 NewsUSA) – The United States doesn’t have enough nurses, and the nursing shortage will only get worse. Due to new health care legislation, an estimated 32 million Americans will enter the health care system by 2014 — according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the national nursing shortage will increase 29 percent by 2020.
Many Americans want to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) but are turned away. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, schools turned down more than 54,000 qualified applications to professional nursing programs in 2009. The reason? Program capacity is too low due to a lack of nurse educators. But some nurses are advancing their training through self-paced, online education programs like those offered through The College Network and its partner institutions. Online programs provide nurses with the ability to earn a valuable BSN while continuing to work full time in their current nursing job, gaining valuable hands-on experience while also providing for their families. Advantages of online BSN programs include: 1. Self-paced education. Those with significant work experience might be out of practice when it comes to studying in a traditional school environment. Companies like The College Network ease the transition by allowing adult learners to take their time or move more rapidly through their courses than would be possible in a classroom setting. 2. Ability to work and study simultaneously. Students can take courses and study on their own timeline. Without needing to take off work, drive to campus and sit in a classroom each week, students can earn their degree while working full time and keeping family commitments. 3. No waiting lists. A nurse who wants to earn a degree at a traditional college is often placed on a waiting list until a spot becomes available. In the two to three years it can take to get to the top of a waiting list to start a program, that student could have completed the entire program from an online education provider. To learn more about The College Network’s programs for nurses, visit www.collegenetwork.com/nursingPR. |
Online Education Puts Nurses on the Right Track
Nurses Find Three Advantages in Online Education
The United States doesn’t have enough nurses, and the nursing shortage will only get worse. Due to new health care legislation, an estimated 32 million Americans will enter the health care system by 2014 – according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the national nursing shortage will increase 29 percent by 2020.
Many Americans want to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) but are turned away. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, schools turned down more than 54,000 qualified applications to professional nursing programs in 2009. The reason? Program capacity is too low due to a lack of nurse educators.
Families Protect Loved Ones in Old Age
 NewsUSA) – Your aging mother can no longer drive and forgets to turn off the stove. It’s no longer safe for her to live on her own, but taking her into your home simply isn’t realistic.
For the many Americans who find themselves in the described situation, nursing homes provide the best option for elder care. Forty-three percent of Americans over the age of 65 will spend part of their life in a nursing home, according to the The United States Government Accountability Office. As the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that, by 2050, the population of Americans aged 65 and older will reach 89 million, it’s safe to assume that the demand for high-quality elder care will only increase. Unfortunately, many nursing homes and adult family homes are overburdened, leading to a lower quality of care. Cases of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes often pop up in the media. In Tacoma, Washington, adult family home resident Nadra McSherry died in pain when her caretakers did not tell her family, doctor or nurse that McSherry had developed an infected bedsore. Bedsores are often a sign that a facility does not have enough staff to meet the number of patients, as preventing them involves moving patients every few hours, something that overwhelmed caretakers may struggle to accomplish. McSherry’s family sued the adult family home, Narrows View Manor, as well as the Department of Social and Health Services, which allowed the home to remain open despite numerous past health violations. “Stories like Nadra McSherry are all too familiar,” says Hagens Berman’s Tony Shapiro, the lead attorney. “It’s up to the families to take action and protect their mom or dad.” McSherry’s family settled last year for $565,000. Despite McSherry’s death and a long record of other violations, the state has not revoked the adult family home’s license. It remains in business. Families searching for elder care can check the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Nursing Home Compare ratings, which evaluate homes based on a five-star system. But the ratings aren’t always reliable — families have to monitor the situation to make sure their loved ones’ needs are being met. If a loved one shows signs of abuse, like unexplained injuries, dramatic weight loss or fear of the staff, families need to take action. “If you suspect abuse, check online resources for help or consult an attorney,” says Shapiro. |
