Category: Nursing Education

Memorization Guidelines: Anatomy & Physiology

We all know the basic parts of our body, but we are not yet familiar to the internal parts of our system. There is no easy way to study the mind-blowing anatomy and physiology subject. This is a subject that will flood your brain with significant information. It also requires familiarization of every detail of the important parts of the body.There are some great ideas and techniques that can make your anatomy & physiology  learning process easier.

There are some great ideas and techniques that can make your anatomy & physiology  learning process easier. The first and basic way to familiarize the anatomy and physiology is to divide the concepts. Read and understand each vital system separately:

  • Nervous system
  • Cardiovascular system
  • Respiratory system
  • Endocrine System
  • Urinary system
  • Reproductive system
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Integumentary system

The second way to understand the anatomy & physiology is by using simple images. According to study, Images frequently have all useful information when it comes to anatomy. If you find it hard to recall all of the body parts, review the  images instead of reading it. These pictures makes the subject much more understandable.

Making of own or medical approved mnemonics, acronyms and abbreviation can be helpful too. It will allow you to memorize the concepts easily. Sample Mnemonics, acronyms:

“Please Don’t Call The Angry Groom So Leave”: or PDCTAGSL:

  • Pampiniform plexus
  • Ductus deferens
  • Cremasteric artery
  • Testicular artery
  • Artery of the ductus deferens
  • Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve
  • Sympathetic nerve fibers
  • Lymphatic vessels

Difference Between RN and BSN

A lot of us still don’t know the difference between an RN and a BSN. They just simply identify them as a nurse assisting doctors in the hospitals. But in reality, a nurse will never be just a plain nurse. There are a lot of types of nurses such as, a licensed practical nurse, a nurse practitioner, a licensed registered nurse.  All of them are called nurses, but they have specific roles and functions. What is the difference between a registered nurse and a bachelor of science in nursing degree holder?

Registered nurse is a job title; they have certifications and license to prove that they undergo several intense medical training. A BSN is just a degree. It is what you get when you finish your nursing education program. But before you can achieve the title of a registered nurse, you have to take the licensure exam called NCLEX, and you need a BSN degree before taking it. You should finish the 4-year nursing program to finish the degree.  When it comes to working, registered nurses performs their typical duties, such as recording patient diagnosis,  educate patients about their home treatment, assist surgical procedures and the most important duty of a nurse is to promote life.

BSN degree holders can also work too with great but limited opportunities.  They may want to work as a public health nurse in the community or a nurse educator who teaches about promoting health. In terms of salary, Registered nurses receive a higher salary compared to BSN degree holders since they do intense and critical work. They deserve it because it’s not easy dealing with terminally ill patients, staying with them 24/7. There is a big difference when it comes to their roles and salary. Completing the BSN program is just the key for you to become a registered nurse.  Always remember, hospitals hire more competent RNs.

ASN and BSN Nursing Degrees

ASNRegistered Nurses deliver various treatments, care, counseling, and health information to patients. They’re educated, trained and certified in a multitude of abilities and areas; however, they don’t come from the same educational nursing path.

You will find 3 primary methods to get your Registered Nurse license. You can get it via diploma, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree programs. It’s highly suggested to obtain your RN through the associate’s or bachelor in nursing degree path because of the tighter competition in the nursing field nowadays. Employers prefer nurses with degrees rather than diplomas.

If your goal is to become a registered nurse you can either take an ASN or a BSN degree.  An ASN degree can be completed in less than two years while a BSN degree may require 4 years or more. If you took the diploma path, you must take another course to be able to qualify for the NCLEX.

The ASN graduate can work early since it takes 1 to 2 years earlier than BSN to be completed. Both the ASN and the BSN may start in the same position once they get a job. The difference between the ASN and the BSN path is that the BSN has more advantages in terms of career opportunities after graduation and getting the license. Once the BSN licensed nurse gets in position, he will enjoy a bigger salary as compared to the ASN licensed nurse.

You’ll hear lots of people say that there’s no difference between the two in terms of opportunities. However, the upgrade and advancement in the healthcare system require registered nurses to have the more complicated skills which are already learned by BSN licensed nurses. If you want to finish a year sooner, or maybe save on the tuition you may prefer the ASN course.  However, if you have the chance to obtain the BSN now, then it will be a much better option for you.

RN Classes Requirements

RN classesOne of the ultimate goals of a nurse is to get a license to become a registered nurse. There are many RN classes you must take and finish to get the opportunity to take the NCLEX.  RN courses are most frequently drawn in associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. While both kinds of programs prepare students to accept National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and obtain licenses to work as RNs, bachelor’s programs can lead to additional career possibilities in teaching, research and management. Some bachelor’s programs, particularly those offered online, have Registered Nursing licensure like prerequisite prior to enrollment.

RN hopefuls are required by some nursing courses. These RN classes may include anatomy and physiology, psychology and microbiology which are basic and must be fully understood by the students. An initial nursing course provides an introduction to patient care techniques which introduce students to the methods and approaches required to deal properly with patients. Students then learn how to perform health checks, provide medicines, supply patients with health and wellness advice, and supervise other medical professionals. Nursing students also gain hands-on clinical experience in the fundamental, intermediate and advanced levels in their program.

The following is the list of examples of classes students frequently encounter in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program in nursing.

Medical-Surgical Nursing Course
This course provides a broad study of nursing practice which is focused on adult patients. The training covers the management of disorders in most major systems of the body including respiratory system, nerve, bone and joint and kidney disorders. Students also learn methods for taking care of patients going through surgery.

Mental Health Nursing Course
Patients with psychological disorders or mental illness require unique nursing care. Students within this course learn how to identify issues in mental health and develop both medicinal and psychotherapeutic treatment plans.

Health Promotion Course
A registered nurse role doesn’t just deal with patients but additionally, they are also required to promote wellness through healthy living. They will be providing info on diet and disease prevention that registered nurses can pass on to patients and also to groups of patients.

Nursing Pharmacology Course
Pharmacology courses acquaint nursing students about drugs and medicines that they’ll encounter throughout their profession. Students find out about drug classifications and effects, in addition to techniques in administration.

Once you finish the RN classes and the program requirements, you will be ready to take the NCLEX, get your license and start working as a registered nurse.

Tutoring on Distance Education

Distance education nowadays is an important learning method to reach students in distant locations and to remove geographical and cultural barriers. It offers education in online classrooms and set schedules that will meet the needs of its students who are busy with their work or career. The teacher will be behind the program, communicating with his students through programs and applications and provide lectures, assignments and activities.

Though learning is much easier since the internet provides a lot of references and learning materials, it may also need the help of a tutor. The problem with distance learning is that it lacks motivation for students to study, work on their activities or join group discussions. This is because they are just online and may lead them to do other things than going to their classes. In this case, tutor support is vital. Teachers must be able to help motivate, remind, guide and help students. They must be available to tutor students with the topics that can be hard to learn without actual explanation.

Distance education also requires alterations in behavior of the teacher and also the student. The effective student evolves persistence and self-motivation. The effective distance education teacher becomes fluent with new technology and evolves new training styles to effectively help students. Today, using the most advanced technology and also the effective multimedia interactions between instructors and students, information is easily transmitted. Efficient tutor support in distance learning is basically determined by how quickly a distance education instructor can learn new technology, devise new teaching techniques and manage student expectations.

By being passionate with the job, any instructor can be the best tutor support in distance learning courses. They must bring enthusiasm, promote involvement and curiosity and develop student’s skills and learning. Distance education can be as good or surpass the quality of classroom learning by providing enough, sufficient and effective tutoring support to students.

Sociology in Nursing and Sociology of Nursing

The relation between sociology and nursing covers a couple of important aspects which help nurses integrate key sociological theories to their practice. Probably the most important topics you need to understand when relating sociology to nursing is the difference between “sociology in nursing” and “sociology of nursing”.  If you are already able to understand the two, you will understand that the relationship between your disciplines is targeted toward the use of sociology to nursing theory and practice. This relationship focuses on developing abilities that better enable nurses to provide nursing decision to patients and considering sociological forces that naturally affect patient care.

Sociology of nursing concentrates on the sociological factors that evolve in the practice of nursing. Such subjects can include a nurse’s job concerns or revenue problems that are generally characteristic in the area of nursing. The main focus is around the sociological characteristics of nursing itself, while sociology in nursing concentrates on the use of sociology tools and theories in nursing practice and research. As the two subjects possess a different focus, both form an important relationship with nursing, targeted at enabling nurses to supply better patient care.

A research framework for sociology and nursing offers the first key link disciplines. Understanding sociology usually starts by having an effort to comprehend the social factors affecting a specific subject, or human social interactions in particular. Thus, nursing itself happens with a variety of social interactions between nurses and patients and between nurses along with other healthcare participants in addition to nurses and individuals outside the health care system like the relatives of the patient.

Nurses who’ve a good knowledge of “sociology in nursing” theory are frequently in a stronger position to know the requirements of their patients and just how to best accommodate individual needs from the social perspective. However, nursing managers who have a very good understanding with the “sociology of nursing” are more effective in attending factors that impact staff morale and also the efficient allocation of nursing staff. Application of sociological principles and findings within the field of nursing is the most obvious connection between the two subjects.

Difference between LVN and LPN

There are different health care workers in a certain hospital or clinical site. They have different jobs and responsibilities to help patients recover. This includes Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). Many are confused with the two. Some think that they are just the same. However, they might be correct. They may just differ with their names, but not on their functions. Here we will be discussing further the two courses.

LPNs are nurses who have passed the academic requirements to acquire their license with the next phase within their profession as being a Registered Nurse (RN). LPNs are usually found working under a doctor or RN’s supervision in hospitals or treatment centers. They can also provide home healthcare and practice in nursing care facilities. LVNs are also nurses who passed the state’s educational requirements and the exam to get a license as a registered nurse. LVNs perform their nursing responsibilities in a variety of hospitals, nursing facilities, physician’s clinics, and surgical centers.

Nursing programs today that provide LPN/LVN training possess a moderately intensive listing of subjects which are needed for certification, for example communications, critical thinking, dosage information, drug reference and interactions, ethics, along with other areas. In Texas, the academic needs for that title of LVN require students to accomplish 20 contact hrs every 2 yrs, along with a specific (once-off) two hrs of contact in Ongoing Education for LVNs who are employed in Emergency Rooms and Forensic Evidence Collection. California requires 30 contact hours of Ongoing Education, every 2 years, for license renewal.

The rest of the 48 states have different requirements in terms of continuing education and also the title given by these states is LPN. Some states, for example New York, require LPNs to complete three contact hours for infection control every 4 years. Yet others, for example Florida, require additional study in Prevention of Medical Errors, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence, to acquire the LPN title. Essentially, the academic requirements of both LPN and LVN are extremely similar, as well as their responsibilities are consistent.

Actually, the only variation between the two is the state where the course is being offered. In Texas and California, the academic needs are identical, however the title is LVN whereas, other states with similar educational requirements, give the title of LPN. Both jobs require no less than a high school graduation certificate, or GED, just before entering nursing school.

Psychological Nurse Job

Nurses can have specific specialties and expertise depending on the field that they want to study or to master. Psychological nurses are advanced practice registered nurses or nurse practitioners who provide psychology health care to groups or individuals. They are also called psychological or mental health nurses. They may be found working in a number of places including hospitals, treatment centers, rehab centers, and senior living facilities. Psychological nurses are required to hold a masters degree having a concentration in mental health.

Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the general employment of registered nurses is likely to rise by 26% between 2010 and 2020. The BLS notes that due to the greater quantity of duties now being assigned from doctors to nurses, demand in just about all areas is anticipated to increase throughout the country.

Psychological nurses provide care and help people, families, and groups coping with mental health problems. Some nurses within this area decide to focus on a subgroup, like geriatric or child mental health. These professionals are educated to identify mental health disorders and supply treatments, including giving appropriate medicines and providing counseling. Typically, these nurses operate in hospitals or treatment centers; however, many can be employed in rehab treatment centers, hospice care facilities, or senior living centers.

Being a mental nurse first requires finishing a nursing degree program, which prepares students in getting a license in nursing. In addition, individuals thinking about concentrating on mental health usually acquire a graduate degree program; an advanced practice nurse (APN) or nurse practitioner (NP). Nurses within this area frequently hold a Master of Science in Nursing, having a concentration or niche in psychological and mental health nursing. Almost all graduate programs typically require prospective students to carry a nursing license; in addition, they need to possess a minimum professional experience, ideally in the mental health area.

Taking the NLN Pre-Admission exam

If you are planning to enter the field of nursing, you need to acquire certain requirements. You need to pass first the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Examination (NLN PAX). It is actually a standard entrance exam for potential student nurses seeking admittance into nursing schools countrywide. Every nursing student is required to take this examination before you are permitted to sign up to a certain program.

The NLN PAX RN and PN comprise three primary areas which are the verbal, mathematics and science. The verbal skills of the student will be measured by testing their word understanding and reading comprehension. The mathematics area includes basic calculations, problem solving, algebra, conversions, graphs, applied mathematics and geometry. In science, subject matters include physics, chemistry and general biology. You are given an hour for each section. All in all you, need to answer 214 questions. Each section includes all multiple-choice questions and experimental questions with regards to future test development. Answers to those questions aren’t counted in the scoring because it will be utilized as a baseline or test questions for future use.

Candidates may register online, just do as instructed online to sign up and take the Pre-Admission National League for Nursing for RN Examination.  Remember and take note of your login and password you created in the NLN website, because you will need these details in your examination date. Students are permitted to take the NLN Pre-Admission Exam once every six weeks. Though the subjects involved with the exam are covered in high school, you still need to have a review. Make some preparations by reviewing your notes in high school or picking a review center. Just review the basics and some important details of the subjects mentioned and you will be fine.

RN as one of the Top Occupation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nursing is among the top 10 professions with the biggest job growth. Registered nursing (RN) requires a large base of information used to evaluate, plan and perform to prevent disease, promote health, and help patients deal with their sickness. When providing immediate health care, RN’s observe, evaluate and record symptoms, responses and improvement, which provides the basis for health care planning. Nurses are one of the immediate contacts of any patient in the hospital. They are health teachers and supporters for patients and family members.

They have a unique opportunity of practice and can practice individually, although they also work together with all members of the medical health care group to provide the health care needed by each patient as an individual. RN positions range from immediate individual health care and case management to creating medical practice requirements, creating quality procedures, following complicated medical health care systems, performing medical research and educating in medical programs, as well as practicing in many other areas of the clinical field.

Registered nurses also develop and manage medical care plans, advice patients and their loved ones proper health care and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health. Expert medical obligations have changed considerably over time. Nurses today are highly known associates of the medical healthcare group who bring their own knowledge and skills to the process of medical health care. Nurses work together with doctors and associates of other healthcare professions. Some nursing staff chooses to focus on a particular specialization.  There are numerous specialized options, each of which has its own training/certification requirements and related professional network or organization.