine whether or not the program you are interested in is accredited:

• You can enquire about the accreditation status of the program with your state board of nursing.
• You can do some of your own research on the school and check its website for this accreditation information.

The first method is far more reliable because there are, unfortunately, a number of schools out there that are not genuine and that may even go as far t mislead the general public about their accreditation. Online schools are especially important to watch out for.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

In order to enter the field of addictions nursing you need to have an associate’s degree. Although many other nursing specialties require you to have a bachelor’s degree, and associate’s degree is what you will need in order to become an addictions nurse. However remember that the more advanced your degree is the better your resume will look and the more job opportunities you will have. An associate’s degree can be earned at any school or college that offers training in how to become a nurse. It will consist of theoretical and clinical training and you are required to complete both aspects of the degree course before your associate’s degree will be awarded. An associate’s degree is often seen as a stepping stone to greater things in the field of nursing and there is room for advancement.

Obtain Your Licensure

These are the requirements for becoming a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN):

• You must be a certified RN who graduated from an accredited program with a current RN license that has no limitations on it.

• You must be able to show proof of 1 year or 2000 hours of experience in an addictions nursing setting within the 3 years preceding your application for addictions nursing certification.

If you can show that you meet the above mentioned requirements, you will be then be allowed to sit the necessary certification exam for becoming a nurse with a specialty in addictions nursing. Certification will mean that you will be a sought after asset in the addictions nursing setting and you will always be sure of finding a job in your chosen area of nursing specialization.

Online/Distance Education Programs

For nurses who are concerned that they will not have the time required to study for the Certified Addiction Registered Nurses (CARN) exam, it is important to note that there are a number of online study options and resources available for nurses in this position. These resources will allow you to study for the exam in your own time and at your own pace without having to worry about compromising your career while you learn. However you must remember that the clinical experience needed in addictions nursing in order to be certified cannot be completed in an online setting and it will be your responsibility to ensure that you find the appropriate balance between online theory study and hands-on clinical experience. It is extremely important that both aspects of the program are attended to.

Job Outlook

All areas of the nursing profession are experiencing growth in terms of the number of jobs that are available. Across the board we are in the process of experiencing a 22% increase in the nursing sector. Addictions nursing certification will ensure that you have a very strong job outlook because:

• There are many people who need help with their addictions form a professional with the relevant qualifications – this number also seems to be growing all the time.

• With a qualification in addictions nursing you will be one of the first candidates considered for any position in an addictions nursing facility.

In addition, because you will also have basic nursing training, you will also be able to work in any regular hospital setting where specializations in nursing are not a requirement.

Earnings

As an addictions nurse you can earn about $30,000 a year more than what an average RN can earn. The average salary for an addictions nurse is something in the region of $45,000 per year but can be as much as $70,000. This is not a bad salary at all, and it must be noted that not many areas of nursing will pay as well as this. According to simplyhired.com this salary can vary based on a number of factors such as “company, location, industry, experience and benefits”. The biggest factor is the state in which you work. By this stage you have probably realized that different states offer different salaries to their nurses, and that some simply pay substantially more than others. To find out more about salaries for addictions nurses in your particular state you will need to engage in some research of your own.

Addictions nursing is one of the tougher areas of nursing, and it will take a very special personality to be able to cope in this area. However it can be very rewarding, in the same way that traditional hospital nursing can be rewarding, in that you too will be able to see improvements and changes in your patients for the better. However, just like with patients that suffer from physical illnesses and injuries, there will also be times when your patients do not recover at all, and you will need to have the frame of mind that can deal with that, accept that, and not let it prevent you from doing your job well.

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What Is An Emergency/Trauma Nurse?

If you are looking for an area of nursing to specialize in, emergency/trauma nursing is only recommended if you are a person who can handle highly stressful situations easily. This is because the main purpose of your job will be to work in emergency healthcare settings, such as emergency rooms at hospitals, where every second counts and where patients may well be experiencing life or death situations.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The following duties are performed by emergency/trauma nurses on a regular basis:

• Responding quickly to a patient in an emergency situation – you will usually be one of the first people a patient will see when they come to the hospital.

• Based on this initial interaction with the patient it will be your job to assess the patient’s situation and determine the degree of care he or she needs.

• When necessary you will need to be actively involved in stabilizing the patient so that he or she is in no immediate terminal danger.

• You will need to prepare any equipment that you deem the doctor will find necessary when he or she sees the patient.

• Communication with the patient’s family regarding the patient’s condition is also part of your job.

Employment

Employment opportunities in this line of nursing are fairly stable in that there are always emergency situations occurring across the country that require the expertise of an emergency/trauma nurse to deal with them. Because the skills you will have are aimed at emergency response, you will primarily find employment in hospital emergency rooms as well as in ambulances that respond to the scenes of occurrences such as accidents as well as to the scenes of unexpected health issues. Consequently you will find yourself being employed alongside paramedics, EMTs, and other individuals with an active involvement in emergency care. Whatever the setting that you are employed in may be, you can be guaranteed that it will be fast-paced and carry with it a high degree of stress, especially as patients can be lost on a regular basis.

Emergency/Trauma Nurse Requirements

There are various requirements that are involved in becoming an emergency/trauma nurse and it is very important that you are able to meet these basic requirements. The basic requirements include:

• A minimum level of education: You need, at the very least, to have completed a training program that allows you to practice as a licensed Registered Nurse.

• A minimum number of years of experience: This can vary slightly from state to state, but in order to be certified as an emergency/trauma nurse you will need to have a certain number of years of experience in trauma nursing.

• Personality requirements: Because not everyone is suited for this line of work there are a number of personality requirements that you need to have. These personality requirements will be discussed later in more detail.

Personality Traits

A nurse working in emergency/trauma nursing needs to have the same personality skills as nurses working in other segments of the health care industry. There are a few skills that will, however, prove to be slightly more useful in this setting than in others. For one thing an ability to think quickly and clearly about how best to treat a patient is vital in an emergency care setting. In addition you will need to be able to balance objectivity and compassion and not let your emotional response to your patient’s condition get in the way of your ability to adequately treat that patient. A certain amount of attention to detail will be necessary to accurately diagnose and assess your patient and ensure that he or she is receiving accurate care in the health care setting.

Educational Requirements

As with any nursing qualification there are a number of educational requirements that you will have to meet in order to be an emergency/trauma nurse:

• Get your high school diploma
• Enter an LPN program and become a licensed and qualified LPN
• Enter an RN degree program and become a licensed and qualified RN

An RN program is on that will earn you a diploma in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, or a master’s degree in nursing. The more advanced your educational level is the better your resume will look when it comes time to search for a job. In addition you will have more skills which will also means that you will feel more confident in your work. Additional certification to be an emergency/trauma nurse is also necessary.

Licensure

The license that you need in order to be an emergency/trauma nurse is an RN license. This license can be earned by attending one of the RN programs mentioned above. The program will consist of theory and practical training, both of which are necessary for this qualification. Once you have graduated from the program you will need to apply to your state board of nursing for licensure. If you are approved the next step is to set a date to write the NCLEX-RN examination. Passing the examination will earn you your license. This license will have to be renewed regularly. The renewal period depends on the state that you are licensed in. When renewing your license you may also, according to the laws of each state, be required to present proof of continuing education.

How To Become An Emergency/Trauma Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

Emergency/trauma nurses have a few advancement options open to them. For example if you stay in the job for long enough you could advance to a position where you are in charge of the entire emergency room. The training required for this line of work is the same as basic nursing training. You can train to be an emergency/trauma nurse by:

• You can do a four or five program at a college or university, or

• You can do one year of training to become a Licensed Practiced Nurse (LPN) before doing an LPN to RN bridge program, or

• You can do a two year program in a junior or community college, combined with some hospital training before doing an LPN to RN bridge program, or

• You can do a three year program run by a hospital or school based on nursing

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is very important that the program that you attend on your way to being an emergency/trauma nurse is accredited by either the Emergency Nurses Association or the Society of Trauma Nurses. If it is not accredited you will be effectively wasting your time and your money as your qualification will count for nothing and you will have to start your studies from scratch. These two associations can provide you on information about any specific programs that you are interested in attending and it will be in your best interests to confirm the accreditation status of any program before you make a final decision regarding whether or not you desire to attend that program. The school itself should also be able to give you this information.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

An associate’s degree is one of the educational levels that you can achieve in order to become an NR. This degree will allow you to sit the NCLEX-RN examination, which is the national licensing exam for registered nurses. An associate’s degree can take a while to complete as it is usually about a two year program. Consequently you need to be prepared to devote the necessary time to the program. Many schools have an associate’s degree in nursing although some may offer only a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Technical schools, vocational colleges, community colleges, and some universities all offer this qualification. There are also a number of online options but clinical experience is a necessary prerequisite for an associate’s degree, so you need to complete that side of your training in some way as well.

Obtain Your Licensure

There is no special license for being an emergency/trauma nurse. You will need to hold an RN license, but that is all. There is a certification exam that you will be required to pass. Once you have your RN license the following steps must be followed:

• You need to get on the job training and perhaps some theory training will need to be completed.

• You will have to work in the ER and sit the exam to become a Certified Emergency Nurse.

• You will need to train to become a trauma nurse through the American Emergency Nursing Association course (the Trauma Nurse Core Course).

When all of the above requirements have been met you will be in a position to declare yourself as a specialist in the area of emergency/trauma nursing.

Online/Distance Education Programs

Although it is necessary to do a certain amount of practical training in n actual emergency setting before you can become an emergency trauma nurse you are able to do the Trauma Nurse Core Course online in order to receive your certification. Note that this method of study can be a lot more convenient in that you will not need to attend classroom based lectures and will therefore not have to give up your job. It must be noted, however, that not all of the many online training programs are accredited and that you may not have the right personality for online studying as it requires a high degree of self-motivation that does not come naturally to all students. Careful consideration must be made of all the factors and options surrounding the question of online study.

Job Outlook

A career as an emergency/trauma nurse is a good one to choose if you are concerned about job stability. There are two reasons for this:

• The nursing industry in general is growing at a fast rate, faster than all other industries, meaning that there will be more jobs for all nurses.

• In addition, with a specialty in a certain nursing domain your skills will also be in higher demand, meaning that you will have additional employment opportunities.

• Because you also have basic nursing training you will not only be able to work in the emergency/trauma sector, but also in any other facility where nurses are not necessarily required to hold a specialization of any kind.

As jobs go, this is one of the more secure options for you to consider.

Earnings

The average salary that you can earn as an emergency/trauma nurse is about $43,404 to $86,694 a year. The variations depend on the level of education that you have as well as what area you work in. different states tend to offer different rates of pay, and even within states you will find that there are significant differences between cities in terms of how much you can earn as an emergency/trauma nurse. The cities that pay the most are:

• Oakland, California
• San Francisco, California
• Sacramento, California
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Modesto, California
• Orange, California
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• New Bedford, Massachusetts
• Fresno, California
• Portland, Oregon
• San Diego, California
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Phoenix, Arizona
• New York, New York
• Riverside, California
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Los Angeles, California
• Washington, District of Columbia
• Long Beach, California
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Although being an emergency/trauma nurse can be highly stressful, there are a number of advantages to choosing this career, such as the high rate of pay and the sense that you are achieving something meaningful on a daily basis. It is up to you, at a personal level, to weigh up to possible cons with the possible pros of the position. Employment in this area of nursing does not have to be your final stop – because you will have general nurse training you will always have the option to leave the emergency arena and train in another specialty or work as a general nurse.

The post How To Become An Emergency Trauma Nurse appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

A CNA, or certified nursing assistant, needs to complete a CNA clinical on her path to becoming fully qualified in this entry-level aspect of nursing. CNA training consists of two sides:

• Theory training, in which you will learn the coursework required to complete this qualification

• Clinical training, during which you will get the required hands-on experience needed to be a nurse assistant

Because nurse is a very practical job, many people see the hands-on training section of the course as being the most important.

What Is A CNA?

A CNA, or certified nursing assistant, is a health care worker that works on the frontlines of patient care. The tasks they perform involve basic day-today care for a patient’s immediate needs. CNAs cannot function autonomously and require strict supervision form qualified nurses in all that they do. A CNA is actively involved in the following day-to-day tasks:

• Personal Hygiene: One major task of a CNA is to assist patients in maintaining their personal hygiene by brushing their teeth, helping them shower/bath, washing them in bed, and keeping their hair clean.

• Infection Control: Germs spread easily and quickly in a hospital setting. As a CNA you need to keep up with the latest development in germ spread prevention technology and procedures and implement those procedures efficiently.

• Dietary Care: Another main function of a CNA is to ensure that your patients are eating enough of the correct food to facilitate their personal recovery.

• Administering Treatments: There are a few limited treatments that a CNA can administer or help administer.

• Reporting: Accurate reporting of the patient’s vital signs and condition forms a big part of the job.

• Emotional Support: Patients in a health care setting require emotional support tin addition to physical care.

What Is A CNA Clinical?

CNA clinicals have the following features and purposes:

• They are the equivalent of internships and residencies for doctors in that they give you real life hands-on experience

• They give you a chance to work with real patients in a supervised setting before being forced to work on your own as an RN

• Your clinicals count towards your grade, and sometimes make up your entire grade, as teachers use them to evaluate their students

• In a CNA clinical training course you will be rotated through a variety of departments, thereby getting a feel for the different areas of nursing

• You will work alongside trained nurses and other health care professionals, giving you a feel for how a health care team works in reality

• Although you will also receive training in a classroom setting, this theory knowledge merely supplements your clinical training and cannot replace it

• You may also be given the opportunity to practice your clinical knowledge in simulated settings where no one’s life is at risk

• Your CNA clinical training can be very stressful and intensive, especially at first, but you will be very glad of it once it is over

Reasons For Doing CNA Clinicals

Completing the CNA clinical portion of your training program is extremely important. The reasons for doing these hands-on training programs are, for the most part, self-evident. Nurses who look on their clinical training as an unfortunate trial that they have to get through in order to be certified may want to reexamine their motivation for becoming a nurse. The clinical part of your training should be seen as the most important as well as the most exciting portion of your educational journey to becoming a CNA. As a CNA you will be required to engage in a number of very practical tasks throughout your career that cannot be adequately taught through theory work. As the job of a CNA is in itself a very practical job, the brief CNA training you will go through will consist mainly of CNA clinical work. If you do not have the time for your clinical tasks you will also struggle to find the time to do a job as CNA as the fast-paced, work-intensive career comes with inconvenient hours and low pay. If you do not love the clinical side of the job, you will not be a very happy nurse’s assistant.

Satisfy Program Requirements

CNA courses are substantially shorter than many other nursing courses, such as those that LPNs and RNs complete. However, a large portion of this course consists of practical training which must be completed in order for your qualification to be approved. Thus your CNA clinical work is part of the program requirements that you have to meet in order to be a CNA. The hands-on portion of your training will prepare you for all of the work that you will have to do in your CNA career. Some CNA training programs allow you to receive your hands-on training while engaged in the theory side of your coursework. However the usual rule is that you have to complete the required amount of theory training before you will be able to begin your CNA clinical training. The clinical portion of your training will be carefully supervised by an expert in the field, usually an LPN or an RN. This will help you prepare for the fact that you will need to take order from LPNs, RNs, and other health care professionals once you are qualified to work as a CNA.

Experience Different Work Environments

Certified nursing assistants are needed in practically every health care facility out there. Consequently there are a number of different working environments that you can be exposed to as a CNA. During your CNA clinical training you will be given the opportunity to work in a variety of vastly different healthcare settings, each of which has its own methodology and procedures. Different patients are treated differently. For example you do not treat newborn babies with the same methods as you would treat adults or elderly patients. Consequently there are a number of different work environments available to you and your CNA clinical training is a good way to get your first taste of what employment opportunities are available.
If you plant to advance your nursing career by becoming an LPN or an RN you will find that the more experience you have in a wider selection of settings at CNA level, the better your chances of receiving a job in a good facility once you are qualified as a licensed practical nurse or as a registered nurse. A wide variety of nursing environments will help you as a CNA, but it is also a good way to advance your nursing career in general.

Gain Hands-On Experience

Because being a certified nursing assistant is a very practical job, hands-on experience is the main purpose of a CNA clinical course. Some of the advantages of gaining hands-on experience are that:

• You will have the opportunity to engage in interaction with doctors, patients and other nurses, giving you an idea of the CNA field and allowing you to become comfortable with the communication and interaction patterns used in a healthcare setting.

• You will begin to develop an understanding of how the health care team functions and what your correct place, as a CNA, is in the hierarchy of that health care team.

• You will be given insight into the expectations of nurses.

• You will be given insight into the demands of the profession.

• You will be given insight into the proper work etiquette and attire.

• You will begin to develop an understanding of how to interact with patients appropriately without overstepping your boundaries as a CNA.

• You will, most importantly of all, be given the opportunity to practice and apply all you have learned throughout your coursework, which is extremely important as theory work cannot replace actual real life experience in nursing.

How Can I Be Prepared For A Clinical Course?

There are a number of ways in which you can prepare for you first CNA clinical day in order to make it substantially less frightening for you. Firstly you should always be prepared. When you come to class on your first clinical day, and on every other day after that, bring your drug book, care plan, stethoscope and a pen and paper so you can jot down any useful remarks that the instructor makes. It is essential to always be on time for your clinical. If you are not, you will give your instructor a bad perception of you that can affect your final score. You will also need to be on time in your career as a CNA, so now is a good time to start practicing. Before you start your first CNA clinical you will be informed of the dress code. Follow this code exactly as you do not want to draw unnecessary negative attention to yourself. Read up on the skills that you may be expected to show in the first few days of clinical training and think of ways in which you can subtly show your instructor that you have prepared. You should be very careful not to trust people on your first few days and to only do what your instructor, and nobody else, tells you. There are many things that CNAs in training may not do. Do not go beyond the scope of practice or limits the instructor has set. It does not matter if you have been an LPN for 15 years and have been passing meds during that time. If the instructor says you cannot give meds without her supervision, don’t. Never look unprofessional.

Where Can I Get My Clinical Experience?

CNA Clinical Training In Hospitals

Because CNA training is intensive in practical experience, an actual hospital setting is one of the best places to earn your qualification as a CNA. The CNA clinical work will be a good reflection of what you will do in your actual job.

CNA Clinical Training At Vocational And Community Colleges

These are very popular options for studying to become a CNA< but it must be noted that the CNA clinical training that you do will not be done at the college itself, but rather at a nearby participating health care facility.

CNA Clinical Training In Nursing Homes

Community and vocational colleges are the most popular places to receive CNA training, but for a strong focus in CNA clinical training nursing homes are good bet. They often offer free hands-on training in order to combat staffing shortages on the condition that you work for them for a certain period of time after qualifying.

Red Cross CNA Clinical Training

According to cntraininghelp.com “Red Cross offers one of the best training options available in the United States. Through its chapters located throughout the country, it offers one of the most thorough and properly recognized CNA course available today”.

The Problem With Online Training Schools

Studying for your CNA qualification online comes with one very specific problem: there is no way at all to complete clinical training in an online setting. This means that you can only complete the theory training section of your qualification in this way. A website that claims to offer a full qualification entirely online must be treated with suspicion as 1) it probably isn’t accredited, and 2) it is not being honest with you. That being said there is nothing wrong with completing y9our theory work online as long as the school is an accredited one and as long as you do your clinical training in a real health care setting after you complete the online course.

CNA clinicals are a necessary part of your training, and you will enjoy the more if you look on them as the main purpose of your training. Nursing is, after all, a very practical and hands-on career, so you should not begrudge the hours of clinical training that you are obligated to receive as your CNA clinical is that you need to be well prepared for your career.

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What Is Ambulatory Care Nursing?

Not all nursing care needs to take place in a hospital setting. In fact there are frequently times when pain management for patients with chronic injuries or illness, or general health education for patients with chronic injuries or illness needs to occur outside the hospital setting. In these cases ambulatory care nursing becomes necessary. Ambulatory care nurses are nurses that move to where they are needed.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

Generally speaking you will, in ambulatory care nursing, perform many of the same tasks as you would in any other nursing setting. The main differences is that the environment in which you provide care may vary frequently. Usually you will be required to provide healthcare to patients with varying illnesses or injuries, promote healthcare and health maintenance to patients, educate patients on how to manage their injury or illness at home, provide healthcare either face to face with patients or over the phone or internet, and assist patients preventing and managing illnesses. The two main tasks are, then:

• Providing care to the patient regarding their ailment
• Educating the patient in terms of the ailment that they are suffering from and how best to deal with that ailment in a way that promotes speedy recovery

Employment

Ambulatory care nursing involves moving from location to location, usually outside of a traditional hospital setting. Consequently you may find that you will be employed in ambulances, day surgery units, ambulatory care surgeries, physicians office, community centers, schools, workplaces, in home care environments, and clinics. In addition to these more ‘traditional’ locations you could also seek employment in a few areas that you may not have thought of before:

• Health Insurance Companies where you will be expected to provide health care advice via telephone or the internet

• The Government where you will be expected to provide health care advice via telephone or the internet

This kind of nursing provides you with vast experience, making it easy to settle down in one particular nursing discipline in the future if you so desire.

Ambulatory Care Nursing Requirements

As with any discipline there are a number of basic requirements that you will need to meet before you will be able to work as an ambulatory care nurse. To begin with you must be a qualified Registered Nurse (RN) and you must have a minimum of two years of experience working as an RN. These are really the only requirements that you will need to meet for the position. There is no additional training to become an ambulatory care nurse, but it is recommended that you pursue certification as many employers prefer, if not require, candidates to hold this certificate. Certification can be gained by documenting 2,000 hours (1 year full-time) experience in Ambulatory Care Nursing within the last three years and by completing 30 hours of Ambulatory Care Nursing Continuing Education within the last three years.

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality traits that we expect all nurses to have, including things like natural empathy and an ability to work well in a team and take orders when necessary. There are two main personality traits that are specifically useful for those nurses who would like to specialize in ambulatory care nursing. The first is interpersonal skills. If you have great interpersonal skills you will have every little trouble working with the many different people who you will come into contact with on a daily basis. In addition you will also find that an ability to stay calm and rational under pressure will be very helpful as, in an ambulatory care setting, you may not always have other experts to draw on and may be required to make life or death decisions yourself.

Educational Requirements

The most basic educational requirement for the post is that you have a high school diploma. During high school it will be helpful if you focus on subjects like math, science, and biology. Once you have completed high school you can go on to earning one of the following:

• A diploma in nursing, OR
• An associate’s degree in nursing, OR
• A bachelor’s degree in nursing

If you are interested in becoming certified you will then need to complete continuing education units in appropriate topics. These will prepare you for a career as an ambulatory care nurse. After working for two years as a Registered Nurse with 2,000 hours of clinical practice in ambulatory care and 30 hours of continued education you can take the certification exam that will allow you to ‘officially’ be an ambulatory care nurse health care specialist through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Licensure

To become an ambulatory care nurse you have to hold an RN license. To receive this license you must begin by completing an accredited RN training program at a vocational school, college, or university. Completing the program will allow you to apply for licensure through your state board of nursing. Once you have received confirmation that you are indeed eligible for licensure, you will be able to set a date to write the licensing examination through Pearson VUE, the company which administers these exams. Passing the exam will allow you to become licensed. Your license may need to be renewed periodically depending on what the rules of your particular state’s board of nursing are regarding this matter.

How To Become An Ambulatory Care Nurse

Training, Advancement and Other Qualifications

As a nurse you will frequently have the option of advancing your education and training in the area of ambulatory care through continuing education units. These are often a requirement for re-certification or the renewal of your NR license, so you may as well select units that will be beneficial to you as a nurse. Some of the topics that you may find useful are:

• Phlebotomy
• IV therapy
• ECG
• Triage and telephone advice
• Teaching

Even if continuing education is not a requirement in your state it is still advised that you pursue continuing education units related to your line of work. This will result in the possibility for further job advancement. In addition it will make you more positive in terms of your jobs and your abilities to do your job well.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is incredibly important that you complete an RN training program that is accredited with your state board of nursing. If it is not you will be wasting your time and your money on the program. There are three main ways in which you can determine the accreditation status of a school:

• From the school itself: Schools have to publish this information, but it is always better to double check all claims that the schools you are interested in make in this regard.

• From current nurses: RNs who are currently employed as such in the field of ambulatory care will be able to point you in the direction of accredited schools.

• From your State Board of Nursing: Your State Bad of Nursing is the most reliable source of information on accreditation.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

Earning an associate’s degree in nursing is an excellent place to start if you want to be an ambulatory care nurse. Earning an associate’s degree, which can be done through any university or other educational institute that offers the qualification, will allow you to apply for licensure with your state board of nursing, and can therefore allow you to become licensed. However many employers prefer to hire ambulatory care nurses who have a more advanced qualification. It is easy enough to return to school after working for a while to obtain a more advanced degree, and earning your associate’s degree is still the best starting point as you will still be able to start working fairly soon after you have graduated from the associate’s degree training program through which you choose to study.

Obtain Your Licensure

Apart from the RN license there is no additional licensure that you have to obtain to become and ambulatory care nurse. However you do have the option of becoming certified. Certification will:

• Provide you with more job opportunities
• Allow you to ask for a raise

In some states certification may even be mandatory, and it is important that you are well aware of what the conventions in your state are before making any commitments one way or the other. Certification can be gained by documenting 2,000 hours (1 year full-time) experience in Ambulatory Care Nursing within the last three years. Additionally certified ambulatory care nurses must also have completed 30 hours of Ambulatory Care Nursing Continuing Education within the last three years. As nursing specializations go, this is one of the least intensive to join.

Online/Distance Education Programs

To a certain degree a nursing qualification can be completed online. However it is important to note that nursing is a highly practical line of work, and consequently there is a high concentration of practical learning in your training course in addition to the theory that will be covered in the prescribed textbooks. It is simply not possible to complete your clinical experience online. There are online schools, however, that are either part of a brick and mortar school, or that are affiliated with actual health care facilities and that therefore provide ways in which you can complete your clinical training in a real-life setting, while completing your theory training online. If this is the course you would like to take, make your decision very carefully as it will affect the rest of your career.

Job Outlook

Nursing is generally one of those lines of work that is improving at a very fast rate in terms of the number of jobs available. The stats are:

• Nursing in general will increase by 22% over the next few years.

• More technology is being used, meaning that ambulatory nurses with skills in this technology will be in greater demand.

In addition there is a rising elderly population and an increased emphasis on preemptive health care, both factors which will contribute to an increase in the number of jobs available for ambulatory care nurses in the very near future. In addition ambulatory care nurses are also trained in skills that can be transferred to more traditional hospital settings, which means they have the opportunity for employment in those settings in addition to ambulatory care settings.

Ambulatory Care Nursing Earnings

The national average salary of an ambulatory care nurse is $50,000 a year, but this figure may be slightly lower or slightly higher depending on several factors including where the job is located, and how much previous experience a potential candidate may have. In addition you will find that some states simply tend to pay more or less than others, which means that you may find yourself earning far less or far more than a friend in another state. In some cases your gender may play role, but the main factor is location, and this includes the employer you work for and the specific industry that you work in. Overall the salary is fairly good, making this one of the better job options for a nurse to consider. Working as an ambulatory care nurse has been known to be more lucrative than working as a regular RN.

People who do not line to be tied down to routine and the same work settings day in and day out may find that employment as an ambulatory care nurse is for them. There are a number of nursing specialties that you can focus on, each which brings with it an increase in prestige and respect that you will receive professionally speaking. However, ambulatory care nursing is one of the easier specialties to become involved in and it also provides you with many opportunities to be exposed to different working environments, thereby enhancing your skills set remarkably.

The post Facts About Being An Ambulatory Care Nurse appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

What Is A Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse?

Cardiac catheterization lab nurses:

• Have specialist knowledge related to the cardio system in the human body.

• Have intimate knowledge regarding the treatment procedures for dealing with the various ailments that can affect that system.

Consequently it is seen as one of the more advanced nursing specialties that you could choose to pursue as you move forward with your healthcare career.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The role of a cardiac cauterization nurse is a diverse one that carries with it a high degree of responsibility. Consequently this is a line of work that requires great expertise and years of training. The roles that a nurse with this specialty may perform include: providing care in a number of different settings, including Intensive Care Units, Cardiac Care Units or ICU, CCU or the Cardiac Catheterization Lab itself; ad ministering treatments necessary, including intravenous therapy when the patient needs this type of treatment (consequently earning your IV therapy certification can help you on your way to becoming a cardiac catheterization lab nurse); and following the instructions given by the patient’s doctor or physician in terms of administering medication. In addition the cardiac catheterization lab nurse is actively involved in educating the patient about his or her condition.

Employment

When looking for employment in this sector the best three places for you to start looking are in however, Cardiac Catheterization Labs of hospitals, Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and Cardiac Care Units (CCUs). There are a number of things to keep in mind in terms of employment opportunities in this sector of nursing:

• This is a fairly narrow field of nursing so you may find it a little difficult to get work.

• However, because you first must undergo general RN training before you can become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse you will be able to additionally seek employment in areas of nursing that do not require you to have a specialty of any kind.

That being said, there are many specific cardiac catheterization lab nurse jobs available at the moment.

Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse Requirements

As with all other nursing specializations you will need to have an RN license that is not limited in any way and that is current and active in order to be a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. There are also a number of legally recognized equivalents for the RN license that can be obtained in other countries. If you hold one of these you can also become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. In addition to that you will need to have worked as an RN for a period of no less than two years, you will need to have completed at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in cardiovascular nursing within the last three years, and you must have must have 30 hours of continuing education (CE) in cardiac vascular nursing within the last three years.

Personality Traits

There are three main personality traits that are of pivotal importance in anyone who would like to become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse:

• You need to be able to conduct yourself professionally at all times while remaining alert to any signs that something is not write in your patient’s health or demeanor.

• You need to be able to make decisions based on very little information simply by observing your patient.

• You will also be required to think on your feet and make life saving decisions on the spur of the moment when it is required of you.

An underlying personality trait here is ability and willingness to take control and responsibility for the well being and the lives of the patients in your care and to do what is necessary to help them.

Educational Requirements

The most basic educational requirement is that you must have a high school diploma or an equivalent thereof if you want to eventually become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. This is because a high school diploma is necessary for entry into a training program. The training programs that you should focus on are those that will allow you to become an RN. These are usually degree programs that can take two to four years to complete. Comprehensive programs will include courses in anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, genetics, biochemistry, nutrition, diagnostic techniques, and other basic nursing techniques. The more advanced the degree is that you choose, the better placed you will be to become certified and to find the perfect job in cardiac catheterization nursing once you have graduated as a nurse with this specialization.

Licensure

To be a cardiac catheterization lab nurse you need to have an RN license. An RN license is earned in the following way:

• You will firstly need to enroll in and complete and accredited RN training program and a school or university.

• Completing all of the course requirements will allow you to apply for licensure form your state board of nursing.

• Note that there are different application rules between states, so be sure that you know what is expected of you in your particular state before you apply.

• Once your eligibility is approved you will be able to set an exam date with Pearson VUE in order to take the NCLEX-RN examination.

• Passing this examination will allow you to become licensed through your state board; they will send you your licensed by mail.

How To Become A Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

As an RN you will need to engage in continuing education in order to maintain your RN license. This is the perfect opportunity for you to expand your knowledge in areas related to the cardio system. In addition you will be required to undergo an internship as a cardiac catheterization lab nurse so that you can gain the hands-on experience required in order to become properly certified in this line of work. The topics that you will need to focus on include the anatomy, physiology, diseases and treatments of the heart. This highly specialized knowledge simply cannot be adequately learned from a book and in clinicals and so an actual internship is required in order for you to become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse as you move forward with your nursing career.

Source An Accredited Education Program

Accredited RN training programs are an essential first step in achieving this specialization as you first need to become an RN before you can become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. Accredited programs can be found by:

• Visiting the website of your state board of nursing and viewing any lists that they may have of accredited schools; you can also make enquiries about specific schools that you are interested in.

• Speak to friends who are currently employed as RNs as they must have gone through an accredited program to be where they are today and can therefore point you in the right direction.

• The school itself will provide this information on its website, but this is not always the most reliable source of information regarding accreditation status and should therefore be double checked.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

An associate’s degree is enough to get you started on your path to becoming a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. (Note: although this degree is sufficient you may find it easier to seek employment with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing). To earn this degree compile a list of the schools in your area that meet your basic requirements and that offer an associate’s degree in nursing program. Ensure that you have a full understanding of the application procedures for each of the schools in question and apply for them accordingly. You should apply for at least three different schools as this will increase your chances of acceptance. Choose a school from among those that accept you and complete all of the necessary course requirements. Graduating from the program will earn you your associate’s degree in nursing.

Obtain Your Licensure

Your RN license is not enough in order for you to work as a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. There is, in addition, a certification that you must obtain to be registered as a professional in this regard. Here is a summary of what this entails:

• The Cardiac Credentialing International (CCI) certifies Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialists (RCIS), which is the title you will hold once you have become certified. CCI also places nurses on a registry list upon completion of the required examination. To get this certification you must have a high school diploma, provide proof that you completed an accredited nursing program, and provide proof of your work experience in a cath lab

Consequently it may take a fairly long time to gain this certification, but once you are there you will be able to reap the benefits.

Online/Distance Education Programs

There are a number of advantages to completing a program online, such as the flexibility of your schedule and the possibility of paying less in tuition fees. However you must remember that you need to complete both clinical training in your RN degree as well as internship in order to become a cardiac catheterization lab nurse. As a result it is essential that you attend an online program that is accredited and that makes provisions for you to do your hands-on training at real facilities. This is of paramount importance. Online schools with good reputations and which are either part of or affiliated to brick and mortar schools are always a better option over the more obscure online schools that you may come across when looking for somewhere through which to do your training.

Job Outlook

There are a number of reasons why the job outlook for nurses with this specialization is good:

• The advancements being made in the technology used in this line of nursing means that the specialization certification counts for more and indicates an ever increasing degree of proficiency and skill.

• Because you will also have trained as an RN before becoming a cardiac catheterization lab nurse, you will also be able to seek employment in areas of nursing not requiring a specialization.

In order to improve your career outlook further it is recommended that you complete continuing education credits that are in line with your chosen specialization in order to boost your resume and make you a more attractive candidate for nursing jobs in this particular area of the nursing industry.

Earnings

Because of the high degree of skill and training involved cardiac catheterization lab nurses are paid extremely well. In fact they are eligible to earn in the region of $90,000 a year, which is 27% higher than the overall average salary for all other jobs across the country. The actual amount that you earn may vary depending on a number of factors. For example different states tend to pay different salaries to their nurses. In addition different cities, industries, and employers within the same state may also pay different rates to cardiac catheterization lab nurses. The amount of experience that you have will affect your salary as well as the benefits that you are eligible to receive, and in most cases you will be eligible to earn more money if you have a higher degree. In some cases your gender may affect how much you earn.

This is one of the most advanced nursing specializations that you could choose to pursue as a nurse as it requires a great many years of study and experience before it can be achieved. Being a cardiac catheterization lab nurse is not for everyone. The level of commitment and self-motivation required to complete all of the necessary steps calls for a very special kind of personality. If you have what it takes, however, this is the ideal line of work for you to try to get into as the salary as well as the many other benefits you will be eligible for a extremely good.

The post Becoming A Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

What Is A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?

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

Nature Of The Work/Duties

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

Employment

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

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

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

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Requirements

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

Personality Traits

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

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

Educational Requirements

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

Licensure

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

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

How To Become A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

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

Source An Accredited Education Program

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

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

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

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

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

Obtain Your Licensure

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

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

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

Online/Distance Education Programs

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

Job Outlook

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

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

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

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

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

Earnings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post About Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Careers appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

What Is PeriAnesthesia Nursing?

PeriAnesthesia nursing essentially involves working with patients who are in the process of recovering from surgery. The primary objective of a PeriAnesthesia nurse is to ensure that patients who have adverse reactions to the anesthesia are properly cared for, and consequently they are trained to look out for specific warning signs. In addition, a PeriAnesthesia Nurse will work with a patient before they go in for surgery, and will provide them with tips regarding how to expedite their recovery once they are sent home.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The main duties of a PeriAnesthesia nurse are as follows:

• They must provide preoperative and postoperative care to patients who have undergone anesthesia
• They take patient’s medical histories
• They perform patient examinations and assessments
• They monitor vital signs
• They prepare patients for surgical anesthesia
• They explain the procedure
• They help patients relax
• They monitor patients while under anesthesia
• They report any abnormal observations to doctors
• They monitor patients as they return to a normal state to make sure there are no adverse reactions to the anesthesia

Employment

There are three main settings in which you can expect to find employment as a PeriAnesthesia nurse:

• Hospitals
• Ambulatory surgical units
• Physicians’ offices

Hospitals where surgeries are habitually performed and ambulatory surgical units are the most common places to find employment with this specialty. However, there has been a huge increase in the number of PeriAnesthesia nurses employed in physician’s offices, and this number is expected to continue growing.

PeriAnesthesia Nursing Requirements

These are the requirements for becoming a PeriAnesthesia nurse:

• To begin with you will need to earn a Nursing Diploma, an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.

• During this program you should take courses specifically in anesthesia-related care (some courses may have a PeriAnesthesia concentration that you can choose).

• Then you will have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) that will allow you to hold a registered nurse license.

• Next you should receive at least 1,800 hours of experience in PeriAnesthesia before applying to take your certification exam through the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing.

• Finally you will need to pass the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse exam (CPAN) OR the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse exam (CAPA) so that you can be a Certified Perianesthesia Nurse.

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality traits which are beneficial for all nurses to possess. However, in order to be a PeriAnesthesia nurse there are a few traits that can be more useful than others. For example, it is very important that you have social perceptiveness. This simply involves being aware of the reactions of other people (including patients as well as the doctors and other health care professionals who you will work with on a daily basis) as well as possessing a clear understanding of why people react in the ways that they do. In addition, in order to ensure that you fully comprehend the effect that anesthesia has had on your patient, you will need to engage in active listening. This involves giving the patient your full attention when they report on how they feel, taking the time needed to fully understand all of the points that your patient is making regarding his or her condition, asking questions when it is appropriate to do so, and not interrupting the patient. One of the key nursing skills that you will need to possess is communication, in that you will need to be able to effectively communicate the course of action to your patient, as well as to effectively communicate information regarding your patient’s condition to a doctor.

Educational Requirements

To become a PeriAnesthesia nurse, you need to meet certain educational requirements. To begin with, you need to complete an RN training program which will allow you to become a non-specialized nurse. Your primary options here are to complete a diploma, an associate degree, or a bachelor degree program. These programs will consist of both theory knowledge as well as intense hands-on experience. Once you have completed your accredited program, you will sit the NCLEX-RN examination. After that, you will sit the necessary certification examinations to become a certified PeriAnesthesia nurse. Regular continuing education is required in order to maintain your license and certification, as well as to keep up to date with advancements in the field.

Licensure

In order to be a PeriAnesthesia nurse you will need to first earn an RN license. Entering an RN training program requires you to have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. You also usually need to be 18 years of age or older (although some states only require you to be 17, while others require you to be 19 before you can enter a program of this kind). Ascertaining that the program is accredited is essential before enrolling. The program that you attend must include both a theory aspect as well as clinical hands-on training. Hands-on training is a prerequisite before you will be allowed to sit the NCLEX-RN licensing examinations. The theory work that you will learn in the classroom-based scenarios during your training program will be the work that is assessed on the licensing examination. Once you have completed the training program, you can apply for licensure from your state board of nursing. Before actually registering to take the examination you will need to receive confirmation from the board that you are indeed eligible to become licensed. Once you have received this, you can set an exam date through Pearson VUE, the examining body, and complete the computer-based assessment. There are revision textbooks and study guides that you can buy to prepare for this, as well as a number of very useful online resources that you could make use of. Passing the exam will mean that you are licensed, which your State Board of Nursing will confirm in the months following your test. Depending on the rules of your particular state, you will also be required to renew your license at specified intervals.

How To Become A PeriAnesthesia Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

In some cases, there may not be specific PeriAnesthesia programs for you to focus on at the school of your choice. In that case, there are a number of related majors that you could take instead. The top five majors that will be helpful in becoming a PeriAnesthesia nurse are:

• Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
• Clinical Nurse Leader
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Critical Care Nursing
• Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing

Source An Accredited Education Program

http://www.mymajors.com provides a long and comprehensive list of schools that you could attend if you plan to become a PeriAnesthesia nurse. However, it is extremely important that the school you eventually choose is actually accredited appropriately. If it is not accredited you will be wasting your time and your money as your qualification will not be recognized by most employers. Your State Board of Nursing will be able to provide you with information regarding whether or not a school is properly accredited.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

An associate’s degree in nursing is a good way to begin your career as a nurse. Although there are other, more advanced, degree options available, an associate’s degree is all you need to become an RN, following which it is easy to become a PeriAnesthesia nurse. The steps involved are as follows:

• Begin by compiling a comprehensive list of the educational institutes offering associate’s degrees in nursing in your state or city
• Create a short list of the options that best suit your needs
• Apply for a minimum of three schools in order to increase your chances
• Make sure that you adhere to the specific application procedures of each individual school
• Choose your favorite option from among those schools that accept you
• Graduating from the program earns you your associate’s degree

Obtain Your Licensure

Technically speaking, the only license that you need for this specialty is your RN license. However, it is also required that you become certified as a PeriAnesthesia nurse before you will be allowed to practice as one. To do this, you will have to earn either the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) qualification, or the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) qualification through the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification (ABPANC). Both of these qualifications are properly accredited. Both exams consist of 165 questions. However, only 140 of those questions will actually be graded and count towards your final score, as the other 25 are simply being tested for suitability for inclusion in a test. You will not know which questions are graded and which are not. Sylvan Prometrics administers the tests online and you will need a score of 450 to pass. Exam fees are $285 for ASPAN members or $385 for nonmembers.

There are a number of requirements that you will need to meet to become certified. The main requirement is that you have 1,800 hours of direct experience as a registered nurse in PeriAnesthesia during the two years prior to application. This could be completed in the form of:

• Direct care
• Bedside interaction with patients or with their families

Your certification must be renewed every three years. To do this you must:

• Retake the relevant exam, or
• Participate in ABPANC’s continual learning program, and
• Have a minimum of 1,200 hours of PeriAnesthesia nursing practice

Online/Distance Education Programs

Although online or distance education may seem attractive due to its flexibility and low cost, it is important to remember that nursing is a very hands-on discipline and it is therefore essential that you engage in hands-on training. This cannot be offered online or through distance education, so you will need to make your own provisions to meet this requirement.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this line of nursing is excellent. In relation to other industries, the medical industry, specifically nursing, is growing at a far faster rate in terms of the number of jobs that are becoming available. For example, we expect to see an increase of 48% in the number of jobs available for PeriAnesthesia nurses in physician’s offices between the years 2008 and 2018. This is a significant increase in job opportunities and serves as a sign to prospective students in this discipline that the industry is doing well. In addition, advanced technology means that more and more ailments and illnesses can be treated surgically. This in turn means that there has been, and will continue to be, a significant increase in the demand for PeriAnesthesia nurses.

Earnings

Although salaries for PeriAnesthesia nurses can differ significantly based, for example, on the state that you work in, the following figures are a useful guide for determining how much you may be eligible to earn once you have become certified in this specialty (numbers taken from http://anesthesiologysalary.com/1/1/salary/Perianesthesia-Nurse-Salary):

Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Pay Statistics

• Average Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $38,080 – $57,120
• Starting Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $31,360 – $47,040
• Top Yearly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $44,800 – $67,200

Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Pay Statistics

• Average Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $3,173 – $4,760
• Starting Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $2,613 – $3,920
• Top Monthly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $3,733 – $5,600

Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Pay Statistics

• Average Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $17 – $26
• Starting Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $14 – $21
• Top Hourly Perianesthesia Nurse Salary = $20 – $30

The employment and salary opportunities inherent in becoming a PeriAnesthesia nurse make this career path a very attractive one indeed for most prospective nurses to pursue. There is a high degree of patient interaction involved in this line of work, which means that it is important that you meet the personality requirements for success in this job.

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What Is A School Nurse Practitioner?

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

Nature Of The Work/Duties

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Employment

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

School Nurse Practitioner Requirements

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

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

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

Personality Traits

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

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

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

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

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

• You must be able to supervise others

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

Educational Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

Licensure

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

How To Become A School Nurse Practitioner

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

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

Source An Accredited Education Program

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

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

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

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

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

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

Obtain Your Licensure

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

Online/Distance Education Programs

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

Job Outlook

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

Earnings

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

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

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

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

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

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Travel nursing is one of the fastest-growing trends in nursing in the United States and many other countries today. It is not sure whether this is because of the nursing shortage or the fact that some nurses are rather underpaid in some parts of the world. It may also just be due to the fact that the wanderlust is getting to dome individuals and the advent of travel nursing makes it easier for them to get around. Whatever the cause, it is gaining in popularity and said to do so for many years to come by the looks of it.

Many nurses say that they became travel nurses because they wanted to see more of the country and possibly even of overseas countries. According to them, travel nursing also encourages personal and professional growth as they are faced with different problems than what they normally face in a clinical or hospital situation.

What Exactly Is Travel Nursing?

Travel nursing is basically very similar to the old-fashioned “temp work” that has been done by administrative employees for many years. With the nursing shortage hitting all parts of the country and various segments of the nursing profession, managers of healthcare facilities are challenged to find personnel. This is very prevalent in the rural areas, and in areas which are rather out of the way, as they cannot attract sufficient full-time nurses and very often cannot afford to pay full-time nursing staff.

This has led to the advent of travel nursing, which essentially means that a nurse takes on an assignment for a specified amount of time, very often far from her home town. These assignments are generally awarded by agencies that specialize in travel nursing. The agency generally supplies the travel nurse with travel and housing and expenses, helps with required licensing, and provides benefits and payroll services.

Travel nurse assignments can last anything from 8 to 26 weeks, but can be renewed and lengthened should the need occur and the agency and client come to an agreement on this. Most assignments last between 8-13 weeks. Sometimes an agreement is made with the agency that allows the position to be converted to a full-time position should all parties agree on this.

Reasons To Consider Becoming A Travel Nurse

There are various reasons why one should consider doing travel nursing, and according to those that have done it and the experts, here are some of them:

Expand Your Skills And Knowledge Base

Travel nursing makes better nurses because no matter where the assignment, as a travel nurse, you would be constantly exposed to different ways of viewing nursing practice and will inevitably acquire new knowledge and skills that will add to what you have previously learned as well as adding to your curriculum vitae.

Travel nurses have access to a variety of assignments, from those in tiny rural clinics and hospitals where there are but a few beds and where a nurse is expected to be Jill-of-all-trades, to the most modern large hospitals and urban teaching centers where you will be able to specialize in the area of nursing that most interests you.

Each of these experiences will serve to challenge you and help you to grow as a nurse, as you could be learning the latest technique in negative-pressure wound therapy at one hospital one moment and teaching it to staff nurses unfamiliar with the technique at another hospital on the next assignment. This is the type of experience and growth that you may not have the opportunity to experience should you remain in one healthcare facility for many years.

Take Control Of Your Own Career

If you feel that you are getting nowhere in the position that you currently occupy, and are stagnating with no challenges, no hope of moving up in the ranks and too many hospital politics, then it may be time for a change. Travel nursing could offer you the opportunity for a change of scenery, the chance to experience some challenges and take control of your own career by deciding what assignments you want to take.

One of the greatest factors that travel nurses enjoy is the flexibility of the job, as they can change to a different practice setting, e.g. from a hospital-nurse setting to a skilled-nursing facility, a managed-care organization, or even an ambulatory care center. You can choose to work in a slow-paced facility with more patient-contact; a larger more modern, facility where you will have access to sophisticated, high-tech monitoring equipment; home-care, where you basically deal with a single patient one-on-one; or somewhere where you will be exposed to advanced, cutting-edge procedures. This way you can tailor your assignments according to what your personal preferences and professional goals are.

Financial Benefits

In most cases, those who do travel nursing find that the pay scales are comparable to and often better than most staff nursing positions. There are also many opportunities to earn bonuses for recruiting other travel-nurses, assignment completion, working during the Christmas Holidays, etc, depending on which agency you are signed with. This easily translates into earnings of between 10% and 15% more than a staff nurse.

There are also various attractive benefits linked to travel nursing, such as medical and dental insurance coverage, and once again, depending on the agency;

• Free housing
• Travel reimbursement or a travel allowance
• 401 (k) and matching contributions
• Free or low-cost continuing-education courses
• Licensure reimbursement
• Various types of insurance such as disability, life, and professional liability

Broaden Your Children’s Horizons

If you have been worrying about the fact that you have children and what will become of them, you can stop worrying, as most travel nursing recruiters are more than willing to accommodate just about any situation. Finding suitable accommodation for travel nurses with children is no problem for them, and this means that you could take your children, and even your spouse, with you on assignments, or at least some of them. This exposes your offspring to different parts of the country, different communities and different lifestyles, which is invaluable in forming a holistic world-view.

If you prefer to not move your children around, then it is possible to request assignments with an easy commute during the school-term and take on other longer, distance assignments during the school holidays, which solves the problem of giving the children something exciting and different to do and experience during holidays and still allows you to work and be with them at the same time. This is a definite win-win situation!

Travel nursing is a wonderful way to take you out of your comfort-zone and teach you what you can do. After a few days of orientation on each assignment you will be ready to draw on the confidence that your previous learning and experience has given you and find yourself fitting in just perfectly whilst learning many new things at the same time.

Who Can Become A Travel Nurse?

Although there are some positions available for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN) to do travel nursing, the positions more often than not call for a Registered Nurse (RN), so this could be an incentive for you as an LPN/LVN to study further and get your licensure as an RN.
There are various full-time and online programs available for LPNs to study to become RNs, including some fast-track programs that only take a few months to complete.

Travel With A Friend

Many travel nurses prefer to travel with a friend so that they do not feel so lonely on their assignments, and it is a wonderful way to travel and see the country with someone who can share your experiences. Depending on the skill set that you and your friend possess, and the needs of the hospital, this can often be arranged. There are even lots of husband and wife teams that travel together.

What About Licensing?

As per law, you are required to be licensed in each state in which you work, but his is not a problem if you decide to do travel nursing, as the agency will help you with this process. The process is not that difficult or onerous for those who already have licensure in the state in which they live. Your agency representative will be able to give you all the necessary information regarding licensure in the state in which you would like to practice, and will assist you with whatever you need to do to acquire said licensure.

How To Find A Travel Nursing Agency

Before just jumping into travel nursing, it is important that you find a suitable agency, and there are some important factors that you should keep in mind when doing your research. Remember the reasons that you decided to do travel nursing, and make sure that the agency with which you sign up can provide and meet all those reasons. One of the easiest ways to find a good travel agency is to go to the travel nursing website, where you will find a list of agencies. Click on one of the banners to go directly to that agency’s website, where you can find out more and get all your questions answered.

Make a list of your expectations, what you want from travel nursing, and what your priorities are, and then find the agency that can offer most, if not all, of them. Your list should include some of the following:

• Excellent pay rates – money is not everything, but you should be paid according to your experience.

• Free Insurance – one of the benefits should be that you get free medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage for yourself, and also for dependents, should you have any.

• 401K with employer contribution – some agencies will pay 100% of your 401k, but some may only pay 50%; you will need to decide what priority this takes.

• Completion Bonus – competition between the agencies is fierce, and many of them offer a completion bonus for each assignment; this can make for some nice savings.

• Direct Pay – is it important to you that your salary be deposited in your bank account via an electronic transfer, or don’t you mind getting a check which you then need to either deposit or cash yourself?

• Travel Reimbursement – some companies will reimburse fully, whilst others offer a travel allowance, which would you prefer? Also check whether they only pay for your travel to and from the assignment or will also pay for any travel you have to do during the assignment, especially if it is a ling assignment.

• Continuing Education – this is important to any nurse, and it is important for you to check whether the travel nursing agency will pay for CPR, ACLS, and PALS if required for an assignment, and whether they offer any financial assistance for other further study, including CEUs.

Travel nursing offers two main benefits that are not available to nurses who practice as full-time nurses in one facility; being able to manage your own career how you see fit, and flexibility as to when and where you work.

Travel nursing will allow you to enjoy a flexibility and freedom that is not generally associated with a staff position; it allows you to take off between assignments to visit family or friends or go on holiday, with no limits on how long you can take off. You can also leave time between assignments to explore the area in which you have just been working more fully, or so that you can visit and take in the sights on the way to your next assignment.

Travel nursing with definitely test your mettle and draw on every bit of knowledge and experience that you have, but it will also offer the chance for growth, both professionally and personally. Becoming a Travel nurse will allow you to challenge your perceptions about yourself, your capabilities and abilities, and open yourself to new experiences along the way. Travel nursing will also allow you to make many memories that you would never have had the chance to make had you stayed in one place.

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What Is An HIV Nurse?

According to http://www.discovernursing.com, “HIV Nurses are trained to provide care for patients infected with AIDS, a deadly, incurable disease that attacks a patient’s immune system. These nurses help patients cope with and manage the different emotional and physical symptoms that come with having their disease. Many HIV/AIDS Nurses work in community or public health, educating at risk groups about safe sex and the dangers of sharing needles”. As a result we can see that there are multiple aspects involved in HIV /AIDS nursing. For one thing it is clear that you have to attend to the emotional and psychological well being of your patients in addition to simply providing them with healthcare services. In addition there is quite a strong focus on prevention in the field of HIV / AIDS. This involves attempts at preventing the spread of the disease before it becomes a serious problem. This is achieved through education and other community-based methods.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

There are a number of job duties that you would be required to perform as an HIV / AIDS nurse:

• Firstly you will be directly responsible for providing healthcare to patients with HIV/Aids on a daily basis.

• In addition to merely providing care to your patients, you will also be responsible for educating patients and their families about living with HIV/Aids safely and in the most optimal way.

• HIV / AIDS treatment is generally addressed from a multidisciplinary approach, which means that you will be working closely with other healthcare professionals.

• As an HIV / AIDS nurse you will be directly responsible for monitoring a patient’s condition on a continual and ongoing basis.

• It will also be your responsibility to refer a patient to other healthcare professionals if you think that it is necessary because you are unable to assist that patient any further.

• Last, but certainly not least, you will be responsible for ensuring terminally ill patients are as comfortable as possible.

Employment

There are a number of settings in which you are likely to find an HIV / AIDS nurse working. These include Hospitals, Home Health, and Community Care Centers, Physician’s office, Outpatient care clinics and Hospices. Essentially, as an HIV / AIDS nurse you will be able to work in any setting where patients suffering from HIV or AIDS are located.

HIV Nurse Requirements

The basic requirements for being an HIV nurse are as follows:

• Firstly you have to earn a Nursing Diploma, an Associate of Science in Nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This must be done through an accredited school offering an approved program.

• Once you have earned your basic qualification you will be unable to practice as a nurse until you have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

• At this point you can start working as a registered nurse, which is highly recommended because of the experience you will develop in this way.

• Following that it is ideal that you receive two years of experience working in an HIV/AIDS related field, but this is not required.

• Next you must pass your AIDS Certified Registered Nurse exam (ACRN) in ordered to become an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN).

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality traits that may be specifically useful when working with HIV / AIDS patients:

As an HIV / AIDS Nurse you need to be able to care for the patients, while leaving your feelings at work when you go home. There are many feelings that come up as an HIV / AIDS Nurse as the job is highly intensive from an emotional perspective. As a professional you will need to be able to separate your work life from your personal life adequately. Worrying about your patients while you are at home will only increase your chances of experiencing burnout. In addition you will find it challenging to deal with your personal problems as well.
As HIV / AIDS Nurse you must not judge the patients. Many people assume that the HIV patients knew they were exposing themselves to this disease, although this is not the case and all the patients deserve the same level of care as those who are dying from other terminal illnesses.

You will need to balance caring with a professional attitude as you show the patients compassion although not care to much to let it bother you personally.

Educational Requirements

In order to be an HIV nurse, you must be currently licensed as a registered nurse in the USA or hold an international equivalent nursing degree. This means that you need to meet the educational requirement of having completed an accredited nursing program that led to your ability to take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. In addition to this you must also have a minimum of two years experience working in a HIV related area such as research, education or clinical practice. This second dimension is only strictly speaking required if you intend to become certified as an HIV nurse. It is highly recommended that you do so as this will greatly improve your employment opportunities. The AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) examination is sanctioned by the Association of Nurses in Aids Care (ANAC) and the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB). Certification is voluntary but highly valued and provides recognition of expertise in the area of HIV and AIDS. It also proves that the HIV/AIDS nurse has shown commitment and dedication to his/her career.

Licensure

To be an HIV nurse you must earn an RN license:

• Complete an RN training program through an accredited school
• Apply for licensure with your state board of nursing
• Once approved, apply to write the exam with Pearson VUE
• Pay the examination fee and set an exam date
• Study for the exam using the many resources provided online and by various nursing schools and nursing organizations
• Sit the exam
• On passing the exam your state board of nursing will send you your license which could take a few months after actually writing the test

How To Become An HIV Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

You can be an HIV nurse simply by meeting the training requirements that any RN has to go through. However you have the opportunity to advance your career in the area of HIV nursing by becoming certified in the profession. Certification can be achieved through taking the AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) examination. Preparation for this examination is offered at many schools as well as online. However your years of experience in HIV nursing will be the best form of preparation that you can possibly hope to find before taking the examination.

Source An Accredited Education Program

In order to become an HIV / AIDS nurse you need to attend an accredited training program. If the program that you attend is not accredited you will essentially be wasting both your time and your money as your qualification will not be taken seriously and will most probably not result in employment. Here are some schools for you to consider:

Vanderbilt University
School of Nursing
Godchaux Hall 207
461 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
615-322-3800
1-888-333-9192
http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/

University of California – San Francisco
School of Nursing
2 Koret Way, #N-511L
San Francisco, CA 94143
415-476-6702
http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/spec-anp.htm#cour

Hunter College of the City of New York
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
425 East 25th Street
New York, New York 10010
212-772-4000
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/nursing/admissions/graduate

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

There are a number of education options that you could choose in order to eventually become an HIV / AIDS nurse. One of the more popular options is to earn your associate’s degree which can be done by enrolling in any nursing school that offers the qualification. When applying, apply to at least three different schools to increase your chances. To graduate from the program you will need to meet all of the course requirements, including the theoretical and practical dimensions. When this is achieved, you will graduate with an associate’s degree that will allow you to sit the exam.

Obtain Your Licensure

The only license that is really required for this line of work is an RN license. However HIV / AIDS nurses can voluntarily seek to become certified. This involves taking an exam. IN order to qualify for the exam, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must possess a valid and current registered nurse license
• You must have a bachelor of science in nursing, associate degree in nursing or diploma in nursing
• You must have achieved a satisfactory passing score on the National Council for Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)
• You must not have any restrictions barring practice from any nursing or health regulatory board
• You must have at least two years of HIV/AIDS-related practice experience in the form of clinical practice, research, education or management

Online/Distance Education Programs

There are a number of RN programs that offer training online. However it is very important that you ensure that the program you choose to enroll in is in fact accredited. In addition there is no way to escape the compulsory hands-on training that all nurses must achieve, so if the program does not make provisions for this dimension of your education, you should consider an alternative program. Online programs are more likely to be dishonest and offer a lower level of tuition than face-to-face programs, but this is not true in all cases and studying in this way is cheaper and more convenient.

HIV Nurse Job Outlook

The outlook for the nursing profession in general is extremely good at the moment, and there is an even higher demand for nurses who specialize in specific areas, such as HIV / AIDS. This indicates that, as professions go, this one is a good option to choose as the future looks stable. Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Earnings

The average salary for an HIV / AIDS Nurse is between $49,000 and $51,000 approximately. However there are many other similar job titles that you could hold as an HIV / AIDS Nurse so it is interesting to look at what similar nurses earn:

• As a Registered Nurse II you can expect to earn in the region of $55,000 a year
• As a public health informatics / GIS specialist you can expect to earn in the region of $47,000 a year
• As a community health nurse you can expect to earn in the region of $45,000 a year
• As a public health nurse you can expect to earn in the region of $46,000 a year
• As a public health nurse III you can expect to earn in the region of $54,000 a year

There are a number of factors that can affect a nurse’s salary These include the number of years of experience you have, what certifications you have (being an ACRA can lead to higher salaries), what region of the U.S. you live in, and whether you are working in a metropolitan or rural area. Advanced practice nurses (who are trained at the master’s level) also earn significantly higher salaries on average.

There are a number of benefits to entering this profession, not least of which is the fact that you will be able to play an important role in combating a very real and severe epidemic. It is important to note that although certification as an HIV nurse is not a requirement, it is highly recommended that you seek certification of this kind as it can significantly improve your chances of being employed within your chosen specialty in the nursing profession.

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