Nursing School Network

Nursing is a full fledged career and there are students who want to go to the maximum heights. There are numerous options available to pursue

higher education. Students can opt for diplomas, certification courses, short courses and degrees. However, the truth remains that degree courses are much more helpful for a student to pursue a proper nursing career. Right after a Bachelor of Nursing

Degree, students can go for a MSN degree (Master of Science in Nursing). It is probably the best way for students to make sure their time spent on education is well rewarded.

Unfortunately, many students face financial constraints which restrain them from opting for higher studies. Luckily, students who are passionate about pursuing a MSN degree have some reliable scholarship opportunities to go for. An MSN degree makes the student capable of working as advanced practice nurses.

Here are some of the best scholarship options students can go for:

NEF (Nurses Educational Fund):

If you are registered nurse with a BSN degree, you can qualify for the Nurses Educational Fund. There are numerous scholarships offered by NEF annually, and students who maintain a GPA higher than 3.6 are eligible for them. Moreover, students are not required to be full-time students. Even students registered for online degree can opt for these scholarships.

NHSC (National Health Service Corps):

Being a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, the NHSC offers numerous scholarships and grants to students who are looking to pursue higher education in nursing. The two most popular financial aids offered by NHSC require students to sign a contract to work in an undeserved place after the degree is completed. Financial aids from NHSC provide students with financial assistance to manage their living and educational expenses.

Other institutes:

Many other institutes offer scholarships to students who are willing to pursue higher education in a specialized field. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses spends $15,000 each year to fund students who are willing to pursue a career in the critical care field. Similarly, The American Cancer Society each year offers a number of scholarships to registered nurses. These scholarships, however, are restricted to students who are willing to go ahead with advanced practices in oncology. Two other notable associations which promote students are Dimes and The National Association of Neonatal. Both of these offer numerous scholarships to students each year.

The recession may have affected the nursing shortage — more nurses currently working have decided to continue working rather than retire, or have increased their hours from part time to full time, causing fewer openings for nurses — but it will return quickly once the nation’s economy recovers.

And one of the challenges facing nursing schools and programs as they work to train new nurses in a critical shortage of nursing school faculty and facilities to train nursing students.

The Associated Press in October reported on a gathering of nursing education leaders in Portland, Oregon who met to see if they could “find ways to boost the number of faculty in nursing programs.”

One idea they discussed involved what the article called the “Oregon model,” which “blends the curriculum and faculty of community colleges and universities to give nursing students in two-year associate degree programs a chance to earn bachelor’s degrees.”

This will help with the nursing faculty shortage because the “more nurses with bachelor’s, the greater the number expected to go onto advanced degrees and teaching,” according to the article.

This would be especially helpful in bringing younger nurses into faculty positions since most nursing faculty are nearing age 60 — and retirement.

The nursing shortage could mean 50 percent fewer nurses than are needed in Oregon by 2020 (this is compared to a 29 percent shortage nationwide), the article continued.

Yet another problem facing the need to beef up the number of nursing faculty is the issue of faculty salaries — nurses with advanced degrees and years of experience can make considerably more money as a working nurse (working in what nursing experts call the “practice arena”) rather than as a faculty member in a nursing school or program.

As UC Davis prepares to launch a new nursing school under is already well known “School of Medicine”, it already has something to celebrate. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing has finalized two research grants worth a total of almost $900,000. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that they are going to be using the money to conduct research aimed at improving patient health as well as nursing standards. Once such project already underway sends nurses to rural area that are medically under served to coach diabetics on the importance of keeping in good health.

The two grants come from the National institutes of health and the Robert Wood Johnson Organization. Heather Young is from the National institues of health; “It’s important for people with diabetes to eat the right foods and exercise, yet it’s difficult to change old habits,” Young said in a press release. ”Nurses can work with patients to improve their daily habits and avoid serious health issues.”

One of the unique aspects of this research is it allows the nursing school to study the impact of nursing student have an impact on the community’s health in the pre-hospital setting. The nursing school feels that this research supports the overall mission of the school by advancing health and quality of care.

UDC’s Nursing school will hold its first class in September 2010. For more information on choosing a nursing school visit our online nursing schools directory.

If you’ve decided to pursue a nursing career — and if so, good for you! — you’ll have plenty of nursing programs from which to choose. You’ll be attending your nursing training for 2-4 years, depending on what type of nursing school you choose. If you’re eager to get

nursing schools and programs

on the hospital floor quickly, a two- to three-year associate of science in nursing (ASN) degree will be right for you, as will attendance at one of the many nursing programs hospitals offer.

You also may earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. These take four years, but you’ll need a bachelor’s degree if you want to pursue a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing, or if you ever wish to go for certification as a nurse practitioner.

You’ll also need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also known as the NCLEX-RN, in your state. You’ll then receive the RN designation.

Perhaps the most critical thing you should look for in a nursing school is to make sure it’s accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The NLNAC accredits all level of nursing programs (ASN, hospital diploma, BSN, MSN, etc.). If you’re looking for nursing programs at just the bachelor‘s or master‘s level, check to see if the nursing school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Why is it important to attend an accredited nursing school? Nursing programs must pass a stringent set of requirements by accrediting bodies. Attending an accredited school means your education has been deemed by educational nursing leaders that  your nursing school will give you a satisfactory education, one which will prepare you to sit and pass the NCLEX-RN.

Attending an accredited nursing school also means you’ll be able to apply for funds and financial aid programs available from the federal government and your state. A career as nurse can be very lucrative — salaries tend to run from $45,000 to $60,000 and up — but your education will not be inexpensive. Being eligible for these federal loan and grant programs is another important reason for you to make sure the nursing school of your choice is accredited.