July, 2013 | Distance Learning Systems (DLSI)

NLNAC and Accelerated BSN Courses

An accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program allows students who have already gained a degree in another subject to fast-track their way to a profession in nursing. There are currently a few approved nursing educational institutions providing accelerated BSN programs on the internet for people who want to earn their degree without giving up their job or family obligations. Most of the programs are approved by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or CCNE or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Accelerated Degree BSN program is designed for learners who already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. With this system, you could possibly finish your Nursing specifications in less time, usually in 12-20 months, based on your amount of work.

Students will likely practice Science and Nursing subjects like nutrition, nursing care, clinical problem solving, nursing and health care ethics, nursing informatics, and more. Some classes and Nursing experiences can be quite extreme, but the accelerated BSN offers an eye-catching alternative for people who are interested in getting a degree more quickly. There are several educational institutions that offer the complete accelerated BSN online, which could be a great option for working adults who need a versatile routine to accommodate their work and personal life.

Most educational institutions providing an accelerated BSN program do not need entry examinations, but do need the candidate to hold an active license and a strong educational record. Those looking for an accelerated BSN should choose a system that has been approved either by The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or NLNAC or by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Some educational institutions may reject accessibility to a master’s program if the BSN is not from a properly approved Nursing program.

Transition from Paramedic to RN

Paramedics are the front-line of any emergency healthcare scenario. Most paramedics really like their jobs due to the specific characteristics. A paramedic’s job is very exciting and satisfying. However, there are some who want a more constant job with greater wage. Since they want to remain in the healthcare industry, most paramedics go on to become nurses. They take paramedic to RN bridge programs to help them in their career shift.

Paramedics are the first on the scene where vehicle injuries or any catastrophe occur. They are well qualified, effectively prepared with the skills and information on how to cope with every rescue scenario. Most of them are positioned in ambulances and medical centers. They have a complete healthcare kit for any medical emergency scenario. Their primary job is to transport and offer pre-hospital health care to accident victims.

The conversion from paramedic to RN does not have to be a complex one, but becoming an RN does require some time, even for someone with previous healthcare experience. After finishing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program, which can take two to four years, you will need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). This examination needs several weeks of learning and review. You will not become a registered nurse without passing the NCLEX-RN.

A paramedic may ask for advanced positioning in the Associate Degree Nursing Program. The program requires students to take the NCLEX-RN examination for state licensure to practice as a nurse. Graduate students have the foundation to continue their education at baccalaureate granting schools. Getting the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing would be a better choice for paramedics who have time in learning and who are looking forward to more career possibilities as an RN. Paramedic to RN programs will help paramedics in that career shift.

Passing the College Level Examination Program

As the economy tightens up everyone’s straps, it becomes more important for you to find a way to get noticed, head and shoulders, above your competitors in the job market. For some individuals, this means putting on a snappy outfit, practicing their smile and handshake, or writing the perfect resume. You know that when it comes to getting the job you really want, it’s about the quality you bring to the company as an employee and an individual. Education is the best, most comprehensive direction to developing the skills for which companies are searching. Getting ready for your academic and working future begins as early as high school, with AP or advanced placement tests offered by schools for college credit.

High School Students can take AP exams to speed up their graduation from high school. The trouble is, they are difficult. What is the solution to this problem? Research and take AP practice tests! There are a lot of sources where you can take AP practice tests for free. If you plan to get a passing grade on your AP test, you absolutely have to take AP practice tests to find where your strong and weak points are, and know what to review.

Speaking of getting college credit quick and simple, there is a little known benefit you can get in college that will save your funds and accelerate your graduation: CLEP exams. Known as the College Level Examination Program, CLEP exams are for particular credits at colleges and universities. By taking specific CLEP exams, you are offered credits to the programs those exams cover. Basically, you are revealing, “I know all these things already. I do not need to take the course, and here is the evidence. Just give me the course credits so I can proceed!”. Unfortunately, CLEPs are quite hard. After all, each one includes an entire term of excessive college-level study. That’s why, as with AP assessments; you should take College Level Examination Program practice exams before you ever take an actual CLEP. Practice test options are offered on the Internet as well as at review facilities, and at local book stores. It’s simple to research for a CLEP examination if you simply keep an eye out.

Students in the Military and Credit by Exam

The recent Federal Fund Sequester has resulted in price range deductions across many government-run programs. And for a while, it was threatening college tuition assistance for active military members and veterans. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Early in April, both the Army and Marine Corps revoked their Tuition Assistance (TA) programs, preventing active-duty military employees from submitting new requests for assistance. The Air Force then followed suit, suspending their own assistance. The Navy considered the revocation, but has not as of yet acted.

2. Only two weeks later, Congress elected to require military branches to provide college tuition assistance to all active-duty employees, thus preserving the system for those serving in the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marine Corps. The restoration of Tuition Assistance for active-duty members is a sign of the military’s commitment to education and improving minds among their ranks.

3. While both houses of Congress decided to reinstate Tuition Assistance across the board, no funds have been set aside to back up the move, so the three military branches that initially revoked assistance will have to figure out ways to implement sequestration price range deductions without touching Tuition Assistance.

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), an organization dedicated to supporting military and veteran education, never stopped funding DSST examinations as an alternative to generate college credit. Their program remained a choice for soldiers looking for education cost assistance and quickly receive a degree.

Students in the military, as well as their partners, have the choice to generate credits up to 38 subjects through the DSST credit by exam program. And because this college credit opportunity is conveniently located at more than 500 military installations across the nation, thousands of military employees have already experienced the power of DSST tests. Over 1,900 higher-education institutions grant higher education credit to those who take and pass their credit by exam programs, helping to drive those who fight for our nation toward their degree, learning and career goals.

The Buzz on the BSN Degree

As a devoted professional nursing expert, possibly with several years (or maybe decades) of bedside experience under your belt, you are assured about your abilities, you love nursing, and you know you make a positive impact in patients’ lives. You might be aware of a far away rumbling within the market regarding the push for nursing staff to get a BSN degree and perhaps you have even observed it’s getting noisier at, or nearer to, the facility at which you work. It’s true that nursing staff with an associate degree often do the same job as those having a BSN. They successfully pass the same NCLEX examination, hold the same certificate and often start at the same basic wage as a BSN degree nursing expert.

So it’s no wonder why knowledgeable ASN nursing staff can have powerful emotions about the push for more nursing education. Anger is a big one, because the push could be considered as a question of a nurse’s abilities and capability. Worry is another one; concern with going back to school, composing documents and using computer program and often there happens to be concern with the “better-than-thou” conduct that was frequent in older-generation teachers. There are other issues, too, like effective time management, cost and family responsibilities.

But good things can come out of the push, too. Going back to school can provide a nursing expert with great feeling of personal success. It can help set an amazing example for your kids. Earning a RN-to-BSN degree can also open gates to special offers, higher incomes and greater regard from other nursing experts. One thing that is certain is that the changes going on in medical care will gradually impact your practice. What exactly is not as certain is how or when. Therefore, it may be sensible for you to consider going back to school for a BSN degree.

Difference Between NLNAC and CCNE

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) are two of the most identified accrediting organizations in the country. They often identify qualifications for college student aid or career practicality. Economic aid organizations simply will not finance non-accredited nursing programs, and healthcare companies are not comfortable choosing graduates from non-accredited nursing educational institutions. To make sure nurses can find sufficient educational funding and secure a job, both the CCNE and NLNAC encourage tight specifications in a wide range of qualified programs. CCNE vs. NLNAC certification varies in the sense that the CCNE does not accredit LPN, Diploma, or ADN programs, while the NLNAC does.

All baccalaureate, graduate and residence nursing programs working under CCNE certification do so according to nationally identified specifications. Medical certification, diploma and professional degree programs working under NLNAC certification do so using the same specifications. Contribution in both is completely non-reflex. The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission is a supplement of the NLN and is accountable for all activities related to the certification of nursing programs. The NLNAC is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The NLN provides the Total Assessment Program (TAP) for NCLEX Success, an extensive testing services program for healthcare professional teachers, learners, and experts. TAP is a complete planning program to evaluate clients’ capabilities and accomplishments at the end of a nursing program, prior to entrance. The TAP program includes Pre-Admission Examinations, Achievement Examinations such as Practice Assessments and Remediation, Pre-NCLEX Preparedness Examinations, Live Review and Question Review Bank (QRB).

Most nursing programs seek CCNE certification because it performs a critical role in the educational funding and career process. But this position is more than just a name. To maintain an approved position, nursing programs must adhere to a number of guidelines. And in an effort to make sure nursing programs adhere to those guidelines, the CCNE functions within a dedication to not only function within a set of particular objectives, but also expect specified results.

What You Can Save From CLEP Exams

College Level Examination Program, or CLEP exams, are academic exams developed by the College Board, creators of the SAT. Generally, CLEP exams are 90 minutes long and include multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, apart from the English Composition with Essay examination. The current fee for a CLEP examination is $65, which is a small price to pay considering the cost of college tuition these days. If you take two science programs, you can save roughly $1,200 in college tuition costs and about $150 in books! Basically, CLEP exams generally adhere to the content provided in entry-level college classes. A CLEP examination may be based on a single term course, a two-semester course, or even a two-year course (foreign ‘languages’, etc.). Based on your college (or upcoming college), you may be provided three, six, or even 12 hours of credit for each CLEP examination.

Nearly 3,000 organizations agree to CLEP exams for school credit. Although the American Council on Education suggests lowest ratings for giving credit, it is the organizations themselves that eventually figure out the lowest ranking for credit to be provided, as well as the amount of credit ranking provided for each CLEP examination.

CLEP Examinations are currently available for the following subjects:

Business
Foreign Languages
Composition
Literature
History
Social Sciences
Science
Math

Schools, colleges and universities differ in their treatment of CLEP examinations. Review your college’s CLEP policies to find out what examinations you may take, the ratings you must get and any appropriate deadlines/requirements. Remember that some institutions offer substitute credit for life experience without taking a CLEP examination. For example, if you are an entrepreneur, you may be able to get management and accounting credit, depending on your business. If you are a recruiting manager, you might be able to get substitute portfolio credit as well. It will differ by business. Sometimes, you may just be granted optional credit for substitute learning, but either way, you are not wasting time and money!

Nurses Do Care

Almost on a regular basis, tabloids and media have some negative opinion or statement to make about the terrible state of the National Health Service (NHS) and the unsatisfactory care that sufferers receive at the arms of NHS nurses. There is no getting out of the fact that there has been a regular flow of released negative reviews, and neglectful treatment some sufferers have received at the hands of nurses. However, to brand all nurses as uncaring is unfair and totally unjustified. While it would be wrong, and indeed naive, to neglect the results from the reviews and public inquiry, there is a need for balance and moderation; the nursing career has taken a beating, many nurses are feeling frustrated and weary by the continuous and persistent onslaught of criticisms and negative thoughts. The image and assurance of nursing and nurses has been mashed and is at an all time low.

Not everything is bad; on the contrary there is proof that shows that nurses do give proper care, and that the community does have confidence in most nurses. The National summary of the results for the 2012 Inpatients survey provides valuable proof that counteracts the negative thoughts offering a more beneficial and genuine impression:

“80% of participants revealed that, overall; they were ‘always’ handled with regard and pride while they were in the hospital, up from 79% [last] year. There was a corresponding loss of the percentage who said this was ‘sometimes’ the case from 18% this year to 17% this year. 3% said they did not feel they were handled with regard and pride.”

Despite recent critique, the proof indicates that many nurses do care and are caring. Therefore, nurses need to remain positive, identifying and enjoying the beneficial participation that they make to individuals’ lives. There is nothing basic about what nurses do! Nursing needs nurses, individuals owning the essential knowledge, behavior and skills to protect the fundamentals of nursing. Nurses need to be allowed to care. There needs to be a renovation and removal of the needless paperwork that stifles nurses avoiding them from looking after and being with sufferers. This is one the fundamentals of nursing.